Compare Canyon Country Adventure by Globus vs Wonders of the American West 2023 Classic Group by Insight Vacations
Compare details and see what other travelers are saying.
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5 | Excellent
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 8 days | 10 days |
| Price From | $ 2,999 | $ 4,029 |
| Price Per Day | $ 375 | $ 403 |
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| Trip Style | Small group tour | Group tour |
| Lodging Level | Premium | Premium |
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| Flights & Transport | No | Airfare included |
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| Meals Included | N/A | N/A |
| Description | You’ll want to warm up your vocal cords before testing the acoustics at the most mesmerizing canyons of Arizona and Utah. Beauty, awe, and wonder echo from Phoenix to Las Vegas as you journey to three fascinating national parks as well as the stunning cliffs of Lake Powell and the unique sandstone formations inside the Navajo Nation. In addition to seeing the sun rise and set in the magnificent Grand Canyon, you’ll also watch the brilliant rays dance across the wondrous walls of Utah’s Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks, and Lake Powell’s Antelope Slot Canyon. Highlights on this national parks vacation and tour of canyon country include a 4-wheel drive excursion with a Navajo guide to see the monoliths, buttes, and mesas of Monument Valley, a visit to the cactus-studded scenery of Sedona, and just enough time in “Sin City” to avoid any deep trouble. Helloooooo! | See the best of the American West on this 10-Day guided tour. Join a Local Expert at Grand Canyon National Park for a one-of-a-kind experience: Allow the expert to guide you through the park while teaching you about how this national treasure was formed. On the way to picturesque Lake Powell, stop at the Glen Canyon Dam, then lounge at the pool of your hotel. Meet a Navajo guide in Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, where you will board ATVs, explore the valley and learn about the tribe’s history. Later, eat a traditional Navajo lunch amid the valley’s beautiful buttes and mesas. In Moab, see the ancient pueblo dwellings in Mesa Verde National Park, where the Ancestral Pueblo people once lived. Travel to Bryce Canyon National Park to explore its rock pillars and natural amphitheaters — then feast with your fellow travelers overlooking the park’s iconic orange rock formations. |
Day 1: ARRIVE IN PHOENIX, ARIZONA
Welcome to sunny Phoenix! At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome drink.
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Day 2: PHOENIX–SEDONA–GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK
Spectacular Sedona Depart Phoenix and travel north through cactus-studded scenery for an orientation tour of Sedona, “Arizona’s Scenic Sensation.” Enjoy free time in Sedona or join an optional jeep tour through magnificent red rock canyons. Arrive this afternoon at Grand Canyon National Park, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. The spectacular beauty of this famous attraction draws more than 5 million visitors a year from around the globe. Spend the next two nights inside the park. This evening, be sure to watch the spectacular sunset. (Breakfast)
FREE TIME TIPSEXPLORE MORE in Sedona on an optional excursion with a knowledgeable local guide for a 4-wheel adventure in the American Southwest. Be surrounded by the stunning views of Sedona’s iconic red rock formations on an adventure through spectacular scenery and unsurpassed panoramic views of the desert canyon landscapes.
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Day 3: GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK
The Grandest Adventure If you missed the sunset, sunrise is just as impressive! Today is free to explore everything the canyon has to offer. You may want to enjoy optional flightseeing over the Grand Canyon—definitely the thrill of a lifetime or set out to explore the Grand Canyon and learn about its geology and how the canyon was carved. You may wish to join a Ranger talk in the Amphitheater, venture down part of Bright Angel Trail, or visit the geology museum. (Breakfast)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT NATURAL WONDERS Grand Canyon National Park spans 278 miles of the Colorado River on the ancestral homeland of 11 Associated Tribes, Marvel at one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World as you experience the dramatic views across one of the most spectacular examples of landscapes carved by water and wind found anywhere in the world—unmatched in the incomparable vistas it offers visitors on the rim.
