Welcome to Colorado

Welcome to Colorado

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Welcome to Colorado

10 Days Starting and ending in Denver, United States

Visiting: Denver, Rocky Mountain National Park, Glenwood Springs, Aspen, Palisade, Durango, Mesa Verde National Park, Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado Springs

Tour operator:

Trafalgar

Tour code:

DCOLZN20

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Physical rating:

Medium

Tour operated in:

English

Activities:

Walking, Wine Tasting

This tour is no longer available

Tour Overview

Embark on an unforgettable journey through the breathtaking landscapes of Colorado with our "Welcome to Colorado" tour. This adventure takes you from the vibrant city of Denver to the majestic Rocky Mountains, exploring iconic national parks like Mesa Verde and the Great Sand Dunes. Experience the thrill of scenic drives along the Million Dollar Highway and the historic Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. Discover the charm of Aspen and the cultural richness of Boulder, where you'll visit an urban farm dedicated to sustainable practices. Enjoy exclusive experiences like a wine tasting and dinner at Maison La Belle Vie Winery, and stay in historic hotels that echo the stories of the Old West. With expert guides, luxury transport, and carefully selected accommodations, this tour promises a perfect blend of nature, culture, and relaxation under the vast Colorado sky.

Highlights

  • content:

    Must-see Highlights

    • Visit Rocky Mountain, Mesa Verde, Great Sand Dunes National Parks, Colorado National Monument, Garden of the Gods
    • Scenic Drive along Million Dollar Highway, Rim Rock Drive, Peak to Peak Highway
    • Iconic Train The Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, & Pikes Peak Cog Railway
    • View Cliff Palace dwelling at Mesa Verde National Park
    • Durango: After some free time in Silverton to get lunch, browse the town and stop at the Visitor Center, take a trip back in time aboard the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad as this coal-fired, steam-powered train chugs along rails that were originally laid at the end of the 19th century, winding through a wilderness which would be inaccessible by car.

  • content:

    Make Travel Matter®

    Boulder: Tour Growing Gardens, an 11-acre urban farm. Learn about land conservation, water availability, regenerative agricultural practices, environmental education, and animal husbandry. This experience advances UN Global Goal 12: Responsible Consumption & Production.

  • content:

    Be My Guest

    Palisade: This evening, 'Connect With Locals,' at Maison La Belle Vie Winery , as you meet the owners for an exclusive evening, starting with a tour of the winery and tasting the flavors of their lovingly blended estate-grown reds. Then sit down for a three-course dinner paired with wines adjacent the 4.5 acre vineyard and al fresco under the Colorado Sky!

  • content:

    Trafalgar Difference

    Glenwood Springs: Discover Hotel Colorado, a member of the Historic Hotels of America.

    Durango: Stay at The Strater Hotel, adorned with beautiful handcrafted woodwork, housing the largest collection of American Victorian walnut antiques. It's Durango's Historic Landmark Hotel, showcasing stories of the old west and mining times.

Itinerary

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Day 1: Good Day Denver

Location: Denver

Accommodation: Hyatt Regency Denver At Colorado Convention Center

Accommodation Name: Hyatt Regency Denver At Colorado Convention Center

Meals Included: Dinner

Welcome to Denver, the Mile High City. Spend the day recovering after your travels or explore Denver at your leisure before joining your Travel Director and fellow travelers this evening for a Welcome Dinner.

Day 2: Traverse The Rocky Mountains

Location: Rocky Mountain National Park

Accommodation: Embassy Suites

Accommodation Name: Embassy Suites

Meals Included: Breakfast

The Rocky Mountains may seem larger than life, but your journey to Rocky Mountain National Park will see you come face to face with this extraordinary mountain landscape which snakes along western North America. Drive along the Trail Ridge Road, a designated national scenic byway and the highest continuous paved highway in America. Spend some time at lunch on your own in Estes Park, a small western town situated at the foothills of Rocky Mountain National Park. This evening you will have free time to explore Boulder on your own.

