Pioneer Adventures of the Old West - 8 Days
8 Days
Phoenix
Las Vegas
***
Trafalgar Tours
Unlock your pioneer spirit of the Old West on this US National Parks Tour. Sunny Scottsdale welcomes you to Arizona. Explore bohemian Sedona, then board a scenic train through the Kaibab Forest en route the UNESCO-listed Grand Canyon National Park, before experiencing majestic Page and Lake Powell. Enjoy a picnic lunch in Zion National Park and head to Bryce Canyon, home of the ghostly hoodoos.
Itinerary
Day 1: Enjoy a Scenic Ride to Scottsdale
Howdy folks! Arrive in Phoenix and transfer to Scottsdale on your own. You can spend the afternoon at leisure before meeting your new travel partners for dinner. Meet your Travel Director at 18:00.
Day 2: Roam Red Rock Country
Your trek through America's frontier history begins in the Sonoran Desert. Stampede through the luminous orange and red landscapes of Sedona with your choice sightseeing. Then, it’s on through Oak Creek Canyon to the historic railroad town of Williams, where you’ll Connect With Locals and enjoy a Be My Guest experience dinner hosted by the owners of a local western restaurant.
Optional Experiences: (Optional Experiences are enhancements to your tour and can be booked through your Travel Director while on tour).
Canyons and Cowboys - $126 pp
Your Red Rock Western Guide takes you through a scenic wonderland surrounded by seven majestic canyons into historic Dry Creek Basin. Relive early cowboy days during this fun outing in Sedona.
Easy on the Asphalt (90 minutes) - $126 pp
A "Sedona snapshot" with great photo opportunities! Join us on this informative, relaxing, and breathtaking tour of some of Sedona's most magnificent overlooks and some of the most photographed sites in all of Arizona.
Day 3: Explore Flagstaff
Discover all that Flagstaff has to offer today. Head to Walnut Canyon National Monument to spot cliff dwellings and learn all about the Sinagua people who lived here over 800 years ago. Enjoy a scenic self-guided 0.9-mile loop trail that allows visitors to explore the dwellings up close, as well as breath-taking views of the canyon and its diverse plant and animal life. Enjoy lunch on your terms in downtown Flagstaff before you Dive into Culture at the Museum of Northern Arizona learning all about the cultural heritage of the Colorado Plateau over a guided pottery-making class. The remainder of your evening is free for you to explore Route 66 just steps away from your hotel.
Day 4: All Aboard the Old West Train
Cut dirt and board your train to the Grand Canyon for some Family Fun, passing the vanilla-scented Ponderosa Pines and through the Kaibab National Forest. Tales of Old West legends are brought back to life as they travel with you along the rugged landscapes. We arrive at the UNESCO-listed Grand Canyon, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Walk the rim and learn from a Local Specialist how this extraordinary feat of nature developed over the past 40 million years.
Optional Experiences: (Optional Experiences are enhancements to your tour and can be booked through your Travel Director while on tour).
Grand Discovery Air Tour South Rim - Fixed Wing Aircraft Flight (45 min) - $199 pp
There’s no better way to experience the grandeur of the Grand Canyon South Rim than on a fascinating aerial tour offering unobstructed views. Sit back and feel the thrill of this Natural Wonder as you fly over the Kaibab National Forest, Kaibab Plateau, Confluence of Colorado, Little Colorado River, Imperial Point and Zuni Corridor.
Grand Kingdom EcoStar Helicopter Flight (40 minutes) - $419 pp
Soar across the canyon rim on a helicopter flight, watching as the bottom seemingly drops out from under your feet. Gaze deep into the core of the canyon over 5,000 feet down to the confluence of the Little Colorado River. Then drift past Imperial Point - a rugged spire standing alone near the North Rim of the Canyon. Flying at the same altitude as the North Rim, you may feel you can reach out and touch the canyon walls. Then head back to Grand Canyon South Rim via the Dragon Corridor, another of the Grand Canyon's most picturesque sections.
