Day 1

Your Southwestern tour begins upon your arrival in the Valley of the Sun, and the city of Phoenix. Guests, who have purchased airline tickets from YMT Vacations, will be welcomed in the baggage claim area by a YMT representative who will arrange your transfer to the hotel. (If you made other flight arrangements, please make your own way to the hotel.) Hotel: Carefree Resort & Villas (or similar accommodations).

Day 2

Travel north from sprawling Phoenix to the red-rock wonders of Sedona. The arid red desert, wind-hewn rocks and deep dramatic canyons surround you as we explore this region of striking monoliths. Enjoy time to stroll around in uptown Sedona, with its charming shops and welcoming cafes or take an optional Jeep tour into the red canyons. Next, we wind Oak Creek Canyon to ascend into the Colorado Plateau to the high-desert community of Flagstaff. A town built around the railroad in the mid 1800’s, Flagstaff is home to a noted university and the Lowell Observatory, as well as an ideal starting point for tours to the Grand Canyon. Hotel: Best Western Pony Soldier (or similar accommodations).

Day 3

Today is devoted to exploring the magnificent Grand Canyon - carved millions of years ago by the Colorado River, and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We tour the South Rim, with plenty of time to enjoy panoramic vistas. Enjoy time to relax and soak in the beauty of the canyon, perhaps take a hike along one of the scenic mountain trails or take an optional helicopter ride to see this “Wonder of the World” with a bird’s eye view. We will return to Flagstaff for the night. Hotel: Best Western Pony Soldier (or similar accommodations).

Day 4

Enjoy the expansive vistas as we travel east across Arizona. Skirting the Navajo Indian Reservation, we drive through the Petrified Forest National Park – an ancient land with million-year old petrified logs offering unusual scenery. Watch the colors of the Painted Desert change with the daylight shadows as we drive through. We cross into New Mexico and take Route 66 into Gallup, the epicenter of southwestern Native American history, culture and traditions, where we will have a brief stop. This small town has over 100 trading posts, shops and galleries offering a variety of Navajo and Zuni handicrafts. From here we continue through the lands of the Acoma tribe, before we end our day in Albuquerque, the heart of New Mexico. Hotel: Doubletree Hotel Albuquerque (or similar accommodations).

Day 5

This morning get up early to witness the famed hot air balloon Fiesta’s Mass Ascension. See hundreds of colorful balloons inflate with giant fans then slowly rise to float into the clear blue New Mexico sky. Learn the history of this unique Fiesta, and the simple mechanics of hot air ballooning while witnessing it with your own eyes. As you proceed for some Albuquerque sightseeing, keep an eye peeled for these balloons – as they land in the most unexpected places! Our city tour visits the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center – with its amazing and interactive exhibits on the history and stories of the native Pueblo people. We explore historic Old Town - secluded gardens and patios nestled between winding brick paths full of charming shops, galleries and delicious New Mexican cuisine (meals on own). The Old Town Plaza has been the focal point of the community since 1706. Tonight we return to the balloon launch site for the “After Glow,” when all the balloons fire their burners at the same time, illuminating the night sky. This event is followed by a spectacular fireworks display that you will surely enjoy to watch. Hotel: Doubletree Hotel Albuquerque (or similar accommodations).

Days 6 & 7

If you are an early riser and would like to experience the Farewell Mass Ascension again, our driver/guide will join you for a return visit to the launch area for this spectacular display of sound and color, otherwise you may take the early morning at leisure. We will depart Albuquerque in the late morning and make our way leisurely to Santa Fe. We will traverse the Santa Fe National Forest and continue to Bandelier National Monument. Bandelier protects Ancestral Pueblo archeological sites within a wild and beautiful landscape and connects the modern Pueblo people to their past in a monument covering 33,000+ acres and over 70 miles of trail. We continue north to the foothills of the Jemez Mountains, and Los Alamos, a small town and site of the famous Manhattan Project for a brief stop, before we enter Santa Fe. On Day 7 enjoy a leisurely morning in Santa Fe, by doing some sightseeing on your own: Visit the 18th century Cathedral Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi and/or explore Santa Fe Plaza, a National Historic Landmark, with museums, galleries. Don’t miss out on seeing the famous miracle staircase in the Loretto Chapel! Examine the silver and turquoise wares of the Native American artisans who sell their handicrafts along the open-air square. Hotel: Holiday Inn Santa Fe (or similar accommodations).

