Duration: 11 Days
If you haven’t stood before fairy chimneys or squatting goblins, then you haven’t been on a holiday that truly rocks. Leading you to the nation’s most fascinating chasms, hoodoos, and other rock formations, this canyonlands holiday is as multi-layered as the ancient tiers of stone that formed them. Starting under the neon lights of Las Vegas, you’ll make your way to the flame-coloured walls of six national parks throughout Arizona and Utah, including Grand Canyon, Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon, and Zion National Parks. Rock on with a 4-wheel drive ride through the Navajo Nation’s majestic Monument Valley. Backcountry barbecues, rustic and resort lodges, all within a stone’s throw of the nation’s most spellbinding views only deepen your canyonlands experience.
Traveller Notes
- We’ve packed everything you need for the perfect holiday—from hand-selected hotels and dining to the friendly expertise of Globus Tour Directors and Local Guides, to seamless transportation between destinations and VIP access to the world’s most iconic sites! Touring by private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach with free Wi-Fi.
- On holidays that include an overnight stay in Las Vegas, at least one member of the travelling party must be 21 years of age or older.
- The Antelope Slot Canyon with a local Navajo guide on day 5 day requires walking roughly 1/4 mile over a dirt path and 4-5 medium flights of metal stairs with handrails up and down to access the canyon.
- This holiday visits national parks and other remote locations where some facilities may not be up to the first-class standard you expect from Globus. Some lodges within the parks do not have televisions and other amenities you would expect from most Globus hotels.
Please note: Itinerary is based on 2024, and is subject to change. Full details will be confirmed in 2024.
Welcome to fabulous Las Vegas!
At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome drink.
FREE TIME TIPS
EXPLORE MORE in Las Vegas with the free time to stroll the bright lights of the Strip, maybe throw a few dice, or try your hand at the slot machines. Your Tour Director has all the tips you need to experience Vegas in style. Check your GlobusGO mobile app for maps and dining suggestions as well!
Life is Grand
Leave the bright neon lights of Las Vegas behind and cross the old Mojave gold-strike country. Travel on a stretch of the legendary Route 66 to Grand Canyon National Park. There's time to wander along the canyon rim, join a ranger-led program, or simply savour the sunset. (B,D)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
NATURAL WONDERS Grand Canyon National Park spans 278 miles of the Colorado River on the ancestral homeland of 11 Associated Tribes, Marvel at one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World as you experience the dramatic views across one of the most spectacular examples of landscapes carved by water and wind found anywhere in the world-unmatched in the incomparable vistas it offers visitors on the rim.
Taking the Plunge
For a once-in-a-lifetime experience, take our optional flightseeing excursion over the heart of the Grand Canyon for incomparable views of crimson canyon walls plunging 4,800 feet into the Colorado River. Later this morning, we travel north to the shining shores of Lake Powell, created in 1963 when the Glen Canyon Dam held back the waters of the mighty Colorado River, forming a vast blue lake surrounded by beautiful sandstone walls. Upon arrival, enjoy a leisurely boat cruise and the opportunity to photograph the fascinating scenes created by the sharply eroded canyon walls (weather permitting). (B,D)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
SCENIC TREASURES Tucked among the red rocks canyon and mesas on the Colorado Plateau, Glen Canyon has been carved by the Colorado River, its several tributaries, powerful wind, and time. Sharing this spectacular region of the American Southwest is Lake Powell and its vast blue waters. Explore the history of more than 10,000 years of culture and exploration with stories that highlight the deep connection between the landscape and the people who have called it home.
Earth, Wind & Water
Today is yours to explore on your own. (B)
FREE TIME TIPS
EXPLORE MORE at Lake Powell to enjoy all the amenities your resort offers. Wake early to watch the sunrise where the magical landscape turns from purple to pink or choose an optional excursion, with an optional trip to picturesque Antelope Canyon with a Navajo guide to see a spectacular petrified sand dune carved by water and wind to create the stunning slot canyon or consider an optional flightseeing trip over Lake Powell for a new perspective of the vast rugged area seeing the famous Rainbow Bridge and Glen Canyon Dam.
