Scenic Parks Explorer
Scenic Parks Explorer
Scenic Parks Explorer
15 Days Starting and ending in Las Vegas, United States
Visiting: Las Vegas, Zion National Park, Salt Lake City, Jackson, Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone National Park, Billings, Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, Mount Rushmore, Denver, Moab, Mesa Verde National Park, Grand Canyon
Tour operator:
Tour code:
DSPAZN20
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Tour operated in:
EnglishInterests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Embark on the Scenic Parks Explorer tour, a captivating journey through the United States' most iconic national parks and cultural landmarks. Begin your adventure in the vibrant city of Las Vegas, then traverse the breathtaking landscapes of Zion, Bryce Canyon, and Yellowstone National Parks. Experience the grandeur of the Grand Canyon with insights from a local geologist, and explore the rich history of the Navajo people in Monument Valley. Delight in unique cultural encounters, such as a festive evening with Lakota Tribe Member Stephen Yellowhawk and a Be My Guest dinner at the historic Billings Depot. Stay in handpicked accommodations, including lodges within Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon, ensuring you are always close to the action. With expert guides, luxury transport, and immersive experiences, this tour promises an unforgettable exploration of America's natural and cultural treasures.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome To Fabulous Las Vegas
Location: Las Vegas
Accommodation Name: Horseshoe Las Vegas
Meals Included: Dinner
From glitz and glitter to lavish dining, the desert playground of Las Vegas extends a warm welcome. More than a high energy city of tempting nightlife, the soul-stirring surrounding landscapes make up America’s most beloved national parks. Kick off your US National Park tour meeting your Travel Director for a Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant before settling in for your western adventure beginning tomorrow.
Day 2: Ride Through Colorful Zion National Park
Location: Zion National Park
Accommodation: Best Western Plus Bryce Canyon Grand Hotel
Accommodation Name: Best Western Plus Bryce Canyon Grand
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
There’s no better place to admire the Southwest’s multi-color landscape than the towering cream, pink and red cliffs of Zion National Park. Drive through the park hugged by red cliffs and stop for lunch at Zion Lodge. Be sure to keep your camera at-the-ready for the enchanting landscapes of Bryce Canyon. Feel dwarfed by the otherworldly rusty red limestone hoodoo spires that rise surreally from the desert floor to Utah’s skies. This evening, perhaps join Ebenezer’s Barn & Grill and The Bryce Canyon Wranglers for an unforgettable evening of live country music and a delicious BBQ dinner.
Day 3: Uncover The History Of Salt Lake City
Location: Salt Lake City
Accommodation: Sheraton Salt Lake City
Accommodation Name: Sheraton Salt Lake City
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Fortunately for you, you have a second day in Bryce Canyon National Park, where you’ll unlock the park’s iconic hoodoos. Next up in Salt Lake City, discover the local secrets of Utah's capital seeing its Mormon center, Temple Square and discovering the beliefs and history of the Mormon pioneers who settled here. Salt Lake City is a vibrant and progressive city with cafes, boutiques and new restaurants popping up all the time – so you’ll have plenty of choice as you explore the city today. Enjoy dinner tonight at a local restaurant with your fellow travelers
Day 4: North To Jackson
Location: Jackson
Accommodation: Modern Mountain Motel
Accommodation Name: Modern Mountain Motel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Get ready for a change of scenery on your US National Park tour today, taking in views of Powder Mountain and southeast Idaho as you head north from Salt Lake City to Jackson. Standing in the shadows of the Teton Range’s icy peaks, this mountain town has an Old West look with a modern twist. Get a feel for the outdoor vibe - home to three ski areas and many rugged trails – on your own. Grab dinner this evening in one of the old-timey saloons and steakhouses destined to fuel your adventures through western frontiers.