Day 5: Explore Desert View and Page
Enjoy a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience as you visit Desert View's Pueblo-style Watch tower and support the Grand Canyon Conservancy and their development of the Desert View Inter-Tribal Cultural Heritage Site. Enjoy lunch on your own in Page before heading over to the iconic Horseshoe Bend. You'll witness the Colorado River carving through the red rock canyons with sweeping vistas as far as the eye can see. Afterward, you can choose to join a Navajo Local Guide for a tour through one of the magical slot canyons surrounding the region. In the evening, join an optional MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience at Red Heritage, a Navajo owned and operated Native American Performing Arts Theatre, for a show of powwow dancing, flute playing and live drum music while enjoying a tasty dinner.
Optional Experiences: (Optional Experiences are enhancements to your tour and can be booked through your Travel Director while on tour).
Mountain Sheep Slot Canyon Tour - $101 pp
his tour focuses on the Mountain Sheep Slot Canyon, an off-the-beaten-path trail offering a more intimate experience compared to other slot canyon tours. The canyon features distinctive, undulating walls with rich, varied colors, making it a popular spot for hikers and photographers. As you traverse the canyon, you'll encounter towering red rock cliffs, winding sandstone passages, and native plants like yucca, cactus, and sagebrush, along with wildlife such as lizards, snakes, and birds of prey. The guide will provide fascinating insights into the area's history and geology, including information about the ancient Native American cultures and geologic processes that shaped the canyon. Suitable for all fitness levels, the tour includes frequent breaks for rest and hydration, with a reminder to bring plenty of water and sun protection. Your visit directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.
Red Heritage Dinner Show - $87 pp
Navajo owned and operated, Red Heritage is a Native American Performing Arts Theater. Colorful powwow dancing, flute playing and live drum music complement a culturally inspired meal and an unforgettable experience! A buffet with base options of frybread, rice or lettuce. Then there will be southwest inspired chicken, pork, beef, traditional chili, and vegetarian chili for protein. Sautéed vegetables with lettuce, tomato, onion, cheese, and green chili offered as toppings or sides. Served with pudding parfait for dessert. One alcoholic beverage included. Cash bar available. This experience is part of TreadRight's MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® global initiative for sustainable tourism.
Day 6: Journey to Zion National Park
Explore yet another great natural triumph in Zion National Park by shuttle or on foot. Connect to history following in the footsteps of Native Americans and the earliest pioneers. Immerse yourself in Zion's vibrant landscapes, where lush vegetation lines winding rivers, seasonal waterfalls cascade down canyon walls, and towering white and pink sandstone cliffs soar overhead. Perhaps challenge yourself with a hike to the Emerald Pools before continuing your adventure to the red-orange-pink-hued hoodoos of Bryce Canyon, your final stop for today. Continue the fun over an optional barbeque dinner at Ebenezer's Show and Dinner feasting on salmon, flat iron steaks and grilled chicken and tasty sides while taking in an energizing live country music show.
Optional Experiences: (Optional Experiences are enhancements to your tour and can be booked through your Travel Director while on tour).
Ebenezer's Dinner and Show - $66 pp
Giddy up and get ready for an unforgettable evening of old-fashioned western fun, music and great cowboy food at Ebenezer’s Dinner and Show in Bryce Canyon. This favorite will have you tapping your toes and smacking your lips after a filling, tasty meal of flat iron steak, baked salmon or BBQ chicken.
Day 7: Get Immersed in Colourful Bryce Canyon
Take your seat in an amphitheater of the must-see, towering sandstone spires of Bryce Canyon. Bask in these pink, orange and rusty-red limestone spires, known as hoodoos, that seem to rise from the desert floor. Explore the rim, learning how the canyon was formed over millennia by the erosion of sandstone and limestone, before spending the afternoon at leisure. Choose to blaze your own trail on a one-hour horseback ride in the Dixie National Forest, climbing Bristlecone Pine Ridge with 1,500-year-old Bristlecone Pines (one of the oldest living things on the North American continent). Your adventure through the Old West almost at its end, you get gussied up for dinner.
