America's Magnificent National Parks
15 Day National Parks Tour | Operated by InsightVacations
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15 Days
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1 Country
United States -
22 Cities
Phoenix, Scottsdale, Sedona, Grand Canyon National Park, Monument Valley, Lake Powell, Bryce Canyon National Park, Zion National Park, Salt Lake City, Jackson, Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone National Park, Old Faithful Geyser of California, Cody, Ucross, Devils Tower, Spearfish Canyon, Badlands National Park, Custer State Park, Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, Denver -
21 Meals
6 Dinner with Wines, 14 Breakfasts, 1 Lunch -
Pace: Active
Faster paces with mix of 1–2-night stays in each location. Typically features 4+ miles of walking on some days and may involve steep hills and uneven surfaces, such as cobblestones.
Trip Itinerary
Welcome to Arizona, famous for its scenic road trips, towering Monument Valley, and of course the awe-inspiring Grand Canyon. Head to Scottsdale at your leisure to explore Old Scottsdale, a vibrant and unique urban downtown area that introduces you the best of the state. Here, you’ll be surrounded by retro wooden buildings, rodeo inspired artwork and a selection of local stores, all radiating a classic Southwestern flair. Savor a dinner accompanied by wine in the company of your fellow travelers.
Travel through world-renowned Red Country along the Red Rock Scenic Byway, one of only 20 designated All-American Roads nationwide. Explore bohemian Sedona with its shops and galleries, or simply take in the exceptional beauty of Red Rock Country before you make your way to the Grand Canyon. Follow Oak Creek Canyon Scenic Byway through Coconino National Forest, a breathtaking stretch of road recognized by Rand McNally as one of the Top Five Most Scenic Drives in America.
On arrival, you can take an optional flightseeing tour over the Grand Canyon. Whether you prefer a helicopter or a fixed-wing plane, you'll enjoy magnificent scenery with aerial views from above. Meet your Local Expert, Tim at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon to discover its wonders. You'll learn all about the origins of the five-million-year-old canyon, its rock formations and the human impact on this natural masterpiece. He'll also talk to you about the local flora and fauna, and where you might be able to spot them.
Early risers will take advantage of the lodge location to witness one of Mother Nature's grandest shows on earth: a sunrise over the Grand Canyon. Travel along the South Rim Desert View Drive, skirting the South Rim of the canyon. We will stop at Desert View Point to see the historic Watchtower built by Mary Colter in the Puebloan style, the Colorado River turning north and the Painted Desert extending towards Navajo and Hopi Indian lands. Make Travel Matter as we will be supporting the Grand Canyon Conservancy and making a donation to support the development of the Desert View Inter-tribal Heritage Center. Head to the Cameron Trading Post, one of the oldest and most historic general stores in Arizona. Enter Monument Valley Tribal Park, where you'll join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience as you meet your Navajo Local Experts and board all-terrain vehicles with open sides for a private, off-the-beaten path exploration of this magical valley. Learn about Navajo history, culture and heritage from your expert as you travel deeper into the natural wonders of this unique landscape. Enjoy a Navajo cookout amid the giant buttes and mesas of this unique landscape. Spend the rest of the day relaxing at your lakefront resort.
Today is entirely yours to do as you please. Partake in one of our popular optional experiences, explore on your own, or simply relax by the resort swimming pool with views of Lake Powell. As an optional activity this morning, let yourself be tempted by a gentle float trip down the Colorado River. Calmly float down the Colorado, past some of the most awe-inspiring sites, like the iconic Horseshoe Bend and Petroglyph Beach. In the evening, enjoy dinner with wine at the Red Heritage as you get the opportunity to watch local dancers talented in colorful powwow dancing, flute playing, and live drum music and enjoy a traditional dinner at this Navajo owned Native American Performing Arts Theater on this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience.
Journey across a wide-open landscape punctuated by colorful sandstone cliffs, sagebrush-covered flats, and high ridges dotted with piñon pine and juniper. Travel through Bryce Canyon Country on a portion of the Scenic Highway 89, recognized by National Geographic as the No. 1 Driver's Drive in the world. You will be struck by the beauty of Bryce Canyon National Park, an otherworldly landscape of red rock pillars known as hoodoos, pink cliffs, and endless vistas. Follow the Rim Trail from Surprise Point to Bryce Point. Stops will be made at the major viewpoints and there will be time for a leisurely walk along Sunset Point or a more physical hike down the canyon. Either way, you will be spellbound by the beauty and majesty of this dramatic natural landscape.
