Utah's Canyons, Colors & Capitol Reef

Day 1 – Welcome to Las Vegas

We set off from our departure points this morning onboard a deluxe motorcoach and travel through the expansive Mohave Desert to Las Vegas, making a rest stop and a stop for lunch on your own along the way. Later this afternoon we’ll arrive at the Treasure Island Hotel & Casino, one of the most distinctive and friendly resort destinations in Las Vegas. This exciting, upscale resort is located in the heart of the Las Vegas “Strip” and features a number of restaurants, bars and lounges, a heated tropical outdoor pool and spa, a 95,000 square foot casino and recently upgraded rooms with floor- to-ceiling windows. Enjoy the evening at leisure with many resorts within walking distance including Wynn, Encore, Venetian, Pallazo, Bellagio, Caesar’s Palace and Mirage.

Day 2 – Zion National Park

Following an included breakfast, we’ll travel north into southern Utah and continue through the spectacular Virgin River Gorge and the colorful mesas of Utah’s “Dixie Country.” This afternoon, we’ll arrive in Zion National Park, featuring a dramatic landscape of sculptured canyons and soaring cliffs. We’ll stop at the Zion Visitor Center where we’ll board the Zion Canyon Shuttle and continue into Zion Canyon – an incredible slot canyon that is 15 miles long and up to 2,640 feet deep. As we travel along Zion Canyon Scenic Drive, we’ll marvel at massive sandstone cliffs of cream, pink, and red that soar into a brilliant blue sky. Enjoy time at leisure for lunch on your own at the Zion Park Lodge and a stop at the Temple of Sinawava where we can take a short stroll along the banks of the Virgin River. This evening we’ll check into our hotel located just outside the park’s entrance, with the balance of the evening at leisure and dinner on your own at a nearby restaurant. (Breakfast)

Day 3 – Zion & Bryce National Parks, Escalante-Grand Staircase

Enjoy an included breakfast this morning before we re-enter Zion National Park and travel the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway – one of the most awe-inspiring drives in all of America. This mind-blowing road between Zion Canyon and Mount Carmel features swirling, otherworldly rock formations, mounds, towers, hoodoos, and hilltops. Layered strata of rusty red, orange, cream, yellow and brown color the landscape that is dotted with desert pines, sagebrush, and wildflowers. We’ll travel through the historic Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel, a true engineering marvel that is over 5,000 feet long and rather narrow, allowing our motorcoach to just-barely fit. We’ll continue through Zion’s colorful Checkerboard Mesa – sandstone hills with an unusual crack pattern that resemble a grid much like you would see on a checkerboard. Later this morning we’ll arrive at Bryce Canyon National Park (elevation 8,000 feet). We’ll stop at the Visitor Center, enjoy an included picnic lunch and visit several viewpoints to admire the spectacular geologic formations and brilliant colors. Gazing down upon Bryce Amphitheater we’ll see thousands of red, orange, and white “hoodoos” (irregular columns of rock) – in fact, Bryce Canyon National Park is home to the largest concentration of hoodoos found anywhere on Earth. The towering columns, narrow fins, and natural bridges seem to deny all reason or explanation, leaving our jaws agape in wondrous incredulity. We continue north this afternoon along Utah’s incredible Scenic Byway 12 through Escalante-Grand Staircase National Monument. Consistently rated one of the most scenic drives in North America, along the way we’ll marvel at the jagged red-rock formations, deep slot canyons, green alpine forests, and seemingly endless slick rock. We arrive in Torrey this evening and begin a two-night stay with views of Capitol Reef National Park’s red rocks from our private balconies. Enjoy the balance of the evening at leisure with dinner on your own at a nearby restaurant. (Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 4 – Capitol Reef National Park, Goblin Valley State Park

After an included breakfast we’ll enter Capitol Reef National Park – one of the least visited and most remote national parks, it is a hidden treasure filled with cliffs, canyons, domes, and bridges. The park gets its name from the white domes of Navajo Sandstone that resemble capitol building domes, and the rocky cliffs which are a barrier to travel, much like a coral reef. This afternoon we arrive at Goblin Valley State Park to enjoy an included picnic lunch and time to explore this remote landscape covered with thousands of strange “mushroom” or “goblin” like formations that defy description. We return to Torrey and enjoy an included dinner at a locals’ favorite. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner )

Day 5 – Cedar Breaks National Monument, Mesquite

Following an included breakfast, we’ll travel south along scenic byways through Utah’s “Color Country.” We’ll enjoy an included lunch in Panguitch at a locals’ favorite before we continue to Cedar Breaks National Monument. Located atop the Colorado Plateau at over 10,000 feet in elevation, the views here are absolutely breathtaking. Millions of years of sedimentation and erosion continue to carve out a giant amphitheater that is three miles across and more than 2,000 feet deep. This time of year presents a great opportunity to view fall foliage – in fact Cedar Breaks is consistently rated as a top location to experience fall colors in the United States. We continue south through the Virgin River Gorge to the desert oasis of Mesquite, Nevada for an overnight stay at a resort featuring upgraded hotel rooms and a separate casino with non-stop gaming action. Enjoy the balance of the evening at leisure with dinner on your own at the resort restaurant. (Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 6 – Valley of Fire State Park, Journey Home

Following an included breakfast, we’ll travel south and enter Valley of Fire State Park which gets its name from the spectacular bright red Aztec sandstone formations that appear to be on fire when reflecting the sun’s rays. Since 300 BCE, Valley of Fire has been home to numerous prehistoric civilizations including the Anasazi. You’ll see proof of this in the 3,000-year-old petroglyphs visible near where we’ll enjoy an included picnic lunch. We continue south to Southern California, returning to our drop-off points this evening with fond memories of our time exploring southern Utah.(Breakfast, Lunch)

While we make every effort to operate our tours as outlined in the itinerary, we ask for your understanding, flexibility and to retain a sense of adventure while traveling with us. While these have always been necessary traits for travelers, they are needed now more than ever! 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. Now more than ever, our 30 years of knowledge and tour planning experience helps us navigate a unique travel environment on your behalf. You can put your trust in us knowing we are experts in travel planning and will do everything possible to provide wonderful new experiences and create amazing new memories for our guests while on the road with us.