Rails to the Rim & The Vegas Strip

Day 1 – Welcome to Williams! (Wednesday, September 30)

Our journey begins this morning as we travel aboard a deluxe motorcoach towards the Grand Canyon. We’ll make a stop for lunch on your own and a nostalgic stop in the Route 66 town of Seligman, before arriving this evening in Williams, Arizona, a historic Route 66 town known as the “Gateway to the Grand Canyon.” Step into the charm of a bygone era with an overnight stay at the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel, a modern hotel designed to capture the spirit of the early 20th century railroad era. Built in 1995 and expanded in 2000, the hotel was meticulously designed to mimic the architecture and 1900s style of the original Fray Marcos Hotel, a famous "Harvey House" that opened in 1908. Enjoy an included dinner at the hotel’s Fred Harvey Restaurant. (Dinner)

Day 2 – Grand Canyon by Rail (Thursday, October 1)

After an included breakfast, witness a spirited Old West shootout before boarding the historic Grand Canyon Railway. Settled into first-class, authentically restored Pullman Coaches, you'll enjoy oversized reclining seats, expansive windows, and onboard refreshments. Sit back, relax and gaze out the window as the northern Arizona landscape dramatically transforms from high desert to prairie and then lush pine forest, as we ride the rails for approximately 2 hours into Grand Canyon National Park. Upon arrival at Grand Canyon’s authentic 1910 depot, you’ll find yourself gazing at a landscape no postcard can truly capture. Eons of time are represented in the many colors of earth uncovered by millions of years of erosion by the Colorado River. At 277 miles long, 18 miles wide and one mile deep, it’s easy to see why the Grand Canyon is one of the seven wonders of the natural world! Spend the afternoon at your leisure exploring the eateries, galleries and gift shops within Grand Canyon Village and admiring the Canyon’s amazing gorges, buttes and colorful rocks. This afternoon we’ll begin a two-night stay at the Thunderbird Lodge, the contemporary two-story lodge that leans toward "National Park Modern" from the mid-century era. This national park lodge that sits directly on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon in the heart of the Grand Canyon Village has a location that is unsurpassed. While this hotel, located at 7,000 feet of elevation, provides for a nostalgic and memorable experience, it may lack some of the amenities you’re accustomed to at hotels that are not located in the heart of a national park. While your room will be clean and comfortable and include a full bathroom, flat-screen television with satellite TV, refrigerator and coffee maker, it will have limited or no wi-fi and no air conditioner. Rooms at this two-level property are accessed by stairs only as there are no elevators. A canyon-side room with partial views of the Grand Canyon are available (based on availability, and payable at the time of booking) as an optional upgrade for an additional $75 per person/double occupancy; $150 per person/single occupancy. Enjoy the evening at leisure with dinner on your own at the Arizona Steakhouse, the Bright Angel Restaurant or the Harvey House Café, all within walking distance of the hotel. (Breakfast)

Day 3 – Grand Canyon National Park (Friday, October 2)

Enjoy an included breakfast and a morning at leisure to soak in a landscape so vast it defies description. Our lodge is within walking distance of Kolb Studio, Hopi House, Lookout Studio, Verkamp’s Visitor Center and the Rim Trail. Or, for a truly iconic experience, take advantage of an optional Grand Canyon Mule Ride with experienced guides and mules that are selected for their gentle temperament and sure-footedness. The two-hour Canyon Vista Mule Ride which provides breathtaking views while traveling 4 miles along the rim of the canyon is available (based on availability) for an additional $195 per person, payable at the time of booking. All riders must be in good physical condition, not afraid of heights and have a maximum weight limit of 225 pounds fully dressed. All riders must check-in by 6:30 a.m. for the 8:00 a.m. ride (two hours in the saddle) with roundtrip transportation to the barn provided. This afternoon a local guide will board our motorcoach for a scenic drive east along the South Rim. We’ll make photo stops at Grandview Point and Desert View Point, where the Colorado River makes a dramatic 90-degree turn to the west cutting directly into a major uplift on the Colorado Plateau. Here, you can admire the Desert View Watchtower, a 70-foot-tall National Historic Landmark inspired by Ancestral Puebloan architecture. Later, we’ll make a stop at the Grand Canyon Visitor Center before returning to the Grand Canyon Village. This evening enjoy dinner on your own or take advantage of an optional three-course dinner at the historic El Tovar Hotel for an additional $95 p.p. (including a choice of entrée, starter soup or salad, dessert, non-alcoholic beverage, tax and customary gratuity). Considered the premier culinary experience at the Grand Canyon, the El Tovar Dining Room blends "Old West" elegance and modern Southwestern cuisine. Dine on authentic Mimbreno China, a recreation of the pattern originally designed for Santa Fe railroad dining cars in 1936, while admiring walls adorned with murals reflecting the customs of the Hopi, Apache, Mojave, and Navajo tribes. (Breakfast, Optional El Tovar Dinner)