Day 3: Urban Farming And Picturesque Towns

Location: Glenwood Springs

Accommodation Name: Colorado

Meals Included: Breakfast

Start the day with a guided MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience and visit a local urban community farm that is using organic and sustainable farming practices. The 1-hour tour will dive into topics including regenerative agriculture, land conservation, and food access. Then walk along the cobblestone streets of the picturesque Vail Mountain Resort and feel the fresh mountain air in your lungs. Continue to Glenwood Springs, a resort city known for its hot springs, sitting in the rugged Rocky Mountains, surrounded by the vast White River National Forest. This evening, your Stay with Stories overnight is the historic and iconic Colorado Hotel in the heart of Glenwood Springs. Built in 1893 during the mining boom, Hotel Colorado has undergone a complete renovation, bringing it back to its former glory as the Grande Dame of Glenwood Springs having hosted historical figures including Teddy Roosevelt, William Taft, Molly Brown and now, you.

Day 4: Admire Aspen

Location: Aspen

Accommodation: Hotel Colorado

Accommodation Name: Colorado

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Head up Colorado's Rocky Mountains to Aspen, known for its high-end boutiques, bars and restaurants. Join your Travel Director for a walk through town. Then, Dive Into Culture as you are taken by 4WD jeeps from Aspen up Snowmass Mountain for an exciting wilderness excursion. As you climb Snowmass, you will venture off road, through Aspen groves, past small waterfalls and through open meadows overlooking amazing views of the surrounding valleys. Your Local Experts will explain the history and geology of the area, including how ice age mammal bones, including Saber-toothed Tigers and Woolly Mammoths were found in the reservoir below. Arrive at the historic Burlingmane Cabin, and try your hand at horseshoes, corn hole, or relax and admire the breath-taking views of the mountain ranges while the staff tends to all your needs. Enjoy a delicious lunch hot off the grill with wine and beer, a campfire, live music, and s'mores. Back in Glenwood Springs, the rest of the day is yours to do as you please. Perhaps, visit the renowned Glenwood Hot Springs, the world's largest mineral hot springs pool.

Day 5: Savor The Flavors Of Colorado Connect With Locals

Location: Palisade

Accommodation: Wine Country Inn

Accommodation Name: Wine Country Inn

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Head for Palisade, known as the 'Peach and Wine Capital of Colorado,' perfectly nestled along the Colorado River. Stop at Clark Family Orchards (seasonal) and Connect with Locals as you meet with Clark family members and learn about the history of this farming family. Enjoy a horse-drawn carriage tour of the orchards before sampling fresh in-season produce. You’ll have the chance to bring home some unique salsas, jams and preserves, pickled veggies, grilling sauces and salad dressings. After, we head on to Colorado National Monument, preserving one of the grandest landscapes of the American West. But this treasure is much more than a 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. This evening, stay in the heart of wine country and enjoy a Be My Guest experience dinner at the Maison La Belle Vie Winery. You will be hosted by the owner for an exclusive evening, starting with a tour of the winery and tasting the flavors of their lovingly blended estate-grown reds. Then sit down for a 3-course dinner paired with wines adjacent the 4.5 acre vineyard and al fresco under the Colorado Sky!

Day 6: Journey Through The Rustic Rockies Stays With Stories

Location: Durango

Accommodation: Strater Hotel, Durango

Accommodation Name: Strater Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast

Head up the Western Slopes along the San Juan Skyway Scenic Byway and stop in the must-see town of Ouray, nestled in some of the most rugged and towering peaks of the Rockies, and often referred to as the "Switzerland of America.” From Ouray, ride along the famous "Million Dollar Highway," a designated All-American Byway and one of the state’s most scenic drives with some of Colorado’s most spectacular views as it spirals over Coal Bank Summit, Molas Pass, and Red Mountain Pass. Arrive in the mining town of Silverton, once a bawdy mining town, to board the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad to Durango. Take a trip back in time as this coal-fired, steam-powered train chugs along rails that were originally laid at the end of the 19th century, winding through a wilderness which would be inaccessible by car. This evening, you'll enjoy a night at The Strater Hotel, one of the West’s first iconic hotels and the centerpiece of Durango, your Stays with Story.

