Ultimate Canyons & Rocky Mountains National Parks Tour

Ultimate Canyons & Rocky Mountains National Parks Tour

Tours Starts: Las Vegas, Nevada

Tours Ends: Salt Lake City, Utah

Day 1

Las Vegas

Welcome to fabulous Las Vegas! Guests who book their air through YMT will be greeted by a YMT representative and transferred to their hotel. The night is yours to enjoy this city. Just outside your hotel’s doorstep await neon lights, the famed Fremont Street Experience, gambling, or glamorous shows. The choice is yours!

Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino or similar

Day 2

The Grand Canyon

Start your tour with the grandest of all parks in the West—the Grand Canyon! Travel via I-40, crossing historic Route 66 before you enter the spectacular Grand Canyon, and end your day by the South Rim. The park shuttle system makes it easy to take it all in at your own pace. The evening and the sunset, which lights the canyon in many hues of red and purple, is yours to enjoy!

Yavapai Lodge West or similar

OPTION:SIGNATURE GRAND CANYON SUNSET HUMMER TOUR:

Experience the Grand Canyon during sunset and see the majestic colors of the rocks aboard a Hummer! $135 p/p. Please add this option at time of booking

Day 3

Page/Lake Powell via Horseshoe Bend

Wake up to a spectacular sunrise over the canyon this morning! For an unforgettable experience, join us for an optional helicopter tour over the canyon (additional cost). Today we see Horseshoe Bend, a u-shaped area of the Grand Canyon along the Colorado River near Page, Arizona. Marvel at the view of this stunning rock from 1,000 feet above—be sure to bring your camera for a spectacular shot! Our drive then continues to Lake Powell. Supported by the Glen Canyon Dam, Lake Powell is a beautifully situated water reservoir on the Colorado River, surrounded by red rocks. (B)

Best Western View of Lake Powell or similar

OPTION:GRAND CANYON SUNRISE AT EL TOVAR HOTEL:

Experience the Grand Canyon with a guided sunrise walk to the edge of the canyon. Enjoy a fulfilling breakfast at the historic El Tovar Hotel $42 p/p. Please add this option at time of booking

Day 4

Zion National Park via Horseshoe Bend

This morning, we see Horseshoe Bend, a u-shaped area of the Grand Canyon along the Colorado River near Page, Arizona. Marvel at the view of this stunning rock from 1,000 feet above—be sure to bring your camera for a spectacular shot! Our drive then continues as we head to Zion National Park. The half-mile deep park floor is lush with foliage, as well as mule deer, wild turkeys, gray foxes, and the occasional porcupine. (B)

Best Western Plus Ruby's Inn or similar

Day 5

Bryce Canyon

Today we visit Bryce Canyon. Despite its name, Bryce is not a canyon but a collection of giant natural amphitheaters. Its distinctive geological structures, called hoodoos, were formed by frost weathering and stream erosion from the river. Standing at the rim, you are offered spectacular views in red, orange and white that will surely be spellbinding. (B)

Best Western Plus Ruby’s Inn or similar

Day 6

Capitol Reef National Park

Discover Capitol Reef National Park. The area boasts a diverse landscape unlike anywhere else in Utah—stunning red rock formations and canyons, pristine meadows, alpine forests, and lush green valleys. Also throughout the park, you’ll find the Capitol Reef Petroglyphs, impressive rock art figures created by ancient Native Americans. Continue to your hotel in Moab this evening, the ideal gateway for a visit to both Arches and Canyonlands National Park. (B)

Fairfield Inn Moab or similar

Day 7

Arches National Park

A stunning highlight awaits! For the past 150 million years, the more than 2,000 natural sandstone arches of Arches National Park have been sculpted by the natural erosion of wind, water, sun, and frost—creating an unmistakably unique landscape. See Balanced Rock, one of the park’s most iconic features; the impressive 52-foot tall Delicate Arch; and the Windows Section, a unique area with many arches that is considered the beating heart of the park. (B)

Fairfield Inn Moab or similar

Day 8

Canyonlands National Park

Explore Canyonlands National Park, a magical outdoor wonderland of enchanting vistas! The colorful park is divided into four districts—Island in the Sky, The Needles, The Maze, and the combined Green and Colorado Rivers, which carved two large canyons into the Colorado Plateau. Marvel at the wild beauty and drama of this spectacular landscape unlike anywhere else in the world. This evening, we make our way to our hotel in Grand Junction, the hub of Colorado’s wine country. (B)

