Set out this morning for a short drive to breathtaking Bryce Canyon National Park. Reaching an elevation of almost 2,500 metres above sea level, take the easy Rim Trail and watch the sun cast curious shadows through the eye-catching hoodoos – unique rock formations carved by frost and water erosion – the unusual, patterned pillars for which Bryce Canyon is renowned. Walk through the natural amphitheatre to weave between these rocky skyscrapers, then rejoin your group and check in at your hotel for the evening.
Today, discover the wonders of two of Utah’s most beloved national parks. Start where over 2,000 naturally formed arches, cast in orange sandstone, populate the incomparable Arches National Park. The trail up to Delicate Arch is moderately difficult but worth the reward – its the park’s crowning glory and one of the most famous rock arches in the world, perched high atop sloping hills.
Continue to Canyonlands National Park, where the confluence of the Green and Colorado Rivers elegantly carves a new path through the park’s titular canyons. Follow in the footsteps of notorious outlaw Butch Cassidy, whose ‘Wild Bunch’ gang made their hideout at Robbers Roost. In the evening, check in at your hotel for a well-earned rest.
Optional activities:
- Slickrock sunset Hummer tour (from US$100 per person).
- Canyoneering (from US$100 per person).
Continue exploring the vast beauty of both Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park, choosing to follow one of the innumerable trails or finding the perfect spot to sit down and soak up the sweeping drama of the scenery. For those seeking a wild west experience, perhaps join an optional sunset Hummer tour of Slickrock (at additional cost), where the dry tablelands appear lifted straight out of a classic Western film. Alternatively, adventure-seekers may opt for a canyoneering experience for a different perspective on these spectacular vistas (additional costs apply).
Optional activities:
- Slickrock sunset Hummer tour (from US$100 per person).
- Canyoneering (from US$100 per person).
Hit the road heading south for Arizona and the otherworldly Monument Valley. Famed for its gargantuan sandstone buttes, Monument Valley has been a must-see of countless American road trips, and a silver screen feature in titles like Forrest Gump and Thelma & Louise. A leading achievement among Indigenous American lands, Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park is one of the most striking landscapes on the continent.
Join a knowledge Navajo guide as you take a jeep tour across this sprawling plateau, learning about the region’s rich history.
Should you wish to experience the painterly light play of Antelope Canyon’s brushstroke curves, choose to join a 1.5-hour morning tour through the slot canyon and onward to the instantly recognisable Horseshoe Bend.
Your final stop in the Southwest is the one and only Grand Canyon. Pausing at a Navajo trading post, you’ll follow the powerful Colorado River on your way to one of the largest canyons on the planet. Making the list of Seven Natural Wonders of the World, this expansive national park is home to the almost 450-kilometre-long canyon. Whether you choose to hike into the humbling depths, wander the rim by the dazzling light of the setting sun, or pull up a chair at one of the cafes along the edge, this is your chance to witness truly spectacular natural grandeur.
Optional activities:
- Antelope Canyon tour (from US$90 per person).
- Grand Canyon helicopter flight (from US$250 per person).
Your return journey to sleepless Las Vegas takes you along historic Route 66. As you roll down this quintessential western road, you’ll have one last chance to bid farewell to the great open spaces and barren beauty of the American West. Once you arrive back at The Mirage Hotel around 5pm, the rest of the afternoon is yours to either transfer to the airport (LAS) or to your post-tour accommodation, where you can spend some more time indulging in Sin City on your own.
Departure & Transfers
Please book your flights to arrive at Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) before 5am on Day 1. Airport transfers are not included on the last day of your tour.
Please Note: Travellers departing after 12 July 2024 will instead be dropped off at the Palms Casino coach loading curb.