The American Southwest

The American Southwest, including the Grand Canyon & Utah's Mighty 5: Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, and Zion National Park

Overview

from$4299Tour Only 9days
price per person, double occupancy*
$500 Instant Savings. Expires Jul 21, 2022.*   All prices reflect savings.
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$199 deposit. Lock in your spot for less.††
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This tour is traveling! Our partners in the Arizona, Nevada, and Utah are ready to receive you with exceptional care and protocols necessary to keep you safe and healthy. Please click here to review the COVID-19 entry requirements.
Style Small Group TourTravel with a small, intimate group of no more than 16 likeminded travelers (and often much fewer), escorted by an English speaking guide and/or tour manager for some or all of your journey. More of these packages
Dedicated tour escorts & guides throughout
Departures September – October 2022 Group Size 10 travelers max
Themes Active,  Bucket List,  Nature & Wildlife
Activity Level Advanced
What to Expect Travel safely and confidently with our new health & safety protocols.
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The American Southwest is one of the most geographically diverse regions within the U.S. known for its expansive American history, blending a mix of Native American, Anglo, and Hispanic traditions dating back over 12,000 years. This region has lured the adventurous traveler for years with its beautifully rugged landscapes found within some of the nation’s best national parks. Embrace the awe-inspiring sunset views over the Grand Canyon and the Colorado River before exploring the wonders of Arizona, from the iconic Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon to a 4x4 Jeep tour through Monument Valley. Then, journey through Utah’s Mighty 5: Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, and Zion National Park. Join us in the American Southwest and experience the colorful history, culture, and epic adventure that you’ll never forget.

Package includes

  • Coach
  • Transfers
  • Hotel
  • Meals
  • Guides
  • All ground transportation and transfers
  • 8 nights accommodations in tourist and first class hotels
  • 12 Meals: 8 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners (including welcome and farewell dinner)
  • Comprehensive touring program including entrance fees
  • Professional, English-speaking Tour Guide

Why you'll love it

  • Explore the Hoover Dam, including the original construction tunnels and the viewing platform overlooking a 30-diameter penstock.
  • Learn how transportation systems influenced the development of the American West in Seligman, Arizona, birthplace of historic Route 66.
  • Embrace the awe-inspiring views of the Grand Canyon.
  • Visit Cameron Trading Post, home to a Native American art gallery and a restaurant offering traditional Native American cuisine.
  • Hike 1.5-miles out and back to see the viewpoint that overlooks Horseshoe Bend.
  • Get your cameras ready as you meander through the Antelope Canyon, one of the most visited slot canyons in the American Southwest.
  • Immerse yourself in the rich cultural heritage of Navajo people as you take a 4x4 open-air truck tour through Monument Valley and Navajo Nation.
  • Journey by foot to Delicate Arch at Arches National Park.
  • Take in spectacular sunset views of Canyonlands National Park at Dead Horse State Park.
  • Experience pioneer history at Capitol Reef National Park.
  • Explore the past lives of the Ancestral Puebloans dwelling and artifacts at the excavated sites at Anasazi Indian State Park.
  • En route to Bryce Canyon National Park, drive along the scenic Highway 12 and admire the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
  • Peer into The Narrows at Zion National Park and hike the Emerald Pools.

Itinerary at a Glance

The American Southwest map

Dates & Prices

Dates & Prices

Instant Savings: Get $500 off if you book by Jul. 21, 2022!
Dates & Prices, tour only
per person, double occupancy*, including Instant Savings discounts
2022 DEPARTURES
Dates Regular
Price		 Instant
Savings		 Your
Price
Starts: Mon, Jul 11, 2022
Finishes: Tue, Jul 19, 2022
 Jul 11 – Jul 19 		$4699 – – Closed
Starts: Mon, Aug 22, 2022
Finishes: Tue, Aug 30, 2022
 Aug 22 – Aug 30 		$4899 – – Closed
Starts: Mon, Sep 12, 2022
Finishes: Tue, Sep 20, 2022
Book by Thu, Jul 21, 2022 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! Sep 12 – Sep 20 		$4799 –$500 $4299 Select
Starts: Mon, Oct 3, 2022
Finishes: Tue, Oct 11, 2022
Book by Thu, Jul 21, 2022 (midnight ET) to get the Instant Savings! Oct 3 – Oct 11 		$4799 –$500 $4299 Select

If you want a few extra days to explore on your own, we may be able to arrange for you to stay later than the scheduled dates, including extra hotel nights and separate airport transfers, for an additional charge. Ask us about prices and availability when (or after) you book. More information Want to extend your trip?

