Rocky Mountain High

Day 1 London - Denver Titan’s VIP door-to-door travel service collects you from home, for your journey to London Heathrow Airport and a direct, scheduled British Airways or United Airlines flight to Denver. On arrival we transfer to the Holiday Inn Cherry Creek (3T) or Sheraton Denver (4T) for our two-night stay. Day 2 Denver - Rocky Mountains Today we enjoy a tour of the ‘Mile High City’ of Denver, named due to its official elevation of one mile above sea level, making it one of the highest major cities in the US. We continue our tour for the first taste of the magnificent Rocky Mountains. We enjoy spectacular views of the city from our vantage point as we stop to marvel at the red rock formation crafted by nature into a natural amphitheatre before continuing to the Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave. We return to our hotel this afternoon for a free evening. Day 3 Denver - Colorado Springs Today we take the mountain roads to Pine Valley Forest, where the thick surrounding of woodland opens dramatically on Crystal Lake, continuing on to the characterful alpine town of Manitou Springs with its long main street and plentiful choice of eateries. This afternoon we visit the Broadmoor Seven Falls. This magnificent series of waterfalls is in a 1,250ft canyon between the colossal Pillars of Hercules and the end of Colorado’s ‘Grandest Mile of Scenery’. We then travel to the Garden of the Gods and take time to view the astounding red rock formations before continuing to Colorado Springs and the Academy Hotel (3T+). Day 4 Colorado Springs - Santa Fe We journey south this morning and, after our coffee stop, cross the border into New Mexico through a series of small towns that lead to Taos, in whose venerable central square we have the opportunity for lunch. This afternoon we enter Carson National Forest through foothills with snow-speckled mountains in the distance and are soon absorbed once more in the awesome tranquillity of this world. We continue to Santa Fe and the Hilton Hotel (4T), located in the compact heart of this unique city. Day 5 Santa Fe Today we take an enjoyable Trolley Tour of Santa Fe’s Historic District, taking in the sights, including Canyon Road with its colourful art galleries, the historic Santa Fe Plaza and the Palace of the Governors. We return to our hotel in the afternoon with time to relax. Day 6 Santa Fe - Roswell This morning we leave Santa Fe behind us as we journey to the historic village of Lincoln, where Billy the Kid terrorised the neighbourhood. With some 40 restored buildings including the general store, old courthouse and rock tower, the town largely retains the characteristic charm of the Wild West. We continue this afternoon to Roswell with its unique history where tales of an alien encounter shroud the town in mystery; here we visit the UFO Museum. We continue to the Holiday Inn Roswell (3T) for our overnight stay. Day 7 Roswell - Las Cruces Today we visit the amazing Carlsbad Caverns National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where we descend by lift into one of the largest cave formations in the United States and view the astonishing stalagmites and stalactites which hang within the colourful caverns. This afternoon we continue our journey to Las Cruces and the Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces (3T+) for a two night stay. Day 8 Las Cruces Rising from the heart of the Tularosa Basin is one of the world’s great natural wonders, the glistening white sands of New Mexico. Today we visit the White Sands National Monument, the world’s largest gypsum dune field with its wave-like dunes of gypsum sand spanning 275 square miles. Next we visit the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum, an interactive museum that brings to life the 4,000-year history of farming and ranching in New Mexico. Day 9 Las Cruces - Albuquerque This morning we start our journey north stopping at one of the oldest catholic churches in the United States, Old Mission San Mission in Socorro. Founded in 1598 under the leadership of Spanish Priests, it was their desire to have this church as beautiful as those in Mexico and Spain. We continue onto Albuquerque and our overnight hotel, the Best Western Plus Rio Grande (3T). Enjoy some free time this afternoon. Day 10 Albuquerque - Mesa Verde National Park - Durango Today we travel through the long gentle ridges of the Nacimiento Mountain range stopping at the Aztec Ruins National Monument, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We continue to Mesa Verde National Park which offers a spectacular look into the lives of Ancestral Pueblo people who made it their home for over 700 years. Today the park protects nearly 5,000 known archaeological sites, including 600 cliff dwellings. Our hotel this evening is the Hampton Inn Durango (3T). Day 11 Durango Originally opened in 1882 to transport silver and gold ore mined from the San Juan Mountains, The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad winds through spectacular and breathtaking canyons in the remote wilderness of the two-million acre San Juan National Forest. Experience the adventure of travelling by a coal-fired, steam-powered locomotive on the same tracks miners, cowboys, and settlers of the Old West took over a century ago. This included round-trip journey is considered to be one of the most scenic rail journeys in America. Day 12 Durango - Grand Junction Today we continue towards Grand Junction with a visit to Arches National Park en route. At Arches, discover a landscape of contrasting colours, landforms, and textures unlike any other in the world. The park has over 2,000 natural stone arches, in addition to hundreds of soaring pinnacles, massive fins, and giant balanced rocks. We continue onwards to Grand Junction for a night at the Grand Vista Hotel (3T). Day 13 Grand Junction - Vail Our journey takes us to Vail, a mountain resort community established and built as the base village to the famous Vail Ski Resort. Now a summer haven too, Vail is surrounded by the vast White River National Forest. This town still has a friendly small-town feel, and is one of the best alpine resorts offering breathtaking mountain views as well as extensive resort facilities for a relaxing overnight stay. Our hotel is the DoubleTree by Hilton (3T+). Day 14 Vail - Boulder Our final destination is Boulder, located in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. En route we will visit Rocky Mountain National Park and enjoy the spectacular drive along the Trail Ridge Road - which crests at over 12,000 feet offering visitors thrilling views, possible wildlife sightings and alpine wildflower exhibitions. We overnight at the Hampton Inn (3T). Please note: the Trail Ridge Road may be closed following bad weather. If so, an alternative route will be taken. Day 15 Boulder - Denver - In flight Today we depart for Denver Airport and a direct, scheduled British Airways or United Airlines flight to London. Day 16 London Arrival at London Heathrow where you will be met and guided to your Titan vehicle, for the journey home.