Colorful Trails of the Southwest
9 Days from $2,318 per person
Journey past the Grand Canyon, ancient Puebloan cliff dwellings and natural arches near Moab, exploring the Old West as the sun sets against a sandstone backdrop.
Overview
Journey past the Grand Canyon, ancient Puebloan cliff dwellings and natural arches near Moab, exploring the Old West as the sun sets against a sandstone backdrop.
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Day 1: Arrive Phoenix – Scottsdale
Welcome to the Phoenix, a city "reborn from the ashes," where you'll meet your Travel Director and fellow travelers for a Welcome Reception this evening.
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Day 2: Scottsdale – Sedona – Grand Canyon National Park
Travel to the artists' enclave of Sedona. Consider an optional jeep adventure into Red Rock Country, then admire the beauty of Oak Creek Canyon. We arrive at the UNESCO-listed Grand Canyon where we'll meet a Local Specialist for insights into the canyon's geologic marvels.
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Day 3: Grand Canyon National Park – Monument Valley – Bluff
Consider an optional sunrise flightseeing tour, then continue to Monument Valley where we'll board open-air vehicles to navigate the iconic red valley landscape. Join your Navajo hosts for a traditional cookout Regional Meal against the surreal backdrop.
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Day 4: Bluff – Mesa Verde National Park – Moab (2 Nights)
Arrive in UNESCO-listed Mesa Verde National Park and learn about the Ancestral Puebloan people. Peer down at their ancient Cliff Palace, the largest cliff dwelling in North America, then continue to Moab where our accommodation is also home to the Moab Movie Museum.
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Day 5: Arches National Park Excursion and Moab
Witness the effects of wind erosion on the natural stone arches of Arches National Park and, if you like, take a short hike to the iconic Delicate Arch view point for an up-close and personal look. Enjoy a free afternoon, then connect with locals during an exclusive dinner in Moab at a local grill.
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Day 6: Moab – Ouray – Silverton – Durango
Journey to the "Switzerland of America," soaking up the small-town vibes of Ouray before embarking on a road-trip along the Million-Dollar Highway. Stake your claim in Silverton and consider an optional steam train ride form Silverton to Durango. Enjoy an evening at leisure at your historic hotel built in the 1800s as a winter retreat.
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Day 7: Durango – Taos – Santa Fe (2 Nights)
Head south toward the UNESCO-listed Taos Pueblo this morning, displaying traditional lifestyle and beliefs of the local Taos people. Our final stop today is the colorful artists' retreat of Santa Fe. Our accommodation is built in the local adobe style and reflects the true spirit and history of this humble city.
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Day 8: Santa Fe Sightseeing
Join your Local Specialist this morning on a private trolley tour to see the iconic and unexpected sights and sounds of Santa Fe, including the spiral staircase in Loretto Chapel. Explore old downtown on your own terms, admiring the local artwork before a Farewell Dinner this evening.
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Day 9: Santa Fe – Depart Albuquerque
Take a transfer to Albuquerque International Airport or consider extending your stay in Albuquerque at the BW Plus Rio Grande Inn. Airport arrival will be at 11 am. Please be aware when booking your flights.
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30 Day Refund Guarantee
We promise you’ll enjoy a stress-free travel experience from the minute you start your vacation planning or we’ll refund your deposit. Make your reservation with a $350 deposit. If you change your mind for any reason within 30 days of booking, we’ll offer you a full refund.
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Definite Departure
| Depart Date | Return Date | Price | Discount | Availability | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 May 19 | 13 May 19 | $2,595$2,336pp | Early PaymentPay by Jan 17 | Request Quote Book Now | |||
| 12 May 19 | 20 May 19 | $2,595$2,336pp | Early PaymentPay by Jan 17 | Request Quote Book Now | |||
| 1 Sep 19 | 9 Sep 19 | $2,595$2,336pp | Early PaymentPay by Jan 17 | Request Quote Book Now | |||
| 8 Sep 19 | 16 Sep 19 | $2,595$2,336pp | Early PaymentPay by Jan 17 | Request Quote Book Now | |||
| 13 Oct 19 | 21 Oct 19 | $2,575$2,318pp | Early PaymentPay by Jan 17 | Request Quote Book Now |
Price is per person and is based on two people sharing a twin bedded room. Single rooms are available at a supplement.
Single Room Supplement: $1,025.
Gratuities: Option to pre-pay gratuities for Travel Director and Driver $100 per person.
AARP Members are entitled to an exclusive Member Benefit Discount on all Grand European Travel vacations. Plus receive a free travel gift! Call Toll Free: 1-866-847-3858 for details.
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Professional Travel Director
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Sightseeing with Local Experts
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VIP Access
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WIFI on Coach and in Hotels
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Cultural Enrichment
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Expertly Selected Hotels
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Hotel Tips
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Most Meals
Meal Summary
13 meals: 8 full breakfasts, 5 dinners.