Options & Fees

The American Southwest
Rooming Selection
Double Occupancy included
Single Occupancy $1299

So that we can offer you the best deals, our packages are, like most hotels and cruises, priced based on double occupancy rooms or cabins. We charge solo travelers an extra fee to cover the extra costs of single occupancy rooms or cabins. (Consider: if you booked a $200/night hotel room solo, you would pay the $200 yourself; but if a couple booked the same room, each one would pay only $100.) But you only pay extra for the rooms or cabins, nothing else, including meals, sightseeing, tips, etc. Why are single rooms more?

Flights & Departure Cities

This package does not include flights to the destination.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive Las Vegas

  • Upon arrival into Las Vegas transfer to your hotel
  • Welcome reception

Golden Nugget Las Vegas

Day 2 Hoover Dam, Seligman, and Grand Canyon

  • Guided tour of Hoover Dam
  • Visit Seligman, birthplace of Historic Route 66
  • Admire the mighty Grand Canyon, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Grand Canyon Plaza Hotel or similar Breakfast & dinner

Full Day Itinerary
Hoover Dam, Nevada
After breakfast, meet your guide and fellow travelers and depart for the Hoover Dam, situated on the Nevada-Arizona border, where the Colorado River meets Lake Mead. Constructed during the Great Depression, the concreate arch-gravity dam’s generators supply public and private utilities in Nevada, Arizona, and California. Take a guided tour of the powerplant, walk through the original construction tunnels, visit the viewing platform overlooking a 30-diameter penstock, and feel the vibration of water rushing through the pipes. 

Later that morning, step back in time as you visit the town of Seligman, Arizona, the birthplace of historic Route 66. Learn how transportation systems influenced the development of the American West and the creation of this historic route. 

Continue to the Grand Canyon, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and take in the awe-inspiring views of the canyon which runs 277 miles long and 18 miles wide, with a depth of over a mile. Enjoy a sunset stroll along the scenic overlooks and feel the wonders of the majestic canyon and Colorado River below, an unforgettable memory. 

Check into your hotel, followed by a welcome dinner with your fellow travelers.

Day 3 Grand Canyon, Lake Powell

  • Catch the sunrise over the Grand Canyon
  • Take part in a guided geology walk at the rim of The Grand Canyon
  • Visit Cameron Trading Post
  • Admire the stunning views of Lake Powell National Recreation Area

Hyatt Place Page/Lake Powell or similar Breakfast

Full Day Itinerary
Lake Powell, Arizona
For the early risers, take a short drive out to Mather Point to watch the sunrise over the magnificent canyon. Return to your hotel and join your fellow travelers for breakfast. 

After breakfast, take a guided geology walk around the Grand Canyon Village area, stopping at the breathtaking vantage points along the rim.

Continue to Cameron Trading Post, an area specializing in Native American crafts, home to a Native American art gallery and a restaurant offering traditional Native American cuisine as well as Mexican and American favorites.

Later this afternoon, arrive at Lake Powell National Recreation Area. Lake Powell, one of the largest man-made reservoirs in the United States, is surrounded by scenic cliffs and water that twists and turns through the canyons.  

Check-in, relax, and enjoy an evening on your own.

Day 4 Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon, Monument Valley

  • Walk the Horseshoe Bend Trail to the overlook point
  • Guided tour through Antelope Canyon, the most famous slot canyon of the Southwest
  • Journey through Navajo Tribal Park, in Monument Valley, in a 4x4 with a local Navajo guide

Red Cliffs Lodge, Moab, Element Moab by Westin or similar Breakfast

Full Day Itinerary
Antelope Canyon
After an early breakfast, make your way to one of the most magnificent creations of the Colorado River, Horseshoe Bend, where the river has carved a horseshoe-shaped entrenched meander forming this magnificent site. The 1.5-mile hike will take you out to the lookout point of one of the most splendid views of the Colorado River. (Due to the loose gravel, hiking shoes are recommended.) 

Later, take a guided tour through Antelope Canyon, one of the most spectacular, most photographed, and most visited slot canyons in the American Southwest. Formed by erosion of Navajo Sandstone, the canyon is your first glimpse into the Navajo Nation. With the canyon's entrance regulated by the Navajo tribe, the 0.6-mile path takes you through the corkscrew loops, offering up some of the most impressive views in the area.