Days 8 & 9

Today we travel along the Santa Fe Trail National Scenic Byway, then through the wide-open spaces and big skies to southwestern New Mexico. We arrive in Roswell and visit the Roswell Museum and Art Center. Established during the depression to support public art, today the museum houses historical artifacts and a fine art collection, including works by New Mexico artist Georgia O’Keeffe. Later, as a nod to Roswell’s pop culture fame, best known for the alleged Roswell UFO sightings, we will pay a short visit to the International UFO Museum & Research Center, with its eclectic collection of space objects and dioramas depicting the story of the purported 1947 UFO crash just outside town. On Day 9 drive south through the Chihuahuan Desert, filled with prickly pears, chollas and agaves to visit incredible Carlsbad Caverns National Park, with 100 of the largest caves in the world. These limestone caverns were formed 250 million years ago - the stalagmite and stalactites that abound in this subterranean world are truly a wonder to explore. We will stay around until dusk to see nature’s incredible show of the Carlsbad cavern bats, that leave the cave in thousands at the same time. At night we will return to Roswell once more. Hotel: Holiday Inn Express (or similar accommodations).

Day 10

This morning the tales of outlaws and Buffalo Soldiers seem to come to life as we travel west along the Billy the Kid National Scenic Byway. We stop in Lincoln, with its infamous courthouse jail, and in Capitan to learn about the story of ‘Smokey the Bear.” Next we travel south through Lincoln National Forest to Alamogordo. Hotel: Best Western Desert Aire (or similar accommodations).

Day 11

Today another highlight of the New Mexico landscape awaits: The unusual and beautiful White Sands National Monument! After an orientation at the Visitors Center, we drive through wave-like dunes of gypsum sand – brilliant snow-white dunes whose color changes with the sun and topography.We will stay in Las Cruces for the night. Hotel: Hampton Inn Las Cruces (or similar accommodations).

Day 12

Continuing east, we will cross into southern Arizona. Travel through ranches and towns that claim a colorful history of Apache raids, outlaws and gunfights, stopping in the most famous of them all – Tombstone! Walk the same historic streets as Wyatt Earp and Doc Holiday, preserved with their original 1880’s buildings. See the famed OK Corral, the Tombstone Epitaph newspaper office, Crystal Palace and the Boothill Graveyard – the last home to the famous and infamous. We continue through the Sonoran Desert to Tucson.

Hotel: Best Western Inn Suites Tucson or similar.

Days 13 & 14

On Day 13, as we depart Tucson, we will tour this “Sunshine City of the Southwest”. Visit the San Xavier del Bac Mission, “the White Dove of the Desert,” considered one of the finest examples of mission architecture in the USA. Continue through downtown, including the Barrio Historico and the University of Arizona. Then we will depart for the Phoenix area, where you will be able to enjoy some R&R for two nights at a beautiful desert resort. En route, we stop to explore the ancient Native American ruins at Casa Grande National Monument, our nation’s first archaeological preserve. On Day 14 a finishing highlight awaits: An optional Sunrise Balloon Flight! Glide in a balloon over the beautifully quiet and just awaking flora and fauna at sunrise, just like you admired it during the Festival in Albuquerque. Here is your chance to experience this amazing way of flying yourself! Otherwise, perhaps partake in an optional visit to Old Town Scottsdale with some opportunities for shopping and browsing the art galleries and a visit to Phoenix’s famed Desert Botanical Garden which showcases the beauty of the desert’s Flora and Fauna. The rest of the evening is at leisure, but you may chose to join your group for a rustic cowboy style farewell dinner (optional). Hotel: Carefree Resort and Villas (or similar accommodations).

Day 15

Depart for home with fond memories of new friends and visions of unsurpassed scenery seen on this unique tour.

Please note that this is a proposed itinerary; the actual itinerary may vary due to season, special events, or weather. Because our tour arrangements are often made a year or more in advance, YMT Vacations reserves the right to alter the itinerary. Itinerary changes are made to improve your vacation experience, as well as respond to any unforeseen circumstances that mandate alterations.

Note: By their nature, all tours vacations involve a certain level of physical activity. While YMT tours have been designed with our guests in mind and are not physically demanding, this tour does include walking and periods of standing during the sightseeing visits. You will also encounter steps and some uneven ground along the way, particularly at older, historical sights.

