Overview
Marvel at premier natural wonders on this multi-state tour that focuses on some of the West’s most scenic national parks. This National Parks tour starts in Denver and ends in Las Vegas. In between, you’ll visit Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Zion National Park, and Grand Canyon National Park. From spectacular rock formations and deep canyons to sparkling waterfalls, geysers, and lakes, you’ll see a wide variety of breathtaking natural treasures.
In South Dakota, visit Crazy Horse Memorial, built to honour the famous Sioux Indian leader; incomparable Mount Rushmore; and Deadwood, once a lawless gold-mining town. In Wyoming, stay two nights inside Yellowstone National Park and see magnificent views of Yellowstone Canyon, Lower Falls, and world-famous Old Faithful Geyser. Yellowstone has the largest concentration of mammals in the lower 48 states, so have your camera ready for wildlife such as bison, elk, and pronghorn. Journey into breathtaking Grand Teton National Park—home to 13,770-foot-high ridges—for a delightful stroll along glacier-fed Jenny Lake.
More stunning scenery awaits you in Utah, where you'll visit Bryce Canyon National Park. You'll be amazed at the bright red, yellow, and pink pillars called "hoodoos." Zion National Park is home to canyons sculpted over millions of years and soaring cliffs resembling temples and cathedrals. In Arizona, enjoy Lake Powell and overnight in Grand Canyon National Park, giving you an amazing opportunity to see breathtaking views and to take an evening stroll to marvel at the dramatic sunset. If you miss the sunset, sunrise is also spectacular!
This value-minded, National Parks tour offers all of this and much more—including time in the Wild West town of Jackson, Wyoming. Just wait until you see the awe-inspiring scenery!
UK - Denver
Day
1
Fly to Denver where you will transfer to your hotel for two nights.
Welcome to Denver, the “Mile High City,” capital of Colorado and gateway to the Rocky Mountains. Your Tour Director is on hand late this afternoon to answer any questions.
Denver - Cheyenne - Black Hills of South Dakota - Keystone
Day
2
Depart Denver and travel north to Cheyenne, capital of Wyoming. Then, on through the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota, immortalised in a famous song from the musical Calamity Jane, to the historic frontier town of Custer. Overnight in Keystone.
Keystone - Mount Rushmore - Deadwood
Day
3
Visit CRAZY HORSE MEMORIAL, a monument carved out of a mountain that pays respect to the great Native American hero, Chief Crazy Horse. Drive deep into the Black Hills, through what was Sioux Indian territory, to see the stunning granite faces of MOUNT RUSHMORE, a giant monument to four great American presidents: Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt. On to Deadwood, a lawless frontier town during the 1876 Gold Rush, where Jack McCall murdered Wild Bill Hickok during a poker game. Overnight here, and discover Deadwood’s Wild West ways as you walk in the footsteps of legends like Calamity Jane and Seth Bullock.
Deadwood - Sheridan - Cody
Day
4
This morning, head through high country, where open-range cattle kings made war on the homesteaders in the 1890s. Drive past Sheridan in the Bighorn Mountains, site of battles between the U.S. Cavalry and the Sioux, Cheyenne, and Crow Indians. Overnight in Buffalo Bill’s frontier town of Cody.
Cody - Yellowstone National Park
Day
5
Proceed through Shoshone National Forest to YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK. Travel along Grand Loop Road to Artist Point for views of the Lower Falls of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Overnight in Yellowstone National Park.
Accommodations used by Cosmos in Yellowstone National Park are typically open from late May through late September. Departures before or after these opening dates will stay in West Yellowstone. Routing and areas visited in Yellowstone National Park are always subject to favourable weather, gate access, and road conditions; therefore, routings may be adjusted.
Yellowstone National Park
Day
6
Today, explore more of America’s first national park by returning to visit the geyser basins with bubbling mud paint pots and the reliable “blow” of Old Faithful. In addition to superb mountain scenery, the park is one of the world’s principal wildlife preserves and a photographer’s paradise.
Yellowstone - Grand Teton National Park - Jackson
Day
7
Head south into magnificent GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK, one of America’s last preserves of wild solitude. Its 13,770-foot-high ridges are crested with snow most of the year. Stroll along the shores of beautiful glacier-fed Jenny Lake before ending the day in the Wild West town of Jackson with its wooden sidewalks and swing-door saloons. This evening, join an optional barbecue cookout and Wild West show.
Jackson
Day
8
Time to relax in Jackson, or maybe join a scenic trip down the Snake River. Enjoy an 8-mile float trip that begins at Pritchard Creek and passes nesting areas of bald eagles and ospreys. The afternoon is free in Jackson to explore the shops and museums of historic downtown. This evening, perhaps stroll along the old-time boardwalks and have supper at a swing-door saloon.
Jackson - Salt Lake City
Day
9
Today, travel to Salt Lake City, Utah’s vibrant capital. Set on the edge of Great Salt Lake Desert, this centre of the Mormon religion is where Brigham Young declared to his followers, “This is the place.” An included sightseeing tour offers a glimpse of Temple Square, the Capitol Building, and the downtown area.
Salt Lake City - Bryce Canyon National Park
Day
10
Journey through sagebrush landscape to BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK with its 20 miles of sandstone cliffs and ever-changing colours. See some of Earth’s most brilliant shades of rock, sculpted by nature into pillars called “hoodoos.”
Bryce Canyon National Park - Lake Powell - Page
Day
11
First stop today is ZION NATIONAL PARK with its landscape carved over millions of years by rushing streams. Steep canyons, stone towers, and verdant vegetation form the scenery of Zion. Then, head east into Page on the shores of Lake Powell, originally built to house workers during the construction of the massive Glen Canyon Dam, which holds back the waters of 186-mile-long Lake Powell.
Page - Painted Desert - Grand Canyon National Park
Day
12
Enjoy an optional flight over scenic Monument Valley. Then, cross the Painted Desert and head through Kaibab National Forest before arriving at GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK in the early afternoon. Marvel at one of the Natural Wonders of the World as you experience amazing views. You’ll have plenty of time to do some viewing before dusk, as your accommodation is inside the National Park.
Grand Canyon National Park - Las Vegas
Day
13
For a oncein- a-lifetime thrill, take an optional helicopter sightseeing trip over the Grand Canyon, with incomparable views of flame-coloured walls plunging 6,093 feet into the Colorado River. Leaving the high country of Arizona, we pass through Williams on famous Route 66, and then the old Mojave gold-strike country, which still has traces of century-old ghost towns. Arrive in downtown Las Vegas—a neon desert oasis with spectacular hotels and casinos and the popular Fremont Street Experience.
Las Vegas - UK
Day
14
Your holiday ends this morning. You can extend holiday with extra nights and explore “Sin City” further.
Transfer to the airport for your flight to the UK.
Home landing in the UK
Day
15
Things to note
Special Departures: National Parks & Canyon Country Little Bighorn. Join us on our special departures to visit the Little Bighorn Battlefield that commemorates one of America's most significant and famous battles. A special 17 day itinerary on selected departure dates. Please see our website for details.