Included Highlights
Connect with Locals
- Enjoy an exclusive dinner in spectacular Red Rock country
Stays with Stories
- Stay at Red Cliffs Lodge on the banks of the Colorado River, the Strater Hotel located in the heart of the Rockies and the Inn and Spa at Loretto, built in Santa Fe's local adobe style
Local Specialist
- For included sightseeing at the Grand Canyon and in Santa Fe
Sightseeing Highlights
- Visit Scottsdale, Grand Canyon National Park, Monument Valley, Mesa Verde, Arches National Park, Moab, Silverton, Durango, Taos, Santa Fe
- Scenic drive through Sedona, along the Million Dollar Highway, through the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, along Oak Creek Canyon
Request a Quote
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30 Day Refund Guarantee
We promise you’ll enjoy a stress-free travel experience from the minute you start your vacation planning or we’ll refund your deposit. Make your reservation with a $350 deposit. If you change your mind for any reason within 30 days of booking, we’ll offer you a full refund.
Reviews
Request a Quote
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30 Day Refund Guarantee
We promise you’ll enjoy a stress-free travel experience from the minute you start your vacation planning or we’ll refund your deposit. Make your reservation with a $350 deposit. If you change your mind for any reason within 30 days of booking, we’ll offer you a full refund.
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Packing
We suggest bringing a variety of lightweight clothing items that can be layered to save space in your suitcase and give you more options for how to dress. For more helpful information please refer to our Packing Tips & Packing List.
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Gratuity
At the end of your guided vacation, it’s customary to offer your motor coach driver and Travel Director a gratuity. We recommend $4-5 per person/per day for your driver and $6-7 per person/per day for your Travel Director. Recommended gratuity for a Local Host and Local Specialist is 1-2 dollars per person, paid at the conclusion of each guided visit. A convenient option is to prepay your tips before your departure.
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Baggage
Baggage on our trips is restricted to one large suitcase per person with dimensions not exceeding 30x19x10 inches and a maximum weight of 50 pounds. You are also permitted one piece of hand luggage, which should be small enough to fit under your coach seat or on the small overhead shelf compartment. Please note that luggage with an adjustable handle and wheels will not fit in the overhead compartment of the coach. Hotel porterage is included in your vacation.
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Health and Fitness
You will need to be comfortable on your feet, walking and standing for up to three hours in various weather conditions. All of our vacations involve walking, often on cobblestone and uneven surfaces in historic city centers. In order to get the most out of your vacation you need to be able to comfortably walk 1-3 miles unassisted in one day, be in good condition and be able to keep pace with the group.
If you need any medications, it is important that you bring enough to last you the whole trip and keep them in your carry-on bag while you travel.
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Insurance
We highly recommend our optional Travel Protection Plan, which allows you to cancel for any reason up to 24 hours before departure. The plan also includes trip interruption, baggage loss or delay, and medical and emergency assistance. Click here for a summary of coverage details, terms and conditions.
Request a Quote
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30 Day Refund Guarantee
We promise you’ll enjoy a stress-free travel experience from the minute you start your vacation planning or we’ll refund your deposit. Make your reservation with a $350 deposit. If you change your mind for any reason within 30 days of booking, we’ll offer you a full refund.
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
Easy On The Asphalt
Adult Price: 53.00
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. Approx. duration: 1 hour
Old Bear Wallow
Adult Price: 53.00
An exclusive experience as our jeep tour operator is the only company permitted by the U.S. Forest Service to take you on this historic trail - 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 2000ft below. Step onto Munds Wagon or Huckaby Trail and hear stories of Sedona's early pioneer days. Approx. duration:1 hour.
GRAND CANYON
Grand Discovery South Rim Airplane Tour
Adult Price: 159.00
The original air tour of the Grand Canyon and the best value! Board an ultra-quiet small aircraft for a 40-45 minute Grand Discovery flight over the Grand Canyon. The Vistaliner airplanes feature oversize windows that make every seat the best seat and allows for post card quality pictures! This tour covers the most famous and beautiful parts of the Grand Canyon including the Eastern Zuni Corridor, the Confluence and the North Rim and returns through the Western Dragon Corridor. Subject to weather conditions. Flight duration: 40-50 minutes.
Grand Kingdom EcoStar Helicopter Flight
Adult Price: 309.00
Fly the EC 130, the “newest and quietest” helicopters in the Grand Canyon with larger windows, and all seats facing forward. Embark on this 45-50 minute tour of the Eastern Grand Canyon that combines with the renowned beauty of The North Canyon tour. Enjoy spectacular views of the Painted Desert and Colorado River. Subject to weather conditions. Flight duration: 40-50 minutes.
North Canyon Tour Helicopter Flight, Bell Aircraft (April 1 - October 31)
Adult Price: 219.00
Your tour takes you over the Kaibab National Forest and into the deepest portion of the Grand Canyon, through the Dragon Corridor, and continues to the North Rim, where you view the incredible geological differences between the North and South Rims. During your return to the South Rim, enjoy breathtaking views of temples, shrines and rock formations sculpted by time while flying above the widest portion of the mighty Colorado River. Subject to weather conditions. Flight duration: 25-30 minutes.
DURANGO
Durango And Silverton Narrow Gauge Railway
Adult Price: 101.00
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 by a coal-fired, steam-powered locomotive on the same tracks miners, cowboys and settlers of the Old West took over a century ago. Relive history with the sights and sounds of yesteryear for a truly spectacular journey. Approx. duration: 3.5 hours.
Request a Quote
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30 Day Refund Guarantee
We promise you’ll enjoy a stress-free travel experience from the minute you start your vacation planning or we’ll refund your deposit. Make your reservation with a $350 deposit. If you change your mind for any reason within 30 days of booking, we’ll offer you a full refund.