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Day 4: GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK–MONUMENT VALLEY NAVAJO TRIBAL PARK–LAKE POWELL
Southwestern Secrets & Sights Head to Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, where the weathering action of wind and water has carved the famous sandstone spires and towers that rise hundreds of feet above the valley floor. On a [LF] 4-wheel-drive backcountry tour with a knowledgeable Navajo guide. Then enjoy a traditional [LF] Navajo Fry Bread tasting. On to Lake Powell for a 2-night stay, with free time to relax or maybe stroll along Wahweap Marina. (Breakfast,Dinner)
LOCAL FAVORITECULTURE & TRADITION Join a Navajo Guide on a 4-wheel backcountry tour to explore the area’s oddly shaped red-sandstone monoliths, buttes, and mesas—the setting for some of John Ford’s most memorable and classic western films. Hear fascinating stories of legends and folklore that bring this remarkable region to life and enjoy authentic Navajo fry bread.
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Day 5: LAKE POWELL
Wonders of Wind & Water This morning, explore [LF] Antelope Slot Canyon with a local Navajo guide. Be mesmerized by an amazing fantasy world of stone, created by wind and water. Learn the history of this amazing canyon and be sure to take advantage of the incredible photo opportunities. The rest of the day is free in Lake Powell, where sparkling blue water laps against towering red-rock canyon walls and sandy beaches. (Breakfast)
LOCAL FAVORITE NATURAL WONDERS Explore the exquisite Antelope Slot Canyon in the company of a Local Navajo Guide. Marvel at the changing shades and captivating shapes of the narrow sandstone caverns as beams of sunlight pierce the towering walls carved by wind and water for millennia.
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Day 6: LAKE POWELL–BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK, UTAH
Rock Stars Depart from the splendid views of Lake Powell and travel Utah’s scenic backroads to spectacular Bryce Canyon National Park. Spend time in the park capturing the magnificent contrasts of bright red, yellow, and pink pillars called “hoodoos.” Years of erosion have carved colorful sandstone into thousands of spires, arches, and mazes for an unforgettable sight. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant this evening. (Breakfast,Dinner)
TOUR HIGHLIGHTEPIC RIDE Explore Bryce Canyon’s fantastically sculpted rock formations called Hoodoos that resemble castle towers, cathedral spires, and squatting goblins. As the light changes throughout the day, the canyons glow between distinct oranges, reds, and yellows creating a striking background for photographic masterpieces. And stars? The Bryce area is one of the best places for stargazing thanks to its remote location and lack of pollution. On some nights, more than 7,500 stars are visible!
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Day 7: BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK–ZION NATIONAL PARK–LAS VEGAS, NEVADA
Stones that Touch the Sky Today, see nearby Zion National Park, a spectacle of massive stone formations whose colors change with the light of the day and the season. To the Mormon pioneers, it was a haven of beauty resembling natural temples and cathedrals. Enjoy a boxed picnic lunch on the front lawn of Zion Lodge with free time to explore before continuing to Las Vegas for a brief orientation tour. This evening, your Tour Director hosts a farewell dinner. (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT NATIONAL PARK PERFECTION Meaning a place of peace and refuge known to nourish the soul, Zion’s sandstone walls rise thousands of feet above the valleys and cliffs high above the canyon floor’s lush greenery and snaking Virgin River. Here, Native people and pioneers first gazed skyward at soaring cliffs of cream, pink, and red piercing the brilliant blue sky. Enjoy a boxed picnic lunch on the front lawn of Zion Lodge with free time to explore.
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Day 8: LAS VEGAS
Safe travels until we meet again! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. Want to explore more in Las Vegas? Additional nights are available for purchase. (Breakfast)
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Day 1: Arrive in Las Vegas
Welcome to glittering Las Vegas. On arrival at Las Vegas International Airport, your transfer will take you to your hotel. At 18:00, join your Travel Director and companions for a Welcome Dinner with wine at the award-winning Bacchanal Buffet.