Days Inn Grand Junction or similar

Day 9

Grand Junction to Denver

Take in the beautiful Rocky Mountains today on our drive through Colorado. Enjoy a change of scenery as you travel through Arapaho National Forest, which straddles the Continental Divide in the Front Range west of Denver. Stop for lunch on your own in the resort town of Vail, a popular getaway at the base of Vail Mountain. This evening we arrive for an overnight stay in Denver, one of the most up-and-coming cities in the U.S. The Mile High City is Colorado’s buzzing capital, where urban sophistication meets outdoor adventure! (B)

Sheraton Denver Tech or similar

Day 10

Denver Leisure Day

See Denver on your own today. You’ll be transferred into the city for a full day to explore. Included is your city pass and free entrance to 3 of the city’s top attractions! (B)

Sheraton Denver Tech or similar

Day 11

Rocky Mountain National Park to Cheyenne

This morning, we’ll enjoy a city tour of Denver before traveling to spectacular Rocky Mountain National Park. Discover scenic mountains, majestic alpine lakes, and an abundance of wildlife that call this park home. Then, continue to Cheyenne, Wyoming and learn about the rodeo and railroad capital of the Old West, which became the epicenter of westward rail expansion. Enjoy a leisurely evening tonight— perhaps stop at the Cheyenne Depot Plaza and Museum. (B)

Red Lion Cheyenne or similar

Day 12

Fort Laramie and Rapid City

Your first stop en route to South Dakota will be the Fort Laramie Historic Site, along the Oregon Trail. Originally a private fur trading fort, the “grand old post” became the largest and best known military post on the Northern Plains. We’ll also visit The Mammoth Site, a museum and paleontological site, before we end the evening in Rapid City. (B)

Howard Johnson Rapid City or similar

Day 13

Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, and Custer State Park

Today begins with a wonderful scenic drive through the Black Hills. You’ll have opportunities for sightseeing at Mount Rushmore National Monument and Crazy Horse Memorial, incredible and iconic stone carvings in the rock formations of South Dakota. End the day with leisure time in Custer State Park, South Dakota’s first state park, famous for its bison herds, historic sites, fishing lakes, scenic drives, and more! (B)

Howard Johnson Rapid City or similar

OPTION: BISON SAFARI JEEP TOUR:

Take a guided open-air jeep ride through Custer State Park in search of pronghorns, elk, and bison! Just $75 p/p. Please add this option at time of booking.

Day 14

Deadwood and Sheridan

Immerse yourself in Wild West history; we’ll begin with a morning stop in the frontier town of Deadwood, South Dakota. This city at the heart of the Black Hills Gold Rush is where Old West figures “Calamity Jane” once lived and where “Wild Bill” Hickok played his last game of cards. Then travel to the quaint town of Sheridan, Wyoming. This charming town is where western history and dramatic mountain vistas meet modern comforts in a serene setting. Set against an awe-inspiring backdrop of the Bighorn Mountains, it’s no secret why Sheridan is known as the “heart of Ruby Valley.” (B)

Best Western Sheridan Center or similar

Day 15

Cody

Drive through Big Horn National Forest this morning before visiting the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, a complex of five museums where you can learn more about the American icon “Buffalo Bill” Cody, as well as the art and history of the Plains Indian tribes. Explore this Western town tonight on your own and enjoy our overnight stay in lovingly-restored rustic cabins. (B)

Buffalo Bill Village Cabins or similar

Day 16

Yellowstone National Park

This morning, continue early on to nearby Yellowstone, our nation’s first national park. See spectacular geysers, lakes, and mountains during your visits here today and tomorrow morning! Have your camera ready for likely sightings of buffalo, elk, moose, gray wolves, or bears. Take in the tranquility of Hayden Valley and the vibrant colors of the geysers— Yellowstone is a feast for the eyes!

Gray Wolf Inn & Suites West Yellowstone or similar

Day 17

Grand Teton National Park and Jackson Hole

Today we pay a morning visit to Old Faithful, Yellowstone’s most famous geyser whose 20 daily eruptions attract many of the park’s 4 million annual visitors. Afterwards, we’ll continue south to Grand Teton National Park to enjoy a spectacular landscape rich with majestic mountains, pristine lakes, and wildlife. Overnight in Jackson Hole, one of the most quaint, yet upscale, mountain resort towns in the west.

Elk Country Inn or similar

Day 18

Salt Lake City

This morning, we’ll travel to Utah’s grand capital. This beautiful city played host to the 2002 winter Olympics, and you can still enjoy many of the improvements designed to make the city welcoming. Salt Lake City has the hospitable feel of a friendly mountain town, and is full of stunning parks, wonderful restaurants, and opportunities to shop, enjoy art, or take in live theatre and music.

Sheraton Downtown Salt Lake City or similar

Day 19

Depart for Home

Please note that this is a proposed itinerary; the actual itinerary may vary due to season, special events, or weather. Hotels may differ depending on date. 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. By their nature, all tour 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. Please ask your Travel Consultant for more information.