Western Explorer

Welcome to the 'City by the Bay' in sunny California. San Francisco is a city which the locals are fiercely proud of and for good reason. There's plenty to keep you entertained but the best introduction is to jump on a hop-on-hop-off bus tour or book one of our 'Urban Adventures' around the city. A welcome meeting will be held at 18:00 hrs in your hotel.No trip to San Francisco is complete without a visit to Alcatraz. We recommend you book an extra night in our hotel the night before the tour starts and book your ticket online in advance with Alcatraz Cruises.

DESTINATION

• San Francisco

MEALS

• Meals paid locally

Depart San Francisco via the Golden Gate Bridge, heading east through California's historic gold country, and make tracks for Yosemite. Here, everything is in gargantuan proportions, including some of North America's tallest cliffs, waterfalls and trees. You'll check into your lodge in the Yosemite region - your 'home' for the next three nights.

DESTINATION

• Yosemite National Park

MEALS

• Meals paid locally

Yosemite National Park sits nestled in the Sierra Nevada Mountain range of northern California. Here, green forest meets granite walls measuring several thousand feet in height. Rock climbers come from all over the world to scale the rocks whilst hikers get to walk to the base of some of the largest waterfalls in the world. As you explore the park keep your eyes peeled for varied wildlife such as deer, bobcats, marmots and if you're lucky, bears. After a visit to see the amazing Giant Sequoia trees, Yosemite Valley beckons, offering the chance to cycle, take a dip in the Merced River or wander the meadows. The views are breathtaking from every vantage point - the granite formations of Half Dome, El Capitan and Cathedral Rocks are sure to be forever etched on your mind.

DESTINATION

• Yosemite National Park

MEALS

• Meals paid locally

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES

• Bike rental US$12-$34

One of the hottest, driest and lowest places on earth, Death Valley is blessed with some of the most extreme and beautiful landscapes. Sculpted by erosion, richly tinted mudstone hills and canyons await exploration, with sand dunes and salt pans making for some exceptional photos. You cover some great distances today but also see some fascinating and contrasting scenery on your road trip.Please note: It has occurred in the past that extreme temperatures, higher than those expected, have prevented us from entering Death Valley National Park. In the event this happens, we will notify you as soon as possible with a suitable replacement. This is a worst-case scenario and we will endeavour to run the programme as advertised.

DESTINATION

• Death Valley National Park

MEALS

• Meals paid locally

Make your way to Utah and your destination for today - Zion National Park. Like an oasis rising from the desert floor, Zion's multi-coloured cliffs and spring-fed hanging gardens are spectacular. Zion Canyon was named by the early Mormon settlers of Utah who thought of it as their 'promised land'. Some of the best hiking in Southwest USA can be found here, in and around the fertile Virgin River Gorge. With an early arrival, today and two nights in Zion, you'll have plenty of time to explore.

DESTINATION

• Zion National Park

MEALS

• Meals paid locally

Enjoy a full day to further explore the delights of Zion National Park. There are various hikes to choose from, ranging from easy to strenuous. Warm up your legs by taking a short hike from the valley floor to view the Lower Emerald Pools. Then continue on to the sparkling Upper Emerald Pools, passing a stunning waterfall along the way to discover Zion's `beach'. Cool off from the heat of the summer sun by exploring the Riverside Walk section of the Virgin River.If you're feeling ambitious, enjoy the park's more challenging option and ascend 2,500 ft. to experience unbeatable panoramic views from the top of Angels Landing. After a beautiful but strenuous hike along the knife-edge ridgeline you'll be rewarded with one of the most breathtaking and powerful panoramas you've ever experienced. If weather conditions permit, you may choose to hike deep into the Zion Narrows, just be prepared to get a little wet.

DESTINATION

• Zion National Park

MEALS

• 1 breakfast included, other meals paid locally

Leaving Zion National Park, you climb in elevation to almost 8,300 ft. and traverse a high plateau to Bryce Canyon National Park. Bryce Canyon is a fascinating natural amphitheatre of pink, orange and white sandstone spires, known locally as hoodoos. There are a variety of scenic overlooks and trails that range from easy to moderate in difficulty. The Navajo or Peek-A-Boo Loop Trails will enable you to hike right in amongst these unique rock formations. Some may prefer to hike on the Queens Garden Trail or remain on the rim and photograph the ever-changing shadows and hues as the sun makes its way across the sky.

