Itinerary
- Day 1
Albuquerque
You'll arrive in Albuquerque and get settled at your hotel. If you're interested, wander through Old Town Albuquerque on your own to get a feel for the area before meeting your Travel Director and group for dinner at the hotel later that evening.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner at your hotel)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Sheraton Albuquerque Uptown)
Optional Activities
- Explore Old Town Albuquerque
- Day 2
Albuquerque
Start early to catch hundreds of colorful balloons launching into the sky at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. Later, you'll attend a private Chasers' Club event to see the Balloon Glow, then join your group for dinner afterward.
- Meals
- Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Sheraton Albuquerque Uptown)
Included Activities
- Watch hundreds of colourful balloons take to the sky at Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta
- Attend exclusive and private Chasers' Club to view the Balloon Glow
- Dinner with Travel Director and fellow travellers
Landmarks Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta - Day 3
Albuquerque
Check out centuries-old petroglyphs carved by Ancestral Puebloans and early Spanish settlers at Petroglyph National Monument. After that, head to the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center to learn about pueblo history from ancient times through today. Your afternoon is free to relax, or you can choose to hike up Sandia Peak for views of the desert landscape (75°F/24°C).
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Sheraton Albuquerque Uptown)
Included Activities
- Visit Petroglyph National Monument to see designs and symbols carved onto volcanic rocks by Ancestral Puebloans and early Spanish settlers
- Visit Indian Pueblo Cultural Center to explore pueblo history through museum and art galleries
Optional Activities
- Optional visit to Sandia Peak Tramway to ascend one of America's most stunning urban peaks with 11,000 square mile panoramic view
Landmarks Petroglyph National Monument Indian Pueblo Cultural Center Sandia Peak Tramway - Day 4
Chaco Canyon
Travel to Chaco Canyon for a field trip with your Local Specialist to Pueblo Bonito, an important Great House in Ancestral Puebloan culture. If road conditions aren't safe, your Travel Director will arrange visits to other historically significant sites instead. You'll stay overnight at the historic El Rancho Hotel, which housed Western film actors in the 1930s-40s.
- Meals
- Lunch (Picnic lunch with a Local Specialist at Chaco Canyon National Historic Park)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (El Rancho Hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit Chaco Culture National Historical Park and Pueblo Bonito "Great House" with Local Specialist
Landmarks Chaco Culture National Historical Park Pueblo Bonito 
- Day 5
Canyon de Chelly
Stop at Window Rock, capital of the Navajo Nation, to see the geological formation and the World War II Navajo Code Talkers' Memorial. Then visit Hubbell Trading Post to learn about Navajo rug weaving and silversmithing. After checking out the Canyon de Chelly Visitor Center, you'll board a 6x6 vehicle with your certified Navajo Local Specialist to explore the canyons with their sandstone cliffs, petroglyphs, and ruins.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Holiday Inn Canyon de Chelly)
Included Activities
- Visit Window Rock to see the geologic formation and World War II Navajo Code Talkers' Memorial
- Visit Hubbell Trading Post National Historical Site to learn about Navajo and settler trading and Lorenzo Hubbell's influence on Navajo rug weaving and silversmithing
- Visit Canyon de Chelly Visitor Center
- Board 6X6 vehicle with certified Navajo Local Specialist to explore Canyon de Chelly with sandstone cliffs, canyons, pictographs, petroglyphs and ruins
Landmarks Window Rock World War II Navajo Code Talkers' Memorial Hubbell Trading Post National Historical Site Canyon de Chelly National Monument 
- Day 6
Monument Valley
Visit White House Overlook to see ancient cliff dwellings built by Ancestral Puebloans, and encounter Spider Rock while hearing the legend of Spider Woman. Then enter Monument Valley National Tribal Park with your Navajo Local Specialist for a private guided excursion on backroads and trails. You'll learn about the Diné people, traditional structures including summer shelters, underground homes, and sweat houses.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Goulding's Lodge)
Included Activities
- View White House Overlook to see mastery of Ancient Puebloan construction built into sandstone cliff
- See Spider Rock and hear the legend of the mythical Spider Woman
- Enter Monument Valley National Tribal Park
- Private guided excursion of Monument Valley with Navajo Local Specialist exploring backroads and trails unavailable to the public
Landmarks White House Overlook Spider Rock Monument Valley National Tribal Park 
- Day 7
Durango
