Hiking National Parks of the West- Las Vegas to San Francisco

Arrival in Las Vegas. Self transfer from the airport to the hotel in Las Vegas via a shuttle or taxi. Relax this evening in preparation for the great adventure ahead. _____________________________________________________________________________ • Overnight: The STRAT Hotel & Casino or similar

Meals:  Nil

8 AM: Your tour leader will meet you in the hotel for the orientation meeting. Leaving Las Vegas we soon ascend to the Colorado Plateau through the Virgin River Gorge. Today we enjoy the spectacular scenery of Snow Canyon State Park, where we walk over petrified sand dunes. Then we are on to see the impressive collection of dinosaur footprints (entrance included). _____________________________________________________________________________ • Overnight: Ramada by Wyndam or similar - St. George • Drive time: 120 mi / 200 km, or 2 hrs _____________________________________________________________________________ • Lava Tube to Moqui Marbles: 4 mi / 6 km, 2-3 hours, +/-150 m

Meals:  B,L

Zion National Park is an 800 m deep sandstone canyon carved by the mighty Virgin River. The scenery is stunning. Zion is famous for its iconic hikes through many slot canyons. We have all day to explore this fabulous park. You have the option to enjoy a hike to Emerald Pools, where water cascades into shaded pools. Or, maybe you are interested in wading through the Narrows? Whatever you choose, you will not be disappointed. If you finish hiking early, there is free time to explore the charming town of Springdale. _____________________________________________________________________________ • Overnight: Hampton Inn or similar, Springdale area • Drive time: 41 mi / 66 km, or 1 hr _____________________________________________________________________________ • Emerald Pools: 3 mi / 5 km, 2-3 hrs, +/-200 m

Meals:  B,L

Leaving our hotel early, we soon reach Bryce Canyon National Park. For many, Bryce is the most beautiful of the American National Parks. Long ago, tectonic forces uplifted an ancient lakebed, exposing the soft sandstone deposit to the elements. Over time, the frost and wind erosion continued to chisel them and created a truly wonderful display of rocks. Marvel at Thor's Hammer, sandstone arches and the expansiveness of the park. Hiking paths wind through radiant red and pink towers of stone, known as Hoodoos, which contrast beautifully with blue skies and green pines. At sundown, be awed by an unforgettable color play on the formations. Hike with the group on the Navajo and Queens Garden Trail. In the summer, opt for a Western Cowboy dinner show back in Bryce Canyon City (not included). _____________________________________________________________________________ • Overnight: Best Western Plus - Ruby's Inn or similar • Drive time: 140 mi / 220 km, or 2.5 hrs _____________________________________________________________________________ • Queens Garden and Navajo Loop: 3 mi/5 km, 3 hrs, +/-200 m • Rim walk, Bryce Point to Sunset: 2 mi/4 km, 1 hr, +/-50 m

Meals:  B,L

We depart this morning for Lake Powell. Once dammed, the Colorado River created a giant lake with 3000 km of shoreline. Deep red sandstone walls reflect in the deep blue waters, offering unforgettable images. The area is famous for its guided tours of Antelope Canyon, which is included in the cost of the trip and is one the most photographed slot canyons in the world. Our tour is followed by a short hike out to Horseshoe Bend. Walk around this natural wonder where the Colorado River meanders in a tight, horseshoe-shaped curve around a sandstone escarpment. This iconic viewpoint offers stunning vistas of the river’s emerald, green waters contrasted against the red rock canyon. Late afternoon we’ll make our way to our accommodations and look forward to another day of exploration after a restful evening. _____________________________________________________________________________ • Overnight: Clarion Inn Page or similar - Lake Powell • Drive time: 140 mi / 220 km, or 2.5 hrs _____________________________________________________________________________ • Horseshoe Bend: 1.5 mi/2.4 km, 45 min, +/-40 m