Day 7: Unmask Mesa Verde National Park

Location: Mesa Verde National Park

Accommodation: Strater Hotel, Durango

Accommodation Name: Strater Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast

Admire the ancient cliff dwellings of the Ancestral Puebloan people, carved out of the sandstone of the canyon walls, at the UNESCO-listed Mesa Verde National Park. Several hundred of these dwellings, in addition to thousands of known archaeological sites, are preserved in this protected area and you’ll have an opportunity to see several during your visit to the park. Later, indulge in free time in Durango with options of activities, including a fun rafting experience on the Animas River. This evening, explore Downtown Durango's bustling restaurant scene with plenty of options destined to suit any taste palette.

Day 8: Discover The Great Sand Dunes

Location: Great Sand Dunes National Park

Accommodation: Hilton Garden Inn

Accommodation Name: Hilton Garden Inn

Meals Included: Breakfast

Today's highlight is the Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve, a sandbox of epic proportions- 101 square kilometers with the tallest dune towering 229 meters high, making it the largest sand dune in North America. First up, set the scene for the adventure ahead with a start at the excellent Visitor Center with a short film and various exhibits. Your Travel Director will then take you to the best place for picture taking from the bottom of High Dune, a towering sand dune about 198 meters from base to top.  Then learn about this unique geographical phenomenon before heading for Colorado Springs.

Day 9: Traverse To Majestic Pikes Peak

Location: Colorado Springs

Accommodation: Hilton Garden Inn

Accommodation Name: Hilton Garden Inn

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Visit Colorado's spectacular Garden of the Gods, a registered National Natural Landmark boasting dramatic vistas and towering, jagged red-rock formations. You will be joined by a Local Specialist for a guided tour through the gardens. In the afternoon, enjoy the magical town of Manitou Springs before boarding the historic Pikes Peak Cog Railway, the world's highest cog railroad, for an unforgettable trip to the 4,302 meters summit of Pikes Peak. Ride past cascading streams and forests of aspen and pine, enjoy the striking panoramas and learn of Pikes Peak connection with the patriotic song "America the Beautiful.'' Your trip through the Colorado Rockies comes to an end with a local Farewell Dinner where you’ll have the chance to raise a glass and celebrate the adventures we’ve had in Colorado.

Day 10: Roam The Garden Of The Gods

Location: Colorado Springs

Meals Included: Breakfast

Our journey ends today as we say a fond farewell to new friends and depart Colorado Springs for Denver, but not before one last stop at yet another natural wonder of Colorado at the spectacular Garden of the Gods, a registered National Natural Landmark boasting dramatic vistas and towering, jagged red-rock formations. After some free time, you will be joined by a Garden of the Gods Local Specialist for a guided scenic loop drive around the central Garden zone and spurs out to Ridge Road and Balanced Rock for views of North and South Gateway Rocks, Gray Rock, Montezuma Tower, Scotsman Picnic Area, High Point, Siamese Twins, Steamboat Rock, and Balanced Rock where we’ll say our goodbyes to the group. After a final big morning, transfer to Denver International Airport.

What's Included

  • An expert Travel Director and professional Driver

    The tour includes the services of an expert Travel Director and a professional Driver.

  • Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted

    Accommodation is provided in carefully selected hotels that are tried and trusted.

  • All porterage and restaurant gratuities

    Porterage and restaurant gratuities are included in the tour package.

  • All hotel tips, charges and local taxes

    Hotel tips, charges, and local taxes are covered in the tour.

  • Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals

    The tour includes daily breakfast and up to half of your evening meals.

  • Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras

    The tour features must-see sightseeing opportunities and surprise extras.

  • Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing

    Audio headsets are provided for flexible sightseeing experiences.

  • All transport and transfers shown

    All transport and transfers as shown in the itinerary are included.

  • Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)

    Travel is provided in a luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation such as rail journeys.

  • Optional Experiences and free time

    The tour includes optional experiences and free time for personal exploration.

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What's Not Included

  • Lunches and some evening meals

    Lunches and some evening meals are not included in the tour package.

  • Personal expenses

    Personal expenses such as souvenirs and additional activities are not covered.

  • Travel insurance

    Travel insurance is not included and is recommended to be purchased separately.