Day 5: Travel Through Scenic Grand Teton National Park
Location: Grand Teton National Park
Accommodation: National Park Lodges Yellowstone
Accommodation Name: National Park Lodges Yellowstone
Meals Included: Breakfast
Grand Teton National Park’s alpine landscapes of eight peaks tower over 12,000 feet above you. Learn how, established in 1929, Grand Teton is home to a 40-mile mountain range straddling Idaho and Wyoming with views of wildlife, glacier-carved lakes and alpine terrain. Inhabited first by Native Americans and later American pioneers, Grand Teton is the perfect place to explore over 200 miles of hiking trails and take in views of the Tetons from the Snake River. Get your bearings choosing to join a gentle Snake River Float Trip in the Park, learning from your guide about the park’s resident wildlife. The promise of Yellowstone’s geothermal wonderland leads to your next destination. Arriving in Yellowstone, stay right in the heart of it all overnighting at one of the lodges in this iconic national park.
Day 6: See The Grandeur Of Yellowstone National Park
Location: Yellowstone National Park
Accommodation: National Park Lodges Yellowstone
Accommodation Name: National Park Lodges Yellowstone
Meals Included: Breakfast
See how Yellowstone National Park - one of the world’s oldest national parks with over 500 geysers – is in a league of its own. At the end of your visit, you’ll surely appreciate its vastness, variety of landscapes and terrains, wildlife, vegetation, lakes and geologic wonders like the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River. Alongside your Travel Director, marvel at Old Faithful, the thousand-year-old geyser which has been shooting water into the sky every 90 minutes for centuries. Stop at Lake Yellowstone, containing the largest number of wild cutthroat trout in North America, before viewing Artists Point. Savor a quiet moment at this viewpoint to watch the stunning cascade of the Lower Falls. Finish off an epic day of sightseeing at the impressive Fountain Paint Pot area where bubbling mud pots and geysers invite you to stand back and watch the show.
Day 7: Experience Big Sky And The Wild West Connect With Locals
Location: Billings
Accommodation: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Billings
Accommodation Name: DoubleTree by Hilton Billings
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Welcome to "Buffalo Bill’s" hometown of Cody where the "Spirit of the American West" lives on. Visit the Buffalo Bill Center of the West Museum to unlock the town’s history before taking your wild west adventure to the next level in Big Sky Country. At the historic Billings Depot, you're treated to a Western dinner Be My Guest experience. Meet a local historian from the nearby Western Heritage Center who’ll share Billing’s railroad history from how the depot was built in 1903 as a hub for three major railroads. Get your fix of western hospitality and fare enjoying local Chef Stephen Hindman's three-course menu featuring local produce, a choice of entrees, a seasonal dessert and beer and wine.
Day 8: Unlock The History Of Little Bighorn Dive Into Culture
Location: Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument
Accommodation: The Rushmore Hotel & Suites
Accommodation Name: The Rushmore Hotel & Suites
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today on your US National Park tour, explore history and living traditions starting with a visit to Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, the battlefield where the ill-fated Custer led his men against a battalion of Sioux and Cheyenne warriors now known as Custer’s last stand. From battlefields to the Black Hills, make your way to the base of Crazy Horse Memorial, an iconic monument representing the Oglala Lakota warrior 'Crazy Horse'. Admire the colossal carved face and learn about its origins during a walk-through of The Indian Museum of North America before arriving in Rapid City. Light up your night on an Optional Experience joining Mount Rushmore by Night with a Park Ranger. The sculpture lighting ceremony culminates as the faces of the monument are fully illuminated.
Day 9: Delve Into The Black Hills Of South Dakota Make Travel Matter
Location: Mount Rushmore
Accommodation: The Rushmore Hotel & Suites
Accommodation Name: The Rushmore Hotel & Suites
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Whether or not you caught the show last night, the must-see sight of Mount Rushmore National Memorial makes a dramatic start to your day with the opportunity to take the perfect picture. View the faces of former American presidents etched into the granite rock-face. Later, you could join an Optional Experience venturing into Badlands National Park to explore 244,000 acres of sharply eroded buttes, pinnacles and spires blended with the largest protected mixed grass prairie in America feeling like you’ve entered an ancient world. A special MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience awaits this evening as you meet Lakota Tribe Member Stephen Yellowhawk who shares his passion for his culture over stories of his tribe’s history during a festive evening of singing, dance and music.
