Utah's Mighty Five National Parks - 10 Days
10 Days
Grand Junction
Las Vegas
***
Trafalgar Tours
This scenery-filled tour of Utah’s national and state parks will have you discovering some of America’s most epic trails and natural landscapes - including Canyonlands, Arches, Capitol Reef, Bryce and Zion National Parks.
Itinerary
Day 1: Greetings Grand Junction
The ‘River City’ extends a warm welcome as your launch pad to an in-depth encounter with the Mighty Five National Parks of Utah. Relax after your arrival or explore on your own before joining your Travel Director and fellow travellers this evening for a dinner. Meet your Travel Director at 18:00.
Day 2: Uncover Canyon Country
Head to Dead Horse Point State Park this morning to reach great heights with stellar views. Have your cameras ready at the famed Dead Horse Point to capture your own perspective from one of the most famous scenic vistas in the world. Next up at Canyonlands National Park, see first-hand the power of the Colorado River carving its way through the rocky red landscape. Ascend to the top of the Island in the Sky Mesa and admire Canyonlands' spectacular landscape below. Choose to continue further on foot with a two-mile hike to Grandview Point Overlook where, standing at the “edge of the world,” you’ll be greeted with desert vistas for hundreds of miles. Continue to Green River Overlook for another incredible vista.
Day 3: Astonishing Views At Arches National Park
Admire the exquisite natural sandstone shapes that dot the landscape in Arches National Park. Learn how Mother Nature’s magic touch has left her indelible mark with wind and rain when you view Delicate Arch. Continue your exploration with a walk to Double Arch, Landscape Arch or Turret Arch. Take a well-deserved break this afternoon or explore the town of Moab at your leisure.
Optional Experiences: (Optional Experiences are enhancements to your tour and can be booked through your Travel Director while on tour).
Canyonlands by Night Dinner and Cruise - $129 pp
We hope you brought your appetite. Start with a cowboy-style dinner overlooking the Colorado River before boarding the Moab Queen II jet boat and head upriver. Your guide points out all the sights before reaching the turnaround spot, where 40,000 watts of light illuminate the canyon walls. Sit back and be dazzled by the show choreographed with lights, sounds, music and narration as you hear stories about the formation, creation and history of the area.
Day 4: Unmask Capitol Reef National Park
Get ready for the other-worldly hoodoos of Goblin Valley State Park. These mushroom-shaped rock pinnacles referred to locally as “goblins” make for memorable photo opportunities before you arrive at Capitol Reef National Park. Explore the area down through the canyons or up to the overlooks in sections of the park including Sulphur Creek, Cohab Canyon, Hickman Bridge, Rim Overlook, on your own. In the evening, enjoy the rustic charm of the Capitol Reef Resort, located on the edge of the park, offering truly spectacular landscapes and breath-taking views.
Day 5: Explore Capitol Reef National Park
Unlock the best of Capitol Reef National Park, where colourful canyons and capitol-shaped domes provide the perfect backdrop for an adventure, with the option to hike on your own. Continue your journey along an "All American Road", Highway 12, one of America’s most scenic highways, before arriving in Kodachrome Basin State Park. Here, you'll have the opportunity to explore the Visitor Centre and marvel at the unique sandstone spires and columns known as "sand pipes," formations believed to exist nowhere else in the world.
Day 6: Stretch Your Legs In Bryce Canyon
You’ll have a full free day to relax or explore the eerie landscape of Bryce Canyon National Park today. Everyone will be able to self select hikes and walks that best suit them. Admire the rusty red limestone spires that rise up surreally from the desert floor to meet Utah’s skies from scenic viewpoints or follow one of the many trails into the hoodoos and beyond. Or, if you’re looking for a scenic tour of Bryce Canyon region, opt for a 1-hour ride into Dixie National Forest and the rim of Water Canyon Amphitheater, the first canyon in Bryce Canyon National Park.
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 favourite will have you tapping your toes and smacking your lips after a filling, tasty meal of flat iron steak, baked salmon or BBQ chicken.
Ruby's Horseback Adventures - $85 pp
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 7: Discover the Mysteries of the Navajo Nation
A pink, red and orange canvas awaits visitors to Coral Pink Sands State Park. Embrace today's MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience as we explore Antelope Canyon in Navajo Tribal Park. Our local Diné (Navajo) guides will explain to us how slot canyons are formed as we are awed by the dramatic beauty surrounding us. Then take a short hike to see Horseshoe Bend and the flowing Colorado River which has carved its way through the red-coloured sandstone. Finish the day connecting to the soul of the land over a Be My Guest meal on the Navajo Nation, hosted by Dine tribe local Baya, her husband Paul and storyteller Eli Secody.
Day 8: Unwind In Page and Lake Powell
Enjoy a full free day to spend as you wish in the water wonderland that is Lake Powell. Relax and rejuvenate as you explore on your own or consider joining one of the organised optional activities, like our famed Colorado River Float Trip or a helicopter ride up to the top of Tower Butte for 360' views of the world below you. This evening, enjoy an unforgettable dinner at Sunset 89 with unbeatable views of Lake Powell and Glen Canyon.
Optional Experiences: (Optional Experiences are enhancements to your tour and can be booked through your Travel Director while on tour).
Top of the World Tour with Tower Butte Landing - $299 pp
Combine remarkable views of Horseshoe Bend from the air with an exclusive Tower Butte landing during this incredible tour! Guests lift off on a narrated helicopter experience, viewing Lake Powell, Glen Canyon Dam and Horseshoe Bend before landing atop Tower Butte – a massive natural rock formation that can only be reached by helicopter. Rising 5000 feet above sea level, Tower Butte is one of the American Southwest’s most notable landmarks. Guests take in 360-degree views of Glen Canyon, Lake Powell, Padre Bay, the Grand Staircase Escalante, and the LeChee Rock. The scenery in this region of the country is breathtaking and simply unrivalled! Visitors enjoy 15-20 minutes on Tower Butte for photo opportunities before returning to the air terminal.
Horseshoe Bend Rafting - $155 pp
This float trip lets you enjoy all the sights and stops of Glen Canyon in a convenient half-day format. It starts from Lee's Ferry with an exhilarating ride up the Colorado River. Visit Petroglyph Beach and look up in awe at the soaring cliffs above Horseshoe Bend as you learn the stories of the ancestral Puebloan people who lived here. Enjoy the stunning views and a relaxing float back to Lee's Ferry, the start of the Grand Canyon. Afterwards, you'll enjoy a stunning motor-coach ride back to Page, passing Vermillion Cliffs and historic structures along the way.
Day 9: Hike Zion National Park
One spectacular natural sight gives way to another when you drive along the Vermillion Cliffs and witness the striking colours as you wander westward. Arrive at Zion National Park in the late morning, then enjoy lunch at Zion Lodge before selecting from many fantastic hikes ranging from easy to strenuous including Watchman Trail, Kayenta Trail, or Riverside Walk. Or, opt to take it easy and sightsee at your leisure using the complimentary Zion National Park shuttles. The rest of the evening is at leisure.
Day 10: Watch the Sunrise in Zion National Park
Wake up early to catch the sun rise over Zion, go for a leisurely stroll appreciating the quiet sounds of morning, hike into the canyon or just relax. You have the whole morning to spend as you wish before departing for Las Vegas around mid-day (arrive at the airport at 17:00). You can, of course, extend your stay.
Includes
- 9 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.