Day 2: The Wonders of the Grand Canyon
Journey on to Grand Canyon National Park. Choose to hike along the scenic Rim Trail with your Travel Director. Alternatively join a Local Expert, Canyon Tim, for a fascinating discussion on the wonders of this natural phenomenon, and learn about the local flora and fauna, and find out how you might be able to spot the local wildlife. After a sparkling wine reception at sunset, dine at your canyon-side lodge, where you'll take in the incredible orange hues that light up this stunning natural wonder.
Day 3: Grand Canyon and Lake Powell
Wake up to the backdrop of the Grand Canyon and enjoy some peace and tranquility before the day trippers arrive. Depart for the majesty of Lake Powell. Stop at Glen Canyon Dam to learn about its impact on the Colorado River before arriving at your lakefront resort. Check in to your room and enjoy the evening at leisure. Watch the sunset as you dine or relax by the pool.
Day 4: A Leisurely day at Lake Powell Relaxed Start
Spend the day doing entirely as you please. Perhaps join an optional float trip (signed liability waiver required)down one of the most scenic stretches of the Colorado River, or take a leisurely optional cruise through the scenic Antelope Canyon and its steep, sandstone walls. In the evening, enjoy dinner with wine at the Red Heritage.
Day 5: Monument Valley and the Navajo Nation
Journey on through the barren beauty of the desert to Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, where you will board all-terrain vehicles to explore the valley with your Navajo guide. These sturdy 4x4 jeeps offer open sides for spectacular views and a roof to protect you from the sun. Learn about Navajo history from your guide and more about life on their beautiful land. The area is also the backdrop for many Western Hollywood hits, including Stagecoach and Fort Apache. Inspired by these iconic movies, you’ll find John Wayne��s cabin at nearby Goulding’s Lodge. This small structure was used for exterior shots in She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, starring Wayne himself. The venue also holds a cinema dedicated to Wayne and his impressive movie portfolio. Enjoy a Navajo cookout Highlight Lunch amid the giant buttes and mesas of this unique landscape before making your way to Mesa Verde National Park, where the day draws to a close. Your lodge inside the park offers sweeping vistas reaching into three states.
Day 6: Mesa Verde and Moab
Enjoy an in-depth visit to the fascinating Mesa Verde National Park. View the ancient pueblo dwellings known as Cliff Palace. Settle in for a relaxing stay at your modern hotel with Western flair, superbly located just a block away from Main Street. Enjoy a Dine-Around evening and choose from a hand-picked selection of restaurants.
Day 7: Delve into Canyonlands and Arches National Parks
In the morning, visit Arches National Park, housing the greatest concentration of natural arches in the world. Stop and take a short hike to the Delicate Arch Viewpoint to view the iconic arch. Then it's on to Canyonlands National Park for a drive onto the Island in the Sky - a mesa resting 1,000 feet (305 metres) above the surrounding countryside, offering spectacular views over the dramatic sandstone formations. Back at the hotel, your evening is at leisure. Perhaps enjoy the outdoors or relax in this beautiful natural setting.
Day 8: Capitol Reef and Bryce Canyon National Parks
Magnificent scenery awaits at Capitol Reef National Park, best known for its Waterpocket Fold, a 100-mile-long (160 kilometre) warp in the earth's crust. Journey along scenic Byway 12, one of the most beautiful roads in the world, winding through the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. 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 to view the great amphitheatres of the odd-shaped monoliths, known as hoodoos.
Day 9: Whimsical Bryce Canyon National Park Relaxed Start
Start the day travelling through Bryce Canyon National Park, also known as the great natural amphitheatre. The whimsical eroded rock formations that characterize this National Park feature some of Utah's most unusual shapes. With your Travel Director, learn how wind, erosion and iron oxidation created the spellbinding hoodoos. In the evening, join your fellow travellers for a memorable Celebration Dinner set overlooking the park's orange and red rock formations.
Day 10: Zion National Park, back to Las Vegas
Enjoy a last look at Bryce Canyon, glowing in the early morning light. Head on to Zion National Park - one of the most scenic canyons in the United States. Here, join a guided tour by a private Zion Canyon Shuttle, with live commentary, and views of the park's best sites. Your journey ends with a departure transfer to Las Vegas International Airport, arriving at 16:00.