DESTINATION

• Bryce Canyon National Park

MEALS

• 1 breakfast included, other meals paid locally

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES

• Western horseback riding US$65-$90

Returning south along Scenic Highway 89, you descend from the high plateau to the arid plains and past the Vermillion Cliffs en route to Antelope Canyon. A Navajo guided visit is included to the stunning Antelope Slot Canyon, which in Navajo language means 'the place where water runs through rocks'. Your guide will show you how flash floods have carved and sculpted this beautiful area. In the late afternoon, there may be time to swim in Lake Powell depending on timings on the actual day and what time we finish with Antelope Canyon. Located on the border of Utah and Arizona, Lake Powell has a shoreline that stretches longer than the western coast of the USA!

DESTINATION

• Antelope Canyon
• Lake Powell

MEALS

• Meals paid locally

Stop for a walk at Horseshoe Bend for an amazing view of the Colorado River before heading to the heart of the Navajo Nation. Monument Valley, a sacred land to those who call it home, is dotted with fabulous red sandstone monoliths and from here you'll witness spectacular sunsets and sunrises. Having been the backdrop for countless Westerns, you'll half expect to see cowboys riding off into the sunset. You'll explore the incredible array of rock formations on an included and guided 4x4 backroads tour, learning all about the magic and myths of the rich Native American culture. The Navajo Tribal Lands of Monument Valley are a true photographer's paradise. For dinner, we have included a traditional meal, the Navajo taco, out in the valley with the Navajo themselves.

DESTINATION

• Monument Valley

MEALS

• 1 breakfast included, other meals paid locally

This morning you leave Monument Valley and drive towards Grand Canyon National Park for the ultimate desert showstopper! Crossing the eastern entrance of the canyon, you'll catch your first glimpse at Desert View. This incredible spectacle is difficult to comprehend, even as you stand at the rim or hike down into the canyon. Carved over several millennia, this massive wonder of nature is 445 km long, up to 29 km wide and over 1.6 km deep. Snaking through the canyon floor is the mighty Colorado River, which runs 2,330 km through seven US states and two Mexican states.In your free time, we highly recommend a scenic flight over the canyon which offers a perspective that you cannot see by visiting on foot. Also recommended is the film show at the IMAX Theater, which will give you a good overview of the area and how it developed. Alternatively, stroll the meandering South Rim Trail, hike your way down the more challenging trail to Plateau Point, or simply relax at the canyon's edge and enjoy a spectacular sunset over one of the world's most incredible natural wonders.

DESTINATION

• Grand Canyon (South Rim)

MEALS

• Meals paid locally

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES

• Helicopter flight US$284
• IMAX Theater US$15

En route to Vegas you travel a section of the original Route 66 and visit Seligman, a town full to the brim with Americana wares. Continuing, you make your way towards hedonistic 'Sin City', which really has to be seen to be believed! Las Vegas is the fastest growing city in the United States and is renowned as the `tacky capital of the world' - home to pirates and pyramids, weddings and water fountains! Upon arrival enjoy a driving tour down the famous Las Vegas Strip and see first-hand the resort hotels that make this desert city tick. Vegas really comes alive at night with resort hotels, shows and the Bellagio Fountain's regular water displays. We recommend booking extra nights to explore the city because it's not all clubs and resort hotels. There are numerous art galleries, shops and world-class restaurants for you to enjoy. If you want to enjoy a couple of extra nights, please advise your Americas Specialist when booking your trip.This tour ends at our gateway hotel at approximately 17:00 hrs. We recommend booking post-tour accommodation if time allows. If you are planning to fly tonight, please do not book a flight that departs before 21:00 hrs.

DESTINATION

• Grand Canyon (South Rim)
• Route 66
• Las Vegas

MEALS

• Meals paid locally
• OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES
• Clubs & shows US$10+
• Helicopter flight US$124

• 12 nights hotel

MEALS

• 3 breakfasts and 1 dinner with the Navajo in Monument Valley; all other meals paid locally

TRANSPORT

• All transportation by private vehicle and 4WD in Monument Valley
• Free Wi-Fi in your vehicle (Maximum 5 users at one time)

OTHERS

• Services of a professional tour leader and local guides

WHAT’S EXCLUDED International Flights

• Any international flights to San Francisco and from Las Vegas are not included in this price. We always recommend that you arrive 1 day prior to your tour starting date.

Travel Insurance

• Travel insurance is not included in this Western Explorer tour. Travel insurance is mandatory to buy. We recommend purchasing it from World Nomads.