Top 10 United States Tours Departing October 2023

Everyone traveling on an Intrepid trip must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of carriage. 

All travelers are required to produce: 

• Proof of COVID-19 vaccination
• All children aged 5 to 17 years old must provide proof of vaccination (if eligible), proof of recovery or a negative COVID-19 test.
• If you are unable to be vaccinated for medical reasons, you may apply for an exemption. Exemptions will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. To apply, you must provide a medical certificate from a medical professional. 

In all cases, you must be fully inoculated. This means you must receive the full dosage of the COVID-19 vaccine and allow enough time for immunity to take effect. Each COVID-19 vaccine has different dosages and timeframes for inoculation, so please check the relevant medical advice associated with your vaccine.

Learn more about Intrepid's COVID-19 proof of vaccination policy

Getting to California is relatively easy as there are a variety of options available including flying, driving, and taking public transport. You can fly into both big airports, such as LAX (Los Angeles), or small airports like Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) depending on which part of California you're traveling in. You can also drive to California if you're from a neighboring state (or want to go on an epic road trip) or you can take a bus or a train with several routes to all the popular destinations. 

Read more about getting to California

Driving is the most time-efficient and popular way of getting around Los Angeles due to the city's size. While there is public transportation in the form of a bus network and the local metro, it's sometimes unreliable and can be quite time-consuming. Los Angeles is known for its crazy traffic situations, especially during peak periods of the day, so make sure you give yourself enough time to get around. 

Read more about getting around Los Angeles

The time it takes to travel from California to Utah depends on how you're traveling and where in California you're traveling from. Flying is by far the quickest way to travel to Utah with a flight between LAX and SLC (Salt Lake City Airport) taking just under 2 hours. Alternatively, you can drive between the two states for an epic road trip that's 12 hours long. If you were to take public transport between the two states it would be longer still but is a relatively cheap option. 

Click to read more about how far Utah is from California

Yes, it does snow during winter in Salt Lake City. Snow is expected to fall between November and March but it's not unheard of to experience snowfall as early as October or as late as April. Salt Lake City is a great place to participate in winter activities such as skiing, snowboarding, and bobsledding, with neighboring mountains close to the city itself. 

Read more about snow in Salt Lake City

Due to New Orleans' geographical location, the weather can vary significantly during the year. Being near large bodies of water, such as the Mississippi River, the weather in New Orleans is often wet in the colder months and humid in spring and summer. There are lots of sunny days during June, July, and August with the average temperature being a warm 78°F. However, the weather can be quite unpredictable at times so make sure you're checking weather forecasts before you travel so you're prepared for what to expect. 

Read more about the weather in New Orleans

You'll want to make sure you're as comfortable as possible while walking the many amazing hikes and trails in Yellowstone National Park so packing clothes, including hiking boots and socks, that you're familiar with is a must. Regardless of the season you're traveling in, the weather can be quite cold at nighttime so ensure you're packing a heavier jacket or coat to keep you warm. You should also pack sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, and other items that will protect you from the sun during the day. 

Read more about what to pack for Yellowstone

It's hard to pinpoint the best time to visit Denali National Park as the landscapes are beautiful all year round. When to visit Denali largely depends on what kind of vacation you're looking for. If you really want to see snow on the surrounding mountains and explore the ultimate winter wonderland then winter would be the best time to go, however, spring and summer see the flowers and vegetation bloom in an array of colors.

Learn about the best time to visit Denali National Park

There are heaps of fun and exciting things to do in Zion National Park, so much so, that you could spend days there and still not see it all. Promising a uniquely unforgettable experience, Zion National Park is full of expansive landscapes just waiting to be explored. Some of the activities you can participate in include cycling, hiking, river tubing, and rock climbing. You can also camp at the park and do a little stargazing to make the most of your time in the great outdoors. 

Learn about the best things to do in Zion National Park