Best of the Canyonlands

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 dinner this evening.

Kick off your day 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 flavors 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.

Get ready to gasp. Arches National Park is packed with striking natural arches. On your jaw-dropping exploration, learn how these 2,000 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.

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 people of this land heading toward Monument Valley, home to the Navajo Nation and the backdrop of many famous Hollywood Western movies.

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-colored canyons. Stop at Desert Intertribal Cultural Heritage and explore the exhibits that highlight the stories, traditions, and knowledge of local tribes. You'll gain a deeper understanding of the profound bond between the 11 Grand Canyon tribal communities and the canyon, along with its surrounding lands. 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 travelers for a Farewell Dinner toasting to America’s National Parks at your accommodations inside Grand Canyon National Park.

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 you journey to Sin City. Canyon views give way to a desert oasis as you travel back in time past motels, diners and gas stations towards the dazzling lights of Las Vegas.

Your 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.