what a magnificent tour. all the splendour of the grand canyon, zion, bryce canyon, arches, canyon lands, monument valley, capitol reef, telluride, mesa verde and the durango train. the grand canyon is everything you ever imagined. but even that doesn't prepare you for your first sight of this incredible natural wonder. the canyons and sights of the southwest are just as impressive and far exceed your imagination of how millenniums of stone and time can be formed into these convoluted shapes and colours. mesa verde cliff dwellings bring home to you how the ancient anasazi indians lived and survived in the harsh southwestern climate.

arrival day in las vegas is saturday. we stay at the la quinta paradise road hotel, not far from "the strip". after our welcome drink and orientation it's off to bed and dream of the next day.

we drive out of l.v. to zion national park where we hike amongst the towering red navajo sandstone cliffs. visit the weeping rock with its lush green hanging garden. photograph the emerald pools and angel's landing. we then head across the state border from utah into arizona, where we stay at the grand canyon lodge on the north Rim of the grand canyon.
hike 3-4 hours

we spend the day hiking into the canyon and taking photographs of the truly awesome abyss, especially at sunset when the canyon walls seem to glow with untold, changing shades of red and gold. one more night at the gc lodge.
hike 6-8 hours

saying goodbye to the canyon we set off for monument valley and take a terrific hike in this incredible, breathtaking scenery straight out of a john wayne western. we stay at the san juan inn and trading post in the town of mexican hat, named after a huge, upturned stone balanced naturally on top of a pinnacle.
hike 3-4 hours

we start the next day with a guided, four wheel drive trip through monument valley and learn about the beliefs of the navajo indians that still live in this ancient place. after a great day we drive to moab and stay at the gonzo inn.
4x4 trip 4-5 hours

we spend the day exploring arches national park, one of the most unearthly places on the planet. 1500 natural sandstone arches looking more like dinosaur backbones than solid rock. walk and photograph "courthouse towers". we drive along the "great wall" and marvel at "balanced rock", a huge boulder resting atop a stone pillar. back to the gonzo inn.
hike 5-6 hours

we drive into "canyon lands" to explore the magnificent canyons and photograph some incredible rock formations. alternatively, at extra cost take a spectacular and once in a lifetime experience and raft the colorado river.
hike 5-6 hours or raft 4-5 hours

today we drive across the state border into colorado and onto telluride. this is a free day. spend it exploring this old silver mining town set in a narrow box canyon, and now an international ski resort in the winter. at extra cost you could take a 4x4 trip over imogene pass and see the tom boy mine an old, derelict silver mine high above the valley floor. we stay at the mountainside inn.
free day

drive to silverton over the spectacular red mountain pass. old mines, long abandoned but still dominate the scenery. join the d&sng steam railroad and travel to durango along the magnificent track that clings to the sides of the mountains. we stay in mesa verde national park at the Far view lodge.
train journey 3-31/2 hours

we start by hiking the petroglyph trail and see these ancient wall paintings, visit the "spruce tree house" one of the ancient anasazi cliff dwellings and learn about their culture stretching back 1400 years, long before columbus or any other europeans set foot in the "new world". visit the museum and learn more about the anasazi. photograph the "cliff palace" and "balcony house".
hike 3-4 hours

we're off to natural bridges monument for more incredible sandstone arches. hike to the three bridges of sipapu, kachina and owachomo. we finish the day by driving over lake powell and stay at the wonderland inn, in torrey.
hike 5-6 hours

explore capitol reef and look on 200 million years of sedimentary rock formations. photograph the fremont petroglyphs and hike the "grand wash" where butch cassidy and the sundance kid hid out. off to bryce canyon along the very scenic highway 12. we stay at the bryce junction inn.
hike 4-5 hours

bryce canyon, named after ebenezer bryce an early mormon explorer. see the astonishing "hoo doos", naturally carved stone edifices, including one that looks like elvis. photograph thor's hammer from sunset point. hike the "under the rim trail" and up to the rim again. we stay at the bryce junction inn.
hike 4-6 hours

last day we're off to Las Vegas. do your last minute shopping, take in a show or try your luck at the casinos. we stay at the la quinta paradise road hotel. enjoy our farewell dinner and prepare for the journey home.

transfer to las vegas international airport.