Overview
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In Colorado Springs, visit the Garden of the Gods, a registered National Natural Landmark with towering red rock formations. As you ride the Georgetown Loop Railroad through the rugged Rocky Mountains, witness stunning scenery, gold and silver mines, and keep an eye out for wildlife such as eagles and big horn sheep. Finally, ride the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, a legendary coal-fired, steam-powered train that hugs deep canyon walls and offers magnificent beauty traveling through San Juan National Forest.
In Taos visit the historic Taos Plaza and in Santa Fe, embark on a guided trolley revealing the town’s Spanish, Indian, and American heritage. Step back in time as you visit Mesa Verde National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to see how the Ancestral Pueblo people lived in cliff dwellings from 600 to 1300 AD. On this discovery tour, you’ll also visit Rocky Mountain National Park, and at 12,183 feet provides stunning alpine views, and Colorado National Monument, with towering monoliths and red-rock canyons. Visit one of Colorado’s greatest natural wonders, Seven Falls. Be enveloped by cliffs and delighted by the cascade of water that tumbles 181 feet down.
Gorgeous scenery, and more await you on this Rocky Mountain Discovery with Rail tour designed for value-minded travelers. Just be sure to bring your camera!
Highlights
Ride the Georgetown Loop Railroad
COLORADO SPRINGS
Visit Garden of the Gods and Seven Falls
TAOSVisit historic Taos Plaza
SANTA FE
Guided trolley tour; visit Loretto Chapel
MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK
See the cliff dwellings and visit the museum
DURANGO
Ride the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad to Silverton
GRAND JUNCTION
Visit Colorado National Monument
ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK
Sightseeing; visit Estes Park
2020 Tour itinerary
Inside visits and special features are shown in UPPERCASE in the tour description, including admission charges where applicable.
Total meals included:
- 6 breakfasts
DENVER AREA
Day1
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 AREA–GEORGETOWN LOOP RAILROAD–SEVEN FALLS–COLORADO SPRINGS
Day2
This morning, head towards the historic town of Georgetown and the GEORGETOWN LOOP TRAIN. The beauty of the rugged Rocky Mountains surround you as an old-time locomotive chugs its way up the canyon, traveling past the remains of several gold and silver mines. Afterward, travel south to the town of Colorado Springs, located on the plains at the foot of Pikes Peak. The view from the top of nearby Pikes Peak inspired Katharine Lee Bates to compose America the Beautiful more than 100 years ago. Visit the GARDEN OF THE GODS, a registered National Natural Landmark with towering red-rock formations. End the day with a visit to one of Colorado’s greatest natural wonders, SEVEN FALLS.
COLORADO SPRINGS–TAOS–SANTA FE
Day3
This morning, travel into New Mexico, arriving in the adobe town of Taos on the high desert mesa at the foot of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Visit the historic Taos Plaza where old mercantile stores house galleries, restaurants, and shops. Afterward, travel south to Santa Fe, founded in 1610 as the capital of the Spanish colony of New Mexico, and the oldest seat of government in the United States.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
SANTA FE
Day4
Experience Santa Fe up close as you embark on a guided TROLLEY TOUR revealing the town’s Spanish, Indian, and American heritage. Main sights include the San Miguel Mission, Palace of the Governors, Cathedral of St. Francis of Assisi, and LORETTO CHAPEL’S “Miracle Stairway.” The balance of the day is at leisure.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
SANTA FE–PAGOSA SPRINGS–DURANGO
Day5
Enjoy a visit to the town of Pagosa Springs surrounded by the rugged San Juan Mountains and vast national forest. Later, arrive in Durango. Where Old West meets Southwest, Downtown Durango is a Nationally Registered Historic District and home to historic boutique hotels, award-winning restaurants, laid-back brewpubs, and fabulous art galleries, museums, and shops. The evening is free for independent activities.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
DURANGO. EXCURSION TO MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK
Day6
This morning, MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where you’ll walk in the footsteps of Ancestral Puebloans and see their mysterious, centuries-old cliff dwellings. Spend time at the park’s museum and visitor center, depicting the story of these people who mysteriously disappeared almost 700 years ago. Return to Durango, where the remainder of your day is free to explore more of the town born in the gold rush and silver-mining era and at times run by gunslingers.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
DURANGO–DURANGO & SILVERTON NARROW GAUGE RAILROAD–SILVERTON–OURAY–GRAND JUNCTION
Day7
Board the DURANGO & SILVERTON NARROW-GAUGE RAILROAD this morning for a scenic 45 mile journey through San Juan National Forest to the historic mining town of Silverton. Experience the adventure of traveling by a coal-fired, steam-powered locomotive on the same tracks that miners, cowboys, and settlers of the Old West took more than a century ago. This historic train has been in continuous operation for more than 125 years, and the locomotives used to pull today’s train are 1923-1925 vintage. The train hugs steep canyon walls as it winds its way through the Rio de las Animas Canyon, with vistas of snowcapped peaks. Lunch in Silverton, once a major mining town that owes its name to the bragging statement by an early miner, “We have no gold, but silver by the ton!” Travel north through the San Juan Mountains, stopping in Ouray, a small community nestled in some of the Rockies’ most rugged and towering peaks. Overnight in the town of Grand Junction.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
GRAND JUNCTION–COLORADO NATIONAL MONUMENT–GLENWOOD CANYON–VAIL–BEAVER CREEK
Day8
This morning, visit COLORADO NATIONAL MONUMENT. Towering monoliths exist within a vast plateau and canyon panorama. Experience sheer-walled, red-rock canyons along the twists and turns of Rim Rock Drive, where you may spy bighorn sheep and soaring eagles. Your journey continues through 12 miles of beautiful Glenwood Canyon with walls that climb as high as 1,300 feet above the Colorado River. Continue to the Vail Valley area, one of America’s most popular mountain resorts. Time to walk the cobblestone pedestrian village before making our way to the hotel.