After lunch, cross over into Utah to Monument Valley and explore the sacred site of the Dineh, Navajo people, the keepers of Monument Valley. Meet your local Navajo guide and take a memorable 4x4 tour to see the arches, buttes, and iconic formations in the valley. You will also learn about Navajo weaving and wool spinning. 

Continue to Moab, check into your hotel, and enjoy the evening at leisure.

Day 5 Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Dead Horse State Park

  • Hike Delicate Arch trail at Arches National Park, part of The Mighty 5
  • Meander through Canyonlands National Park, part of The Mighty 5
  • Walk the East Rim trail at Dead Horse State Park

Element Moab by Westin, Red Cliffs Lodge, Moab or similar Breakfast

Full Day Itinerary
Delicate Arch, Arches National Park
Wake up early to enter Arches National Park before the crowds. This morning, lace up your hiking shoes, grab your water bottle, and head out with your expert guide to one of the most sought-after hikes in the Southwest, the hike to Delicate Arch. The 3.2-mile loop is bound to get your heart pumping as you hike up to the arch. (Hiking shoes are strongly recommended.) For those not comfortable with this hike, you can enjoy free time in Moab and have the opportunity to visit Arches National Park the following morning.

Spend the afternoon at your leisure.

In the late afternoon, take a short hike into Canyonlands National Park to explore the canyons and buttes carved by the Colorado River and its tributaries. Your journey will take you out to the Island of the Sky district where you will hike the 0.7-mile loop trail to see Mesa Arch, a stunning stone arch at the cliff edge, offering vast views of the canyon's rock spires and the La Sal Mountains.

Just a few miles away, enter Dead Horse State Park. Here you will see the most spectacular views of the Colorado River and Canyonlands National Park. Walk along the East Rim Trail and enjoy a glass of wine or beverage while you watch the sun as it sets behind the canyons. (*Sunset tour is in spring and fall only).

Return to Moab and enjoy dinner on your own.

Day 6 Capitol Reef National Park

  • Visit The Windows, Balance Rock, and Park Avenue at Arches National Park
  • Scenic drive through Capitol Reef National Park, part of The Mighty 5
  • Explore the Gifford Homestead
  • Visit Rock Art

Red Sands Hotel and Spa or similar Breakfast

Full Day Itinerary
Turret Arch from North Window, Arches National Park
Rise early and return to Arches National Park for a short 0.7-mile hike to The Windows for an up-close-and-personal look at an arch. Later, take a short, 0.3 mile walk up to Balance Rock, followed by a one-way 0.8-mile self-guided hike down Park Avenue, a memorable hike with striking views of the canyons.

Later, visit Capitol Reef National Park, the heart of red rock country, with sandstone cliffs, domes, soaring monoliths, and most notable, Waterpocked Fold, a bulge in the earth’s surface. Explore the Gifford Homestead, a unique oasis within Capitol Reef National Park, home to settlement remains and the largest historic orchard in the National Park System, preserved and protected at a Rural Historic Landscape. Don’t miss the locally baked fruit pies, homemade ice cream, preserves, and other homemade crafty goods!

Before arriving at your hotel, learn about stories told in stone at Torrey Petroglyphs, followed by check-in and an evening on your own.

Day 7 Anasazi Indian State Park, Bryce Canyon National Park

  • Visit the ruins of the ancient Ancestral Puebloans at Anasazi Indian State Park
  • A memorable scenic drive over Route 12 and through Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
  • Marvel at the “hoodoos” at Bryce Canyon National Park, part of The Mighty 5
  • Enjoy an evening with your fellow travelers over dinner with wine

Holiday Inn Express or similar Breakfast, lunch & dinner

Full Day Itinerary
Hoodoos, Bryce Canyon National Park
After breakfast, enjoy an interpretive walk through Anasazi Indian State Park to explore the past lives of the Ancestral Puebloans dwellings and artifacts at the excavated sites.

Ascend 10,000 feet over the petrified canyons and drive along the winding sand dunes of Scenic Highway 12 through Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument en route to Bryce Canyon National Park.

Enjoy a walk along the rim of Bryce Canyon to see “hoodoos”, geological features that began as rock deposits lifted by plate tectonics, and later sculpted by weather and erosion, 50 million years in the making.

Continue your journey to Springdale, Utah, home to the renowned Zion National Park, completing your quest to visit Utah's Mighty 5.

Enjoy dinner with your fellow companions.

