![Destination: The U.S. Southwest Parks](/assets/images/destinations_assets/dest_SouthwestParks.jpg)
- Duration
- 9 Days
- Activity Level
- Moderate
- Group Size
- 46
Southwest National ParksItinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Phoenix, AZ / Scottsdale
Wednesday, October 16, 2024
Settle at the hotel before departing for exploration of the beautiful Desert Botanical Gardens and an opportunity to meet your fellow travelers and Orbridge Expedition Leader. Enjoy a welcome dinner inside the gardens.
Overnight: Scottsdale Marriott at McDowell Mountains (D)
Day 2: Scottsdale / Sedona / Grand Canyon National Park
Thursday, October 17, 2024
After breakfast, travel north through the cactus-studded Sonoran Desert, arriving in Sedona. This picturesque town is a haven for artists and photographers who are dazzled by the landscape filled with remarkable red sandstone cliffs.
Continue to the Grand Canyon National Park—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—to marvel at the impressive views that make the park one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Wander along the canyon rim and admire the West's famous Colorado River below.
After checking in to the hotel, delight in the park's offerings at leisure before dining at one of the many on-site restaurants.
Overnight: Kachina Lodge (B)
Day 3: Grand Canyon National Park
Friday, October 18, 2024
Following breakfast, spend free time exploring the park or take a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to fly over the heart of the Grand Canyon during an optional helicopter flightseeing excursion. (You may purchase this optional excursion in advance from our Guest Services team. Reserve early for best availability as space is limited.)
Grand Canyon National Park is enormous, with thousands of acres of land appealing to travelers' different interests. Walking/hiking and taking photographs are popular activities, and a great way to keep memories of the adventure vibrant.
Visit well-known viewpoints, such as Mather Point and Grandview; take a guided program that explains the geologic and human history of the canyon; or walk the rim at sunset. Other potential options for enjoying the park include strolling the trail of time, learning about the history and formation of the Grand Canyon at the Yavapai Museum of Geology, and/or visiting the historic Kolb studio to learn about the art of the Grand Canyon.
Overnight: Kachina Lodge (B)
Day 4: Grand Canyon National Park / Monument Valley, UT
Saturday, October 19, 2024
After breakfast, enjoy the sites of Desert View as you leave the Grand Canyon and head towards the Navajo Nation. Continue to a lodge that's famous for its role in dozens of Old West movies, trade, and Navajo territory culture. Settle in and explore the collection of movie memorabilia and Native American artifacts in the Goulding’s Museum and Trading Post.
Following lunch on your own at Goulding's Lodge, partake in a tour of Monument Valley. Board a 4x4 open-air vehicle to explore alongside a Navajo guide, viewing and listening to stories about the unique sandstone formations.
Gain an authentic taste of Navajo cuisine at Goulding's Lodge this evening with a group dinner.
Overnight: Goulding's Lodge (B,D)
Day 5: Monument Valley / Lake Powell, AZ
Sunday, October 20, 2024
After breakfast, depart this morning for the Navajo National Monument, followed by a tour of beautiful Antelope Slot Canyon. Have a camera ready to capture the otherworldly passageways of red-orange rock created by water erosion. These appear to be "flowing," and they reflect light in the most stunning ways.
Delight in lunch on your own in Page, Arizona before seeing the Glen Canyon Dam overlook and heading to the Lake Powell Resort for a group dinner.
The evening is at leisure to relax and relish the property's amenities.
Overnight: Lake Powell Resort (B,D)
Day 6: Lake Powell / Bryce Canyon National Park, UT
Monday, October 21, 2024
Today's adventure includes a gentle raft trip floating down the Colorado River through nearby Glen Canyon. As you gaze at the 700- to 1,400-foot red rock cliffs overhead, watch for the California Condor. Stop to view 6,000-year-old petroglyphs, believed to have been carved by Ancestral Puebloans.
Later, view the slow erosion of ages in Bryce Canyon National Park. Resembling castle towers and cathedral spires, the unique hoodoos rock formations are unforgettable. Watch the natural amphitheaters and canyons glow while wandering the rim.
Overnight: The Lodge at Bryce Canyon (B,L,D)
Day 7: Bryce Canyon National Park / Zion National Park
Tuesday, October 22, 2024
Today start the day with more touring of Bryce Canyon before heading to Zion National Park for a riverside walk.
Overnight: Zion Park Lodge (B)
Day 8: Zion National Park / Las Vegas, NV
Wednesday, October 23, 2024
Hike to the Emerald Pools at Zion and spend the morning. Admire the wonders of Zion National Park independently with an array of hiking trails, or visit the Zion Human History Museum. Lunch is on your own before departing for Las Vegas and the farewell reception.
Overnight: The Westin Las Vegas Hotel & Spa (B,R)
Day 9: Depart Las Vegas
Thursday, October 24, 2024
After breakfast, guests departing during the suggested times take a complimentary transfer to Harry Reid International Airport (formerly McCarran International) for flights home. (B)
B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner, R = Reception
Activity Level
Moderate
The majority of the program’s activities will take place outdoors, and a fair amount of walking on varying terrain is to be expected. Many of the parks have dirt trails—but they are usually fairly smooth for walking—and some do have paved pathways and boardwalks. It is our expectation that guests on this program are able to walk up and down a flight of stairs, and get in and out of a motor coach without assistance. If you are able to walk a mile at a moderate pace, you will be able to enjoy all of the excursions. Also keep in mind that you will experience varying altitudes, rising up to 9,000 feet, to which you may not be accustomed. Guests should also have the ability to embark and disembark a scenic raft, have proper fit into a life jacket, and be able to remain seated and balanced in the craft.