Day 10: Journey Through The Prairies To Denver
Location: Denver
Accommodation Name: The Slate Hotel Denver Downtown, Tapestry by Hilton
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Travel south on your US National Park tour through the expansive, rolling prairies of Wyoming to Denver, the Mile High City at 5,280 feet known for its thriving coffeehouse and brewery scene. Along the way, trade tales with your travel companions of all the stunning sights you’ve seen. Cap off the day enjoying dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 11: Roam The Rockies
Location: Moab
Accommodation: Best Western Plus Canyonlands Inn
Accommodation Name: Best Western Plus Canyonlands Inn
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Kickoff your day stopping in Vail, an alpine village and one of Colorado's great playgrounds known for its epic powder-filled basins that have attracted skiers since the 1960s. Then discover local organic products and meet local farmers over a one-of-a-kind Be My Guest experience at Field to Fork, a four-season organic farm and boutique fruit stand, growing and celebrating the flavors of every season. You’ll love learning the local secrets of organic farming over a tour from the owners followed by a meal of farm-fresh ingredients. This evening in Moab, opt for an exhilarating Optional Experience flying over Canyonlands National Park during sunset.
Day 12: Take In The Views Of The Canyonlands
Location: Moab
Accommodation: Best Western Plus Canyonlands Inn
Accommodation Name: Best Western Plus Canyonlands Inn
Meals Included: Breakfast
Get ready to gasp. Arches National Park is packed with striking natural arches. On your jaw-dropping exploration, learn how these 6,000 natural sandstone arches were formed by rain and wind on this guided reserved visit led by your knowledgeable Travel Director. From one stunning landscape to the next in Canyon Country, see how the power of the Colorado River carves through the rocky red landscape at Canyonlands National Park. Drive onto the Island in the Sky - a mesa resting 1,000 feet (305 meters) above the countryside offering spectacular views over the dramatic sandstone formations. Take your experience to the next level with an Optional Canyonlands by Night light show, complete with a lip-smacking cowboy-style Dutch Oven Dinner and a trip on the Moab Queen II jet boat cruising by the lit-up canyon walls.
Day 13: Mesa Verde National Park To Monument Valley Stays With Stories
Location: Mesa Verde National Park
Accommodation: Goulding's Lodge
Accommodation Name: Goulding's Lodge
Meals Included: Breakfast
Within UNESCO-listed Mesa Verde National Park, admire some of the over 600 ancient cliff dwellings - including the largest in the country, the amazing dwelling known as Cliff Palace - carved in the sandstone of the canyon walls. Established by Teddy Roosevelt in 1906, the Park protects some of the best-preserved Ancestral Puebloan archaeological sites in the United States. Deepen your connection with the first nations of this land heading toward Monument Valley - home to the Navajo Nation and the backdrop of many famous Hollywood Western movies.
Day 14: Tour The Remarkable Grand Canyon Make Travel Matter
Location: Grand Canyon
Accommodation: National Park Lodges Grand Canyon
Accommodation Name: National Park Lodges Grand Canyon
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Your big day of bucket list sites on your US National Park tour begins in Monument Valley. Enjoy a unique exploration with a Local Specialist driving in an open-air vehicle past its towering sandstone buttes and mesas that rise from the barren landscape on a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Continue through the ancestral home of the Navajo, winding along Desert View Drive, surrounded by mesmerizing multi-colored depths. Stop at Desert View Intertribal Cultural Heritage Site to hear stories, family histories and cultural demonstrations by tribal members on another MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. We've saved the best for last: the Grand Canyon. Get a unique perspective from geological expert Canyon Tim who reveals the geological wonders on a private nature talk. Join your fellow travelers for a Farewell Dinner toasting to America’s National Parks at your accommodations inside Grand Canyon National Park.
Day 15: End Your Journey In Las Vegas
Location: Las Vegas
Meals Included: Breakfast
Consider an optional helicopter or fixed-wing aircraft flightseeing trip over the canyon. End your journey in Las Vegas where a transfer is provided to Las Vegas International Airport arriving at approximately 3:30 pm, or to Horseshoe Las Vegas for guests extending their stay.
