Colourful Trails of the Southwest End Albuquerque
United States
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On this Southwest USA tour, each day is a cultural and natural adventure. You’ll stay inside Grand Canyon National Park, explore ancient Puebloan cliff dwellings in Mesa Verde National Park and natural arches near Moab, and ride a 4x4 through Monument Valley’s landscapes with a member of the Navajo Nation.
Availability
From 05/05/2024 to 15/10/2024
Departure dates & prices
Dates
Availability
Price
What's included
An expert Travel Director and professional Driver.
Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted.
All porterage and restaurant gratuities.
All hotel tips, charges and local taxes.
Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals.
Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras.
Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing.
All transport and transfers shown.
Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys).
Optional Experiences and free time.
On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilised.
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Itinerary
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Day 1 Welcome to Phoenix and Scottsdale Arrive in sun-kissed Phoenix and transfer to Scottsdale at your leisure. This evening, meet your Travel Director and fellow travellers for a Welcome Dinner.
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Day 2 See the Red Rocks of Sedona Connect with Locals Your first stop today is in the artists' enclave of Sedona - surrounded by red-rock buttes, steep canyon walls and pine forests. You'll travel through Oak Creek Canyon next, with its rocky red cliffs, then venture to the UNESCO-listed Grand Canyon National Park, where a Local Specialist will share the canyon's many geological marvels. Tonight, you'll have an opportunity to overnight at one of the lodges inside the park.
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Day 3 Take In The Sights Of The Grand Canyon Make Travel Matter Don't miss an unforgettable experience: Rise early for an optional flightseeing tour over the Grand Canyon and then trace the scenic South Rim of the Grand Canyon along Desert View Drive. Enjoy a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER(R) Experience as we visit Desert View's Pueblo-style Watch tower and support the development of the Desert View Inter-tribal Heritage Center. Later, we'll all stop at Cameron Trading Post. Finally, we'll take a walk to the rim of Glen Canyon to Horseshoe Bend. This evening, join an Optional Make Travel Matter Experience at Red Heritage, a Navajo owned and operated Native American Performing Arts Theater. They showcase culturally inspired food alongside an unforgettable show!
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Day 4 Take a Scenic Drive to Moab Make Travel Matter Depart Page and drive through Navajo Tribal Lands to Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, the largest reservation in the United States with over 17 million acres of land between Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico. Dive Into Culture as you board a 4x4 vehicle and navigate the iconic red valley landscape guided by a member of the Navajo Nation and Local Specialist. Pause and settle in surrounded by buttes and mesas in this sacred land for an outdoor chicken and steak barbeque lunch prepared by a Navajo tribe member as they share stories about the Dineh (Navajo) people and their connection to Monument Valley. Then continue to Moab on a scenic drive from Monument Valley where your Travel Director will share intel on some of the sights you'll see along the way. Sit back and enjoy views of the San Juan River, Mexican Hat, Bluff, and the Abajo "Blue Mountain" and La Sal Mountains. Your final destination tonight is Moab, Utah - the gateway to Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, and the Colorado River. Kick off your stay with dinner at a locally owned diner.
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Day 5 Admire the Landscape of Arches National Park This morning, discover how the forces of wind and rain have shaped the enchanting landscape of Arches National Park in the stunning formations that they are, with countless perfect photo opportunities. Later, journey to Canyonlands National Park to connect with nature even more. We visit the Island in the Sky - a mesa resting 1,000 feet (305 meters) above the surrounding countryside, offering spectacular views over the dramatic sandstone formations.
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Day 6 Discover the History of Mesa Verde Stays With Stories We arrive in the UNESCO-listed Mesa Verde National Park to delve into the history and culture of the Ancestral Puebloan people. Explore their beautifully preserved sandstone dwellings. This evening, in Durango, your Stay with Stories is historic Strater Hotel. You'll have the evening at leisure to explore the historic town of Durango.
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Day 7 Dive into Durango Make Travel Matter Enjoy free time in Durango today, or you may take a scenic drive along the Million Dollar Highway from Ouray and Silverton. If you're lucky, enjoy a truly unforgettable step back in time, on a ride aboard the coal-fired, steam-powered narrow-gauge train (booked independently). The train chugs along rails that were originally laid at the end of the 19th century, winding through a spectacular wilderness which would be inaccessible by car. If you're feeling more adventurous, opt for a white-water rafting trip on the Animas River.
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Day 8 Unlock the Legacy of Nambe Pueblo The journey continues along the High Road - Santa Fe Scenic Byway, rich in history, art and culture. Enjoy a Be My Guest and traditional feast experience at Nambe Pueblo. Lunch will be prepared by the community members at the Senior Centre, which includes traditional stews and deserts. Guests will embark on a village tour, learning about traditional feast days in Nambe, as well as a one-of-a-kind dining experience with members from the Pueblo of Nambe. Later, arrive at the hotel, ideally located two short blocks from Santa Fe's Historic Plaza.
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Day 9 Explore the Unique Culture of Santa Fe Make Travel Matter Enjoy a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER(R) Experience as you visit one of the greatest Ancestral Puebloan archaeological sites in the Southwest. Be immersed in the fascinating adobe dwellings and take a walk through Taos Pueblo, a Native American community that has been continuously inhabited for the last 1,000 years. Meet your Taos tribal resident guide and explore the only living Native American community designated both a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and a National Historic Landmark. Get ready for a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER(R) Experience with a visit to the Allan Houser Sculpture Garden. See many of the city's major sights before you have the rest of the day to pursue your own interests before gathering together for a fantastic farewell dinner.
