Itinerary
- Day 1
Phoenix
You'll land in Phoenix with time to settle in after your flight. There's nothing scheduled until this evening when you'll meet your Travel Director and the rest of the group for a Welcome Reception. Use the afternoon to rest up and get oriented before things kick off.
- Meals
- Welcome Reception
Included Activities
- Welcome Reception
- Day 2
Oak Creek Canyon - Grand Canyon
The trip begins in Sedona, where red-rock buttes surround the town. You'll drive through Oak Creek Canyon and see the rocky red cliffs along the way. After that, you head to Grand Canyon National Park where a Local Specialist explains the geological history. If you want, there's an option to stay at one of the lodges right inside the park for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Sedona, artists' enclave
- Drive through Oak Creek Canyon
- Visit Grand Canyon National Park
- Geological presentation by Local Specialist at South Rim
Optional Activities
- Overnight at Grand Canyon lodge
Landmarks Sedona Oak Creek Canyon Grand Canyon National Park - Day 3
Horseshoe Bend
Start early with an optional helicopter or plane tour over the Grand Canyon. Later, you'll drive along the South Rim on Desert View Drive and stop at the Pueblo-style Watchtower and the Desert View Inter-tribal Heritage Center. Around lunch, grab traditional Native American fry bread at Cameron Trading Post. Then walk to Horseshoe Bend overlook in Glen Canyon. In the evening, there's an optional show at Red Heritage, a Navajo-owned performing arts theater.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Scenic drive - Grand Canyon Desert View Drive
- Visit Desert View Pueblo-style Watchtower
- Visit Desert View Inter-tribal Heritage Center
- Stop at Cameron Trading Post
- Walk to Horseshoe Bend rim
Optional Activities
- Flightseeing over the Grand Canyon
- Sample traditional Native American fry bread at Cameron Trading Post
- Make Travel Matter Experience at Red Heritage - Navajo Performing Arts Theater with culturally inspired food and show
Landmarks Grand Canyon South Rim Desert View Watchtower Cameron Trading Post Horseshoe Bend - Day 4
Moab
Head out from Page through Navajo Tribal Lands to Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. You'll board a 4x4 vehicle driven by a Navajo Nation member who navigates the iconic red valley landscape. Lunch is a chicken and steak barbeque prepared by a tribal member who talks about Dineh culture. After that, drive to Moab with views of the San Juan River and the surrounding mountains. Finish the day with a Be My Guest dinner at Canyon Steak and Waffle hosted by the owner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Outdoor chicken and steak barbeque prepared by Navajo tribe member), Dinner (Be My Guest experience at Canyon Steak and Waffle hosted by owner)
Included Activities
- Drive through Navajo Tribal Lands
- 4x4 guided tour of Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park with Navajo Nation guide
- Outdoor chicken and steak barbeque lunch prepared by Navajo tribe member
- Be My Guest dinner at Canyon Steak and Waffle with restaurant owner Shawn Welch
Landmarks Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park San Juan River Mexican Hat - Day 5
Canyonlands National Park
Spend time in Arches National Park seeing how wind and rain shaped the rock formations. You'll have plenty of chances to photograph the landscape. Later, move on to Canyonlands National Park to see more of the natural scenery and connect with the landscape.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Arches National Park
- Visit Canyonlands National Park
Landmarks Arches National Park Canyonlands National Park Island in the Sky - Day 6
Durango
Arrive at Mesa Verde National Park and explore the sandstone dwellings built by the Ancestral Puebloan people. By evening, you'll check into the historic Strater Hotel in Durango. The night is yours to walk around town and see what's there.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Mesa Verde National Park
- Explore Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings
Landmarks Mesa Verde National Park Cliff Palace - Day 7
Durango
You have the day to yourself in Durango. There are several options if you want to do something: take a scenic drive on the Million Dollar Highway toward Ouray and Silverton, ride a coal-fired narrow-gauge train through the mountains, or go white-water rafting on the Animas River. It's your call what appeals to you.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Scenic drive along Million Dollar Highway through Ouray and Silverton
- Ride aboard coal-fired, steam-powered narrow-gauge train (booked independently)
- White-water rafting trip on the Animas River
Landmarks Million Dollar Highway Ouray Silverton Animas River - Day 8
Santa Fe
Travel along the High Road, which is the Santa Fe Scenic Byway. The route has a lot of history, art, and cultural sites. You'll have a traditional feast day meal at Pojoaque Pueblo Seniors Center with community members preparing traditional stews and desserts. People from the Pueblo of Nambe will tell you about what these feast days mean. Afterward, you'll reach your hotel, which is just a couple blocks from Santa Fe's Historic Plaza.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Traditional Nambe Pueblo feast day meal with traditional stews and desserts prepared by Pueblo of Nambe community members)
Included Activities
- Drive along High Road - Santa Fe Scenic Byway
- Traditional Nambe Pueblo feast day meal at Pojoaque Pueblo Seniors Center with community members
Landmarks High Road Scenic Byway Nambe Pueblo Santa Fe Historic Plaza - Day 9
Santa Fe
Visit Taos Pueblo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that people have lived in continuously for 1,000 years. A Taos tribal resident will guide you through this living Native American community with its distinctive multi-storied adobe buildings. You'll also see the Allan Houser Sculpture Garden with sculptures and paintings of various Indigenous tribes. Later, there's free time to explore on your own. The day finishes with a farewell dinner with the group.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Farewell dinner)
Included Activities
- Visit Taos Pueblo with Taos tribal resident guide
- Explore Taos Pueblo adobe dwellings and community
- Visit Allan Houser Sculpture Garden
- Explore Taos city sights
- Farewell dinner
Landmarks Taos Pueblo Allan Houser Sculpture Garden - Day 10
Santa Fe Departure
Your trip through the Southwest comes to an end. You'll say goodbye to the group and head to Santa Fe Airport on your own to fly home.