Meals:  B,L

Today we head to the Hollywood famous destination of Monument Valley. Giant red towers of stone rise out of the valley and offer fantastic photographic motifs. For decades, this area has been used as a backdrop for the cameras of Hollywood films, including Forrest Gump. Hit the ground running on an unforgettable Jeep tour through the valley led by the local Navajo Indians, where secluded views of the panoramas of Ear of the Wind and Big Hogan await. This tour is included in the price of your trip. In the afternoon, a 2.5 hr trip brings us to the Grand Canyon via its eastern entrance. We take the time to enjoy a few sublime viewpoints before heading to our hotel, just south of the park entrance. _____________________________________________________________________________ • Overnight: The Red Feather Lodge or Maswik Lodge • Drive time: 300 mi / 450 km, or 4.5 hrs

Meals:  B,L

A full day for you to explore the Grand Canyon independently and enjoy its unforgettable views at your own pace. Stretching 277 miles long, up to 18 miles wide, and over a mile deep, the canyon is far too vast to experience all at once, but today’s rim walk offers an unforgettable introduction to its scale, color, and ever-changing light. Enjoy the day exploring on your own by taking the shuttle to Hermit’s Rest, the westernmost point along the South Rim’s Hermit Road corridor, then walk back toward Grand Canyon Village along one of the most scenic stretches of the rim. Along the way, the trail reveals sweeping canyon views, dramatic overlooks, layered rock formations, and quiet moments away from the busiest viewpoints. Guests who prefer a shorter walk are welcome to hop on the shuttle earlier along the route, making this a flexible rim experience that can be adjusted for comfort, pace, and energy level. For those searching for a little excitement, helicopter tours, bike rentals and an IMAX theater (to be paid locally, not included in tour package) are available as well. Please note that today is designed as an independent day, so guide services, transportation, optional activities and excursions are not included in the tour package. _____________________________________________________________________________ • Overnight: The Red Feather Lodge Or Maswik Lodge _____________________________________________________________________________ • Activity: Self-Guided Hike up to 7.9 mi / 12.7 km; Elevation gain: 650 ft / 198 m

Meals:  B,L

Today we depart Grand Canyon National Park and begin our journey to Las Vegas along iconic stretches of historic Route 66, one of America’s most legendary highways. Before leaving the canyon area, there may be time for an optional helicopter flight over the Grand Canyon (optional and not included), offering a memorable final perspective on this vast landscape. We then continue west through wide-open desert scenery and classic roadside Americana, with a stop in Seligman to browse for Route 66 memorabilia and soak up the nostalgic atmosphere of this beloved highway. Today concludes with one night in Las Vegas, the city that never sleeps. _____________________________________________________________________________ • Overnight: The STRAT Hotel & Casino or similar • Drive time: ~270 mi / 440 m, or 4 hrs

Meals:  B,L

The environment of Death Valley stands in stark contrast to the red deserts of Utah and the green mountains of Yosemite we will see later this week. More than 3.3 million acres of spectacular desert make up the scenery, along with rare desert wildlife, complex geology, undisturbed wilderness and sites of historical interest abound. This area is known for extreme weather conditions and temperatures, and is one of the hottest places on Earth. In summer, temperatures can reach over 49°C. Additionally, being in a rift valley, Death Valley is also the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere at 86 m below sea level. We have time to explore its golden sand dunes, its myriad of brackish pools and springs, as well as the fascinating rock erosion formations of Zabriskie Point. If temperatures allow, we will even hike to the Badlands. Then we drive up into California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains, where peaks soar above 14,000 feet towards our hotel located in the renowned ski resort of Mammoth Lakes. _____________________________________________________________________________ • Overnight: Mammoth Mountain Inn or similar • Drive time: 330 mi / 530 km, or 6 hrs _____________________________________________________________________________ • Badlands Loop: 2.6 mi / 4.2 km, 1-2 hrs, +/-120 m _____________________________________________________________________________ **Note: Trips starting before mid-June or past late October detour via Sonora Pass due to snow closure on Tioga Pass Road in Yosemite National Park. These dates will stay at an alternative hotel and visit more of Yosemite Valley.

