North America: Canyons of the Southwest

On arriving in Phoenix, you are greeted and taken to your hotel.

Start your morning in the Sonoran Desert, where the iconic saguaro cacti dot the vast landscape. Ascend from the desert to Sedona and its extraordinary red rock landscapes. Meet up with a local expert who leads you on a tour that uncovers the town’s fascinating history. Following free time in town, travel to the Grand Canyon (7,200 feet) for the night.

The Grand Canyon’s colors, otherworldly formations and immense scale are overwhelming, and this morning’s sunrise at the canyon is a spectacle you will never forget. Visit the most celebrated vantage points of the Grand Canyon’s South Rim before travelling through Navajo Reservation lands and the Painted Desert. Continue on to the Glen Canyon National Recreation area and Lake Powell.

Embark on a relaxing 50-mile cruise along the Lake Powell shoreline en route to Rainbow Bridge National Monument, the largest known natural bridge in the world. Following a scenic walk, explore Rainbow Bridge up close, a thrilling opportunity to experience a natural wonder as few visitors do.

Depart Lake Powell early this morning for an exciting day in the native lands of Monument Valley. Join your local Navajo guide, who introduces some of the most extraordinary geological formations in the West, many made famous in classic American Western films. This afternoon, continue on to Moab, Utah, and your ranch resort.

Begin your day with a visit to Arches National Park, which boasts more than 2,000 arches, domes, pinnacles and spires (the greatest density of natural sandstone arches in the world), the most famous being the Delicate Arch formation. Later today, enjoy a fun float trip down the Colorado River.

Depart Moab for the unique landscapes of Bryce Canyon National Park (8,300 feet), a series of stunning natural amphitheaters complete with natural “audiences” of hoodoos, extraordinary spires of striated rock. Overnight directly in Bryce Canyon National Park, giving you even more time to explore this otherworldly place.

More diverse landscapes await as you depart Bryce Canyon National Park for Zion National Park. Sculptured canyons and massive, soaring cliffs are highlights of the park, particularly Zion Canyon, a 15-mile-long canyon of reddish and tan Navajo sandstone carved by the Virgin River. Descend to the canyon floor and explore at your own pace. You might wish to take a short walk to one of the waterfalls and colorful pools, or embark on a more rigorous hike for extraordinary canyon views. Overnight at Zion Lodge, located in the heart of the national park.

Bid farewell to the canyons of the southwest as you cross the Mojave Desert en route to Las Vegas, where you are free to spend the day enjoying the pleasures of the Strip. Tonight, join your Tour Director and fellow guests for a farewell reception and dinner.

Transfer to the airport for your flight home.