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Colorful Trails of the Southwest
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Colorful Trails of the Southwest
Operated by: Trafalgar
10 Days from $3,317 per person
Locations Visited
Phoenix, Scottsdale, Sedona, Grand Canyon National Park, Monument Valley, Page, Moab, Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Mesa Verde National Park, Durango, Taos, Santa Fe, Albuquerque ...more Phoenix, Scottsdale, Sedona, Grand Canyon National Park, Monument Valley, Page, Moab, Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Mesa Verde National Park, Durango, Taos, Santa Fe, AlbuquerqueBOOK WITH CONFIDENCE
BOOK WITH CONFIDENCE
✓ Lock in this trip with $250 deposit
✓ Refund Guarantee within 30 days of booking
✓ Flexible changes up to 60 days before your tour departs
✓ Lock in this trip with $250 deposit
✓ Refund Guarantee within 30 days of booking
✓ Flexible changes up to 60 days before your tour departs
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Day 1
Welcome to Phoenix and Scottsdale
Sun-kissed Phoenix kickstarts your journey through America’s stunning Southwest. You’ll have the day on your own to recover from your travels, then meet your Travel Director and fellow travellers for a Welcome Reception later this evening.
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Day 2
See the Red Rocks of Sedona Connect with Locals
Your first stop today is in the artists' enclave of Sedona – surrounded by red-rock buttes, steep canyon walls and pine forests. You’ll travel through Oak Creek Canyon next, with its rocky red cliffs, then venture to the UNESCO-listed Grand Canyon National Park, where a Local Specialist will share the canyon’s many geological marvels. Tonight, you’ll have an opportunity to overnight at one of the lodges inside the park.
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Day 3
Take In The Sights Of The Grand Canyon Make Travel Matter
Don’t miss an unforgettable experience: Rise early for an optional flightseeing over the Grand Canyon and then trace the scenic South Rim of the Grand Canyon along Desert View Drive. Enjoy a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience as we visit Desert View's Pueblo-style Watch tower and support the development of the Desert View Inter-tribal Heritage Center. Later, we’ll all stop at Cameron Trading Post and perhaps sample traditional Native American fry bread. Finally, we'll take a walk to the rim of Glen Canyon to Horseshoe Bend. This evening, join an Optional Make Travel Matter Experience at Red Heritage, a Navajo owned and operated Native American Performing Arts Theater. They showcase culturally inspired food alongside an unforgettable show!
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Day 4
Take a Scenic Drive to Moab Make Travel Matter
Depart Page and drive through Navajo Tribal Lands to Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, the largest reservation in the United States with over 17 million acres of land between Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico. Dive Into Culture as you board a 4x4 vehicle and navigate the iconic red valley landscape guided by a member of the Navajo Nation and Local Specialist. Pause and settle in surrounded by buttes and mesas in this sacred land for an outdoor chicken and steak barbeque lunch prepared by a Navajo tribe member as they share stories about the Dineh (Navajo) people and their connection to Monument Valley. Then continue to Moab on a scenic drive from Monument Valley where your Travel Director will share intel on some of the sights you’ll see along the way. Sit back and enjoy views of the San Juan River, Mexican Hat, Bluff, and the Abajo "Blue Mountain" and La Sal Mountains. Your time in Moab—the gateway city to Arches National Park, Canyonlands National park, and the Colorado River—kicks off with a hearty Be My Guest experience dinner at Canyon Steak and Waffle. So much more than a place to refuel after a day of exploring, this is your chance to sit down and learn about local life through our host and restaurant owner Shawn Welch. Shawn shares her story and connection to the diner as you learn about growing up in Moab and how she’s come to own and operate an authentic American diner.
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Day 5
Admire the Landscape of Arches National Park
This morning, discover how the forces of wind and rain have shaped the enchanting landscape of Arches National Park in the stunning formations that they are, with countless perfect photo opportunities. Later, journey to Canyonlands National Park to connect with nature even more.
