Best of the Canyonlands

Visit United States

Day 1

Discover Denver

Channel your inner pioneer as you embark on an epic encounter with the peaks, canyons and deserts of what was once the treacherous Wild West.

Kick-start your expedition in Denver, exploring the Mile High City, known for its thriving coffeehouse and brewery scene, at your leisure before meeting your Travel Director and fellow expeditioners at a Welcome Dinner this evening.

Day 2

Roam The Rockies

Kick off your day stopping in Vail, an alpine village and one of Colorado's great playgrounds known for its epic powder-filled basins that have attracted skiers since the 1960s.

Then discover local organic products and meet local farmers over a one-of-a-kind Be My Guest Experience at Field to Fork, a four-season organic farm and boutique fruit stand, growing and celebrating the flavours of every season. You’ll love learning the local secrets of organic farming over a tour from the owners followed by a meal of farm-fresh ingredients. This evening in Moab, opt for an exhilarating Optional Experience flying over Canyonlands National Park during sunset.

Day 3

Explore Utah’s Arches and Canyons

Get ready to gasp.

Arches National Park is packed with striking natural arches. On your jaw-dropping exploration, learn how these 6,000 natural sandstone arches were formed by rain and wind on this guided visit led by your knowledgeable Travel Director. From one stunning landscape to the next in Canyon Country, see how the power of the Colorado River carves through the rocky red landscape at Canyonlands National Park. Drive onto the Island in the Sky - a mesa resting 1,000 feet (305 meters) above the countryside offering spectacular views over the dramatic sandstone formations. Take your experience to the next level with an Optional Canyonlands by Night light show, complete with a lip-smacking cowboy-style Dutch Oven Dinner and a trip on the Moab Queen II jet boat cruising by the lit-up canyon walls.

Day 4

Pioneer Through Monument Valley

Within UNESCO-listed Mesa Verde National Park, admire some of the over 600 ancient cliff dwellings carved in the sandstone of the canyon walls.

Established by Teddy Roosevelt in 1906, the Park protects some of the best-preserved Ancestral Puebloan archaeological sites in the United States. Deepen your connection with the first nations of this land heading toward Monument Valley, home to the Navajo Nation and the backdrop of many famous Hollywood Western movies.

Day 5

Tour The Remarkable Grand Canyon Make Travel Matter

Your big day of bucket list sites on your US National Park tour begins in Monument Valley.

Enjoy a unique exploration with a Local Specialist driving in an open-air vehicle past its towering sandstone buttes and mesas that rise from the barren landscape on a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Continue through the ancestral home of the Navajo, winding along Desert View Drive, surrounded by mesmerizing Multi-coloured canyons. Stop at Desert View Intertribal Cultural Heritage Site to hear stories, family histories and cultural demonstrations by tribal members on another MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. We've saved the best for last: the Grand Canyon. Get a unique perspective from geological expert Canyon Tim who reveals the geological wonders on a private nature talk. Join your fellow travellers for a Farewell Dinner toasting to America’s National Parks at your accommodations inside Grand Canyon National Park.

Day 6

A Scenic Journey to Las Vegas

Rise early to catch the first rays of light as they illuminate the canyon.

Consider an optional helicopter or fixed-wing aircraft flightseeing tour to view this feat of nature from the sky or enjoy a leisurely morning, before we journey to Sin City. Desolation gives way to a desert oasis as we cruise back in time past motels, diners and gas stations towards the dazzling lights of Las Vegas.

Day 7

End Your Journey In Las Vegas

Our exhilarating adventure through the canyonlands has come to an end.

Grab some breakfast as you prepare to say farewell to your friends or consider extending your stay at Horseshoe, Las Vegas. Depart at your leisure to Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas.

Dining Summary

2 Dinner (D)

6 Breakfast (B)

1 Lunch (L)

Be My Guest

Palisade: Unlock the local secrets of the land over a meet-and-greet at Field to Fork, an organic fruit and vegetable farm that cultivates 10 acres for vegetable production in addition to a fruit orchard of rare heritage stone and pomme fruit. Welcomed by owners Jessica and Scott, you’ll learn about the farm, its history and Jessica and Scott’s passion and expertise for organic farming. Then, take a walking tour of the farm discovering horticulture and how they grow organic fruits and vegetables, including a greenhouse and barn tour. Cap off your experience with a meal of crudité, salad, pizza topped with local ingredients and dessert featuring local seasonal fruit.