Day 1

Your Southwestern tour begins upon your arrival in the Valley of the Sun, and the city of Phoenix. Guests, who have purchased airline tickets from YMT Vacations, will be welcomed in the baggage claim area by a YMT representative who will arrange your transfer to the hotel. (If you made other flight arrangements, please make your own way to the hotel.) Hotel: Carefree Resort & Villas (or similar accommodations).

Day 2

As an appropriate opening to a Southwestern Tour with Balloon Fiesta, you will be able to set the mood for the beautiful balloons you will experience at the fiesta in a few days time. Take the opportunity to an optional Sunrise Balloon Flight yourself! Glide in a balloon over the beautifully quiet and just awaking flora and fauna at sunrise. Here is your chance to experience this amazing way of flying yourself before you will witness the pros! Otherwise, perhaps partake in an optional visit to Old Town Scottsdale with some opportunities for shopping and browsing the art galleries and a visit to Phoenix’s famed Desert Botanical Garden which showcases the beauty of the desert’s Flora and Fauna. The rest of the evening is at leisure, but you may chose to join your group for a rustic cowboy style welcome dinner (optional). Hotel: Carefree Resort & Villas (or similar accommodations).

Day 3

We depart the “Valley of the Sun” for Tucson the “Sunshine City of the Southwest”. En route we will stop to explore the ancient Native American ruins at Casa Grande National Monument, our nation’s first archaeological preserve. Upon arrival in Tucson we will visit the San Xavier del Bac Mission, “the White Dove of the Desert,” considered one of the finest examples of mission architecture in the USA. Continue your panoramic tour through downtown, including the Barrio Historico and the University of Arizona. Hotel: Best Western Inn Suites Tucson (or similar accommodations).

Day 4

Continuing east this morning, we will cross into New Mexico in the afternoon. In the morning travel through ranches and towns that claim a colorful history of Apache raids, outlaws and gunfights, stopping in the most famous of them all – Tombstone! Walk the same historic streets as Wyatt Earp and Doc Holiday, preserved with their original 1880’s buildings. See the famed OK Corral, the Tombstone Epitaph newspaper office, Crystal Palace and the Boothill Graveyard – the last home to the famous and infamous. The day ends in Las Cruces, NM. Hotel: Hampton Inn Las Cruces (or similar accommodations).

Day 5

This morning a first highlight of the New Mexico landscape awaits: The unusual and beautiful White Sands National Monument! After an orientation at the Visitors Center, we drive through wave-like dunes of gypsum sand – brilliant snow-white dunes whose color changes with the sun and topography. We will overnight in close by Alamogordo. Hotel: Best Western Desert Aire (or similar accommodations).

Days 6 & 7

On Day 6 the tales of outlaws and Buffalo Soldiers seem to come to life as we travel on a detour along the Billy the Kid National Scenic Byway. We stop in Lincoln, with its infamous courthouse jail, and in Capitan to learn about the story of ‘Smokey the Bear.” Next we travel south through Lincoln National Forest to Roswell. Upon arrival we will visit the Roswell Museum and Art Center. Established during the depression to support public art, today the museum houses historical artifacts and a fine art collection, including works by New Mexico artist Georgia O’Keeffe. Later, as a nod to Roswell’s pop culture fame, best known for the Roswell alleged UFO sightings, we will pay a short visit to the International UFO Museum & Research Center, with its eclectic collection of space objects and dioramas depicting the story of the purported 1947 UFO crash just outside town. On Day 7 drive south through the Chihuahuan Desert, filled with prickly pears, chollas and agaves to visit incredible Carlsbad Caverns National Park, with 100 of the largest caves in the world. These limestone caverns were formed 250 million years ago - the stalagmite and stalactites that abound in this subterranean world are truly a wonder to explore. We will stay around until dusk to see nature’s incredible show of the Carlsbad cavern bats, that leave the cave in thousands at the same time. At night we will return to Roswell once more. Hotel: Holiday Inn Express (or similar accommodations).