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Day 6
Discover the History of Mesa Verde Stays With Stories
We arrive in the UNESCO-listed Mesa Verde National Park to delve into the history and culture of the Ancestral Puebloan people. Explore their beautifully preserved sandstone dwellings. This evening, in Durango, your Stay With Story is historic Strater Hotel. You’ll have the evening at leisure to explore the historic town of Durango.
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Day 7
Dive into Durango
Enjoy free time in Durango today, or you may take a scenic drive along the Million Dollar Highway from Ouray and Silverton. If you’re lucky, enjoy a truly unforgettable step back in time, on a ride aboard the coal-fired, steam-powered narrow-gauge train (booked independently). The train chugs along rails that were originally laid at the end of the 19th century, winding through a spectacular wilderness which would be inaccessible by car. If you're feeling more adventurous, opt for a white-water rafting trip on the Animas River.
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Day 8
Unlock the Legacy of Taos and Nambe Pueblo Make Travel Matter
This morning’s drive takes you through the towns of Pagosa Springs and Chama. Then you enjoy a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience as you visit one of the greatest Ancestral Puebloan archaeological sites in the Southwest. Be immersed into the fascinating cliff dwellings and take a walk along the canyon and volcanic mountains that surround this park and learn about the history of the people that inhabited this area around 1,000 years ago. Meet your Taos tribal resident guide and explore the only living Native American community designated both a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and a National Historic Landmark. The journey continues along the High Road – Santa Fe Scenic Byway, rich in history, art and culture. Arrive at the hotel, ideally located two short blocks from Santa Fe’s Historic Plaza.
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Day 9
Explore the Unique Culture of Santa Fe Make Travel Matter
Enjoy a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience as you visit one of the greatest Ancestral Puebloan archaeological sites in the Southwest. Be immersed in the fascinating adobe dwellings and take a walk through Taos Pueblo, a Native American community that has been continuously inhabited for the last 1,000 years. Meet your Taos tribal resident guide and explore the only living Native American community designated both a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and a National Historic Landmark. Get ready for a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience with a visit to the Allan Houser Sculpture Garden. See many of the city’s major sights before you have the rest of the day to pursue your own interests before gathering together for a fantastic farewell dinner.
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Day 10
End Your Journey in Albuquerque
Our journey through desert landscapes comes to an end, make your own way to Albuquerque Airport.
Price Includes
Whats Included
- An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
- Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
- All porterage and restaurant gratuities
- All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
- Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
- Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
- Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
- All transport and transfers shown
- Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
- Optional Experiences and free time
Dining Summary
- 1 Welcome Reception (WR)
- 9 Breakfast (B)
- 2 Lunch (L)
- 2 Dinner (D)
Be My Guest
- Moab: Enjoy a hosted Be My Guest dinner at Canyon Steak and Waffle hosted by Shawn Welch. She worked as a server for many years before purchasing her own old-style diner.
Dive Into Culture
- Grand Canyon National Park: Meet a geologist at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon to learn about how this natural marvel was formed and all the different layers that make up the Colorado Plateau.
Iconic Experience
- Grand Canyon National Park: Arrive at one of the seven natural wonders of the world and the second most visited national park in the United States, the Grand Canyon. Encompassing 278 miles (447 km) of the Colorado River and adjacent uplands, Grand Canyon is one of the most spectacular examples of erosion anywhere in the world and offers unmatched vistas along its rim.
- Oak Creek Canyon: Drive through Coconino National Forest on one of the most scenic drives in the U.S., offering a picture perfect view of the surrounding red-rock and Ponderosa Pine forest between Sedona and Flagstaff, Arizona.
- Glen Canyon Dam: Enjoy a walk to the rim of Glen Canyon where you will get the chance to visit Horseshoe Bend.
- Monument Valley: Board a 4x4 vehicle and navigate the iconic red valley landscape guided by a member of the Navajo Nation and Local Specialist.
