The Best of The National Parks & Little Big Horn

You will stay in hotels such as the Ramada Inn, in Rapid City, the Holiday Inn in Cody, the Brandin' Iron Inn in West Yellowstone, the Painted Buffalo Inn in Jackson, the Crystal Inn Hotel and Suites in Salt Lake City, the Baymont Inn and Suites in Cortez, the Canyon Plaza Resort in Tusayan, the Best Western Plus in Page, Bryce View Lodge in Bryce Canyon City and the Stratosphere Hotel in Las Vegas. All rooms feature private facilities, air-conditioning where appropriate, TV and telephone. There is a restaurant and bar in most locations and often extra facilities, such as swimming pool and shop. The Stratosphere Hotel in Las Vegas features its own cabaret, casino, restaurants, bars, shops and its ‘Top of the World’ restaurant 800ft above the Strip. Hotels will be confirmed in your final documents.

Please note: At certain times of year it is possible that Yellowstone may experience snow which may mean we need to use a different route.

Day 1: UK/Las Vegas

After arriving in Las Vegas you will transfer to your hotel for an overnight stay.

Day 2: Zion National Park

This morning we enjoy a short sightseeing tour of Las Vegas before we depart for a day of exploration of the sheer cliffs, deep chasms and fascinating rock formations of Zion National Park. We continue on to Bryce for our overnight stay.

Day 3: Bryce Canyon

Today we include a full day tour to Bryce Canyon famed for its unique geology. Discover a world of subtle colours, delicate spires and natural amphitheatres amidst an ever changing sky. We drive via beautiful Lake Powell on our way to Page for an overnight stay.

Day 4: Grand Canyon

This morning we drive to the Grand Canyon. Formed after seven million years of erosion by the Colorado River, what has been created is one of the most absorbing sights anywhere in the world. You will stop at the South Rim to admire the views, from here the most spectacular panoramas can be enjoyed. Optional excursions to see the Canyon from the air will also be available for those who want a complete perspective on this natural wonder. Overnight accommodation has been arranged in Tusayan close to the canyon.

Day 5: Monument Valley & Four Corners

Today our journey takes us to Monument Valley, the scene of many spaghetti westerns characterised by some of the most recognisable rock formations in the world. We then continue on to Four Corners Monument. The monument marks the point where the four states of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Arizona converge. You will have the opportunity to enjoy the area at your own pace before we continue our journey to Cortez, Colorado, a city that is uniquely positioned between the desert and mountains and will be our base for the next two nights. Enjoy the evening at leisure in the city of Cortez.

Day 6: Mesa Verde National Park

Today you visit the archaeological hot bed of Mesa Verde National Park, home to thousands of interesting sites and famed for its cliff dwellings. Cliff Palace, the largest, contains more than 200 rooms. Native Americans lived in and farmed the Mesa Verde, in the heart of the southwest, until the 14th century before prolonged drought made farming impossible. The views in and around the park are quite remarkable.

Day 7: Arches National Park/Salt Lake City

Our destination today is Salt Lake City. Our drive to the charming city takes us via Arches National Park. Here, you will find the greatest concentration of red sandstone arches in the world. The rock formations create giant windows and graceful arches which frame the magnificent landscape. Highlights, which are easily reached by paved roads and short trails include the incredible Balanced Rock. Later this afternoon we continue our journey to Salt Lake City where you will stay for the next two nights.

Day 8: Salt Lake City

Enjoy the day to relax and explore this beautiful city at your own space. A good place to head for is Mormon Square from which you can access many of the key sights, monuments and museums. An optional excursion will be available to the Great Salt Lake. The lake was once part of the prehistoric Lake Bonneville. Today the lake covers 2000 sq miles and is saltier than the ocean.

Day 9: Jackson

After our adventures in and around Salt Lake City we head north to Jackson. Jackson is a lively town with unusual characteristics, it is both a wild west town and a ski resort. On our journey to Jackson we will visit Logan Canyon and the freshwater Bear Lake renowned for its remarkable turquoise-blue waters. Overnight stay in Jackson.

Day 10: Grand Teton National Park/Yellowstone National Park

We leave Jackson this morning and head to Grand Teton National Park. Grand Teton is famed for its beautiful landscapes dominated by snow capped peaks, serene lakes and mighty glaciers. We will have some time to take in the vistas before we continue on to West Yellowstone for an overnight stay.

Day 11: Cody

Today is all about Yellowstone National Park, and a full day touring its major points of interest. Yellowstone Park is a wonderland of spouting geysers, terraced hot springs, boiling pools and bubbling mud pots. You may see the extraordinary Yellowstone Canyon with its waterfall twice the height of Niagara, Mammoth Hot Springs, Midway Geyser Basin and, of course, ‘Old Faithful’, which erupts every 70 minutes. The park is also a wildlife sanctuary with bears, elk and herds of buffalo, which all roam freely in the park. Stops will be made to admire the wildlife. We then continue on through ‘Cowboy Country’ to our overnight stop in Cody.

Day 12: Little Big Horn Battlefield

Today we will visit the historic battlefield site of the Battle of Little Big Horn. We will relive ‘Custer’s Last Stand’ – when General Custer and the 7th Cavalry were outfought by Crazy Horse. The actual battlefield is in Montana, just north of the border from Wyoming, and this is a unique opportunity to visit this historic site. You can see exactly where the soldiers fell (markers were placed only days after the battle), and absorb all the events of that fateful day on our guided tour. This evening enjoy time at leisure in Sheridan.

Day 13: Deadwood/Rapid City

The journey today takes you on a fascinating drive through former ‘wild west’ territory. The first stop will be at Deadwood which was frequented many years ago by the likes of Wild Bill Hickock and Calamity Jane. Later today you will have time to relax and explore Rapid City where we will stay for the remainder of your holiday.

Day 14: Mount Rushmore/Badlands

From your base in Rapid City you will explore the relatively unknown but beautiful area South Dakota today. To the west, the famous Black Hills rise out of the prairies, and the delightful countryside is reminiscent of Europe’s Alpine foothills. This morning you drive into the Black Hills to see Mount Rushmore with its famous granite sculptures of Presidents Roosevelt, Lincoln, Washington and Jefferson. The huge carvings are one of the definitve monuments of the United States and a reminder of the journey the country has taken in its short history. A visit will also be made to Crazy Horse Memorial, an even larger sculpture currently being carved in honour of the famous Indian leader. In the afternoon you will tour the Badlands National Park. It is a strange and beautiful landscape of deep gorges, saw-edged spires and grassy-topped buttes; an eerie world carved out of the prairies by 35 million years of wind and water erosion.

Day 15: Rapid City/UK

Enjoy the morning at leisure before your transfer to the airport for your return journey to the UK.

Day 16: Arrive UK

Arrival in the UK.