“Great Walks”: the best hikes of the Southwest’s National Parks

Duration: 9 nights, 10 days
Start City: Las Vegas, Nevada
End City: Las Vegas, Nevada
Group size: 6-13 Participants
Tour Type: Guided walking tour, easy-moderate
Languages: English, German, French, Italian, Spanish

Highlights:
• Most Iconic Walks in These Famous National Parks: Zion’s Angels Landing & Narrows
• Bryce’s Navajo & Queens Garden
• Arches’ Double O & Delicate Arch
• Antelope Canyon
• Horseshoe Bend
• Monument Valley
• Grand Canyon’s Skeleton Point

Discover the famous National Parks of Utah and Arizona on foot. This fast-paced tour focuses on hiking the most iconic and famous trails in each one of the South West’s famous National Parks. Our journey starts in Las Vegas. From here we soon reach Zion National Park. We have 2 walks to explore the iconic walks of Angles Landing and wade in the famous Narrows. In Bryce we hike the slot canyon-like Navajo Trail, and wander through the formations of Queens Garden. In Arches, we explore the knife ridge edge of the Double O Arch trail followed by a scramble to Delicate Arch. At Grand Canyon choose between a walk to Skeleton Point or a long day walk to Plateau Point. Last but not least, you have a chance to take a sunset jeep tour through Monument Valley, scramble through Antelope Canyon, walk to Horseshoe Bend, raft the Colorado River, or take a helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon. Our unforgettable journey ends in Las Vegas.

Day 1: Arrival in Las Vegas
Arrival in Las Vegas. Independent transfer from airport, Mardi Gras (2-3 star) or similar, 1 night.

Day 2: Zion’s National Park, B, L
8 AM: Your tour leader will meet you in the hotel for the orientation meeting. We leave Las Vegas towards Zion National Park (NP), which we should reach in about 3 hours. The afternoon is reserved for a hiking in to Emerald Pools. A special permit is required to hike Angels landing. Bumbleberry Inn 3* or similar, 1 night.

Drive time: 140 miles / 220 km or 2.5 hr
Angels Landing: 4-5 hrs, ca. 5 miles / 8 km, elevation difference: +/-450 m

Day 3: Zion’s Narrows, B, L
We head out early to avoid the crowds. Today’s adventure is wading in the famous Narrows, a huge slot canyon carved by the Virgin River. Depending on the water temperature we are required to rent shoes for
wading (about AUD$68), or a dry suit (AUD$105) for safety reasons. We walk in the waters of the river looking at the astounding walls of rocks surrounding us. (At times the Narrows are closed due to flash flood dangers or high-water levels due to snow melt. In the afternoon we leave for our next destination: Bryce Canyon. Bryce View Lodge (2-3-star) or similar, 1 night.

Drive time: 120 m / 190 km or 2 hrs
Narrows: 3-4 hrs, ca. 2-4 miles / 5-7 km, elevation difference: +/-0 m

Day 4: Bryce Canyon National Park, B, L
One of the top experiences of the Southwest is sunrise at Bryce Canyon. Today we get to marvel at one of nature’s most amazing sights. Of all the parks, Bryce Canyon is considered by many to be the most beautiful. Tectonic forces uplifted an ancient lakebed, exposing the soft sandstone deposit to the elements. Over time, the frost and wind erosion continued to chisel them and created a true wonderland of rocks. We walk through a giant amphitheater filled with purple, pink, and dark red stone towers. In the afternoon we drive the famous Highway 12 over petrified sand dunes through the amazing uplift of Capitol Reef. Our hotel is in the little town of Green River. America Best Value Inn (3-star) or similar, 1 night.

Drive time: 200 miles / 320 km or 4 hrs
Navajo & Queens Garden Loop: 3 hrs, approx. 3 miles / 5 km, elevation difference: +/-200 m

Day 5: Double O Arch & rafting, B, L
We are a short drive from Arches NP. For our first destination in the park we follow the trail that was carved through rock clefts, and leads over rock fins to the impressive Double O Arch. In the afternoon we recommend an easy rafting trip on the Colorado River (optional, approx. AUD$135), or the group can rent inner tubes and float on a calm stretch of the river below towering cliffs (optional, approx. AUD$30). Moab Valley Inn (3-star) or similar, 1 night.