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Day 10 End Your Journey in Albuquerque Our journey through desert landscapes comes to an end, make your own way to Albuquerque Airport. Dining Summary
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3 - Dinner
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9 - Breakfast
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2 - Lunch Be My Guest Santa Fe: Visit Namb? Pueblo, a Native American community in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains famous for its public ceremonies and traditions, strong agriculture, traditional textiles and world-renowned pottery. Once the primary cultural and religious center for the northern New Mexican pueblo communities, Namb? Pueblo has existed at this site since the 14th century. Take in the sprawling land of nearly 20,000 acres of towering cottonwoods, junipers, scrub oak and an occasional outcropping of sandstone on your cultural visit including lunch with the community elders. Dive Into Culture Grand Canyon National Park: The great outdoors is your classroom today when you meet geologist Canyon Tim for an enlightening talk about the Grand Canyon at the South Rim . Having over 30 years of geological experience, Tim's fascinating talk reveals how this natural marvel was formed millions of years ago and how the different layers that make up the Colorado Plateau are still visible today. Iconic Experience Grand Canyon National Park: One of the seven natural wonders of the world and the second most visited national park in the United States. Explore the Visitor Center and get familiar with the history of the Grand Canyon, grab a coffee at a local caf? and take a walk along the Rim Trail. Keep your camera on-hand as you explore some of the 278 miles of the Colorado River and adjacent canyonlands at one of the most spectacular examples of erosion anywhere in the world with unmatched vistas along its rim. Oak Creek Canyon: Drive through Coconino National Forest on one of the most scenic drives in the U.S., offering a picture perfect view of the surrounding red-rock and Ponderosa Pine forest between Sedona and Flagstaff, Arizona. Glen Canyon Dam: Enjoy a walk to the rim of Glen Canyon where you will get the chance to visit Horseshoe Bend. Monument Valley: Board a 4x4 vehicle and navigate the iconic red valley landscape guided by a member of the Navajo Nation and Local Specialist. Arches National Park: Nature's creations spring to life at Arches National Park, home to the greatest concentration of natural arches in the world. Some 6,000 natural sandstone arches can be found within the boundaries of the national park. On your visit, unlock all the science and history of how these 6,000 natural sandstone arches were formed by rain and wind. Take in the sights of Delicate Arch and Balanced Rock while admiring the ever-changing landscapes as you traverse the park. Canyonlands National Park: There's no better spot to witness the power of the Colorado River carving through rocky red landscapes than at Canyonlands National Park. Take in the sights of Mesa Arch, views from the Green River Overlook, and be inspired by the vast expanse of high desert canyons at Grand View Point. Mesa Verde National Park: There's no better place to learn about the ancient cliff dwellings of the Ancestral Puebloan people than at Mesa Verde National Park. View the carvings in the sandstone of the canyon walls at the several hundred of these dwellings - astounded by the history presented before you. This UNESCO-listed park also features thousands of well-known preserved archaeological sites. Take in the sites of this protected area as you ride along the Mesa Top Loop and Cliff Palace Loop, where you can see the magnificent Cliff Palace. Taos: Explore Taos Pueblo with Local Specialists who call Taos Pueblo home. Gain insight into the history of the pueblo and what it is like to live there today. MAKE TRAVEL MATTER(R) Grand Canyon: Feel good knowing you're doing good visiting Desert Viewpoint Inter-tribal Cultural Heritage Site where members of 11 Indigenous tribes share their stories, family histories and cultural demonstrations. Discover Native crafts watching a carpet weaving demonstration, or you may enjoy traditional song and dance performances. Your visit and donation provide a continuous source of funding for the on-going development of the Cultural Heritage Site while allowing guests to engage directly with Indigenous community members. The experience directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities and Goal 11: Responsible Production and Consumption. Monument Valley: Travel to Monument Valley for a highly enjoyable cookout lunch with members of the Navajo Nation. You'll take off-road vehicles to the cookout site where you'll enjoy a delicious steak and chicken dinner with a chance to try traditional Navajo tacos and fry-bread. Santa Fe: Visit the 50-acre property on a private tour with local specialist to see some of Allan Houser's most amazing works known for his magnificent sculptures and paintings depicting various Indigenous tribes. Taos: Visit Taos Pueblo, a UNESCO World's Heritage Center as well as a National Historic Landmark and one the oldest continuously inhabited communities in the country. Best known for is iconic, multi-storied adobe buildings, built roughly 1,000 years ago. About 150 Puebloans live within the pueblo full time. The Taos Tribal Council, which owns the pueblo, does not allow any modern convenience inside the pueblo, such as running water or electricity. Must-see Highlights : Explore the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Taos Pueblo, Nambe Pueblo Village : Visit Scottsdale, Mesa Verde National Park, Cameron Trading Post, Horseshoe Bend Lookout, Moab, Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Durango, Taos and Santa Fe : Scenic Drive through Sedona's Red Rock Country, Oak Creek Canyon, Grand Canyon National Park's Desert View Drive, Trail of the Ancients National Scenic Byway and the High Road Scenic Byway from Taos to Santa Fe : View Cliff Palace dwelling at Mesa Verde National Park, Desert Viewpoint Trafalgar Difference Durango: Stay at The Strater Hotel, adorned with beautiful handcrafted woodwork, housing the largest collection of American Victorian walnut antiques. It's Durango's Historic Landmark Hotel, showcasing stories of the old west and mining times. Whats Included : An expert Travel Director and professional Driver : Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted : All porterage and restaurant gratuities : All hotel tips, charges and local taxes : Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals : Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras : Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing : All transport and transfers shown : Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys) : Optional Experiences and free time : On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilised.
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