BEAVER CREEK–ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK–ESTES PARK–DENVER AREA
Day9
See Colorado’s largest natural lake, Grand Lake, before crossing the Continental Divide and behold vistas of lush meadows, alpine glaciers, and thundering waterfalls. Take scenic Trail Ridge Road over magnificent mountain terrain, which attracted the likes of Kit Carson and his group of trappers to ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK. A short stop in Estes Park, nestled in a high mountain valley at just above 7,000 feet, before returning to Denver.
NOTE: The drive through Rocky Mountain National Park is subject to favorable road and weather conditions.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
DENVER AREA
Day10
Your vacation ends this morning.
Hotels
It may occasionally be necessary to use alternative hotels of a similar standard to those shown.
Holiday Inn Cherry Creek
First-Class
Holiday Inn Denver-Cherry Creek is just minutes away from all of Denver's major attractions, landmarks, outdoor activities, world class shopping, museums, and events. Travelers can enjoy our newly renovated guest rooms that are spaciously appointed and include modern amenities, plush furnishings, rich color schemes and stylish architectural features that reflect the lifestyle of historic Denver while offering sweeping skyline views and inspiring vistas of the Colorado Rocky Mountains.
Location
455 S. Colorado Blvd, Denver, United States
Hotel Facilities
- Business Center
- Free WiFi
- Fitness Room
- Luggage Storage
- Restaurant On-Site
- Parking/Valet
- ATM
- Pool
- Bar/Lounge
- Elevator
Room Facilities
- Air Conditioning
- Phone
- Disabled Access / Rooms
- Iron/Ironing Board
- Hair Dryer
- Cable/Satellite
- Complimentary Toiletries
- Coffee Maker
- Internet Access
- Room Service
- Television
- Complimentary Newspaper
- Non-smoking Rooms
- Desk
Best Western Executive Inn & Suites
Superior Tourist-Class
With luxurious bedding, large rooms and the friendliest staff in town.
Location
1440 Harrison Rd, Colorado Springs, United States
Hotel Facilities
- Hot Tub
- Business Center
- Dry Cleaning
- Pool
- Free WiFi
- Fitness Room
- Parking/Valet
Room Facilities
- Cable/Satellite
- Internet Access
- Voicemail
- Coffee Maker
- Non-smoking Rooms
- Hair Dryer
- Television
- Phone
- Air Conditioning
- Iron/Ironing Board
- Desk
Santa Fe Sage Inn
Superior Tourist-Class
Just outside the Guadalupe shopping and dining district is the Santa Fe Sage Inn. The warm southwestern feel of this hotel brings nature and comfort to guests. The hotel has a 24 hour fitness center, seasonal outdoor pool, business center, and free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel.
Location
725 Cerrillos Rd, Santa Fe, United States
Hotel Facilities
- Fitness Room
- Business Center
- Ice Machine
- Dry Cleaning
- Parking/Valet
- ATM
- Concierge desk
- Pool
Room Facilities
- Alarm Clock
- Wake-Up Calls
- Complimentary Toiletries
- Air Conditioning
- Coffee Maker
- Hair Dryer
- Daily Housekeeping
- Internet Access
- Voicemail
- Television
- Iron/Ironing Board
- Window Opens
- Cable/Satellite
- Phone
Hampton Inn Durango
Superior Tourist-Class
Great location, clean, comfortable rooms this hotel is located just outside historic Durango.
Location
3777 Main Avenue, Durango, United States
Hotel Facilities
- Hot Tub
- Business Center
- Parking/Valet
- Pool
- Fitness Room
- Dry Cleaning
Room Facilities
- Voicemail
- Iron/Ironing Board
- Television
- Cable/Satellite
- Phone
- Air Conditioning
- Climate Control
- Coffee Maker
- Non-smoking Rooms
- Hair Dryer
- Internet Access
Grand Vista Hotel
First-Class
The Grand Vista Hotel offers spectacular views of the Grand Mesa and Colorado National Monument, and features a pool, fitness room and restaurant on-site.
Location
2790 Crossroads Blvd., Grand Junction, United States
Hotel Facilities
- Bar/Lounge
- Free WiFi
- Elevator
- ATM
- Restaurant On-Site
- Fitness Room
- Business Center
- Ice Machine
- Parking/Valet
- Hot Tub
- Pool
Room Facilities
- Disabled Access / Rooms
- Room Service
- Air Conditioning
- Desk
- Phone
- Complimentary Toiletries
- Internet Access
- Non-smoking Rooms
- Climate Control
- Iron/Ironing Board
- Television
- Hair Dryer
- Cable/Satellite
- Alarm Clock
- Coffee Maker
Comfort Inn Vail/Beaver Creek
Superior Tourist-Class
The hotel has an outdoor swimming pool, hot tub, exercise room, guest laundry, and complimentary continental breakfast. Guestrooms include a cable TV, Internet access, coffee maker, iron/ironing board, and hairdryer.
Location
161 W. Beaver Creek Blvd, Avon, United States
Hotel Facilities
- Beauty Salon
- Pool
- ATM
- Luggage Storage
- Elevator
- Business Center
- Parking/Valet
- Bar/Lounge
- Concierge desk
- Fitness Room
- Dry Cleaning
- Ice Machine
Room Facilities
- Alarm Clock
- Phone
- Complimentary Newspaper
- Wake-Up Calls
- Coffee Maker
- Desk
- Cable/Satellite
- Iron/Ironing Board
- Television
- Voicemail
- Complimentary Toiletries
- Air Conditioning
- Pay Movies
- Hair Dryer
- Climate Control
- Daily Housekeeping
- Internet Access
