Spectacular Canyons and National Parks - 13 Days

Home to dazzling casinos, glitzy wedding chapels and incredible dining experiences, there’s no better way to kick off your US national parks value tour than in Sin City! Meet up with your Travel Director for a glimpse of what’s to come, then, get right into the bright lights and fun-filled streets however you choose, with a walk through Downtown, head to 'The Strip'...or both! Vegas is your ultimate playground.

Whether you’re a lover of great scenery or classic roadside attractions, iconic Route 66 has got you covered. Today’s destination? The Grand Canyon, one of the world's seven natural wonders of the world and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Take in all the epic vistas of this 2-billion-year-old marvel of nature. Want to make your visit extra special? Why not treat yourself to a once in a lifetime helicopter ride over the North and South Rim? Awestruck, you'll then visit the Grand Canyon Village before arriving in Flagstaff, a laid-back outpost on Route 66. 

Optional Experiences: (Optional Experiences are enhancements to your tour and can be booked through your Travel Director while on tour).    

Fly over the Grand Canyon and Kaibab Plateau - $199 pp

Buckle up for a sky-high adventure over the Grand Canyon's South Rim, where every view is a jaw-dropper. Feel the buzz as you glide over the vast Kaibab National Forest, swoop around the Kaibab Plateau, and cruise past the meeting points of the Colorado and Little Colorado Rivers. Peek down at Imperial Point and zip through the Zuni Corridor, all from the best seat in the house.

Grand Canyon by Helicopter, South to North Rim - $299 pp

Get ready for a Grand Canyon adventure that'll leave you speechless! Take off on a helicopter ride that covers both the southern and northern rims over 25 minutes. Cruise over the lush Kaibab National Forest before diving into the Dragon Corridor—the Grand Canyon's deepest and widest section. Gaze out of the oversized windows at the epic landscapes, from the vibrant stone walls to the vast Colorado River. Keep your camera at the ready for the ride over to the North Rim, where you'll be up close with iconic rock formations like the Tower of Ra and Vishnu Schist.

Grand Canyon Ecostar Helicopter Ride - $419 pp

Take off on Papillon’s longest Grand Canyon helicopter tour that'll have you flying high above the canyon for 40 minutes. Dive into the heart of the canyon, dropping over 5,000 feet to where the Little Colorado River snakes its way through. Glide by Imperial Point, a lone, rugged sentinel near the North Rim, feeling close enough to brush the canyon walls. Fly back via the Dragon Corridor, showcasing some of the most stunning views the Grand Canyon has to offer.

How to kick off a day of adventure on your US national parks value tour? With an iconic breakfast at Charly's Pub & Grill located in one of the oldest hotels in Flagstaff. Next up: Monument Valley, a symbol of the wild west with its rusty red spindles and buttes reaching 36 meters into the air. Dive into the local history and geology teaming up with a local Navajo guide for a Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park Guided Tour, a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience.

Optional Experiences: (Optional Experiences are enhancements to your tour and can be booked through your Travel Director while on tour).    

Evening - Red Heritage Dinner Show - $87 pp

Navajo owned and operated, Red Heritage is a Native American Performing Arts Theater. Colourful 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.

Ahhh, Zion. Famous for its red and white cliffs, canyons and wildflower meadows, buttes, mesas and natural arches. Walk the many hiking trails, take in the sights of the Virgin River and have your camera ready to capture the unique geological formations. Enjoy lunch at Zion Park Lodge before heading out to Bryce Canyon. Choose to join a chuckwagon dinner at Ebenezer's dinner and show or rest up anticipating adventures in this stunning national park tomorrow.

Optional Experiences: (Optional Experiences are enhancements to your tour and can be booked through your Travel Director while on tour).    

Evening - Ebenezer's Dinner and Show - $66 pp

Saddle up for a night of Western vibes, tunes, and top-notch cowboy grub in Bryce Canyon. This local favourite promises a foot-tapping, lip-smacking good time. Feast on choices like juicy flat iron steak, succulent baked salmon, or finger-lickin' BBQ chicken. A perfect blend of foodie delight and old-school fun!

Multicoloured 'hoodoos' and large amphitheatres, this can only be Bryce Canyon National Park. Stand in awe at the open areas whipped into shape by centuries of wind and rain. Walk along one of the juniper lined trails to the rim of the Paunsaugunt Plateau. From colourful scenery to colourful cities, Salt Lake City is your next stop on your US national parks value tour. With an evening full of possibilities, why not head to the downtown area for a stop in one of its tempting restaurants, coffeehouses and laidback bars?

This morning in Utah's small town feeling capital city, drive by Temple Square, the city's most famous sight. Hey, Wyoming! Where snow-covered mountain ranges seem to rise and fall before your eyes. Arrive in the city of Alpine where three rivers converge against the backdrop of the Tetons. Settle into your hotel this evening situated along the banks of Snake River. Play a round of tennis, stretch out in the indoor heated swimming pool, or enjoy the scenic mountain views of Alpine. 

Today on your US national parks value tour, you won’t be able to take your eyes away from the window as you follow the Snake River through the forest and mountains before arriving at Grand Teton National Park. A stroll around Jackson Town Square gets you a lay of the land and admiring the famous elk antlers that signal the gateway to the park - eager to explore. Feeling the call of the outdoors? Join our Snake River Float Trip Choice Experience for a water adventure through the Tetons. This evening back at your hotel, choose to visit Melvin Brewery for a behind-the-scenes look at this booming Alpine brewery.

