Best of Western USA - 13 Days

Welcome to Las Vegas! The real wild west is home to some of the USA’s most incredible scenery. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight to meet your leader and fellow travellers. If you arrive early, there’s plenty to do – maybe wander along the famous strip, be entertained by impersonators and street performers, or catch a live show. After your meeting, maybe head out to dinner with the group to get to know your new travel mates.

Hop in a private van to Zion National Park today and join your leader for an exploration in the wild landscapes of the park on a guided hike. Zion is known for its towering sandstone cliffs and maze of narrow canyons, and you’ll get to see it for yourself as you hike right through the middle of it all. Then, spend the night in Springdale – the gateway to the park.

After breakfast this morning, it’s time to head to Bryce Canyon National Park. Take a short drive in your private vehicle, then spend the morning hiking through the landscapes of the park. Walk along the canyon rim and stare up at hundreds of unique sandstone towers known as hoodoos that jut out from the natural amphitheatre. After, break for lunch and take in your surroundings, then hike down into the canyon for a closer look at the hoodoos. Then, drive on to the town of Page, where you’ll spend the night.

This morning, join a local Navajo guide for an adventure through Lower Antelope Canyon – known for its wave-like structure and the distinct light beams that shine down into the canyon’s openings. Learn how the Navajo culture has thrived in the region, then set out for a gentle walk along Horsehoe Bend before returning to Page for the evening.

Start the day with a drive to Monument Valley – one of the world’s most iconic sights. If this landscape dotted with towering sandstone buttes looks familiar, that’s because Monument Valley has been the filming location for lots of famous Western films. More importantly, this is the native land of the Navajo. When you arrive, you’ll hop in a 4WD for a Navajo-guided tour, where you’ll have the chance to learn more about their culture and history before sitting down to a traditional home-cooked, family-style Navajo lunch. After, continue your journey to the iconic Grand Canyon for some walks along the rim at sunset.

This morning it's time to return to Las Vegas, but first we'll make a stop along Historic Route 66 for a dose of quirky Americana. You'll arrive in Las Vegas around 4pm and have the evening free to explore Sin City.

Today is free to explore Las Vegas. The city may be the gambling capital of the world but there’s plenty of other things to do. Hit the shops, feel your stomach drop on a rooftop rollercoaster or simply stroll along the famous Strip. There will be a meeting at 5 pm tonight to welcome any new travellers to the trip. After the welcome meeting, maybe grab dinner with your group or check out one of the many shows on offer, or party the night away in a Vegas nightclub.

Leaving Sin City in your dust, you’ll road trip across state lines and through the Mojave Desert today, then around to Sequoia National Park. It’s a long drive, but it’ll give you the chance to see the changing geography of the American west – watch on as the desert gives way to the peaks of the southern Sierras. Settle into your accommodation near Sequoia National Park in the afternoon, and then head out for an included dinner at a local restaurant with your group.

Today is simply about seeing the best of the USA’s Sequoia National Park. After breakfast, you’ll embark on leader-led walks around Sequoia, driving from stop to stop as you get to feel small next to the staggering size of General Sherman, the Giant Forest and other specimens of Sequoia’s towering timber. You may even drive through a tree at Tunnel Log, peer into Tharp’s Log and spot marmots, black bears and recently re-introduced bighorn sheep.

After breakfast, you’ll hit the highway headed for the world-famous Yosemite National Park. To start, get acquainted with the awe-inspiring Yosemite Valley during a guided hike. Strewn with dramatic waterfalls, gigantic granite outcrops and lush meadows, this is one of the most spectacular spots in the country. Your leader will also teach you about the ecologically diverse landscape along the way. After sunset, you’ll join a Naturalist from the Yosemite Conservancy for a guided stargazing program. The park’s minimal light pollution makes it an excellent place to see the stars while learning about astronomy, constellations and local lore. For the next two nights, you'll be staying in a hotel just a few minutes from the park's main entrance.

Today, Yosemite is all yours to explore! In the morning there’ll be leader-led walks around some of the park’s best trails. If it’s a clear day you may also drive up to Glacier Point for a view you won’t soon forget, looking down over the valley and across to the iconic Half Dome. The afternoon is yours to fill how you’d like. You might choose to hike along the breathtaking Mist Trail with its many fabulous views, hire a bicycle and pedal along some of the 12 miles of designated (and flat) path or immerse yourself in the park’s history at the Ahwahnee Hotel. Once you’ve seen the sights, the day will be capped off with a pizza picnic in the park for dinner.

After saying fond farewells to Yosemite, you’ll head west to vibrant San Francisco. Stop to do a walk over the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, and then check in to your hotel for the night. At sunset, you can hit the water for an optional catamaran cruise around the bay, with views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island – this is the perfect farewell to a sun kissed Californian adventure. If you like, head out with your fellow travellers for one last dinner.

With no activities planned today, your adventure ends this morning. If you’d like to stay longer, just speak to your booking agent.