  • Flights to and from the tour start and end points

    Flights to and from the tour start and end points are not included.

Dining Summary

  • 3 Dinner (D)
  • 9 Breakfast (B)
  • 1 Lunch (L)

Dive Into Culture

  • Aspen: Wind along country roads passing elk habitat and views of the Elk Mountain Range as you journey out of Aspen and up Snowmass Mountain. As you climb, you'll venture off road, past small waterfalls and through open meadows, and aspen groves. When you reach Coney Glade Overlook you'll be able to take in the amazing views as your local experts will explain the history and geology of the area.

Mode of Transport

Travel in luxury with a fully air-conditioned coach equipped with Wi-Fi, ensuring comfort and connectivity. Enjoy scenic rail journeys on iconic trains like the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, and explore the rugged terrain with 4WD jeep excursions.

Accommodation

Experience a variety of accommodations including the Hyatt Regency Denver, Embassy Suites, and the historic Strater Hotel. Enjoy the charm of the Wine Country Inn and the Hilton Garden Inn, each offering unique amenities and comfort throughout your Colorado adventure.

Check out our Q&As

  • What unique experiences are included in the tour?

    The tour includes a guided MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience at a local urban community farm, a 4WD jeep excursion up Snowmass Mountain, and a horse-drawn carriage tour of Clark Family Orchards. Additionally, there is a Be My Guest experience at Maison La Belle Vie Winery with a tour and wine tasting.

  • What kind of transportation is used during the tour?

    The tour includes travel on a luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi, and also features unique transportation experiences such as the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and the Pikes Peak Cog Railway.

  • Are there any historical accommodations included in the tour?

    Yes, the tour includes stays at the historic Hotel Colorado in Glenwood Springs and The Strater Hotel in Durango, both of which are significant for their historical architecture and stories.

  • What kind of meals are provided during the tour?

    The tour provides breakfast daily and up to half of the evening meals. There is also a special Be My Guest dinner at Maison La Belle Vie Winery and a lunch during the Snowmass Mountain excursion.

  • What activities are available at Mesa Verde National Park?

    At Mesa Verde National Park, you will have the opportunity to admire the ancient cliff dwellings of the Ancestral Puebloan people and explore several archaeological sites preserved in the park.

  • What can I expect during the visit to the Great Sand Dunes National Park?

    During the visit to the Great Sand Dunes National Park, you will start at the Visitor Center to learn about the park, then visit the tallest dune for picture taking and learn about the unique geographical features of the area.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    Since 1947

  • 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.

  • Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?

    Yes

Reviews of this operator

Renato Arrieta  

Best tour I joined so far

14-Jan-2023

My first time with Trafalgar and I see no reason why I should not join them again.

Feefo Trusted Reviews
King Ng, Lafayette, California  

Very well planned trip with timely breaks during the coach ride..

08-Nov-2021

It was a well organized tour group and we hit lots of interesting and beautiful scenes. Like our previous trips with Trafalgar, tourists were treated with well manner and professional tour guide/director, making our trip very enjoyable and delightful!

Feefo Trusted Reviews
Trusted Customer  

Best of Egypt

14-Jan-2023

We really did see the best of Egypt and beyond. Our tour guide, Mohammad, guided us through the rich history and the urban and rural life of such a unique and delightful country. We felt very safe and pampered.

Feefo Trusted Reviews
Marshal Daguio  

Wonderful Best Of Turkey

06-Nov-2021

It was my first time with Trafalgar Tour and I had a wonderful trip from day 1 till the last day. The Tour Director, Yocel Atik is very knowledgeable and Excellent. The health director and coach driver are helpful and supportive as well. The hotels selected were comfortable especially Rixos Hotel and Movenpick Hotel. The Best of Turkey is better than I expected.

Feefo Trusted Reviews
Barbara, Canada  

Irish Experience

09-Nov-2021

I am single and travel alone. I always feel secure and well-looked after when I travel with Trafalgar

Feefo Trusted Reviews

Book with Confidence

  • Transfer as credit to Future Tours

    Trafalgar allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform trafalgar, 90 days before departure.

  • Low Deposit

    Trafalgar requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of trafalgar charges.

    Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

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