this tour is the one if you are looking for a complete experience of colorado. we start in the capital, denver and in just 14 days return after seeing everything from towering buildings to towering peaks. on the way we take in national parks, narrow deep canyons, wide lush valleys with carpets of wildflowers in every imaginable colour, wildlife from picas to mountain lions ( if we're lucky ), a narrow gauge railway clinging to the mountain side like a demented limpet, ancient anasazi indian cliff dwellings from a time before columbus even thought about a route to the indies and sand dunes so big and wide you could almost swear that you were in the sahara.

arrival day in denver is saturday where we stay at the embassy suites, right in the heart of the down town area. after a great nights sleep in the mile high city it's time to leave the concrete and bright lights behind. we're off to rocky mountain national park where we take a gentle hike around bear lake. we stay at the historic stanley hotel, where the film" the shining" was staged.
hike 2-3 hours

the next day we take a spectacular hike from bear lake to isolated odessa lake. keep the camera handy for close up encounters with deer, marmots, chipmunks and picas.
hike 6-7 hours

driving over the 3713m high trail ridge road we encounter amazing panoramas and elk grazing by the road side. onto leadville, the highest town in the usa, 3180m above sea level. we then investigate the mining museums and see how the pioneers made history searching for their fortunes in the colorado mountains. we stay at the historic delaware hotel.
spectacular drive.

some of the highest peaks in colorado surround leadville and today we attack one of them and reach over 4000m, higher than nearly every mountain in europe. the views are truly awe inspiring.
hike 6-8 hour hike

we're off to aspen over independence pass. and ride the gondola to the top of aspen mountain. with great views of the town we hike down to the famous old mining town that's now home to the stars. then it's off again to crested butte.
hike 2-3 hours

crested butte is a high altitude retreat in the elk mountains, with terrific hiking and spectacular views into the raggeds wilderness area. crested butte is the largest historic district and the wildflower capital of colorado.
hike 5-6 hours

another day hiking around crested butte with wildflowers, alpine lakes and incredible scenery.
hike 5-6 hours

take a well deserved day off or try whitewater rafting fly fishing or horseback riding. we can organise this, at extra cost. we stay at the nordic inn.
free day

after breakfast, the next day, we are off to the black canyon of the gunnison, a spectacular deep and narrow canyon. enjoy a short hike into the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. then on to ouray where we stay at the victorian inn.
boat trip 2-3 hours

photo opportunities abound as we ride up red mountain pass on our route to silverton and the amazing train journey on the durango and silverton narrow gauge railway that clings to the sides of the san juan mountains. after arrival in durango we carry on to mesa verde national park where we stay in the far view lodge.
3-31/2 hour train ride

we are about to see some of the oldest buildings in north america. after following the petroglyph trail along the sides of a deep canyon past vultures, lizards and cicada beetles we reach the spruce tree house. one of the ancient cliff dwellings built by the anasazi indians between 700 and 1400 years ago, long before columbus discovered the new world.
hike 3-4 hour

set off over wolf creek pass to the next wonder of south western colorado, the sand dunes national monument. since the last ice age the winds have blown consistently in the same direction piling up huge 200m dunes of sand against the sangre de cristo mountains. after hiking to the top of the tallest dune we set off north to salida for our overnight stay .
hike 2-3 hour

today it's back to denver and spend the afternoon relaxing in your own way. perhaps shop at cherry creek mall for those last minute souvenirs. pack for the journey home. farewell dinner. stay at the embassy suites hotel.

transfer to denver international airport. come back next year at a different time
of year and see another side of colorado.