U.S. National Parks: The Grand Canyon to Yellowstone

Welcome to New Mexico! Arrive in Albuquerque and transfer to your hotel in Santa Fe. Then, gather with your Tour Director and fellow travelers for a welcome drink.

Enjoy a guided sightseeing tour of New Mexico’s capital city, settled by a Spanish conquistador nearly 400 years ago.

• See the Cross of the Martyrs and Saint Francis Cathedral
• Pass through the plaza in the heart of the city to view the State Capitol Building and Palace of the Governors
• Enter Loretto Chapel to view the miraculous staircase

This afternoon, enjoy a welcome lunch with your fellow travelers.

Cross the Colorado border, stopping in the Old West mining town of Durango, Colorado, en route to Mesa Verde.

• Pass by Chimney Rock and Abiquiu Lake
• Take in the stunning landscapes that inspired the work of artist Georgia O’Keeffe
• Explore Durango to feel its frozen-in-time charm

Sit down for an included dinner this evening.

Take a guided tour of Mesa Verde National Park before transferring to Kayenta, Arizona, through Monument Valley.

• View fascinating 800-year-old cliff dwellings that honeycomb the walls of the canyon
• Enjoy free time to visit either the gift shop or Spruce Tree House and Museum
• Pass by Monument Valley’s iconic “Mexican Hat,” a sombrero-shaped rock formation

Sit down for an included dinner in Kayenta this evening.

Pay a visit to the Navajo Code Talkers Museum to meet with Navajo leader Peter MacDonald and learn about the World War II Code Talkers.

Please note: Meeting Peter MacDonald is not guaranteed.

Then, stop at the Cameron Trading Post before arriving at the Grand Canyon. Upon arrival, take a scenic walk along the South Rim with your Tour Director.

• Marvel at the rocky formations that reflect millions of years of geologic evolution
• View the Colorado River running one mile below

Enjoy a free day at the Grand Canyon to explore its rims and plateaus on your own or add an excursion.

Pass by the beautiful Vermilion Cliffs National Monument before arriving in Zion National Park.

• Discover why 19th-century Mormon settlers named the park after their heavenly city
• View the yellow-and orange-hued dramatically eroded sedimentary rocks
• Take in magnificent vistas on an open-air tram ride with guided commentary

En route to Utah’s capital city, stop for a visit to Bryce Canyon National Park.

• Tour the park by bus and on foot
• Take in up-close views of its distinctive pink limestone and sandstone formations, including awe-inspiring arches, spires, and bridges
• View colorful rock pinnacles known as “hoodoos”

Cross into Wyoming on a scenic drive en route to the resort town of Jackson. Then, set out to explore Grand Teton National Park, home to the youngest mountain range in the Rockies.

• Drive through stunning Logan Canyon and past turquoise Bear Lake
• Tour Grand Teton National Park by bus and on foot
• Try to spot elk, coyotes, black bears, wolves, and the elusive mountain lion

Enjoy a free evening in Jackson.

Venture out into Yellowstone National Park, designated the world’s first national park in 1872, for a full day of sightseeing.

• Drive through the park with stops for photos
• See cascading waterfalls, bubbling mud pots, and the famous geyser, Old Faithful
• Keep an eye out for the bison, mountain goats, moose, and grey wolves that call the park home

Enjoy a free day in Jackson or add an excursion.

Later, gather with your group at a local restaurant for a farewell dinner.

Transfer to the airport for your flight home or continue on to Missoula.