Compare Hiking Rocky Mountain National Park for Women by Road Scholar vs Sunsets & Southern Charms by Tours of Distinction
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| Trip |
4.5 | Great
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 6 days | 5 days |
| Price From | $ 1,249 | $ 1,579 |
| Price Per Day | $ 208 | $ 316 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Group tour | Group tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Premium |
| Physical Level |
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| Travel Themes |
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| Countries Visited | N/A | |
| Cities and Attractions | N/A |
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Airfare included |
| Activities | N/A |
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| Meals Included |
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4 Breakfasts, 4 Dinners |
| Description | Join instructors and a small group of women to hike the varied landscapes of Rocky Mountain National Park, discovering alpine tundra, boulder fields, pristine mountain lakes and more! |
Experience the charms of the South by horse and carriage, tour the only tea plantation in North America, see pristine Antebellum Mansions up close, shop in markets that date to 1700s… and dine on unforgettable Low Country cuisine…these are all the ingredients for an unforgettable trip! |
Day
1
Safety Orientation/Introductions
Estes Park, CO D Alpine Trail Ridge Inn
Activity note: All of our daily hikes will be in Rocky Mountain National Park, routes selected will depend upon fitness of the group, and will allow for adjusting to altitude and difficulty as week progresses. Some modifications in the daily schedule may be necessary due to group needs, trail maintenance in the National Park, weather considerations, or unforeseen circumstances.
Dinner: Dinner in local restaurant
Evening: Introductions, planning for the week
Day
2
Day long hike in Loch Vale
Estes Park, CO B,L,D Alpine Trail Ridge Inn
Activity note: Trailhead elevation is 9,475 feet. Today's hike is 6.2 miles with an elevation gain/loss of 990 feet.
Breakfast: Breakfast at local restaurant
Morning: Loch Vale is one of the most beautiful and most popular hikes in the park. We’ll start at the Bear Lake trailhead, unless we find a place to park at Glacier Gorge. Bear Lake is 9475 ft. elevation. We will first see Alberta falls; the most photographed falls in the park. It was named after Abner Sprague’s wife. Sprague was an Estes Park pioneer. Loch was named after a guest in Sprague’s lodge named Locke. It was changed to Loch, the Scottish name for lake. Loch Vale is a crystal clear alpine lake. The broad cliff at the Loch is Cathedral Wall, a favorite for rock climbers. We’ll eat lunch at the lake and continue toward Andrew’s glacier if the group is up to 1.3 miles more. We also have the option of seeing Mills Lake on our return (.6 miles) The trail is good, but we gain 990 ft from Glacier Gorge to the Loch. (3.1 miles one way to Loch Vale)
Lunch: Picnic box lunch on trail
Afternoon: Continue morning hike, stop at Beaver Meadow's Visitor's Center before returning to motel.
Dinner: Dinner in local restaurant
Evening: Short "debrief" on today's hike and planning for tomorrow then time for reflection, relaxation
Day
3
All day hike to Fern Lake
Estes Park, CO B,L Alpine Trail Ridge Inn
Activity note: Trailhead elevation is 8,165 feet. Today's hike is from 7.6 miles RT with an elevation gain/loss of 1,400 feet.
Breakfast: Breakfast at local restaurant
Morning: The Fern Lake Trail follows the Big Thompson River all the way to The Pool, and alternates between forest and a few open areas that provide some pretty good views of the Big Thompson Valley. Along the way the good trail passes through a mixed forest of aspens, lodgepole pine, ponderosa pine, willows and cottonwoods, as well as a variety of wildflowers in the spring and summer. Arriving at the lake, there are great views of 12,129-foot Notchtop Mountain, 11,586-foot Little Matterhorn, 12,331-foot Knobtop Mountain and 11,018-foot The Gable.
Lunch: Picnic box lunch on trail
Afternoon: Continue morning hike. We will return to our motel for a short day's debrief and to clean up and have dinner in Estes Park. Dinner will be on your own. We will visit the historic Stanley Hotel, as a group if there is interest.
Dinner: Dinner on own to explore the varied restaurants of the quaint town of Estes Park.
Evening: Free time for exploring and shopping in downtown Estes Park.
Day
4
Over the top-Trail Ridge Road
Estes Park, CO B,L,D Alpine Trail Ridge Inn
Activity note: We will travel by van over the highest Federal Highway in the U.S.: Trail Ridge Road. Morning hike, Ute Trail, 3 miles, elevation gain 800 feet, highest elevation, 12,150 feet. Afternoon several short interpretive hikes to viewpoints along highway
Breakfast: Breakfast at local restaurant
Morning: Today you will travel on Trail Ridge Road, the highest continuous highway in the U.S. We will start in the Montane ecosystem, below 9,000 ft, travel to the Subalpine, 9,000-11,400 ft, and end up in the Alpine ecosystem above 11,400 ft. We’ll drive to the Ute Trail and hike for several hours. This is an out and back hike. You’ll experience the beauty of the alpine tundra and beautiful views. It’s important to stay on the trail because plants are very fragile in this harsh environment. We’ll get back in the van and drive to the Alpine Visitor center. It’s a great place to look at the views, shop in the gift shop and eat lunch outside.