After a leisurely breakfast and a Relaxed Start, we will tour Zion National Park aboard a privately chartered tram, with live commentary from a Local Expert to show you the many scenic highlights of the canyon such as the weeping rock, the hanging garden and the fauna and flora of the park. Then choose between a Travel Director guided hike to the Emerald Pools for beautiful scenery of the canyon, waterfalls and green pools surrounded by red sandstone or take a self-guided leisurely stroll along the Virgin River Walk and keep your eye out for wildlife.
This morning you make your way out of Zion National Park and travel to Salt Lake City, the capital of Utah. In the evening join your fellow travelers for a dinner with wine at the hotel.
Before leaving Salt Lake City, take in the State Capitol building. Drive along the scenic Logan Canyon, over the Wasatch Mountain Range, and up to the Bear Lake Summit. Stop for lunch on your own near Bear Lake offering views of beautiful turquoise waters. You will then head north across the Oregon Trail to historic Jackson. Have your cameras ready for the famous elk antlers at the central square, while eager shoppers will find a number of charming traditional boutique galleries to browse. Enjoy the rest of the evening at leisure, with your hotel located only a short walk away from Jackson's Town Square.
Wake up to a mountainous view like no other and witness the striking Grand Tetons thrust skyward 13,775 feet (4,199 m) from the valley floor. This morning, you have the opportunity to partake in an optional scenic float down the Snake River (signed waiver required) inside Grand Teton National Park. In keeping with today’s rustic country charm, you’ll enter Yellowstone, the world’s first National Park. Known for its unique geothermal activity, spectacular landscapes and abundant wildlife, you’ll experience Wyoming in all its glory. Keep an eye out for black bears or wolves. Tonight you’ll stay in the National Park Lodges, allowing you to experience the park after hours, in its natural habitat.
Savor the surreal surroundings of Yellowstone with a relaxed start. Walk among the rainbow tinted hot springs and watch the erupting geysers as you take in the history of the park on an informative stroll with your Travel Director. Catch the renowned colorful bubbling mud pots and observe Old Faithful geyser shooting water over 120 feet (37 meters) into the air. In the afternoon, enjoy the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone as you take in stunning natural wonders. While driving through Hayden Valley, famous for its wildlife, keep an eye out for wolves, bears, elk and hundreds of bison. The rest of the evening is at leisure for you to relax.
Set off on your travels through the stark Shoshone Canyon and Absaroka Rocky Mountains, leading you to the Wild West Town of Cody. Channel your inner showman and learn more about America’s great Western legends at the Buffalo Bill Center, known for its Western art collection, firearms, and natural history. Travel through the Bighorn National Forest to the Ranch at UCross. Take in the rustic charm as you're hosted at a traditional Wyoming Family ranch. Start off the evening with a cocktail hour in the historic Ranch House bar. After a home-cooked dinner, enjoy a fire pit with live entertainment, including country, folk and bluegrass music.
Live the American frontier dream and begin your day with a scenic country horseback ride (waiver required) accompanied by a Ranch Hand. If playing cowboy isn’t your thing, perhaps go fishing or merely relax and take in your beautiful surroundings, the choice is yours. Make your way to Devils Tower, an astounding geological feature that protrudes out of the surrounding Black Hills. This symbolic landmark is considered sacred to the Lakota and other tribes. Experience Spearfish Canyon, a favored spot among wildlife enthusiasts and one famous for its elvish woodland beauty. The limestone palisades of this creek-carved gorge are more ancient than the Grand Canyon itself.
A day for those looking to explore the Wild West, try to spot the fastest mammal in North America, the pronghorn antelope as you cross the great high plains to the Black Hills of South Dakota. Our first stop this morning is the Oglala Lakota Living History Museum for a one-of-a-kind MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Visit Badlands National Park in South Dakota, 244,000 acres of sharply eroded buttes, pinnacles and spires blended with the largest protected mixed grass prairie in America. A hidden gem in the national park system, the unique beauty of the Badlands landscape is unlike any other.
Join an Insight Experience at Crazy Horse Memorial - the world's largest mountain carving created in honor of the Lakota warrior. Curated with a view to help protect and continue the living heritage of the Native Americans, this experience details how the memorial was carved from land sacred to the tribes. With exclusive access not available to the general public, guests ascend 563 feet (172 meters) and have the opportunity to face the monument up close. Then, travel to the iconic Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Here, carvings of Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Roosevelt overlook the landscape. Join your Travel Director and newfound friends for a Celebration Dinner with wine, as you reflect on your adventure across the wide-open spaces of America's national parks.
