Utah Holidays
Sample itineraries
Spirit of the Desert: The National Parks of the Southwest - A Tauck Escorted Tour
From £3785
Sunrise to sunset, the spirit of the desert defines the experience. On this tour you’ll hear rich stories and learn about the characters and events that shaped the parks – and you’ll come away with much more than a gallery of scenic pictures. We hope this trip will lead you to a deeper appreciation of the parks, create a lasting memory, and help you feel for yourself the spirit of these special places and people.
EXCLUSIVE to Bon Voyage in the UK-
Book your Tauck Tour through Bon Voyage and enjoy return private car transfers from your home to your local airport*. Your holiday will begin in true style from the moment we collect you from your front door and assist you with your luggage. Sit back, relax and enjoy the stress free journey in a standard of car that will reflect the excellent quality of your Tauck Tour.
Prefer to make your own way? Not a problem, we will reduce the cost of your
tour accordingly.
*our exclusive door to door airport transfers is for journeys from your home
to within 100 miles to your local airport.
Your Tauck Tour Includes:
- Return flights from the UK to Grand Junction, Colorado returning from Las Vegas, Nevada
-
9 nights superior accommodation at sought after locations
- Exclusive to Tauck , filmed vignettes by Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan that tell the stories of the dreamers, visionaries, idealists and unsung heroes whose passions and politics shaped the creation and preservation of the national parks, along with sharing their own personal stories
- Two flightseeing adventures: over the extraordinary reaches of Capitol Reef National Park, and the amazing panoramas from the Grand Canyon to Las Vegas
- Sunrise and sunset spirit-of-the-moment experiences with the Dawn Patrol and Sunset Scouts
- Insights and perspectives by a member of the Navajo Nation in Moab
- Mild-to-moderate whitewater rafting to view the rock towers of the all-important Colorado River
- Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted
- 23 meals, service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage
Spirit of the Desert: The National Parks of the Southwest - A Tauck Escorted Tour
£3785 price per person (based on two travellers sharing)
Prices are based on off-season travel. Please call for your preferred date of departure.
Tour Departure Dates 2012: (subject to availability)
May 17th, 31st
June 14th, 28th
July 12th
August 9th, 23rd
September 6th, 20th
October 4th, 18th
Day 1 Arrive Grand Junction
Tour begins: Red Cliffs Lodge, 6:00 PM. A transfer is included from Grand Junction Regional Airport to Red Cliffs Lodge in Moab, Utah. The “Spirit of the Desert” defies just one single definition. It’s the spirit of the moment, a mood, a feeling harmonious with nature yet transcendent of earth and sky. It moves the senses to create, the mind and soul to soar, adventurers to be bold. And, starting tonight, you will become part of its amazing story. Learn about the days ahead through filmed vignettes by Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan, who explains:
“If you really want to witness the national parks when they’re most beautiful, you want to see them at sunrise and sunset – the times when we typically shot most of the footage for our film. Nothing quite compares to those parts of the day. From 10 am to 3 pm, standing at the rim of the Grand Canyon is certainly awe-inspiring; but standing on the rim as the first rays of light hit the canyon, or when the last rays of a sinking sun move through it, is an experience beyond words.”
Dayton introduces the “Dawn Patrol” and “Sunset Scouts,” explorations that take place at these optimum times of the day; mostly optional, they create a deeper emotional connection to the parks that will forever strengthen your appreciation of them. Following a cocktail reception featuring hot and cold canapés, join us for dinner at the lodge.
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Red Cliffs Lodge, Moab *
(Tours of June 14th & 28th will stay at the Sorrel River Ranch)
Day 2 2,000 Natural Sandstone Arches
The Dawn Patrol has an early start this morning to witness the sun rise in the Windows section of Arches National Park; the first light of day on Turret Arch and Double Arch creates picture-postcard photography. You won’t believe your eyes – over 2,000 arches comprise the world’s largest concentration of natural sandstone arches. National park status didn’t come easily... first declared a national monument in 1929, it took 40+ years to achieve. You’re sure to recognize Delicate Arch, the amazing Balanced Rock, and a variety of sensational geological formations during guided sightseeing before returning to the lodge for lunch. Get set for adventure this afternoon when you depart on a mild-to-moderate whitewater rafting adventure on the Colorado River (class 1 and 2)* – rock towers, colors and light reflect upon the water like mirror images. There is an optional Sunset Patrol, then the evening is spent at the lodge, where you are steeped in the authenticity of an architectural style that defines the West.
Meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Acconnodation: Red Cliffs Lodge, Moab*
( *Tours of June 14th & 28th will stay at the Sorrel River Ranch)
Day 3 A Navajo Perspective & Canyonlands
Outdoor adventure as you please this morning, including horseback riding, with optional activities such as hiking, bicycle riding, or just immersing at the lodge in the great outdoors, surrounded by 2,000 ft. sheer red-rock cliffs. A lecture by a local Navajo connects you to the sacredness of the desert, to the ancient spiritual life that transcends today’s world. Depart Moab for Canyonlands National Park, whose countless canyons, mesas and buttes shadow the Colorado River and the Green River. These rivers divide the park into four districts – today you’ll explore the northern section, Island in the Sky, where among other formations you’ll see a famed pothole arch, Mesa Arch, overlooking Buck Canyon. There is no better way to experience Canyonlands than at sunset – and the setting sun, during a picnic dinner at Dead Horse Point overlooking the U-turn in the Colorado River, is nothing short of inspirational.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Red Cliffs Lodge, Moab *
( *Tours of June 14th & 28th will stay at the Sorrel River Ranch)
Day 4 Capitol Reef National Park, Aerial View
An optional Dawn Patrol this morning precedes a lecture by a local film historian who discusses the multitude of films made in Moab over the past 70 years; get more insights when you visit the Film Museum. Vignettes today include Dayton Duncan’s insights on the best way to access the major sights in the national parks; some are available at a turnout, while others are inaccessible and requireback-country hiking or an aerial overview – and that is exactly how you’ll tour Capitol Reef National Park today. Get amazing views ofthe Waterpocket Fold (sort of a “warp” in the Earth’s crust) that runs nearly 100 miles, with colorful cliffs, twisting canyons, soaring spires, the free-standing monoliths of Cathedral Valley and elegant arches around it. Arrive at Bryce Canyon National Park, home to some of Earth’s more whimsical geologic formations, for the evening.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: The Lodge at Bryce Canyon
Day 5 Favourite Memories of Zion
More of a series of horseshoe “amphitheatres” than a canyon, morning walks reveal millions of pinnacles positively glowing... This afternoon, depart for Zion National Park; upon arrival, Ryan Paul, Curator of Frontier Homestead State Park Museum (formerly Iron Mission State Park), entertains with a lecture on “singaways” and the contribution of the Union Pacific Railroad to the story of the national parks. There is an independent Sunset Scouts opportunity tonight to the historic Virgin River Bridge.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Zion Lodge
Day 6 Zion – “Yosemite Painted in Oils”
Zion’s most striking images are its unique sandstone cliffs that range from towering monoliths to narrow canyons, changing in color from light cream to pink to red. Tour the park, with walks to Weeping Rock and the Court of the Patriarchs. This afternoon you have free time to further explore Zion (there are some fantastic extended hikes) or travel with us to nearby Springdale and an honest-to-goodness ghost town – it was the setting for the famous bicycle scene from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Zion Lodge
Day 7 To Grand Canyon National Park
Leave Zion: and en route to Grand Canyon National Park, get a guided tour of fascinating Pipe Springs National Monument to learn about Paiute Indian and Mormon pioneer history. The drive to the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park is quite scenic; following lunch, explore the rim, including the vistas from Point Imperial.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Grand Canyon Lodge, North Rim
Day 8 Grand Canyon National Park
A talk by Marty Ott, former Superintendent of Zion National Park, takes you "inside" the national park system and explains about life in the park. The day is free to explore "your park" as you please; optional activities include additional ranger talks about history, geology etc., and mule rides. Or you just might want to sit for a spell in the Adirondack chairs on the porch - and gaze at the most fantastic views on Earth.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Grand Canyon Lodge - North Rim
Day 9 For the Benefit of the People...”
A final Dawn Patrol takes in the spectacular sunrise this morning from the North Rim of the canyon. The last of our vignettesfeatures Ken Burns’s reflections about our memories of the national parks – they are not about the “views,” but instead they are the memories of those you shared these views with. Dayton Duncan’s vignette explains how the parks belong to all of us, and how we need to continue to help protect them for future generations. The most fitting farewell to these treasures of the Southwest is a scenic flightseeing trip from Kanab Utah, over the Grand Canyon to Las Vegas for your return home. Join us tonight for a final farewell cocktail party and dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Four Seasons Hotel, Las Vegas *
(* Tours of May 17th and July 12th will stay at the Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas)
Day 10 Journey Home
Tour ends: Las Vegas. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included fromFour Seasons Hotel Las Vegas to Las Vegas McCarran International Airport. Checkout time is 11:00 AM. Allow a minimum of two hours for flight check-in.
Meals: Breakfast