Dive Into Culture

Grand Canyon National Park: The great outdoors is your classroom today when you meet geologist Canyon Tim for an enlightening talk about the Grand Canyon at the South Rim . Having over 30 years of geological experience, Tim’s fascinating talk reveals how this natural marvel was formed millions of years ago and how the different layers that make up the Colorado Plateau are still visible today.

Iconic Experience

Vail: Welcome to one of Colorado's great playgrounds. While the winter attracts the ski crowds, the summer draws in guests to the European-style Vail Village. Surrounded by towering Rocky Mountain peaks, the pedestrian village offers a unique mix of shops, restaurants, pubs and cafes. Feel the friendly local vibe that makes Vail cosmopolitan and unpretentious.

Arches National Park: Nature's creations spring to life at Arches National Park, home to the greatest concentration of natural arches in the world. Some 6,000 natural sandstone arches can be found within the boundaries of the national park. On your visit, unlock all the science and history of how these 6,000 natural sandstone arches were formed by rain and wind. Take in the sights of Delicate Arch and Balanced Rock while admiring the ever-changing landscapes as you traverse the park. 

Canyonlands National Park: There’s no better spot to witness the power of the Colorado River carving through rocky red landscapes than at Canyonlands National Park. Take in the sights of Mesa Arch, views from the Green River Overlook, and be inspired by the vast expanse of high desert canyons at Grand View Point.  

Mesa Verde National Park: There’s no better place to learn about the ancient cliff dwellings of the Ancestral Puebloan people than at Mesa Verde National Park. View the carvings in the sandstone of the canyon walls at the several hundred of these dwellings – astounded by the history presented before you. This UNESCO-listed park also features thousands of well-known preserved archaeological sites. Take in the sites of this protected area as you ride along the Mesa Top Loop and Cliff Palace Loop, where you can see the magnificent Cliff Palace.

Grand Canyon National Park: One of the seven natural wonders of the world and the second most visited national park in the United States. Explore the Visitor Center and get familiar with the history of the Grand Canyon, grab a coffee at a local café and take a walk along the Rim Trail. Keep your camera on-hand as you explore some of the 278 miles of the Colorado River and adjacent canyonlands at one of the most spectacular examples of erosion anywhere in the world with unmatched vistas along its rim.

Las Vegas: Go sightseeing in the largest city in Nevada and one of the world's greatest resort cities, Las Vegas. 

MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®

Grand Canyon: At Desert Viewpoint Inter-tribal Cultural Heritage Site learn about the 11 Grand Canyon tribal communities. Discover Native crafts watching a carpet weaving demonstration, or you may enjoy traditional song and dance performances. Your visit and donation provide a continuous source of funding for the on-going development of the Cultural Heritage Site while allowing guests to engage directly with Indigenous community members. The experience directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities and Goal 11: Responsible Production and Consumption.

Monument Valley: Immerse yourself in the landscape of the Navajo people journeying through the desert to Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park accessing roads, places, sites that are closed to the general public. Get a feel for the land and its people climbing aboard an open-air, all-terrain vehicle to explore the valley with your Navajo guide as you pass its towering sandstone buttes and mesas, many of which have been featured in prominent Western films including John Wayne’s ‘Stagecoach’. Your exclusive Navajo Tribal Park tour with a Navajo guide helps preserve the integrity of the land and culture. Your visit directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 10: Reducing Inequalities.

Must-see Highlights

The Grand Canyon, Monument Valley

Discover Denver, Moab and Las Vegas

Visit Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, Grand Canyon National Park, Cameron Trading Post

See Delicate Arch in Arches National Park

Scenic Drive along Desert View Drive along parts of Route 66

View the cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde National Park, Desert Viewpoint

Trafalgar Difference

Monument Valley: Explore an iconic part of the Western USA on this Stays with Stories experience. Feel like you’re stepping back in time to when the lodge was founded in the 1920's. Then imagine you’re stepping onto a movie set -- Goulding's Lodge was made famous by Hollywood movies filmed here. In addition to waking up to watch the daybreak over Monument Valley, you’ll also love how the hotel has supported the local Diné (Navajo) community. 

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