Your journey comes to an end today. A transfer is available to Denver International Airport, arrival at the airport will be at approximately 16:30.
Guests have the option to end the tour in Denver or Rapid City at time of booking.
Price Includes
Dining Summary- - 6 Dinner with Wines (DW)
- - 14 Breakfasts (B)
- - 1 Lunch (L)
- Mingle over a delightful dinner at your resort's renowned Zuzu Restaurant, named for the beloved matriarch of the family that owns the property.
- At 18:00, join your Travel Director for dinner where you'll have the chance to mingle with fellow guests.
- Start off your evening with cocktails in the historic Ranch House bar. After your All-American ranch style dinner, head to the fire pit for some s'mores and live music.
- Toast to the finale of your trip at a dinner served at your lodge in Custer State Park.
- With its red stone formations that create a haunting skyline found nowhere else in the world. This is where Arizona keeps the Old West. And this is where a New West has evolved, as a haven for creatives, a center of spiritual health and enlightenment, and an epic playground for outdoor enthusiasts.
- Join your Local Expert, Canyon Tim, for an informative talk about the wonders of the Grand Canyon. With over seven years of experience in geology, you'll learn about the origins of the five-million-year-old canyon, its rock formation and its current impact. You'll also discover the local flora and fauna, and find out where you might be able to spot elk, mule deer, coyotes, grey foxes, bobcats and mountain lions.
- Experience the essence of the great American road trip, as you travel through the Red Rock Scenic Byway. Along your journey you will be immersed in the stunning, natural peaks and rock formations of the Red Country, that look as though they could have been shaped by the countless artists they have inspired.
- Early risers will take advantage of the lodge location, close to the Grand Canyon South Rim, to witness one of Mother Nature's grandest shows on earth: a sunrise over the majestic Grand Canyon.
- Meet your Navajo Local Experts and board all-terrain vehicles with open sides for a private, off-the-beaten path exploration of this magical valley. Learn about Navajo history, culture and heritage from your expert as you travel deeper in the natural wonders of this unique landscape.
- Travel through Bryce Canyon Country on a portion of the Scenic Highway 89, recognized by National Geographic as the number 1 Driver's Drive in the world.
- Head to the sandstone cliffs of Bryce Canyon National Park in Southern Utah. Here you will be met by pine trees and red rock pillars. Take a leisurely walk along Sunset Point while you view the great amphitheatres of the odd-shaped monoliths, known as hoodoos.
- Travel through more amazing scenery on your way to Zion National Park. Cut through the Checkerboard Mesa and meander down to Zion Canyon while taking in many of its famous landmarks.
- See the grandeur and natural features of the canyon in total comfort while traveling via private open-air tram with live on-board commentary.
- Historic Jackson, where the majestic peaks of the Teton Range act as your constant backdrop. Feel like you’ve stepped back in time as you walk through the town's famous landmark arch of tangled elk antlers. Spend the rest of the afternoon exploring the town’s boutiques and stores, which blend the Old West and the modern West harmoniously.
- Travel through a mountainous landscape like no other. Witness the striking Grand Tetons thrust skyward 6,562 feet (2,000 meters) from the valley floor and keenly watch for exciting wildlife that call these mountains home. Including the grizzly bear, bald eagles, moose, bison, and elk.
- One of the major geyser basins in Yellowstone, the Mammoth Hot Springs Area is visually unique from the other thermal features in the park. Here, hot water rises through the limestone, dissolving large quantities of rock and leaving a chalky mineral deposit in the surface. Find yourself by the bubbling waters, whose constant movement means the springs are changing all the time.
- Travel through a mountainous landscape like no other. Witness the striking Grand Tetons thrust skyward 6,562 feet (2,000 meters) from the valley floor and keenly watch for exciting wildlife that call these mountains home. Including the grizzly bear, bald eagles, moose, bison, and elk.
- Catch the renowned colorful bubbling mud pots and observe Old Faithful geyser shooting water over 120 feet (37 meters) into the air. The Upper Geyser Basin boasts the highest concentration of spouting geysers, hot springs and steaming fumaroles in the world.
- Explore the award-winning Buffalo Bill Center of the West, known for its excellent Western art collection and natural history.