Optional Experiences: (Optional Experiences are enhancements to your tour and can be booked through your Travel Director while on tour).
Ruby's Horseback Adventures - $85
If you’re looking for a scenic tour of the Bryce Canyon area, our 1-hour horseback ride takes in the Dixie National Forest and the rim of Water Canyon Amphitheater, the first canyon in Bryce Canyon National Park. Leaving the rim, you climb Bristlecone Pine Ridge with standing 1,500 year old Bristlecone Pines (one of the oldest living things on the North American continent). From this ridge, you will also see Boat Mesa and Sinking Ship Peak, some of the higher points in Fairyland Amphitheater.
Day 8: Farewell to the Old West
Hoodoos to your back and high-living ahead, depart on the last leg of your journey to Las Vegas with a stop in St. George, Utah for lunch on your own. You'll be transferred to Las Vegas International Airport, or your hotel if you're extending your stay. Arrive at the airport at 14:00.
Includes
- 7 nights in handpicked 3 & 4 star hotels in great locations
- Comfortable coaches with bathroom facilities (w/c)
- 24/7 personal service – knowledgeable Travel Director & expert driver
- Porterage, plus tips and gratuities at hotels and restaurants are included
- Meals as stated in the itinerary
Excludes
- Flights - please call us on 0844 80 444 80 to obtain a quote and book flights
- Pre & post nights - please call us on 0844 80 444 80 to obtain a quote and book additional nights
- Driver & Tour Director gratuities - these can be pre-paid, please ask your reservations agent when booking your tour
Choose Your Departure Date
Prices shown above are per person based on 2 adults sharing. For single, triple, quad and child prices please call us for a quote.
Please call us on 0844 80 444 80 to check the latest up-to-date availability and to book your tour.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How much is the deposit to secure a tour and when is the balance due?
A deposit of 10% is required when making your booking.
The balance of the holiday cost must be received by us no less than 10 weeks prior to your date of departure. Bookings made within 10 weeks of departure require full payment at the time of booking.
For some tours or if there is a special "Early Booking offer", the balance maybe due sooner than 10 weeks before departure, in this case you will be advised at time of booking when the balance due date would be.
The balance payment date will be shown on your confirmation invoice.
Payments can be made by debit card, credit card or bank transfers.
YOUR PAYMENTS TO US ARE FULLY FINANCIALLY SECURE FOR YOUR PEACE OF MIND: Where your confirmed travel arrangements include a flight and you are resident in the UK (or EU) or the flight departs from, arrives in or transits the UK, this is financially protected through our Air Travel Organiser’s Licence (ATOL) number 6874 managed by the Civil Aviation Authority, Gatwick Airport South, West Sussex, RH6 0YR, UK, telephone 0333 103 6350, email claims@caa. co.uk.
CANCELLATIONS: Cancellations t&c's can differ from operator to operator, these will be confirmed to you with your booking confirmation. For our general Terms and conditions and general cancellation details please click here.
What does the tour cost include?
The per person price listed covers all hotel accommodations, taxes, all applicable sightseeing and admissions as per the itinerary, motor coach, cruise or rail transportation, services of a professional Travel Director, all meals as shown in the itinerary and luggage handling. All tips have been included for services on trip by dining-room staff, chambermaids and porters at hotels, airports, docks and train stations.
Can i book flights through you?
Yes, we can offer competitive airfares with all the major airlines.
When booking a package with us that includes flights and a tour, your package is then fully ATOL bonded by the CAA for your full financial peace of mind.
Please call us on 0844 80 444 80 and our travel experts will be able to provide a quote for any flight requirements.
You are, of course, welcome to book flights independently but we are therefore not responsible should your flights be delayed and you miss any part of your tour or other arrangements booked with us.
Can i add additional hotel nights before or after my tour?
Many of our clients choose to add extra hotel nights to spend a little more time in their chosen destination. You can reserve additional hotel nights before or after your tour.
Please call us on 0844 80 444 80 and our travel experts will be able to provide a quote for your additional nights and assist with your requirements.
Can i book twin beds or triple/quad rooms?
