Day 1 & 2
Denver, CO
Arrive into Denver and check into your hotel; relax during the evening, reserving your energy for a full day tomorrow. Start your day in the Mile High City with a tour of the State Capitol Building, with its steps marked at the exact location of one mile above sea level and then head to the nearby mile-long 16th Street Mall, lined with local, independent shops and over 40 outdoor cafes for taking advantage of the more than 300 days of sunshine the city gets each year. A ride on a horse-drawn carriage will give you an idea as to which places you’ll want to experience most, like the Tattered Cover bookstore, a local favourite.
Overnight: Double Tree Denver
Day 3
Snowmass/Aspen, CO (196 miles)
Embark on a scenic drive into the Rocky Mountains, heading to the Snowmass/Aspen area for a gondola ride over the breathtaking Elk Mountains. Follow it up with a nature walk for a closer look at the magnificent scenery, and then stroll downtown Aspen, famous for its shopping and dining, with over 100 restaurants, along with multiple exciting nightlife hotspots.
Overnight: Westin Snowmass Resort
Day 4 & 5
Moab, UT (237 miles)
Drive to Moab to visit Moab National Park and its more than 2,000 natural sandstone arches. Travel the park’s Scenic Drive to view many of these structures, and others, like stone spires, fins, towers and columns, and then stop in the famous Windows Section to get out on the short trails and see the stunning North and South Window Arches, Double Arch, Turret Arch, the Parade of Elephants and Cove of Cave, all created through millions of years of erosion. In the morning, head to Canyonlands National Park, a short drive way, to hike the scenic paths along the Island of Sky, a sheer walled mesa where you’ll discover magnificent views of the rugged canyons that were carved by the Colorado and Green Rivers.
Overnight: Sorrel River Ranch
Day 6 & 7
Zion National Park, UT (347 miles)
On your way to Zion National Park, stop in Bryce Canyon National Park to join a ranger-led walk or talk; enjoy the awe-inspiring vistas from the Sunrise, Sunset, Inspiration and Bryce viewpoints, and take a stroll around the rim of the Paunsaugunt Plateau, where intricately carved towers and archways of stone glisten in a remarkable array of colours under the sun. In Zion, take the shuttle to scenic sites like the Court of the Patriarchs, Zion Lodge and Big Bend, and enjoy hikes on easy to moderate trails, including the one-mile Riverside Walk where you’ll see The Narrows, a gorge with walls a thousand feet tall and the river, sometimes 20 to 30 feet wide.
Overnight: Zion Mountain Ranch
Day 8
North Rim Grand Canyon, AZ (121 miles)
Drive the scenic, winding road to the Grand Canyon’s Point Imperial overlook, the highest on the North Rim at nearly 9,000 feet, where Mount Hayden, Marble Canyon and the Vermillion Cliffs all come into view. Watch a glorious sunset at Cape Royal, the southernmost vantage point on the North Rim, and the closest thing to a complete panoramic view of the Grand Canyon.
Overnight: Grand Canyon Lodge
Day 9 & 10
Sedona, AZ (236 miles)
Spend your next two days in Sedona, renowned for its dramatically colourful landscape with massive red rocks soaring into the nearly always brilliant blue skies. After dark, the haze-free and often cloud-free skies make for some of the world’s best stargazing. Join the professional astronomers that use state-of-the-art telescopes and high-powered lasers as a guide to the night sky.
Wake up early for a sunrise hot-air balloon flight followed by a Pink Jeep tour to see the fiery red rock formations up close as well as to learn about the area’s Native American history, geology and culture.
Overnight: Hilton Sedona
Day 11
Albuquerque, NM (353 miles)
After you’ve settled into your Albuquerque hotel, take a walking tour of the city, and then stick around for dinner at one of the acclaimed restaurants serving up southwestern cuisine in the popular shopping and restaurant district, Nob Hill. Afterward, join a late-night ghost tour in the historic Old Town district to hear ghostly tales and learn more about the history of the city.
Standard Hotel: Hotel Cascada
Day 12 & 13
Santa Fe, NM (64 miles)
Explore highly walkable Santa Fe, the oldest capital city in the nation, wandering through the winding streets that are lined with adobe-style buildings that house boutiques, art galleries, museums and historic sites, including remnants of Native American and pueblo communities. One of the best food cities in America, look forward to dining on a wide range of culinary offerings, with everything from creative southwestern fare, burritos, burgers and barbecue to Middle Eastern and Italian cuisine.
Hike in the spectacular Sangre de Cristo Mountains just outside Santa Fe, with views of towering mountains, desert, ancient Indian pueblos, forests and wildflower-filled mountains. Visit one of more than a dozen museums and shop for unique, handmade southwestern treasures.
Overnight: Inn of the Governors
Day 14 & 15
Colorado Springs, CO (288 miles)
On your way to Colorado Springs, make a stop in Taos to take a guided tour of UNESCO World Heritage-listed Taos Pueblo, one of the oldest continuously inhabited communities on the continent and the best preserved northern pueblo, a traditional type of architectural structure from the pre-Hispanic period of the Americas, giving testimony to the culture of Pueblo Indians that developed after the disappearance of the Anasazi tribes in the region. Visit the gallery workshops of Pueblo artisans to take home a one-of-a-kind gift or souvenir.
Check into your Colorado Springs hotel, The Broadmoor, a five-star historic hotel that truly highlights the beauty of the American West. Built in the 19th-century, it offers a host of modern amenities along the shores of Cheyenne Lake, including three championship golf courses, a spa eight restaurants, an outdoor infinity pool with views of the jagged peaks of the Rockies and more.
Enjoy a couple of days in Colorado Springs. Life here is all about the great outdoors, there are fantastic walking trails where you can enjoy the wonderful scenery. Highlights include Pikes Peak, Garden of the Gods Park, Cave of the winds and Seven Falls. You could also travel on the Royal Gorge Route Railroad to take in the awe-inspiring vistas.
Overnight: The Broadmoor
Day 16
Denver, CO (71 miles)
Enjoy a leisurely morning at The Broadmoor, taking advantage of all the facilities if you wish, before transferring to Denver for departure.
