Enchanting Canyonlands
7 Day National Park Tour to Zion & Grand Canyon | Operated by InsightVacations
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7 Days
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1 Country
United States -
9 Cities
Phoenix, Scottsdale, Sedona, Grand Canyon National Park, Monument Valley, Lake Powell, Bryce Canyon National Park, Zion National Park, Salt Lake City -
10 Meals
3 Dinner with Wines, 6 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. Why not head out and 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 Canyon Tim at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon to discover its wonders. You'll discover 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 bountiful 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 southern rim of the canyon. Make Travel Matter by supporting the Grand Canyon Conservancy and making a donation to support the development of the Desert Viewpoint Intertribal Cultural Heritage Site. Head to the Cameron Trading Post, one of the oldest and most historic general stores in Arizona. Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience in Monument Valley Tribal Park, where Navajo Local Experts guide you through the history, culture and heritage of the Navajo Nation. This carefully prepared tour keenly exemplifies the relationship of respect with the land in the valley and the importance placed on preserving the natural treasures found here. 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 before indulging in a dinner with wine featuring views of Lake Powell.
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. Make Travel Matter, 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.
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.
Enjoy a Relaxed Start this morning, as you have a full day to explore the Zion National Park. After a leisurely breakfast, you will tour the canyon aboard a privately chartered open-air vehicle, with live commentary from a Local Expert to show you the many scenic highlights of the canyon. Explore Zion National Park with Insight Choice. Choose to join your Travel Director for a guided hike to the Emerald Pools. Alternatively, take a self-guided leisurely stroll along the Virgin River Walk and keep your eye out for wildlife.
This morning you’ll bid farewell to the beautiful national parks and your fellow travelers. You will be taken to Salt Lake City International Airport, where you will arrive at approximately 15:00. Please be aware when arranging your flights. Alternatively, a transfer to Sheraton Salt Lake city hotel is also provided should you wish to extend your stay.
Price Includes
Dining Summary- - 3 Dinner with Wines (DW)
- - 6 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.
- Indulge in a three-course dinner in the Rainbow Room at your resort.
- 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.
- 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.
- Stop at the historic Trading Post, established in the early 1900s as a place where Native Americans traded wool and livestock.
- 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.
- 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.
- Connect to history as you wander paths and trails, following in the footsteps of Native Americans and the earliest pioneers. Lush vegetation, wild rivers, roaring waterfalls and towering cliffs characterize the natural beauty of this park.
- See the grandeur and natural features of the canyon in total comfort while traveling via private open-air tram with live on-board commentary.
- 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.
- 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 and advances UN Global Goal 10: Reduce Inequalities.
- 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.
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