- Travel out of Yellowstone NP through Shoshone Canyon and Absaroka Rocky Mountains to the Wild West Town of Cody.
- View the awe-inspiring Devils Tower National Monument, a butte that protrudes from the landscape and is considered sacred by the Lakota and other tribes.
- Continue venturing through the Black Hills to arrive at Custer State Park. Renowned for its beautiful landscape and abundance of wildlife. Home to a famous herd of 1,500 free roaming bison, accompanied by elk, mule deer, white tailed deer, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, pronghorn antelope, mountain lions and feral burros.
- Steep yourself in all that is the Badlands National Park in South Dakota. Preserved here are 244,000 acres of sharply eroded buttes, pinnacles and spires, blended with the largest protected mixed grass prairie in America. The unique beauty of this landscape is like no other. Sightseers as well as scholarly scientists are attracted to the area for its astounding beauty and the opportunity to gaze into an ancient world.
- View iconic Mount Rushmore National Memorial where carvings of Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Roosevelt overlook the landscape.
- Trace the scenic South Rim of the Grand Canyon along Desert View Drive. See the historic Watchtower built by Mary Colter in the Puebloan style and track the Colorado River that leads you to the aptly named Painted Desert which extends towards Navajo and Hopi Indian lands. A MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® experience that supports the Grand Canyon Conservancy and donates to the Desert Viewpoint Intertribal Cultural Heritage Site, fulfilling the UN’s Global goals of reducing inequality and creating sustainable communities.
- Deepen your knowledge and connection with the first nations of this land as we travel to Monument Valley by way of off-road vehicles to the cookout site. Here you’ll enjoy an authentically delicious barbecue dinner with members of the Navajo Nation, where traditional Navajo tacos and fry-bread will be served while you are immersed in traditional dance and songs of this great ancient culture.
- Navajo owned and operated, Red Heritage is a Native American Performing Arts Theater showcasing awe inspiring local talent: powwow dancers, flute playing, and live drum music. This MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® experience helps to preserve Navajo Culture and dance. Embrace these beautiful and ancient arts while contributing to the UN's Global goal of reducing inequalities.
- Discover the past, present, and future of the Lakota people at the Oglala Lakota Living History Village. Walk the trails through displays of 19th-century living quarters. Local artists present culture and tradition through their crafts and storytelling. Your visit contributes to the sustainability and resilience of the Lakota community.
- Explore the natural beauty of Zion National Park on a guided hike to the famed Emerald Pools. Or, for a more relaxed experience, take a self-guided walk along the Virgin River keeping an eye out for the sights and sounds of nature.
- Visit the Zion Nature Center at the Zion Canyon Visitor Center - The most well known of Zion’s Earth friendly endeavor. Learn about how the Center was built on a previously disturbed site & utilized outdoor exhibits to take advantage of Zion’s climate or alternatively, take a hike to the Emerald Pools led by your Travel Director.
- Live the American frontier dream with a scenic morning country horseback ride.
- Take a leisurely fishing outing and enjoy the serene surroundings.
- Visit Crazy Horse Memorial, which is dedicated to protecting and preserving the culture, tradition and living heritage of the Native American people. A special Insight Experience awaits as you are taken up to stand face-to-face with this impressive sculpture. Measuring 641 feet (195 meters) long and 563 feet (172 meters) high, the piece takes the record as the world’s largest mountain carving.
Optional Experiences
Optional Experiences are subject to change. Your Travel Director will supply you with a final list of Optional Experiences available on your trip. Optional Experiences cannot be booked online; they can be purchased during your trip through your Travel Director.
Grand Discovery Air Tour South Rim - 45 Min. Fixed-Wing Aircraft Flight (Available on Day 2)There’s no better way to experience the grandeur of the Grand Canyon South Rim than on a fascinating aerial tour offering unobstructed views. Sit back and feel the thrill of this Natural Wonder as you fly over the Kaibab National Forest, Kaibab Plateau, Confluence of Colorado, Little Colorado River, Imperial Point and Zuni Corridor.
Adult Price: $196 Child Price: $196 Grand Kingdom - 40 Min. EcoStar Helicopter Flight (Available on Day 2)Soar across the canyon rim on a helicopter flight, watching as the bottom seemingly drops out from under your feet. Gaze deep into the core of the canyon over 5,000 feet down to the confluence of the Little Colorado River. Then drift past Imperial Point - a rugged spire standing alone near the North Rim of the Canyon. Flying at the same altitude as the North Rim, you may feel you can reach out and touch the canyon walls. Then head back to Grand Canyon South Rim via the Dragon Corridor, another of the Grand Canyon's most picturesque sections.
