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 explore by foot, or make
use of the infamous cable car network. A welcome meeting will be held at
18:00 hrs in your hotel.

We recommend you book an extra night in our hotel the night before the tour
starts if you want to spend some time discovering San Francisco - Alcatraz is
a must see, you can reserve a ticket online in advance with Alcatraz Cruises.

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.

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, pika and if you're lucky,
bear. 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.

 

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. Enjoy a wine and cheese evening with wonderful views.

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.

Make your way to Utah and your destination for today - Zion National Park.
Like an oasis rising up 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.


 

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 Pool 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.

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.

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. 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.

This morning you’ll leave Monument Valley and drive towards the 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 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.

En route to Vegas you’ll travel a section of the original Route 66 and
visit Seligman, a town full to the brim with Americana wares. Continuing,
you’ll 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.