Meals:  B,L

After breakfast, we jump in the car and head towards Mono, Lake, one of North America's oldest lakes, famous for its white Tufa towers formed by hot springs. As we make our way up and over Tioga Pass, heading towards Yosemite Valley, we stop once more to enjoy Tuolumne Meadow. Season and weather permitting, you may hike and scramble to the top of Lembert dome, offering expansive views over the meadows below. The day will conclude at the Yosemite View Lodge, just outside of the entrance into Yosemite Valley, along the Merced River. _____________________________________________________________________________ • Overnight: Yosemite View Lodge or similar • Drive time: 120 mi / 200 km, or 2 hrs _____________________________________________________________________________ Lembert Dome Loop: 3.8 mi / 6.1 km, 2-3 hrs, +/-200 m

Meals:  B,L

Yosemite National Park, established in 1890, encompasses stunning mountain vistas and valleys filled with meadows and forests surrounded by dramatic cliffs and waterfalls. Today, we continue exploring more of Yosemite. In the morning, our group takes a leisurely drive to Glacier Point (season and weather permitting), one of the park’s most spectacular viewpoints, with sweeping views over Yosemite Valley and the iconic face of Half Dome. From here, we set out on a walk to Sentinel Dome and Taft Point, combining panoramic alpine scenery with dramatic overlooks high above the valley floor. Sentinel Dome rewards hikers with one of the finest 360-degree views in the park, while Taft Point’s sheer cliffs and famous fissures offer a breathtaking perspective over Yosemite Valley far below. After a day immersed in Yosemite’s unforgettable scenery, we return to our lodge along the river. _____________________________________________________________________________ • Overnight: Yosemite View Lodge or similar _____________________________________________________________________________ • Sentinel Dome & Taft Point Loop: 7.2 mi / 11.5 km, 4-5 hrs, +/-575 m

Meals:  B,L

We spend the morning walking among the towering giants of the Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias, where some of the world’s largest and oldest trees rise high above the forest floor. We then continue to Columbia State Historic Park to explore the living history town and Gold Rush heritage of the Sierra foothills. Leaving the mountains behind, we travel west to San Francisco, a city perched on coastal cliffs beside the Pacific Ocean. Arriving in the early evening, you’ll have time to settle into the lively Fisherman’s Wharf district, enjoy dinner along the waterfront, or take an evening stroll by the bay. _____________________________________________________________________________ • Overnight: Hotel Caza Fisherman's Wharf or similar • Drive time: 215 miles / 350 km, or 5.5 hrs

Meals:  B,L

We'll spend our final day exploring what the locals call, SF. This vibrant city is known for its iconic landmarks, diverse neighborhoods, and breathtaking views. You’ll have the opportunity to explore the bustling waterfront at Fisherman’s Wharf, marvel at the Golden Gate Bridge, and wander through the historic streets of Chinatown. No visit is complete without a ride on the city's famous cable cars, offering a unique way to experience the steep hills and stunning skyline. Cable Car passes are included as part of the trip. From the art-filled alleys of the Mission District to the serene beauty of Golden Gate Park, you’re certain to find many hidden treasures throughout this fabulous metropolis. In the afternoon jump on board a harbor boat for a tour of Alcatraz, which is also included in your trip price. _____________________________________________________________________________ • Overnight: Hotel Caza Fisherman's Wharf or similar _____________________________________________________________________________ City tour: 3-4 mi / 5-7 km, 3-4 hrs, +/-100 m

Meals:  B,L

Today concludes your tour of the American Southwest. Departure is on your own today. You have a few transportation options to San Francisco International Airport (SFO), each option offers a different balance of convenience, cost, and travel time, you can choose the one that best suits your needs.

Meals:  B