Day 8 Zion National Park

  • Hike to Lower Emerald Pools at Zion National Park, part of The Mighty Five

Golden Nugget Las Vegas or similar Breakfast & lunch

Full Day Itinerary
The Narrows, Zion National Park
After an early breakfast, take the shuttle into Zion National Park, Utah’s first National Park and home to a collection of sandstone cliffs and slot canyons. Start off at the Lower Emerald Pool Trail, a 1.4-mile hike filled with breathtaking scenery and amazing views. Later, take the Riverside walkout for a view of The Narrows, the narrowest section of Zion National Park.

Enjoy a picnic lunch inside Zion National Park. Spend some time on your own in the park.

Later this afternoon, make your way back to Las Vegas.

Day 9 Depart home

  • Hotel Transfer to the airport and board your flight back home

Breakfast

Hotels

Golden Nugget Las Vegas
Golden Nugget Las Vegas
First Class

Golden Nugget is conveniently located on Fremont street in the heart of downtown Las Vegas. It was built in 1946 and was the first structure designed from the ground up to be a casino. Its convenient location is just steps away from the Fremont Street Experience and an open-air mall filled with shops, cafes, restaurant's, and live entertainment.

More information

Grand Canyon Plaza Hotel
Grand Canyon Plaza Hotel
Tourist Class

The Grand Canyon Plaza Hotel is located in the town of Tusayan Arizona, 1 mile from the south entrance to Grand Canyon National Park. One of the original properties in the area, the hotel is family owned and operated, offering a more personal service for the guests.  Explore the surrounding area, take a canyon hike, visit the IMAX theater in town, or just relax by the pool or indoor spa.

More information

Hyatt Place Page/Lake Powell
Hyatt Place Page/Lake Powell
Tourist Class

Hyatt Place is conveniently located in Page Arizona, just a 10 minute walk into the picturesque and convenient center of Page. The hotel is nestled near Lake Powell, Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon, and the Colorado River.

More information

Red Cliffs Lodge, Moab
Tourist Class

Red Cliffs Lodge is conveniently located on the edge of the town of Moab, on the banks of the Colorado River surrounded by 2000-foot cliffs. Red Cliffs Lodge is just a short drive away from the mighty Arches National Park. 

More information

Element Moab by Westin
Element Moab by Westin
Tourist Class

Element Moab opened in March 2021 and is conveniently located 3 miles away from the entrance to Arches National Park. Element Moab offers a sleek and modern design, a refreshing refuge from the outside terrain. 

More information

Red Sands Hotel and Spa
Red Sands Hotel and Spa
Tourist Class

The Red Sands Hotel and Spa in convenience located in Torrey Utah, just a short drive to Capitol Reef National Park, one of the the most beautiful national parks in southern Utah. Red Sands Hotel offers a unique country feel offering a perfect blend with its natural environment. Enjoy a local hike in Red Rock country, or sit back and gaze at the stars by the outdoor fire pits. 

More information

Holiday Inn Express
Holiday Inn Express
Tourist Class

The Holiday Inn Express is tucked among the towering red rock cliffs of Zion Canyon, 1.2-miles from the South entrance of Zion National Park and just a few steps away from local dining and shops in Springdale. The Holiday Inn Express features stunning views and well-groomed lawns. Renovated in 2015, the Holiday Inn Express is designed to echo the natural elegance of Zion National Park. Enjoy the relaxing year-round hot tub, or sit back and gaze at the stars by the outdoor fire pits.

More information

In the unlikely event that a particular hotel is not available, a similar or better hotel may be substituted.

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† The Carefree Booking policy is not travel insurance. With our Carefree Booking policy, if you book one of our scheduled departures and decide later not to travel for any reason, you can transfer all payments you've made excluding the cost of any issued flight tickets, towards another available departure date or package, with no change fees or penalties. Alternately, you can choose to receive a future travel credit for all payments made, excluding the cost of any issued flight tickets; or you can choose to receive a refund for that same amount, minus the deposit, per person future travel credit. You may use these credits anytime, however they must be used or transferred within 5 years of your bookings, and some restrictions apply. Travel protection premiums may be credited to your new tour provided: no claim is filed; (no vendor penalties such as Air, sea or rail etc have been incurred); and your new trip departs within 1 year of the cancellation of your original tour. Valid for bookings made on or after May 24, 2022. Offer may not be available on all packages, including private and custom group departures and Biblical Journeys. Changes or cancellations requested after final payment due date are subject to our regular change and cancellation fees & policies. For more information and some additional restrictions, see our terms & conditions.

†† $199 deposit available on select packages. Valid for new bookings only. Changes to your package, departure date, or flights may require an increased deposit. If you select our optional travel protection plan, the premium will be added to your deposit. See additional terms & conditions.

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