Lunch: Picnic box lunch at Alpine Visitor Center or adjacent location depending upon weather.
Afternoon: On our way back we’ll take a short hike at high altitude on the tundra trailhead. Hopefully, we’ll see herds of elk along the road. If there is interest we’ll stop by the Alluvial Fan. In 1982 a dam broke and washed down rocky debris creating alluvial fan. Return to motel.
Dinner: Dinner in local restaurant
Evening: Short "debrief" on today's hike and planning for tomorrow then time for reflection, relaxation
Day
5
Hike to the top of Flattop Mountain
Estes Park, CO B,L,D Alpine Trail Ridge Inn
Activity note: Bear Lake Trailhead elevation 9,745 feet. All day hike of 8.4 miles roundtrip, elevation gain/loss 2,877 feet. Very early morning start for maximum climbing time and to get ahead of afternoon thunderstorms.
Breakfast: Breakfast at local restaurant
Morning: From Bear Lake, the Flattop Mountain Trail heads northwest. The methodical upward climb—over 2,800 feet in 4 miles—begins almost immediately and traverses rich conifer forests intermixed with aspen. At mile 1.6, there is an impressive view of Dream Lake's shimmering surface against the rugged mountains. From the overlook, continue upward on the tight, switch backing trail. Just before breaking treeline, the trail passes another overlook above Emerald Lake with views of Glacier Gorge and Longs Peak. that open up to the southeast. Look southwest toward Hallett Peak, and pick out the level profile of Flattop Mountain now in view. The remaining 1.3 miles are a steady, slow climb up Flattop Mountain’s high-alpine summit at 12,324 ft.
Lunch: Picnic box lunch on trail
Afternoon: Continue morning hike, summit hike will be weather permitting. Return to motel in late afternoon.
Dinner: Closing Dinner at a local restaurant
Evening: Final debrief and farewells, packing, relaxation
Day
6
Departures after breakfast, motel check-out 10 am.
Estes Park, CO B
Breakfast: Breakfast at local restaurant
Morning: Independent departures after breakfast
Day 1 - Arrive Charleston, SC
Today, depart on a journey south to enjoy a taste of southern hospitality. See the beautiful architecture and history that Charleston and Savannah are known for, and take in some beautiful southern sunsets! Transfer to the airport for your flight to Columbia Metropolitan Airport. Upon arrival in Charleston, we check into our hotel for the next two nights, the Hotel Indigo Mount Pleasant. Tonight, dinner is included at Hyman’s Seafood Restaurant. (D)
Day 2 - Charleston
Today, after breakfast at the hotel, we embark on a guided tour of Charleston, one of the most beautiful and historic cities in the south. Admire the beautiful architecture of the historic buildings and colorful houses throughout the city. The tour will conclude at the Charleston City Market to enjoy some free time and lunch on own. This afternoon, we will travel to Wadmalaw Island, where we enjoy a guided tour at the beautiful Charleston Tea Plantation, then we make a stop at the Deep Water Vineyard. While here, we enjoy a wine tasting of 9 different wines. After, it’s back to Charleston, where we will board The Spirit of Carolina for a dinner cruise! (B, D)
Day 3 - Savannah, GA
After breakfast, we’re off and out again, making our way to Beaufort, SC! Historic Beaufort, was founded in 1711, and stands strong as a living landmark, handcrafted from the storied history of the south. We will enjoy a horse drawn carriage tour of Beaufort, have time for lunch and to do some shopping before resuming our journey south to Savannah, GA. We check into the Hotel Indigo Savannah Historic District, before dinner at Belford’s Seafood & Steak. (B, D)
Day 4 - Savannah
This morning, we meet our guide following breakfast for a full day of touring. Our travels include a visit to the Andrew Low House, former home of Juliette Magill Gordon Low, the founder of the Girl Scouts of America, and Andrew Low himself. This afternoon, we stop at the Savannah City Market for lunch, on own, before our tour to the Atlantic Low Country and Tybee Island. This evening’s dinner is included at the Crab Shack on Tybee Island, followed by a relaxing sunset dolphin cruise. What a way to complete this wonderful tour!
(B, D)
Day 5 - Depart Savannah
Breakfast is included this morning, before we start making our way home and say our farewells to Georgia & South Carolina. We will be dropped off by our motor-coach at the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport for the flight home. (B)