- Arches National Park: Visit Arches National Park, housing the greatest concentration of natural arches in the world. Some 6,000 natural sandstone arches can be found within the boundaries of the national park.
- Canyonlands National Park: It's on to Canyonlands National Park for a drive onto the Island in the Sky - a mesa resting 1,000 feet (305 meters) above the surrounding countryside, offering spectacular views over the dramatic sandstone formations.
- Mesa Verde National Park: 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. Several hundred of these dwellings, in addition to thousands of known archaeological sites, are preserved in this protected area and you'll have an opportunity to see several during your visit to the park, as you ride along the Mesa Top Loop, and Cliff Palace Loop, where you can see the magnificent Cliff Palace.
- Taos: Explore Taos Pueblo with Local Specialists who call Taos Pueblo home. Gain insight into the history of the pueblo and what it is like to live there today.
MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®
- Grand Canyon: Travel to Desert View and bask in the views of the Grand Canyon and the iconic watchtower decorated with its Hopi artist murals. Make your way to an Inter-tribal Cultural Heritage site where members share their stories, family histories and provide cultural demonstrations such as carpet weaving and traditional song and dance performances. Our visit and donation provide a continuous source of seed funding for the heritage site while allowing guests to engage directly with Indigenous community members.
- Monument Valley: Travel to Monument Valley for a highly enjoyable cookout lunch with members of the Navajo Nation. You’ll take off-road vehicles to the cookout site where you’ll enjoy a delicious steak and chicken dinner with a chance to try traditional Navajo tacos and fry-bread.
- Taos: Visit Taos Pueblo, a UNESCO World's Heritage Center as well as a National Historic Landmark and one the oldest continuously inhabited communities in the country. Best known for is iconic, multi-storied adobe buildings, built roughly 1,000 years ago. About 150 Puebloans live within the pueblo full time. The Taos Tribal Council, which owns the pueblo, does not allow any modern convenience inside the pueblo, such as running water or electricity.
- Santa Fe: Visit the 50-acre property on a private tour with local specialist to see some of Allan Houser's most amazing works known for his magnificent sculptures and paintings depicting various Indigenous tribes.
Must-see Highlights
- : Explore the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park
- : Visit Scottsdale, Mesa Verde, Cameron Trading Post, Horseshoe Bend Lookout, Moab, Durango, Taos and Santa Fe
- : Scenic Drive through Sedona's Red Rock Country, Oak Creek Canyon, Grand Canyon National Park's Desert View Drive, Trail of the Ancients National Scenic Byway and the High Road Scenic Byway from Taos to Santa Fe
Trafalgar Difference
- Durango: Stay at The Strater Hotel, adorned with beautiful handcrafted woodwork, housing the largest collection of American Victorian walnut antiques. It's Durango's Historic Landmark Hotel, showcasing stories of the old west and mining times.
Whats Included
- : An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
- : Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
- : All porterage and restaurant gratuities
- : All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
- : Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
- : Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
- : Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
- : All transport and transfers shown
- : Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
- : Optional Experiences and free time
Dates & Prices
Prices shown are per person based on two people sharing a twin room. To request a personalized travel quote, click "Request Quote" and a Travel Specialist will send your custom quote including airfare if requested.
Online Booking Process
Financing from $/month
Optional Add-Ons
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.
Sedona
Available on Day 2
Old Bear Wallow (60 minutes)
Climb this early stagecoach route along Schnebly Hill Road through Bear Wallow Canyon just below the Mogollon Rim to enjoy stunning views of Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon 2000 feet below. Step onto Munds Wagon or Huckaby Trail and hear stories of Sedona’s early pioneer days.