See the intriguing prehistoric settlement at Hovenweep National Monument. Travel through Canyons of the Ancients National Monument and stop at the Canyon of the Ancients Visitor Center, Southwest Colorado's main archaeological museum. Explore Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde National Park, including Spruce Tree House. You'll stay overnight at the historic Strater Hotel in Durango.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Strater Hotel), Hotel (Strater)
Included Activities
- Visit Hovenweep National Monument
- Travel through Canyons of the Ancients National Monument
- Visit Canyon of the Ancients Visitor Center and Museum
- View Ancestral Puebloan archaeological sites at Mesa Verde National Park
- See Spruce Tree House from the Chapin Mesa Archaeological Museum
Landmarks Hovenweep National Monument Canyons of the Ancients National Monument Canyon of the Ancients Visitor Center Mesa Verde National Park Spruce Tree House 
- Day 8
Durango
Spend the day exploring historic Durango on your own. You can optionally take a scenic drive on Colorado's Million Dollar Highway from Ouray to Silverton, passing Red Mountain Pass at over 11,000 feet with great views. Explore Silverton and have lunch, then either return to Durango by car or ride back on the historic Silverton narrow gauge steam train. White water rafting on the Animas River is also available for those interested.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Strater Hotel), Hotel (Strater)
Optional Activities
- Scenic drive on Colorado's Million Dollar Highway (U.S. Route 550) from Ouray to Silverton with stops at Red Mountain Pass at over 11,000 ft
- Explore and have lunch in Silverton
- Book a ride back on the historic Silverton narrow gauge steam train, a coal-fired, steam-powered train on rails originally laid at the end of the 19th century through spectacular wilderness (dependent on availability and season)
- White water rafting trip on the Animas River
Landmarks Durango Ouray Silverton Red Mountain Pass Animas River - Day 9
Taos
Travel through the mountains into New Mexico, arriving at the Rio Grande Gorge where the river flows through a tectonic chasm. Cross the Rio Grande Bridge, a steel arch bridge standing roughly 600 feet above the river. In the afternoon, explore Taos Plaza, an artist community with 65 galleries, shops and restaurants. Tour Taos Pueblo, a World Heritage Center and National Historic Landmark built roughly 1,000 years ago, with a Local Specialist sharing insights about pueblo life today.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Don Fernando De Taos, Tapestry Collection by Hilton)
Included Activities
- View Rio Grande Gorge geological feature
- Cross Rio Grande Bridge, a steel arch bridge roughly 600 feet above the Rio Grande
- Explore Taos Plaza, a Historical Landmark and artist colony in the Taos Historic District
- Tour Taos Pueblo with Local Specialist to learn about iconic multi-storied adobe buildings built roughly 1,000 years ago and current pueblo life
Landmarks Rio Grande Gorge Rio Grande Bridge Taos Plaza Taos Pueblo - Day 10
Santa Fe
Travel the High Road from Taos to Santa Fe with stops along the way. Visit Trujillo's weaving shop to learn about eighth-generation handwoven techniques in the Chimayo tradition. Arrive at Nambe Village, an active indigenous community at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, for a traditional feast day meal with community elders at Pojoaque Pueblo Seniors Center. Then continue to Bandelier National Monument to explore 1,000-year-old cliff dwellings.
- Meals
- Lunch (Traditional feast day meal prepared by elders at Nambe Village)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hilton Santa Fe Historic Plaza)
Included Activities
- Travel the High Road from Taos to Santa Fe
- Visit Trujillo's weaving shop to learn first-hand about eighth-generation handwoven weaving techniques
- Visit Nambe Village for traditional feast day meal prepared by elders at Pojoaque Pueblo Seniors Center
- Visit Bandelier National Monument to explore cliff dwellings designated as UNESCO Creative Cities Network, City of Design and City of Crafts and Folk Art
Landmarks Trujillo's Weaving Shop Nambe Village Pojoaque Pueblo Seniors Center Bandelier National Monument Sangre de Cristo Mountains Rio Grande River 
- Day 11
Santa Fe
Meet Emigdio Ballon, the agricultural director at Tesuque Pueblo Community Farm, to learn how the indigenous community is working toward food sovereignty by preserving heirloom seeds and growing their own food. Spend the rest of your day exploring downtown Santa Fe before your Farewell Dinner at the hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Farewell Dinner at your hotel)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hilton Santa Fe Historic Plaza)
Included Activities
- Meet Emigdio Ballon at Tesuque Pueblo Community Farm to learn about Indigenous community and their efforts to achieve food sovereignty by preserving heirloom seeds and growing food
Optional Activities
- Explore downtown Santa Fe
Landmarks Tesuque Pueblo Community Farm - Day 12
Departure
Your journey through the desert landscape comes to an end. You'll say goodbye to the friends you've made on this trip and head home with plenty of new memories.
- Meals
- Breakfast
