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Arches, Canyonlands, and Mesa Verde National Parks NEW
• Explore Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, hiking to iconic sites. • Delve into the past among the cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde National Park. • Join a Navajo guide for a jeep tour of Monument Valley and a traditional lunch. 7 DAYS FROM $4,995
DAY 1 I GRAND JUNCTION, COLORADO Arrive in Grand Junction and independently transfer to your hotel. Enjoy the rest of the day to relax or take a walk along lively Main Street, lined with galleries and boutiques. SpringHill Suites by Marriott Grand Junction Downtown/Historic Main Street DAY 2 I CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK, UTAH/MOAB After breakfast, travel into Utah’s canyon country and head for Island in the Sky, a mesa that rises over a thousand feet above the carved landscape of Canyonlands National Park. Take in spectacular views of the vast canyons below, and choose from a variety of hiking trails to breathtaking viewpoints such as the celebrated Mesa Arch. After a picnic lunch and time to explore the park as you wish, continue to Moab and check in to your lodge. Gather for dinner overlooking the Colorado River tonight. Red Cliffs Lodge | Meals: 1B, 1L, 1D
DAY 3 I ARCHES NATIONAL PARK/MOAB Rise early to explore Arches National Park before most visitors arrive. Spend the day discovering the park as you wish, choosing short or longer hikes that bring you to some of its 2,000 sandstone arches. Stop at a viewpoint along the trail for a picnic with a gorgeous natural backdrop. Enjoy a free evening to stroll through Moab and try out a local restaurant. Red Cliffs Lodge | Meals: 1B, 1L DAY 4 I NEWSPAPER ROCK STATE HISTORICAL MONUMENT/CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK/BLUFF Start the day at Newspaper Rock State Historical Monument, where Native Americans etched more than 650 petroglyphs across an immense rock face, recording some 2,000 years of human activity in images. Then explore the Needles, clusters of colorfully striped sandstone spires in the southeast corner of
A lone hiker appears in the arch known as North Window in Utah’s Arches National Park.
Canyonlands National Park. Experience this otherworldly rock landscape from different angles on your choice of hiking trails, and savor the panorama over a picnic lunch. Head south to the historic town of Bluff, established by Ancestral Puebloans around A.D. 650. Settle into your hotel, known for its southwestern charm, and sit down to dinner with sweeping views of canyon country. Desert Rose Inn | Meals: 1B, 1L, 1D
DAY 5 I MONUMENT VALLEY/BLUFF Journey into one of the most iconic landscapes of the American West: Monument Valley. Here on the Navajo Nation Reservation, majestic red mesas and towering buttes jut out from the valley floor. Join a native guide on a jeep tour of the rugged valley and its geological wonders. Gaze up at thousandfoot-tall sandstone buttes made famous by countless Western movies, hear a Navajo perspective on the area’s history, and enjoy a traditional Navajo lunch. After a thrilling day of exploration, return to Bluff and dine at a local restaurant. Desert Rose Inn | Meals: 1B, 1L, 1D DAY 6 I CANYONS OF THE ANCIENTS NATIONAL MONUMENT/MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK, COLORADO/DURANGO Set off on a breathtaking drive through Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, an archaeological mecca of ancient houses, shrines, rock art, and ceremonial structures called kivas. Arrive at the UNESCO World Heritage site of Mesa Verde National Park, a network of Ancestral Puebloan dwellings built into cliff faces and beneath rock overhangs. Learn about the remarkable culture that established these villages between the sixth and the 14th century, and step back in time at the famous Cliff Palace, a 150-room complex full of clues about life in these sandstone villages. This afternoon, travel to the historic railroad town of Durango, and cap off your adventure through canyon country with a farewell dinner. Leland House and Rochester Hotel Meals: 1B, 1L, 1D
DAY 7 I DURANGO After breakfast, transfer to the airport and catch your flight home. Meals: 1B
YOUR EXPEDITION TEAM
Knowledgeable local guides will accompany you on your trip, and you will meet other local experts as described in the itinerary.
INFORMATION
When to go: This private expedition is offered from May through October 15. You may request any dates during those months that are convenient for you. COST 2 PEOPLE 4 PEOPLE 6 PEOPLE
May 1–Oct. 15, 2021 $7,995 $5,995 $4,995 May 1–Oct. 15, 2022 $8,395 $6,295 $5,245
Prices are per person, double occupancy, subject to availability, and valid through October 15, 2022. Single-traveler prices are available upon request. A surcharge may apply to certain travel dates based on holidays and local events. Airfare is not included in the price.