Yes, we have options for twin (2 beds) and triple/quad room configurations.
If you a travelling in a party of three or four adult guests, please call us on 0844 80 444 80 and our travel experts will be able to provide a quote for your requirements.
For double rooms (2 guests), 1 Double/Queen or King bed is the normal, Twin beds can be requested at time of booking.
For triple rooms (3 guests) these will normally have 1 Queen/King bed and a fold out bed, or 2 Queen/King beds and a fold out bed.
For Quad rooms (4 Guests) these will normally have 2 Queen/King beds.
How much is the solo/single supplement?
Escorted tours are the perfect option if you're travelling solo, combining the camaraderie of a smaller group with the independence of a solo trip. Many tours offer solo room share options, or a competitive solo supplement.
Please call us on 0844 80 444 80 and our travel experts will be able to provide a quote for your requirements.
How many guests will be on this tour?
Trafalgar welcomes guests from all over the world to have an amazing, shared travel experience. While we can’t share details of who you’ll be travelling with and how many people are on your tour in advance of your tour, you can see our average group sizes below. You’ll meet your group at your tour welcome when you start your trip.
Europe trips: An average of 40 to 45 guests and a maximum of 53
United States and Canada trips: A maximum of 52 guests
Australia and New Zealand trips: A maximum of 50 guests
Asia trips (except Sri Lanka): A maximum of 32 guests
Sri Lanka trips: A maximum of 48 guests
Africa trips: A maximum of 36 guests
Latin America trips: A maximum of 40 to 45 guests
How much walking will be on this tour?
With your comfort in mind, Purely Escorted Tours assigns every tour an activity level. The activity level for your chosen tour is displayed in the tour introduction.
Leisurely: Tours will typically have 1-2 miles of walking per day on primarily flat surfaces and with some stairs.
Balanced: Tours typically have up to 1-3 miles of walking per day, which may include some uneven surfaces such as cobblestones and stairs.
Dynamic: These journeys can feature 4+ miles of walking on some days and may involve some steep hills.
Do your coaches have on-board wifi and bathroom faclilites?
Regardless of where in the world your tour visits, we do our best to ensure your coach is as comfortable as it can be. However, there can be differences depending on where in the world you're visiting:
Europe, North & South America, Australia & New Zealand trips:-
We pride ourselves on having the best-in-class fleet of fuel-efficient coaches. The high vantage point from your coach’s window means you can take in all the glorious scenery, whether it’s a vast rural landscape or an urban city centre. Facilities you’ll enjoy are:
- Reclining seats
- An on-board restroom
- Charging points (please note that these are power points, and not USBs)
- WiFi
- Air-conditioning
Africa & Asia trips:-
Africa and Asia tour vehicles do not have Wi-Fi. On Asia trips, there are no onboard rest rooms, but we always ensure there are regular rest stops.
Are gratuities included for the driver, tour director and at restaurants etc?
Gratuities are included at hotels and restaurants. And, you have the option to pre-pay your Travel Director and driver gratuities before you travel if you wish.
Please call us on 0844 80 444 80 and our travel experts will be able to provide a quote for you to pre-pay driver and tour director gratuities.
Do you offer/include Travel Insurance?
Travel insurance is not included in your tour and we do not offer travel insurance.
Please procure Travel Insurance before travelling. This will protect you and will give you peace of mind before you travel and whilst on your tour.
We suggest that your insurance covers the following:
- Cancellation or curtailment of your vacation due to medical or other reasons
- Loss or damage to your property and baggage
- Loss of cash, credit cards etc
- Medical costs and personal accidents
Certain countries require visitors to have valid medical insurance on entry and in Europe, you may find that doctor's surgeries, dentists and hospitals often require payment in cash prior to providing services. Whilst rare, medical evacuation can be exceptionally expensive.
Do remember to bring a copy of your policy, contact phone numbers and details of how to claim when you travel.
Should you choose to travel on Purely Escorted Tour without the required travel insurance, you will have full responsibility for all expenses (trip interruption, trip delay, medical expenses, quarantine expenses and emergency evacuation/repatriation) that may arise while travelling with us.
