Colourful Trails of the Southwest

Trip Type: Discoveries
United States Of America | 10 Days

NZD 5,934.60 /Person

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On this Southwest USA tour, each day is a cultural and natural adventure. You’ll stay inside Grand Canyon National Park, explore ancient Puebloan c...

Colourful Trails of the Southwest

On this Southwest USA tour, each day is a cultural and natural adventure. You’ll stay inside Grand Canyon National Park, explore ancient Puebloan cliff dwellings in Mesa Verde National Park and natural arches near Moab, and ride a 4x4 through Monument Valley’s landscapes with a member of the Navajo Nation.

Welcome to Phoenix and Scottsdale

Arrive in sun-kissed Phoenix and transfer to Scottsdale at your leisure. This evening, meet your Travel Director and fellow travellers for a Welcome Dinner.

Accommodation:

Sonesta Suites Scottsdale Gainey Ranch

Locations Visited:
  • Phoenix
  • Scottsdale

See the Red Rocks of Sedona Connect with Locals

Your first stop today is in the artists' enclave of Sedona – surrounded by red-rock buttes, steep canyon walls and pine forests. You’ll travel through Oak Creek Canyon next, with its rocky red cliffs, then venture to the UNESCO-listed Grand Canyon National Park, where a Local Specialist will share the canyon’s many geological marvels. Tonight, you’ll have an opportunity to overnight at one of the lodges inside the park.

Accommodation:

National Park Lodges Grand Canyon

Locations Visited:
  • Scottsdale
  • Sedona
  • Grand Canyon National Park

Take In The Sights Of The Grand Canyon Make Travel Matter

Don’t miss an unforgettable experience: Rise early for an optional flightseeing tour over the Grand Canyon and then trace the scenic South Rim of the Grand Canyon along Desert View Drive. Enjoy a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience as we visit Desert View's Pueblo-style Watch tower and support the development of the Desert View Inter-tribal Heritage Center. Later, we’ll stop at Cameron Trading Post. Finally, we'll take a walk to the rim of Glen Canyon to Horseshoe Bend. Finish the day connecting to the soul of the land over a Be My Guest experience on the Navajo Nation, hosted by Dine tribe local Baya, her husband Paul and storyteller Eli Secody.

Accommodation:

Courtyard by Marriott Page at Lake Powell

Locations Visited:
  • Grand Canyon National Park
  • Monument Valley
  • Page

Take a Scenic Drive to Moab Make Travel Matter

Depart Page and drive through Navajo Tribal Lands to Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, the largest reservation in the United States with over 17 million acres of land between Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico. Dive Into Culture as you board a 4x4 vehicle and navigate the iconic red valley landscape guided by a member of the Navajo Nation and Local Specialist. Pause and settle in surrounded by buttes and mesas in this sacred land for an outdoor chicken and steak barbeque lunch prepared by a Navajo tribe member as they share stories about the Dineh (Navajo) people and their connection to Monument Valley. Then continue to Moab on a scenic drive from Monument Valley where your Travel Director will share intel on some of the sights you’ll see along the way.  Sit back and enjoy views of the San Juan River, Mexican Hat, Bluff, and the Abajo "Blue Mountain" and La Sal Mountains. Your final destination tonight is Moab, Utah - the gateway to Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, and the Colorado River. Kick off your stay with dinner at a locally owned diner.

Accommodation:

Hyatt Place Moab

Locations Visited:
  • Page
  • Monument Valley
  • Moab

Admire the Landscape of Arches National Park

This morning, discover how the forces of wind and rain have shaped the enchanting landscape of Arches National Park in the stunning formations that they are, with countless perfect photo opportunities. Later, journey to Canyonlands National Park to connect with nature even more. We visit the Island in the Sky - a mesa resting 1,000 feet (305 meters) above the surrounding countryside, offering spectacular views over the dramatic sandstone formations.

Accommodation:

Hyatt Place Moab

Locations Visited:
  • Moab
  • Arches National Park
  • Canyonlands National Park
  • Moab

Discover the History of Mesa Verde Stays With Stories

We arrive in the UNESCO-listed Mesa Verde National Park to delve into the history and culture of the Ancestral Puebloan people. Explore their beautifully preserved sandstone dwellings. This evening, in Durango, your Stay with Stories is historic Strater Hotel. You’ll have the evening at leisure to explore the historic town of Durango.

Accommodation:

Strater Hotel

Locations Visited:
  • Moab
  • Mesa Verde National Park
  • Durango

Dive into Durango Make Travel Matter

Enjoy free time in Durango today, or you may take a scenic drive along the Million Dollar Highway from Ouray and Silverton. If you’re lucky, enjoy a truly unforgettable step back in time, on a ride aboard the coal-fired, steam-powered narrow-gauge train (booked independently). The train chugs along rails that were originally laid at the end of the 19th century, winding through a spectacular wilderness which would be inaccessible by car. If you're feeling more adventurous, opt for a white-water rafting trip on the Animas River.

Accommodation:

Strater Hotel

Locations Visited:
  • Durango

Unlock the Legacy of the Southwest

The journey continues along the High Road – Santa Fe Scenic Byway, a picturesque route in Northern New Mexico that stretches approximately 56 miles from Santa Fe to Taos. This byway offers travellers a unique blend of natural beauty, cultural heritage, and artistic communities. Cross the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, also known as the "High Bridge," an iconic steel deck arch bridge. It spans the Rio Grande Gorge, offering breathtaking views and serving as a significant engineering landmark. Later, arrive at the hotel, ideally located two short blocks from Santa Fe’s Historic Plaza.

Accommodation:

Hilton Santa Fe Historic Plaza

Locations Visited:
  • Durango
  • Taos
  • Santa Fe

Explore the Unique Culture of Santa Fe Make Travel Matter

Begin your day at the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum with a Local Specialist. Later, enjoy a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience as you visit one of the greatest Ancestral Puebloan archaeological sites in the Southwest. Be immersed in the fascinating adobe dwellings and take a walk through Taos Pueblo, a Native American community that has been continuously inhabited for the last 1,000 years. Meet your Taos tribal resident guide and explore the only living Native American community designated both a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and a National Historic Landmark. Cap off your trip with a Farewell Dinner at your hotel.

Accommodation:

Hilton Santa Fe Historic Plaza

Locations Visited:
  • Santa Fe

End Your Journey in Albuquerque

Our journey through desert landscapes comes to an end, make your own way to Albuquerque Airport.

Locations Visited:
  • Santa Fe
  • Albuquerque

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Destination Details
United States Of America | 10 Days
Trip Location
Trip Starts:
Phoenix (AZ), United States Of America
Trip Finishes:
Albuquerque, United States Of America
Countries Visited:
United States

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