What's Included
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An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
An expert Travel Director and professional Driver are included in the tour.
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Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
Accommodation in cherry-picked hotels that are tried and trusted is included.
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All porterage and restaurant gratuities
All porterage and restaurant gratuities are included in the tour.
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All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
All hotel tips, charges, and local taxes are included.
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Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
Daily breakfast and up to half of your evening meals are included.
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Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras are included in the tour.
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Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing are included.
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All transport and transfers shown
All transport and transfers as shown in the itinerary are included.
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Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
Travel in a luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation such as rail journeys.
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Optional Experiences and free time
Optional experiences and free time are part of the tour.
What's Not Included
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Personal expenses
Personal expenses such as souvenirs, additional meals, and drinks are not included.
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Travel insurance
Travel insurance is not included and is recommended to be purchased separately.
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Optional activities
Optional activities not listed in the itinerary are not included.
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Flights
Flights to and from the starting and ending points of the tour are not included.
Dining Summary
- 6 Dinner (D)
- 14 Breakfast (B)
- 2 Lunch (L)
Dive Into Culture
- Grand Canyon National Park: The great outdoors is your classroom today when you meet geologist Canyon Tim for an enlightening talk about the Grand Canyon at the South Rim . Having over 30 years of geological experience, Tim’s fascinating talk reveals how this natural marvel was formed millions of years ago and how the different layers that make up the Colorado Plateau are still visible today.
Mode of Transport
Travel in style with a luxury air-conditioned coach equipped with Wi-Fi in most countries, ensuring comfort and connectivity throughout your journey. All transport and transfers are included, providing seamless travel between destinations.
Accommodation
Experience the charm of staying inside Yellowstone National Park, with two nights of accommodation granting you all-day access to the park and its amenities. Enjoy the natural beauty and tranquility of the surroundings when the day-trippers are gone.
Check out our Q&As
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What unique experiences are included in the Scenic Parks Explorer tour?
The tour includes unique experiences such as exploring Navajo Tribal Park with a Navajo guide, learning about the Grand Canyon with a local geologist, and visiting the Crazy Horse Memorial with access to the base of the memorial. Additionally, there are cultural experiences like meeting Stephen Yellowhawk to learn about his tribe's history and a Be My Guest dinner at the historic Billings Depot.
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How does the tour support local communities and sustainable development?
The tour supports local communities and sustainable development by providing experiences that align with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. For example, the visit to Monument Valley helps preserve the integrity of the land and culture, and the Grand Canyon experience supports ongoing development of the Cultural Heritage Site while engaging with Indigenous community members.
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What kind of accommodation can I expect during the tour?
The tour offers accommodations that are close to the action, such as staying inside Yellowstone National Park for easy access to the park and its amenities. Other accommodations include Goulding's Lodge in Monument Valley, which has historical significance and supports the local Diné (Navajo) community.
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Are there any optional experiences available during the tour?
Yes, there are optional experiences available, such as joining a Snake River Float Trip in Grand Teton National Park, a Mount Rushmore by Night experience, and a Canyonlands by Night light show with a cowboy-style dinner.
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What kind of meals are included in the tour package?
The tour package includes breakfast daily, up to half of your evening meals, and some lunches. There are also special dining experiences like a Be My Guest dinner at the historic Billings Depot and a meal at Field to Fork farm.
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Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?
The beauty of taking a guided holiday with us is that you’ll have the opportunity to meet and travel with people from all over the globe.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Vaccination against Covid-19 is not mandatory to travel with Trafalgar. However, we strongly recommend that guests are vaccinated before travelling. Please note that airlines and/or other authorities may have different requirements. It is the guest's responsibility to comply with these requirements at all times.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 1947
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Trafalgar is a founding partner of the TreadRight Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation established in 2008. So far, the charity has donated more than US$2 million to help underprivileged communities and support sustainable tourism around the world.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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Low Deposit
Trafalgar requires a minimum deposit of 350 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of trafalgar charges.
Up to 91 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 90 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 80% of booking price.
At 1 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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Terms and Conditions