Day 4 – Welcome to Las Vegas! (Saturday, October 3)

This morning we’ll begin the journey from the ancient red rocks of the Grand Canyon to the dazzling neon lights of Las Vegas. We’ll make a stop for lunch on your own along historic Route 66 in Kingman, Arizona before we continue north into Nevada. We’ll travel over the Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge, the highest and longest arched concrete bridge in the Western Hemisphere. Perched 890 feet above the turquoise waters of the Colorado River, it offers a breathtaking (though quick) bird’s eye view of the Hoover Dam. Late this afternoon we’ll arrive in “Sin City” to begin a two-night stay at Treasure Island Las Vegas, the upscale resort perfectly situated in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip. At Treasure Island, you'll have everything at your fingertips, from a 95,000-square-foot casino and a vibrant outdoor pool deck to an array of casual and fine dining venues. Your spacious room features floor-to-ceiling windows and plush pillow-top beds, providing a serene escape from the high-energy atmosphere outside. The remainder of the evening is yours to enjoy at leisure. (Breakfast)

Day 5 – Las Vegas at Leisure & Optional Hoover Dam (Sunday, October 4)

Enjoy an entire day at leisure to experience the electric energy and boundless variety of Las Vegas exactly as you please. Whether you wish to indulge in high-end retail therapy, catch a breathtaking world-class show, or simply relax poolside to take in the vibrant sights and sounds of the Strip, the city’s legendary entertainment is at your doorstep. Our resort serves as the perfect home base for your adventures, seamlessly connected to the opulent Venetian, the Palazzo, and the premier Fashion Show Mall by convenient pedestrian walkways. Furthermore, you are just a short stroll away from the architectural marvels of the Wynn and Encore, as well as the iconic Roman grandeur of Caesars Palace, placing the very best of "Sin City’s" dining, gaming, and sightseeing within effortless reach. Take advantage of an optional 4-hour excursion with your tour director to Hoover Dam for a guided Power Plant Tour for an additional $59 per person (payable at the time of booking; 10 guests minimum). After a 10-minute film about the history of Hoover Dam, a 30-minute walking tour (including elevator rides and walking through original construction tunnels) will allow you to see 8 of the commercial generators in the Nevada Powerhouse. You’ll have an opportunity to visit the viewing platform overlooking a 30-foot diameter penstock and feel the vibration created by water rushing through the pipe. You’ll also have access to the Hoover Dam Visitor Center for a self-guided tour of the exhibits and the observation deck. (Breakfast)

Day 6 – Journey Home (Monday, October 5)

This morning we’ll begin our journey home, making a rest stop and a stop for lunch on your own enroute. We’ll return to our Southern California drop-off points not just with photos, but with a collection of unforgettable experiences that include the nostalgic charm of historic Route 66 towns, the rhythmic “clickety-clack” of the Grand Canyon Railway, and awe-inspiring geologic majesty of the Grand Canyon itself. Combined with the high-energy spectacle and shimmering neon lights of the Las Vegas Strip, the memories of this exploration into the natural and man-made wonders of Arizona and Nevada are sure to stay with you forever. (Breakfast)

While we make every effort to operate our tours as outlined in the itinerary, we ask for your patience, understanding and flexibility and to retain a sense of adventure while traveling with us. Situations may arise that necessitate changes to the itinerary. Should we need to adjust the itinerary either prior to or while on tour, these changes will be communicated to you and only done when absolutely necessary.