Scenic Parks Explorer

The desert playground of Las Vegas launches our encounter with the soul-stirring natural landscapes of America’s most beloved national parks. This evening, meet your Travel Director and fellow travelers for a Welcome Reception and then soar 550 feet above the center of the Las Vegas Strip on the High Roller, the world’s tallest observation wheel.

Zion National Park’s towering cream, pink and red cliffs are our first stop today for sightseeing and lunch as we journey towards the enchanting landscapes of Bryce Canyon. Admire the rusty red limestone spires that rise up surreally from the desert floor to meet Utah’s skies.

Travel north to Utah's capital and see its Mormon center, Temple Square, and discover the basic beliefs and history of the Mormon pioneers who settled here. Explore the city to find local dining all surrounded by picturesque mountains.

Take in views of Powder Mountain and Bear Lake as you head north this morning from Salt Lake City. You'll have time for lunch on your own before continuing to Jackson, which stands in the shadows of the Teton Range, whose icy peaks will be your constant backdrop. You’ll have time this afternoon to settle in and explore this mountain town, which has an Old West look with a modern twist.

Cross the alpine landscapes of Grand Teton National Park en route to Yellowstone’s geothermal wonderland. We overnight at one of the lodges within the national park. (When the south entrance to Yellowstone National Park is closed due to weather conditions, the itinerary will travel west from Jackson via Idaho and enter the park through the west entrance.)

Enjoy a full day of exploring one of the world’s oldest national parks. Alongside your Travel Director, marvel at Old Faithful, the thousand-year-old geyser which has been catapulting water into the Wyoming sky every 90 minutes for centuries, amazing on lookers like clockwork. Exploring much of the park’s geological wonders in this awe-inspiring day, we stop at Lake Yellowstone, which contains the largest number of wild cutthroat trout in North America. We’ll also view Artists Point, a viewpoint from which you look upon the stunning cascade of the Lower Falls. You’ll also see the impressive Fountain Paint Pot area with its bubbling mud pots and geysers.

Pay tribute to "Buffalo Bill" in his hometown of Cody where you'll visit the Buffalo Bill Center of the West museum complex to gain a deeper understanding of the "Spirit of the American West."  You’ll take your wild west adventure to the next level as we make our way towards Big Sky Country where we enjoy an authentic Western Be My Guest dinner. At the historic Billings Depot built in 1903 as a hub for three major railroads, you’ll learn all about Billing's railroad history from a local historian from the nearby Western Heritage Center while you get your fix of western hospitality. Savor every bite of local Chef Jordan Hodson’s three-course menu featuring local produce, a choice of entrees, a seasonal dessert, and beer and wine.

Our day begins with a visit to Little Bighorn, the battlefield where the ill-fated Custer led his men against a battalion of Sioux and Cheyenne warriors. Venture into the Black Hills of South Dakota as you make your way to the base of Crazy Horse Memorial. Admire the colossal carved face of the famed Lakota war chief and learn about preserving Native American Culture before continuing to Rapid City.

Visit Mount Rushmore to view the faces of former American presidents etched into the granite rock-face, then choose to venture into Badlands National Park. This evening we enjoy a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®  Experience as we meet with Stephen Yellowhawk, who will regale you with stories of his tribe’s history during a festive dinner.

Travel south through the expansive prairies of Wyoming to Denver, the Mile High City, where you’ll enjoy a light dinner.

Ascend into the foothills of the Rockies and cross the Continental Divide en route to the alpine village of Vail, renowned for its epic powder-filled alpine basins that have attracted skiers since the 1960s. We then make our way to the town of Palisade for a Be My Guest lunch at a local peach orchard. Learn how peaches are grown and harvested before enjoying a lunch inspired by local ingredients. We continue to Moab for an evening on your terms.

Our national park journey takes us to Canyon Country, where we see first-hand the power of the Colorado River carving its way through the rocky red landscape at Canyonlands National Park. Next up, the Arches National Park provides an insightful encounter with thousands of natural sandstone arches formed by rain and wind where you may choose to take a short hike to iconic Delicate Arch view point.

Admire the ancient cliff dwellings of the Ancestral Puebloan people, carved out of the sandstone of the canyon walls at the UNESCO-listed Mesa Verde National Park. Deepen your connection with the first nations of this land as we head toward Monument Valley - home to the Navajo Nation and the backdrop of many famous Hollywood Western movies. The afternoon and evening are at leisure.

Explore Monument Valley with a Local Specialist as you drive in an open-air vehicle past its towering sandstone buttes and mesas that rise up from the barren landscape on this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Continue through the ancestral home of the Navajo, arriving at Cameron Trading Post to stretch your legs or find some Indigenous crafts to take home. Driving along the scenic Desert View Drive, gaze into its mesmerizing multi-coloured depths. Stop at Desert View Intertribal Cultural Heritage Site to hear stories, family histories and cultural demonstrations by tribal members on another MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Lastly, take in the geological wonders of the Grand Canyon on a private nature walk with a geological expert, Canyon Tim. Join your fellow travellers for a Farewell Dinner toasting to America’s National Parks.

Consider an optional helicopter or fixed-wing aircraft flightseeing trip over the canyon. End your journey in Las Vegas where a transfer is provided to Las Vegas International Airport arriving at approximately 3:30 pm, or to Horseshoe Las Vegas for guests extending their stay.