Spectacular Southwest

We depart for Denver - ‘Gateway to the Rockies’. Upon arrival we transfer to our hotel, with the balance of the day at leisure.

Our tour of the ‘Mile High City’ features both Victorian and modern architecture with the Rocky Mountains providing a spectacular backdrop. We’ll visit the impressive Colorado History Museum. Tonight is our Welcome Dinner.

A full day of sightseeing includes the Red Rocks Amphitheatre Park with its spectacular views of the Rockies. We also visit Buffalo Bill's grave and the chic ski resort of Vail. We end up in Grand Junction, Colorado.

Our touring in this area includes the Colorado National Monument, as well as a tasting of the local honey wine.

We follow the Grand Valley towards Utah. The spectacular southwest comes alive as we enter Arches National Park near Moab which contains the largest concentration of natural stone arches in the world. After taking the scenic route around the park for all the major sights there will be a short guided walking tour.

Our first visit is Dead Horse State Park, an unglamorous name for one of Utah's most awesome parks. Towering high above the Colorado River, Dead Horse Point provides a breathtaking view of this other-worldly landscape. We continue on to Canyonlands National Park - a mystical region of sculptured mesas and buttes. You may recognize the scenery from western movies. This evening we enjoy the spectacular Canyonlands by Night dinner-cruise, and overnight again in Moab.

A day of wonderful scenery as we cross back into Colorado. On the way to Durango we travel through scenic mountain passes and visit sights known for Indian rock art. We also visit the Mesa Verde National Park, where we see the abandoned cliff dwellings of the Anaszi Indians.

A tour highlight will be the ride on the Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, which winds its way through the San Juan Mountains and offers fantastic views - an exhilirating experience!

We enter Arizona, and our first stop is Four Corners Monument, the point where four states meet. We continue to the Navajo Tribal Park of Monument Valley - a wonderland of natural monuments in sculptured sandstone. We’ll enjoy a fascinating jeep ride to view the amazing natural attractions and learn about Navajo culture. Enjoy a South Western dinner tonight.

We continue on to the greatest of all canyons, the Grand Canyon. One of the great natural wonders in the world, it is 15 miles wide, a mile deep and formed over millions of years by the erosion of the Colorado River. We have plenty of time to wander along the brink of the chasm and take in the views from various look-out points. We overnight in nearby Flagstaff.

We enjoy a half day visit to scenic Sedona – a lovely artist colony town known for its magnificent red rock formations and nearby Oak Creek Canyon. We will marvel at the views of the colourful strands of red rocks, draped along the beautiful streams and valleys. The afternoon will be at leisure.

We begin in the spectacular Antelope Canyon, where our Navajo guide will take us on a jeep tour through the Canyon’s petrified sand dunes. These stunning red and orange rock formations are natural wonders created by wind, water and sand! Then we enjoy a scenic boat ride on Lake Powell, affording us beautiful views of Glen Canyon. We finish at magnificent Bryce Canyon National Park.

We visit Bryce Canyon National Park, where millions of years of water and wind erosion have formed thousands of delicately carved spires rising in brilliant colours from the valley floor. We will stop at the best vantage points. Those who wish to walk one of the trails will find them clearly marked. Later we proceed to Zion National Park - one of America's most impressive.

This morning we view the multi-coloured steep rock cliffs of Zion from various vantage points. There will be time to enjoy the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive that cuts through its main section, leading to forest trails along the Virgin River. This river flows to the Emerald Pools, which have waterfalls and a hanging garden. Our special Farewell Dinner will be tonight!

We leave the natural beauty for the glitz of Las Vegas. We arrive at our hotel (right on The Strip) in time to enjoy a full free afternoon. This evening we will enjoy a guided illuminated night tour of the Strip and to Glitter Gulch where it all began.

We fly home with Air Canada Rouge.