NATIONAL PARKS OF THE SOUTHWEST
Following a guided tour, we have ample time on our own to savor the grandeur of the Grand Canyon.
Day 1: Depart for Phoenix, Arizona We depart
today for Phoenix, Arizona. As guests’ arrival times
may vary, we have the day at leisure to explore
Arizona’s capital city as we wish. This afternoon we
check in at our hotel, where we enjoy a welcome
briefing and dinner together. D
Day 2: Phoenix/Sedona/Grand Canyon We leave
Phoenix today, bound for the Grand Canyon. First,
though, we’re headed to Sedona, one of the most
striking spots in the American Southwest. Famed for
its range of towering red sandstone formations, Sedona
ranks as a popular destination for artists, filmmakers,
photographers, hikers, and mountain bikers. We have
time for lunch on our own and to do some exploring
before we encounter this dazzling landscape in style,
as we take a Pink Jeep tour for an exciting offroad excursion. Winding over dirt roads, we enjoy stunning
panoramic views and learn about the region’s cultural
and geological history. We also visit the Honanki
Heritage Site, a 700-year-old Sinaguan cliff dwelling.
Then we continue on to the Grand Canyon and our
nearby hotel, where we dine together tonight. B,D
Day 3: Grand Canyon It’s a day to remember as we
visit one of the country’s most famous natural landmarks: the Grand Canyon. Considered a wonder of
the natural world, this UNESCO site stretches nearly
300 miles through and 10 miles across the Arizona
desert. We see truly awe-inspiring vistas: banded
layers of rock rise to plateaus and bluffs thousands
of feet overhead, while the mighty Colorado River
rushes one mile below. On our guided tour, we learn
about the canyon’s geological history, and also about
human history here: it dates back some 10,000 years
and includes native peoples, explorers, miners, entrepreneurs, conservationists, and of course, visitors – who
today number some six million annually. Then we
have time for lunch on our own and an afternoon at
leisure to appreciate the magnitude and beauty of the
six-million-year-old canyon as we wish. After this
bucket-list attraction, we return to our hotel; dinner
tonight is on our own. B
Day 4: Grand Canyon/Page/Antelope Canyon/
Lake Powell Today we travel to Page, Arizona,
gateway to the imposing Glen Canyon Dam and its
reservoir, Lake Powell. After reaching Page early
this afternoon, we have lunch on our own then visit
the winding – and spectacular – Upper Antelope
Canyon. We travel onto Navajo land to reach this
slot canyon, known to local tribes as “the place where
water runs through rocks” – and one of the most
photographed slot canyons in the world. Our tour
through this stunning passageway reveals red-orange
walls of “flowing” rock rising to heights of nearly
10 days from $3,295 total price
land only
It’s a land of scenes epic in scope, from the immense Grand Canyon and the sinuous
Colorado to the sandstone spires of Bryce and
the red-rock cliffs and chasms of Zion. It’s the
Southwest, which our small group celebrates at
favorite national parks and preserves, America’s
“best idea” (Wallace Stegner).
Your Small Group Tour Highlights
Spectacular Southwest scenery • Immersive experiences in
three national parks • Open-air Jeep tour of Sedona’s red-rock landscape • World-renowned Grand Canyon • Lake
Powell stay • Motorized rafting excursion on Colorado River
• ”Flowing” rock walls of Antelope Canyon • Guided hikes
in national parks • Natural hoodoo rock formations of Bryce
Canyon NP • Zion NP’s diverse landscapes and wildlife
Day Itinerary Hotel Rating
1 Depart for Pointe Hilton Tapatio Sup. First Phoenix Cliffs Resort Class
2-3 Tusayan Best Western Premier First Class Grand Canyon Squire Inn
4 Page Lake Powell Resort First Class
5-6 Bryce Best Western Bryce First Class Canyon City Canyon Grand Hotel
7-8 Springdale Hampton Inn & First Class Suites Springdale
9 Las Vegas Westin Las Vegas Deluxe
10 Depart Las Vegas
Ratings are based on the Hotel & Travel Index, the travel
industry standard reference.
Avg.High(°F) Apr May Jun Sep Oct Nov
Phoenix 85 95 100 98 89 76
Page (Lake Powell) 70 80 91 85 71 54
Springdale(Zion) 73 83 94 88 75 62
Springdale
Las Vegas
Page
Phoenix
Destination
Motorcoach
Entry/Departure
Zion
National Park
Bryce
UTAHNEVADA
ARIZONA
Grand Canyon
National Park
Bryce Canyon
National Park
Tusayan/
Grand
Canyon