Days 8 & 9

Today we travel along the Santa Fe Trail National Scenic Byway, then through the wide-open spaces and big skies to southwestern New Mexico. We will arrive in Santa Fe by mid day, just in time for a leisurely lunch on your own in the beautiful historic center and some self guided walking tour through the city’s charming southwestern art galleries and shops. On Day 9 enjoy a leisurely morning in Santa Fe, by doing some sightseeing on your own: Visit the 18th century Cathedral Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi and/or explore Santa Fe Plaza, a National Historic Landmark, with museums, galleries. Don’t miss out on seeing the famous miracle staircase in the Loretto Chapel! Examine the silver and turquoise wares of the Native American artisans who sell their handicrafts along the open-air square. Hotel: Holiday Inn Santa Fe (or similar accommodations).

Days 10 & 11

On Day 10 in the morning we will traverse the Santa Fe National Forest and continue to Bandelier National Monument. Bandelier protects Ancestral Pueblo archeological sites within a wild and beautiful landscape and connects the modern Pueblo people to their past in a monument covering 33,000+ acres and over 70 miles of trail. Then we are tracking back along the foothills of the Jemez Mountains, and Los Alamos, a small town and site of the famous Manhattan Project for a brief stop. Our tour continues to Albuquerque where the Balloon Fiesta awaits. On the morning of Day 11 get up early to witness the famed hot air balloon Fiesta’s Mass Ascension. See hundreds of colorful balloons inflate with giant fans then slowly rise to float into the clear blue New Mexico sky. Learn the history of this unique Fiesta, and the simple mechanics of hot air ballooning while witnessing it with your own eyes. As you proceed for some Albuquerque sightseeing, keep an eye peeled for these balloons – as they land in the most unexpected places! Our city tour here visits the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center – with its amazing and interactive exhibits on the history and stories of the native Pueblo people. We explore historic Old Town - secluded gardens and patios nestled between winding brick paths full of charming shops, galleries and delicious New Mexican cuisine (meals on own). The Old Town Plaza has been the focal point of the community since 1706. At night we return to the balloon launch site for the “After Glow,” when all the balloons fire their burners at the same time, illuminating the night sky. This event is followed by a spectacular fireworks display that you will surely enjoy to watch. Hotel: Doubletree Hotel Albuquerque (or similar accommodations).

Day 12

We depart Albuquerque after another opportunity to witness the farewell mass ascension in the dawn hours of the day. As we leave we will cross the lands of the Acoma tribes, taking Route 66 into Gallup, the epicenter of southwestern Native American history, culture and traditions, where we will have a brief stop. Enjoy the expansive vistas as we travel west across to Arizona. Skirting the Navajo Indian Reservation, we drive through the Petrified Forest National Park – an ancient land with million-year old petrified logs offering unusual scenery. Watch the colors of the Painted Desert change with the daylight shadows as we drive through. We will overnight in Flagstaff as a perfect starting point to visit the Grand Canyon on Day 13. Hotel: Best Western Pony Soldier (or similar accommodations).

Day 13

Today is devoted to exploring the magnificent Grand Canyon - carved millions of years ago by the Colorado River, and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We tour the South Rim, with plenty of time to enjoy panoramic vistas. Enjoy time to relax and soak in the beauty of the canyon, perhaps take a hike along one of the scenic mountain trails or take an optional helicopter ride to see this “Wonder of the World” with a bird’s eye view. We will return to Flagstaff for the night. Hotel: Best Western Pony Soldier (or similar accommodations).

Day 14

As you leave the high desert community of Flagstaff we will soon descend into the arid red desert, wind-hewn rocks and deep dramatic canyons of Oak Creek Canyon. Red rock formations surround you as we explore this region of striking monoliths. Enjoy ample time to stroll around uptown Sedona, with its charming shops and welcoming cafes or take an optional Jeep tour into the red canyons. Next we will continue to Phoenix where our tour comes to an end with another stay at a beautiful resort. Hotel: Carefree Resort & Villas (or similar accommodations).

Day 15

Depart for home with fond memories of newfound friends and and plenty of photographs of the varied scenery seen on this tour.

Please note that this is a proposed itinerary; the actual itinerary may vary due to season, special events, or weather. Because our tour arrangements are often made a year or more in advance, YMT Vacations reserves the right to alter the itinerary. Itinerary changes are made to improve your vacation experience, as well as respond to any unforeseen circumstances that mandate alterations.

Note: By their nature, all tours vacations involve a certain level of physical activity. While YMT tours have been designed with our guests in mind and are not physically demanding, this tour does include walking and periods of standing during the sightseeing visits. You will also encounter steps and some uneven ground along the way, particularly at older, historical sights.

The Motor Coach Experience