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Native Southwest & Rocky Mountains

Explore the deserts of the Southwest on this thrilling tour through Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Utah, taking in stunning Monument Valley, Rocky Mountains and the Grand Canyon.

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Saguaro National Park
Tuscon and the Santa Catalina mountains
A Tucson market stall
A deer in Sonora
Saguaro National Park
White Sands National Monument
Stunning White Sands National Monument
On the road to Albuquerque
Adobe houses, Albuquerque
Aerial Tramway at Sandia Peak (optional on day 5)
Santa Fe downtown
Bandelier National Monument
Bandelier National Monument
Fascinating Mesa Verde National Park
Monument Valley
Cathedral Rocks, Sedona

DAY 1: UK - Scottsdale.

Fly to Phoenix where you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel in Scottsdale for the next two nights.

DAY 2: Scottsdale.

Today is at your leisure to explore ?The West?s Most Western Town? and its cultural downtown district renowned for its galleries, shopping and fashion. Visit the Scottsdale Centre for Performing Arts or why not spend some time shopping in the Scottsdale Fashion Square. In the evening take some time to dine at local favourites like Cowboy Ciao, Don & Charlie's or Roaring Fork.

DAY 3: Scottsdale - Sedona - Grand Canyon.

This morning, travel to Sedona, a beautiful town amid stunning Red Rock Country. Browse its eclectic shops, feast on southwestern cuisine or just take in the incredible scenery. Next, pass through the weather sculptured rock formations of Oak Creek Canyon, the San Francisco Mountains and beautiful pine forests to the Grand Canyon, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the world. Overnight stay is inside the park.

DAY 4: Grand Canyon - Monument Valley - Kayenta.

This morning, don't miss the optional 'flight seeing' excursion for a unique bird's eye view over the canyon - it's the thrill of a lifetime! Afterwards, you will enjoy an exhilarating four-wheel drive tour of Monument Valley Tribal Park where you will see the amazing twin 'Mitten' buttes, the impressive 'Totem Pole' and other sights forever associated with the Wild West. The park has been the setting for countless movies, including 'She Wore a Yellow Ribbon' and 'Thelma and Louise'.

DAY 5: Kayenta - Mesa Verde National Park - Durango.

Our first stop today is the wondrous Mesa Verde National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to walk in the footsteps of the ancestral 'Pueblos' and see their mysterious, centuries-old cliff dwellings. Next, the southwestern town of Durango nestled in the Animas River Valley and surrounded by the San Juan Mountains. Founded in 1880 by the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad, this charming town was once run by gunslingers. Tonight, why not explore the historic downtown or stroll along the Animas River.

DAY 6: Durango.

Board the Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge train this morning for a scenic ride through San Juan National Forest. Experience the adventure of travelling by a coal-fired, steam-powered locomotive on the same tracks that miners, cowboys, and settlers of the Old West took more than a century ago. The locomotives used to pull today's train are 1923-1925 vintage. This historic train has been in continuous operation for more than 125 years. The train hugs steep canyon walls as it winds its way through the Rio de las Animas Canyon with vistas of snowcapped peaks. The rest of the day is free in Silverton, once a major mining town owing its name to the bragging statement by an early miner, 'We have no gold, but silver by the ton!'

DAY 7: Durango - Santa Fe.

Today travel to Santa Fe, New Mexico's capital. Tucked beneath the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, the city enjoys more than 300 days of sunshine a year and is praised for its Spanish churches and fine museums, art, culture, cuisine and spas. Upon arrival, time on your own for lunch on the 300 year old Plaza. Afterwards an afternoon of sightseeing begins with an inside visit to the historic Loretto chapel and the 'miraculous staircase.' Enjoy a guided tram tour of the most important historical areas in Santa Fe, including Canyon Road and its colourful art galleries, Santa Fe's Museum Hill area, the historic Santa Fe Plaza and the Palace of the Governors, and other notable locations in the heart of the oldest capital city in the United States. Note: Visits to the Loretto Chapel are dependent on private events when the Chapel is not open to the public.

DAY 8: Santa Fe - Albuquerque.

A late morning departure for Albuquerque, New Mexico's largest city. Framed by stunning mountains and with a captivating mix of Mexican, Spanish and native Indian cultures, this vibrant city bursts with fascinating landmarks. Upon arrival in Albuquerque take a walking tour of Historic Old Town, with its Spanish church, 300 year old Plaza, and fine museums. Your afternoon is free to explore.

DAY 9: Albuquerque - White Sands National Monument - Las Cruces.

This morning travel through the fertile Rio Grande Valley. This afternoon begins at one of the world's great natural wonders, the White Sands National Monument. Here, gigantic sand dunes rise from the Tularosa Basin, creating an awesome 275 square mile scenic canvas. View breathtaking desert landscapes as you travel into the charming town of Las Cruces.

DAY 10: Las Cruces - Tombstone - Tucson.

Today, travel across the deserts to Tombstone, the most authentic Western town left in the United States. Here you can walk the same streets that saw gunfights along Allen Street and witness a re-enactment of the 1881 Shootout at the OK Corral. Stop at Boot Hill Cemetery where many gunfighters who died quickly and violently were buried with their boots on. Continue to Tucson, one of Arizona's most attractive cities.

DAY 11: Tucson - Saguaro National Park - Tucson.

Enjoying a dramatic setting in the Sonora Desert, this fascinating city boasts a colourful Mexican, Spanish and traditional Indian heritage and is surrounded by the soaring Santa Catalina Mountains. Your city tour includes the University of Arizona, downtown, and the 200 year old Mission San Xavier del Bac before heading out into the incredible Saguaro National Park, a reserve famed for its Giant Saguaro cacti. Only found in the Sonoran Desert, these monumental cacti epitomise America's Wild West and can live for 150 years and grow as high as 45 feet.

DAY 12: Tucson - Sonora Desert Museum - Scottsdale.

This morning begins with a visit to the acclaimed Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum where you will admire the diverse flora and fauna. Here there are more than 300 species of live animals and over 1200 species of plants, indigenous to the area and exhibited in their natural habitats. Afterwards we make our way to Phoenix and its world famous Heard Museum, rich in history and one the world's finest for learning about American Indian arts and cultures. Tonight, why not join your travelling companions for an optional dinner and live entertainment at Arizona's legendary cowboy steakhouse, Rustler's Rooste, atop a butte in the foothills of South Mountain.

DAY 13: Scottsdale - UK.

Transfer to Phoenix airport for your flight to the UK, or extend your stay in Scottsdale or Las Vegas.

DAY 14: Home landing in the UK.

Maximum elevation on this tour is 7,400 ft.

Accommodation on Tour

Scottsdale: Doubletree Resort by Hilton Paradise Valley; Grand Canyon: Grand Canyon Park Lodges; Kayenta: Kayenta Monument Valley Inn; Durango: Durango Downtown Inn; Santa Fe: The Sage Inn; Albuquerque: Best Western Rio Grande; Las Cruces: Drury Inn Las Cruces; Tucson: Riverpark Inn.

Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta - 28 Sep & 5 Oct Departures

Be part of the International Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta - the largest in the world! Enjoy the unforgettable Mass Ascension where hundreds of hot air balloons take off, turning the sky into a virtual rainbow of colours.

The Balloon Fiesta will be held on October 6-14 with mass ascensions on Oct 6-7 and 13-14. See our website for details.

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Native Southwest & Rocky Mountains

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