Optional Experiences: (Optional Experiences are enhancements to your tour and can be booked through your Travel Director while on tour).    

Afternoon - Grand Teton Float Adventure - $115 pp

Embark on a journey, enveloped by the breathtaking vistas of the Grand Teton and Gros Ventre Mountain ranges, with the Snake River's tranquil waters guiding your path. On this serene 13-mile float trip, relax and let the boatmen navigate, enriching your journey with captivating stories and facts about the Jackson Hole Valley. Be vigilant! The area teems with wildlife, from bald eagles and osprey soaring above to ducks gliding across the water and deer meandering along the riverbanks.

Evening - Melvin Brewing Experience - $74 pp

Beer buffs, street art aficionados, and local vibe seekers, Melvin Brewery on Snake River's shores is your spot. Dive into Melvin’s legendary brews like the original Melvin IPA, the knockout 2x4 Double IPA, and the fruity Ch-Ch-Ch-Cherry Bomb. Get ready to keep those glasses coming with a tour, tasting, and tales straight from the head brewmaster. This is the ultimate local hangout – your own dining space against a backdrop of mountains. Tuck into a two-course feast perfectly paired with a flight of four 4-oz pours. Cheers to that!

Hot springs, bubbling mud pots, vast canyons and lush forests as far as the eye can see are yours to behold at Yellowstone National Park. Wildlife seekers, get ready for a treat! Grizzly bears, wolves, bison and elk all roam free here. Take your time exploring as you tick off the key sites including the biggest crowd pleaser of them all, Old Faithful, named for its dependable eruption every 44 to 125 minutes.

One day at Yellowstone surely isn’t enough, and this morning on your US national parks value tour will take you to Mammoth Hot Springs. Said to look like a cave turned inside out, the soft limestone of this area needs to be seen to be believed. Be dazzled by the gradation of colours and levels before you tick off another hot spot: Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. This 19-mile-long canyon bedazzles in shades of yellow, red, white and pink. You'll then head on to the frontier town of Cody, a lively place with saloons that will keep the high energy of the day going into the night.

Big mountains, big lakes and big stretches of uninterrupted skyline... it’s no wonder Montana has earned the nickname ‘Big Sky Country.' On a free morning in Wyoming, discover the area your way with a Choice Experience visit to the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. In Buffalo, your evening is free to explore the city your way.

Optional Experiences: (Optional Experiences are enhancements to your tour and can be booked through your Travel Director while on tour).    

Morning - Welcome to the Wild West - $25 pp

Embark on a journey into the heart of the American West at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody, Wyoming. What began in a simple log cabin has expanded into a sprawling seven-acre complex, home to five world-class museums: the Buffalo Bill Museum, the Cody Firearms Museum, the Draper Natural History Museum, the Plains Indian Museum, and the Whitney Western Art Museum, complemented by a comprehensive research library. Experience the West through live birds of prey shows, chuck wagon demonstrations, horse and wagon rides, a western music dinner show, and more.

The Black Hills region is a mix of canyons and peaks that bridge the Wyoming and South Dakota border. See how it got its nickname from the dark ponderosa pines that cover the hillsides as you journey through the area. Begin your exploration with a visit to Devils Tower, a striking geological monolith and sacred site for many Plains tribes. Continue on to the Crazy Horse monument, which has been under construction for over 70 years. Discover more Native American history at the nearby Indian Museum of North America. Tonight, choose to get your first glimpse of Mount Rushmore, learning more about the nation's patriotic past, present, and future with a National Park ranger.

Optional Experiences: (Optional Experiences are enhancements to your tour and can be booked through your Travel Director while on tour).     

Evening - Mount Rushmore Evening Lighting Ceremony - $33 pp

At Mount Rushmore, prepare for a series of awe-inspiring moments. Engage with a National Park ranger in the outdoor amphitheatre for a stirring patriotic event and the iconic sculpture lighting ceremony. After an uplifting talk, immerse yourself in the short film "Freedom: America's Lasting Legacy." The highlight? Witnessing the monument gradually bathed in light, revealing its grandeur against the night sky of the Black Hills.

Sure to be a highlight: Mount Rushmore. As the largest statue-monument in the world, the stony faces of four of America's presidents carved 18 meters tall into the granite hillside loom large -- bigger and more detailed than you could have imagined. Don't miss you chance to join Badlands National Park Sightseeing, learning about the 99,000 hectares that make up the unique geology.

Optional Experiences: (Optional Experiences are enhancements to your tour and can be booked through your Travel Director while on tour).     

Afternoon - Badlands National Park Excursion - $54 pp

Discover the dramatic landscapes of Badlands National Park, a mere hour from Rapid City, where thousands of acres of stark buttes, towering pinnacles, and intricate spires merge with the largest protected mixed grass prairie in the U.S. This park is a true hidden treasure within the national system, attracting both casual visitors and scientific researchers. And don't miss the iconic Wall Drug, a renowned stop known since the 1930s for its complimentary ice water to parched travellers, now a major roadside highlight in the area.

As your tour of the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone National Park - not to mention Las Vegas, Monument Valley, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Grand Teton and Mount Rushmore - comes to an end today, you'll no doubt be reflecting on the phenomenal sights and experiences you've had over the past fortnight.

You can either chose to stay in Rapid City to extend your stay there or take the transfer to Denver to fly home or stay in Denver.