Your itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Phoenix, Arizona -
Scottsdale
Join Collette on a tour through five of
America's most splendid national parks. Your tour begins in
Arizona, where you will enjoy a stay in the world-famous resort
town of Scottsdale.
Day 2: Scottsdale
Your morning is at leisure. This evening,
join your fellow travellers for dinner. (D)
Day 3: Scottsdale - Sedona - Lake
Powell
Begin the day with a visit to the artists'
colony of Sedona before stopping at the spectacular Oak Creek
Canyon. See the amazing rock formations change hue with each turn
in the road. Later today, you arrive at Lake Powell. (B, D)
Day 4: Lake Powell - Grand Canyon
This morning you embark on a delightful
breakfast cruise* on scenic Lake Powell. Then travel to Carl Hayden
Visitors Center and look out over Glen Canyon Dam and see to the
end of Lake Powell. Afterwards, travel to Marble Canyon before
arriving at the spectacular Grand Canyon, staying at the only
in-park hotel. The original Grand Canyon Lodge was destroyed by
fire and rebuilt in 1937 by architect Gilbert Stanley Underwood.
Its rustic construction of limestone walls and timbered ceilings
complements the North Rim's lush beauty. The Lodge offers peace and
comfort to the North Rim visitor and is a National Historic
Landmark. Dinner this evening takes place in the
historic Grand Canyon Lodge, offering fine dining in a casual
atmosphere, with magnificent views overlooking the rim of the
Canyon. (B, D)
Day 5: Grand Canyon - Bryce Canyon, Utah -
Zion Canyon
Today you travel to Bryce Canyon National
Park, truly one of the most spectacular scenic wonders of the
world. The formations within Bryce Canyon National Park, called
Hoodoos, are the creation of wind and water erosion over eons of
time. Iron oxidizing within the rock causes the natural orange and
red hues that colour these formations. Your final
destination for the day is the red and white sandstone cliffs of
Zion Canyon National Park. In sheer magnitude and
colour, Zion is very likely one of the most awe-inspiring National
Parks in the world. Tonight, join your fellow passengers for a
Ranger talk to learn more about the park. (B, D)
Day 6: Zion Canyon - Salt Lake City
A drive north takes you to Salt Lake City,
the "City of the Saints," where you will enjoy a two-night stay.
(B)
Day 7: Salt Lake City
Enjoy a tour of Salt Lake City, featuring
the Great Salt Lake, the state capitol and the residential
district. The remainder of the day is at leisure. Perhaps you will
want to explore Temple Square. This beautifully landscaped 10-acre
plot of ground in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City is one of
Utah's most visited attractions. The centrepiece of the square is
the 6-spired granite
Salt Lake Temple, and adjacent to this
imposing edifice is the domed
Tabernacle*, home of the famous
Mormon Tabernacle Choir* and the great
Tabernacle organ. (B)
Day 8: Salt Lake City - Jackson Hole,
Wyoming
En route to Wyoming you will see the
majestic Bear Lake Summit. Later you will arrive in the cowboy town
of Jackson Hole. A fun-filled evening of cowboy entertainment and
dinner is in store at the Bar J Chuckwagon*. (B, D)
Day 9: Jackson Hole
The day is yours to explore Jackson Hole.
Some optional activities include shopping, canoeing, hiking and
river rafting trips. (B)
Day 10: Jackson Hole - Grand Tetons -
Yellowstone
From Jackson Hole, pass through Grand Teton
National Park. Towering more than a mile above the valley of
Jackson Hole, the Grand Teton rises 13,770 feet. Twelve Teton peaks
reach above 12,000 feet and support a dozen mountain glaciers. The
Teton Range is the youngest range in the Rockies and displays some
of North America's oldest rocks. Later, arrive at the
amazing Yellowstone National Park where you will enjoy an overnight
stay at your lodge nestled in the heart of this wonderful park. One
of the many highlights is the world-famous Old Faithful Geyser, a
fountain of steam that rises more than 60 feet in the air.
(B, D)
Day 11: Yellowstone - Cody - Sheridan
A delightful day of sightseeing begins with
a trip along Lake Yellowstone and over Sylvan Pass. From the
mountains to the prairies, the scenery is simply amazing. As you
pass through Cody, a stop will be made at the Buffalo Bill
Historical Center, a tribute to one of the most colourful figures
of the old west, Buffalo Bill Cody. Before turning in for the night
in Sheridan, you drive through the incredible Bighorn Mountains and
journey through the territory of the Great Sioux Nation. (B, D)
Day 12: Sheridan - Custer State Park, South
Dakota
See one of the country's most famous
landmarks, Mount Rushmore, before visiting the Crazy Horse
Monument, a memorial dedicated to the Native Americans. You'll also
have the opportunity to visit the Native American Cultural Center
to learn about their culture and customs. Here, Native Americans
discuss the significance of wearing different feathers, clothes,
crafts and the movements of their dances. Later, you arrive at
Custer State Park, in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Join your
fellow travellers at a farewell dinner and share your experiences
at the United States' wonderful parks. (B, D)
Day 13: Custer State Park - Rapid City -
Depart for Home
Depart for home with many wonderful
memories of your tour.
Day 14: Arrive Home
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