Adult Price: $49
Easy on the Asphalt (60 minutes)
A “Sedona snapshot” with great photo opportunities! Join us on this informative and relaxing, yet breathtaking, tour of some of Sedona’s most magnificent overlooks including Cathedral Rock, one of the most photographed sites in all of Arizona. On-road tour
Adult Price: $49
Grand Canyon
Available on Day 3
Grand Discovery Air Tour South Rim - 45 Min. Fixed-Wing Aircraft Flight GGG-1
Experience the grandeur of the Grand Canyon South Rim on a fascinating aerial tour. Once onboard the state-of-the-art touring aircraft with high wings and quiet technology, sit back and get ready to enjoy the thrill of incredible scenery this Natural Wonder has to offer. You'll fly over the Kaibab National Forest, Kaibab Plateau, Confluence of Colorado, Little Colorado River, Imperial Point, and Zuni Corridor. All seats provide unobstructed views for sightseeing and photography. This Grand Discovery tour is perfect for families and individuals who have limited time yet wish to enjoy all of the Grand Canyon's beauty.
Adult Price: $174
Grand Kingdom - 40 Min. EcoStar Helicopter Flight HGG-2
See the absolute best views the Grand Canyon has to offer on this 40-50 minute aerial sightseeing adventure. Settle into a state-of-the-art helicopter built especially for sightseeing, and off you go! As you soar across the canyon rim, watch as the bottom seemingly drops out from under your feet. You'll gaze deep into the very core of the canyon over 5,000 feet down to the dramatic confluence of the Little Colorado River. You will 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. It's an up-close and personal perspective only a helicopter can provide! The North Rim is a vastly different climate and supports plant and animal life not present at the drier South Rim. You'll then head back to Grand Canyon South Rim via the Dragon Corridor, another of the Grand Canyon's most picturesque sections. If you want the most scenic views from the most impressive heights, this is the helicopter tour for you.
Adult Price: $349
North Canyon Tour - 25-30 Min. Helicopter Flight. Bell Aircraft. PGG-1 (April 1 - October 31)
Enjoy a memorable helicopter experience over the southern and northern rims of the Grand Canyon. After flying over the Kaibab National Forest, you will 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. Guests can only capture these phenomenal aerial sights via helicopter.
Adult Price: $239
Page
Available on Day 3
Top of the World Tour EcoStar Helicopter Landing on Tower Butte - 45 Min. (HPHT-2)
Combine remarkable views of Horseshoe Bend from the air with an exclusive Tower Butte landing, all within this incredible tour! Guests will lift off on a narrated helicopter experience with views of 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 will enjoy 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 will enjoy 15-20 minutes on Tower Butte for photo opportunities before returning to the air terminal.
Adult Price: $269
Red Heritage Dinner Show
Navajo-owned and operated; Red Heritage is a Native American Performing Arts Theater. They showcase local dancers talented in colorful powwow dancing, flute playing, and live drum music; PLUS culturally inspired food and an unforgettable show! A buffet with base options of frybread, rice or lettuce. Then there will be southwest-inspired chicken, pork, beef, traditional chili, and vegetarian chili for protein. Sauteed vegetables with lettuce, tomato, onion, cheese, and green chili are offered as toppings or sides. Served with pudding parfait for dessert and 1 drink included. There will be a cash bar available. This is part of TreadRight's Make Travel Matter global initiative for sustainable tourism.
Adult Price: $70
Durango
Available on Day 7
Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railway
This historic train constructed in 1882 has been in continuous operation for 135 years. The Durango train winds through spectacular & breathtaking canyons in the remote wilderness of the two-million-acre San Juan National Forest for an unforgettable adventure. Experience the adventure of traveling on this vintage locomotive on the same tracks miners, cowboys and settlers of the Old West took over a century ago. Unplug from the modern world and relive history with the sights and sounds of yesteryear for a truly spectacular journey. You'll experience the iconic Horseshoe Curve, High Bridge and all of the Animas River Gorge including all of the spectacular views from the High Line. If you long to unwind and enjoy Colorado nature at its finest, this is the trip for you. These trains run May - October and include a concession car with a variety of snacks and drinks available for purchase.
Adult Price: $102
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