Adult Price: $391 Child Price: $391 North Canyon Tour Helicopter Flight. Bell Aircraft - 25 minutes (Available on Day 2)The Grand Canyon opens up before you on a memorable helicopter experience over its southern and northern rims. After flying over the Kaibab National Forest, enter the Dragon Corridor - the deepest and widest part of the Grand Canyon. Marvel at the canyon's legendary beauty through the specially designed oversized windows of your helicopter. Have your camera ready to capture the colorful stone walls and sweeping vistas surrounding you. Fly over the mighty Colorado River toward the canyon's rugged North Rim and soar along with rock formations, including the Tower of Ra and Vishnu Schist.
Adult Price: $264 Child Price: $264 Horseshoe Bend Rafting (Available on Day 4)This float trip lets you enjoy all the sights and stops of Glen Canyon in a convenient half-day format. It starts with a two-mile tunnel drive (and dinosaur tracks!) before you board your river craft. It continues to Petroglyph Beach and its fascinating artifacts. You’ll look up in awe at the soaring cliffs above Horseshoe Bend as you learn the stories of the ancestral Puebloan people who lived here. Afterward, you’ll enjoy a stunning motor-coach ride back from Lees Ferry to Page, passing Vermillion Cliffs, beautiful orchards, and historic structures along the way.
Adult Price: $143 Child Price: $143 Top of the World Tour with Tower Butte Landing (Available on Day 4)Combine remarkable views of Horseshoe Bend from the air with an exclusive Tower Butte landing during this incredible tour! Guests lift off on a narrated helicopter experience, viewing Lake Powell, Glen Canyon Dam and Horseshoe Bend before landing atop Tower Butte – a massive natural rock formation that can only be reached by helicopter. Rising 5000 feet above sea level, Tower Butte is one of the American Southwest’s most notable landmarks. Guests take in 360-degree views of Glen Canyon, Lake Powell, Padre Bay, the Grand Staircase Escalante, and the LeChee Rock. The scenery in this region of the country is breathtaking and simply unrivaled! Visitors enjoy 15-20 minutes on Tower Butte for photo opportunities before returning to the air terminal.
Adult Price: $294 Child Price: $294 Antelope Canyon Guided Tour (Available on Day 4)Make travel Matter and join the Navajo owned and run guided tour of Antelope Canyon, located on private land within the Navajo Nation. Learn about the history and geology of the canyon, shaped by millions of years of water & wind erosion, the magnificent canyon was named after the herds of pronghorn antelope that once roamed in the area. Travel time, to the Upper Antelope Canyon is 20 minutes: involves 10 minutes on a nicely paved road and 10 minutes within the dry-wash of the Antelope Canyon which can get bumpy. In order to participate in this optional, guests have to be able to walk around 1,200 meters with an elevation change of 200 feet, as well as climbing up stairs and to be on their feet for 1.5 hrs as there is no seating option.
Adult Price: $101 Child Price: $101 Snake River Float Trip Through Grand Teton National Park (Available on Day 9)Ready for relaxation? This gentle 10-mile float trip inside Grand Teton National Park covers the most scenic stretch of the Snake River in the Jackson Hole Valley. As you kick back on the gentle waters, learn how the Snake River is a lifeline to the park’s bison, elk, moose, beaver, pronghorn, deer, bear and 300 different species of birds, including osprey and eagles. Your experienced guide offers in-depth information on the geology of the Grand Tetons and the habitats of the local animals.
Custer State Park is known for its beauty and serenity, but it is also a wildlife reserve that is home to a famous herd of 1,500 free roaming bison plus elk, mule deer, white tailed deer, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, pronghorn antelope, mountain lions and feral burros. On this 90-minute scenic tour of the back country, you’ll get up close and personal with herds of buffalo and other species as your jeep driver and guide offer historical and educational information about the park and wildlife. Start with a guided off-road buffalo safari jeep tour through the park in search of pronghorns, elk, and the noble buffalo. Along the way, guides will share historical and educational facts about the park and wildlife—and help you spot the animals. Then head to the Chuck Wagon Cookout in the mountain canyon for a chuck wagon feast and live entertainment with some Western flair. You’ll also get your own souvenir cowboy hat and bandanna to play the part. Vegetarian option is also available.
Adult Price: $112 Child Price: $112