Campfire Stories
This morning, continue into Navajo country to Goulding's Lodge in the heart of Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. As you approach the lodge, witness one of the most dramatic and photographed points on earth. Upon arrival, take a dip in the pool and admire the Western sky above or perhaps explore the Goulding's Museum and Trading Post, home to a wonderful collection of movie memorabilia and Indian artifacts. Tonight, travel with a Navajo guide into the red rock backcountry for a private [LF] Navajo backcountry cookout. (B,D)
LOCAL FAVOURITE
CULTURE & TRADITION Join a Navajo Guide for an authentic experience in the red rock backcountry with a private cookout around the fire. Hear fascinating stories of legends and folklore that bring this remarkable region to life.
Four-Wheeling & Weaving Stories
In the cool hours of morning, set out on a [LF] 4-wheel-drive backcountry tour with a Local Navajo Guide. Later, we continue north to Moab, an outdoor mecca, for a relaxing 2-night stay at Red Cliffs Lodge on the Colorado River. Enjoy a [LF] Western BBQ overlooking the Colorado River. (B,D)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
ACCOMMODATION SPOTLIGHT Settle into the luxurious Western charm of Red Cliffs Lodge high on the banks of the Colorado River for a ranch-style experience in the wide-open spaces where classic movie Westerns like Rio Grande, with famed legend John Wayne, were filmed.
Crimson Canyons
This morning, we visit Arches National Park, home to more than 2,000 natural sandstone arches, including the world-famous Delicate Arch. Be on the lookout for the elusive desert big horn sheep high on the cliff sides. Next, on to magnificent Canyonlands National Park and Dead Horse Point State Park for aerial views of winding river through deep red rock canyons. The remainder of the day is yours to relax at your resort. Wander through the onsite Moab Museum of Film and Western Heritage, enjoy the outdoor pool (seasonal), or simply relax taking in the views of 2,000 foot cliffs that surround the resort. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
NATURAL WONDERS Explore the magnificent views of Canyonlands National Park to see deep canyons stretching across the Colorado Plateau, an intricate canyon labyrinth with a million crimson hues.?Then, on to Dead Horse Point State Park to see a vast mesa with an incredible view of the Colorado River as it twists through a gooseneck canyon 2,000 feet below.
This morning, drive along Utah's Journey Through Time Scenic Byway and through Capitol Reef National Park. Continue through the land of natural bridges, narrow canyons, and expansive views to Bryce Canyon National Park. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
SCENIC WONDERS Journey Through Time Scenic Byway and Capitol Reef National Park amid dramatic and diverse, remote and ruggedly beautiful landscapes. Drive through the pristine environment where the land bends into a giant ripple having been tortured and twisted over millions of years. Marvel at the twists and turns over hogbacks, slick rock, and through steep canyons. Keep your camera handy as this route is one of the most spectacular drives in North America.
Rock Stars
A day of rich contrasts leads you to a full day to explore Bryce Canyon National Park. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
EPIC RIDE Explore Bryce Canyon's fantastically sculpted rock formations called Hoodoos that resemble castle towers, cathedral spires, and squatting goblins. As the light changes throughout the day, the natural amphitheatres and canyons glow between distinct oranges, reds, and yellows creating a striking background for photographic masterpieces. Spend the day hiking into the park's natural amphitheatres, photographing the changing light on the Hoodoos, or searching for one of the dozens of species that call this unique place home.
Stones that Touch the Sky
After breakfast, say goodbye to the Hoodoos and descend into a stunning half-mile-deep canyon for Zion National Park. Enjoy a boxed picnic lunch on the front lawn of Zion Lodge with free time to explore. Continue to Las Vegas where your Tour Director hosts a farewell dinner. (B,L,D)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
NATIONAL PARK PERFECTION Meaning a place of peace and refuge known to nourish the soul, Zion's sandstone walls rise thousands of feet above the valleys and cliffs high above the canyon floor's lush greenery and snaking Virgin River. Here, Native people and pioneers first gazed skyward at soaring cliffs of cream, pink, and red piercing the brilliant blue sky.
Safe travels until we meet again!
Your holiday ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