What does a guaranteed departure mean?
A guaranteed departure means the tour will operate no matter how many people are booked to travel on that departure.
In the slim case that a guaranteed departure you are booked on has to be withdrawn due to unforeseen circumstances, you are entitled to a full refund on the funds already paid, or if flexible with your time, we can move you onto another departure that suits you.
What do I need to know about border crossings, visas, entry requirements and passports?
Depending on your nationality, you may need visas to enter certain countries included on your trip. Please note that obtaining visas can take up to six weeks and so it is strongly advised that you consult your local Consulate or Embassy of the country you are visiting to determine which visas they require and how to obtain them.
Note: Purely Escorted Tours is not responsible for obtaining any necessary visas required on your tour.
Information about border crossings and visas, entry requirements varies by destination. Please check the destination you're visiting below for more information:
Europe trips:
Each guest must ensure that their passport is valid for at least six months beyond the conclusion of their trip and that they have acquired all necessary visas and permits. Multiple-entry visas may be required if you are entering a country more than once on your holiday.
Guests are advised that only the countries you plan to visit can provide up-to-date information about their specific visa requirements. Guests should contact the nearest embassy or consulate of the countries they plan to visit well in advance of travel. Please check your itinerary carefully. Remember that requirements vary based on a passport's place of issue and that the process can take time.
Check that multi-entry visas have the correct entry dates and destinations before you travel. Please be aware that with some itineraries, you may travel through a country without making an overnight stop. If this happens on your itinerary, you will still need a visa to enter/exit the country for example an ETA when transiting through UK & Ireland.
Please ensure that you carry proper identification with you at all times, as border crossings will need to see your entry documents and passports. Usually crossing borders is a very straightforward process that is managed by your Travel Director. However, be advised that you may be required to open your luggage and answer simple questions about the length of your stay, purpose of travel, etc.
United Kingdom and Northern Ireland trips incl transiting travellers:
From January 8, 2025 UK law requires travelers both entering and transiting through the UK and Northern Ireland to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) which must be obtained in advance of travel.
UK eTA applications can be made at the UK Governments official website.
USA trips incl transiting travellers:
US law requires travellers both entering and transiting through the United States are required to obtain an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) which must be obtained in advance of travel.
ESTA applications can be made at the U.S. Customs and Boarder Protection website.
Canada trips:
Canadian law requires travellers both entering and transiting through Canada to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) which must be obtained in advance of travel.
eTA applications can be made at the Government of Canada's website.
Rest of the World trips:
Each guest must ensure that their passport is valid for at least six months beyond the conclusion of their trip and that they have acquired all necessary visas and permits. You are responsible for obtaining all necessary visas before the departure of your guided holiday. Depending on your nationality, you may need visas to enter certain countries included on your trip. Please note that obtaining visas can take up to six weeks before your departure. It is strongly advised that you consult the local Consulate or Embassy of the country you are visiting well in advance to determine which visas they require and how to obtain them.
What if I have mobility issues?
Please notify us of any disability requiring special assistance prior to travelling. We will try our best to accommodate you throughout the tour and will inform the hotels.
What if I have food allergies?
Please advise us of any dietary requirements. We will make arrangements with our suppliers where possible.
You will also need to talk to your Travel Director at the beginning of your tour and they will do their utmost to arrange an alternative menu at the hotels and restaurants.
How much luggage can I bring?
Travelling on a Purely Escorted Tour entitles each guest to travel with one suitcase not exceeding 23kg (50lbs) in weight, with dimensions not exceeding 77.5cm (30.5in) x 56cm (22in) x 32cm (12.5in).
In addition guests may also bring one item of hand luggage that is small and light enough to be carried onto the coach and fit underneath the seat, or in the small overhead compartment above. (Luggage with adjustable handles and wheels will not fit).
Please test the weight of your baggage prior to travel. You should be able to lift and comfortably transport it for short distances.
Baggage allowances vary from airline to airline and you should check with your chosen carrier for details prior to travel.