Drive time: 60 miles / 160 km or 1 hr
Double O Arch: 3 hrs, approx. 4 miles / 7 km, elevation difference: +/-250 m

Day 6: Delicate Arch & Monument Valley, B, L
Early morning finds us on a hike climbing up a slick rock slope to an impressive vantage point overlooking the iconic Delicate Arch in Arches NP. In the afternoon we drive about 3 hours to Monument Valley. Today we recommend a jeep tour with the Navajos to fully enjoy the amazing sights of this Navajo park. San Juan Inn (3- star) or similar, 1 night.

Drive time: 170 miles / 270 km or 3 hrs
Delicate Arch: 2.5 hrs, approx. 3 miles / 5 km, elevation difference: +/-200 m

Day 7: Antelope, Lake Powell, Horseshoe Bend, B, L
Today we reach Page on the southern shore of Lake Powell. Page is famous for the iconic Antelope Canyon, one of the most beautiful slot canyons in the world. We recommend you take a trip to the canyon (starting at AUD$150) to fully appreciate the beautiful canyon. Then you have a chance to walk out to Horseshoe Bend. Sunset should find us at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, not far away. Red Feather (3-star) or similar, 2 Nights

Drive time: 240 miles / 400 km, or 4 hrs

Day 8: A Day at the Grand Canyon, B, L
We have all day to spend at this amazing sight. The Grand Canyon is a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site and although plenty of tourists visit the area, few are found on the trails. If you prefer, you can hike into the canyon to Plateau Point or walk along the West Rim, where incredible views await. There will be time to enjoy an unforgettable sunset along the canyon rim. (Hikes in Grand Canyon National Park are self-guided due to permit regulations.)

Kaibab Ridge: 3-4 hrs, approx. 3 miles / 5 km, elevation difference: +/-300 m
Plateau Point: 8-12 hrs, approx. 12 miles / 20 km, elevation difference: +/-1150 m
Hike along the rim: up to 4 hrs, up to 8 miles / 13 km, elevation difference: +/-50 m

Day 9: Return to Las Vegas, B, L
In the morning you have a chance to take a helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon (optional, starting at AUD$451). We then head back to Las Vegas via Route 66. At Seligman there is chance to stock up on some last-minute Route 66 memorabilia. Our journey concludes with one night in the city that never sleeps – Las Vegas. Mardi Gras (2-3-star) or similar, 1 night.

Drive time: 260 miles / 400 km or 4-5 hrs

Day 10: Departure, B
Our tour concludes in Las Vegas. Transfer out not included, we recommend Uber or Lyft (price around AUD$30-40). Tours starting before the end of May or in late October may have to detour via Sonora Pass due to snow closure on Tioga Pass Road in Yosemite National Park. Tioga Pass generally opens Memorial Day, which is the last weekend in May. It closes with the first heavy snowfall of the year.

Tour Price
• Price shown is for a person based on twin share accommodation, for the travel period indicated.
• All prices displayed are subject to availability and can be withdrawn or varied without notice.
• Prices are guaranteed once booking is confirmed by us and paid in full by the due date.
• Depending on your needs and group size (individual, couple, family, group, etc.) we will provide the final pricing for your tour.

Inclusions:
• No single supplement is charged for singles wanting to share. We can match single
travelers wanting to share a room with another same-sex traveler, if available.
• Highly trained driver / guide who also conducts the hikes
• Most hikes are guided
• Languages: English, German, French, Spanish, and Italian. Please check web site for up-to-date
languages on tours. Agents can request a language from us if you want to advertise this tour in your
country.
• Transport in 15-passenger vans with or without a trailer (depending on group size) or any other vehicle
(depending on group size), with one driver-guide conducting the tour and guiding the hikes
• Entrance fees to National Parks, and Navajo Lands
• 9 nights in 2-3 -star hotels
• Breakfasts every morning
• 8 self-made picnic lunches (breads, cold cuts, cheeses, trail mix, snacks, fruit)

Exclusions:
• All other meals
• Tips of AUD$188 per person for the tour manager depending on his / her performance
• Alcoholic beverages
• All meals not listed (dinners)
• Optional excursions
• Shoe / dry pants rental for wading in the Narrows
• Single supplement if single room if desired
• Porterage
• Some walks are self-guided
• Airport transfers