LA to Vegas: Grand National Parks

Welcome to Los Angeles, California! Spend an afternoon exploring the home of movie stars – stroll Santa Monica Pier, Venice Beach or Rodeo Drive for a bit of people-watching or amp up the culture with a trip to the Getty Centre or a tour of the Beverly Hills mansions. You’re free to explore LA until 6 pm when your group will come together for a welcome meeting at your hotel in Venice. Jump on a leader-led walking tour along the quirky and beautiful Venice canals, and then consider an optional group dinner at one of the many famous restaurants to get to know each other.

Depart LA after breakfast and take the scenic drive to Palm Springs, famous for its mid-century modern architecture and desert resorts. Ride the Palm Springs Aerial Tram to the top of Mt. Jacinto for a refreshingly cool picnic lunch with expnsive views over Chino Canyon and Palm Springs. In the afternoon continue to Twentynine Palms to check in to your hotel and relax for a bit. Then rejoin your leader for an exploration of Joshua Tree National Park in the late afternoon. Sitting between the Mojave and Colorado Deserts, Joshua Tree is home to striking rock formations, many species of cacti and varied desert wildlife such as coyotes, lizards and bighorn sheep. This evening is free to relax – maybe sit down for dinner with your group and prepare for the days of exploration ahead.

This morning, enjoy breakfast and then head on a Route 66 road trip. You’ll spend some time driving the famous Route 66 from California through Nevada and into Arizona, stopping by the eccentric community of Seligman for lunch. There’s even a historic retro diner where you can get an authentic taste of Americana culture and history. Arrive at Grand Canyon National Park in the afternoon, check in to your hotel and then head out for a sunset walk along the rim of the canyon. This perspective offers epic views of the massive network of gorges, rivers and cliffs throughout the park. 

Today, a naturalist guide from the Grand Canyon Conservancy will join your group for a guided tour and relatively easy hike (approximately 3 hours) on a section of the Bright Angel Trail. Your guide will teach the group about the park’s history, geology and the Indigenous connections – of both past and present – to the land. Expect to see sweeping views, ancient rocks, tell-tale fossils, diverse plant life and even some curious critters along the way. This afternoon is as clear as an Arizona sky. Explore at your own pace and remember to always have a steady water supply and high-energy snacks on hand. Your group leader can give you the best trails and optional activities available. If you'd like a bird's eye view of the canyon without leaving the ground, you can also watch a documentary at the local IMAX theatre.  

This morning is a perfect chance to get up early and catch the sunrise. Depart Grand Canyon via the eastern entrance, stopping at the Desert View Watchtower. When you reach the town of Cameron, visit the Navajo trading post and take some free time for lunch before continuing to Monument Valley tribal park. Here, you’ll meet a Navajo guide for a sunset jeep tour through the valley – a journey into the spectacular backcountry, where you can explore the natural and historic landmarks, sprawling rock arches and bridges and petroglyph rock art. Witness a vibrant cultural demonstration and then join the locals for a dinner of Navajo tacos and steaks around the campfire. Settle in for an evening full of Native American dancing, flute playing, drumming, chanting and storytelling. Afterward, continue to the nearby town of Kayenta and check in to your hotel.

Get ready for another day full of incredible desert scenery. After breakfast, you’ll hit the road again, passing through the little city of Page, set on the shores of Lake Powell. You’ll join a Navajo guide as you descend into mystical Lower Antelope Canyon via series of stairways. The towering red walls curve and twist above, making for a great photo opportunity. Learn some local history and fascinating stories about the canyon itself, then continue your journey. Stop for a short hike to view Horseshoe Bend, named for the loop of water that rims the enormous sandstone structure. See what's often called the ‘east rim of the Grand Canyon’ along the Colorado River and enjoy a picnic lunch with your group before continuing into Utah. Drive along scenic roads and onto your destination – Bryce Canyon National Park. Spend the night near the park and rest up for an early start tomorrow.

You’ll wake up early today to catch the best light for your journey into Bryce Canyon National Park, famous for its orange hoodoos – uniquely shaped rock spires rising out of the desert, formed by millions of years of erosion. Drive the park road, stopping at some scenic overlooks, and arrive at a gorgeous spot where your leader will take the group on a walk to the hoodoos. Recharge with some free time for lunch, then continue to Zion National Park, where you'll explore Zion Canyon. If the group is up for it, take a hike at sunset and watch the nightly display of colour to end a beautiful day. Spend the night nearby in Springdale.

After breakfast, hit Zion National Park with your leader. Based on the group's interests and abilities, you might hike the Emerald Pools or take on a challenge like Angels Landing up to Scout Lookout. You’ll have heaps of free time to explore the park's myriad of trails today, from the accessible Rim Trail to the moderate Queen's Garden Trail and the strenuous Peek-a-boo Loop. Wherever you walk, you'll encounter the canyon’s colourful landscapes. The Narrows is also a good choice, as it’s probably the most popular hike in the park and one of the best slot canyon hikes on Earth! Trek through a gorge surrounded by cliff faces 300 metres high and cool off in a river along the way. This evening is yours to rest, relax and recharge.

You’ll leave Zion National Park today and hit the road again for the last time. Check out Snow Canyon State Park along the way, where many American movies have been filmed, and then continue to Las Vegas, Nevada. Once a western outpost in the desert, Las Vegas is now a gambling and entertainment metropolis. It’s a city of larger-than-life characters, but beyond the glitz and glamour, Vegas is home to diverse urban neighbourhoods and a thriving arts scene. Your leader will take you through local favourites – from Fremont Street to the group’s farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

There are no activities planned today and you’re free to check out and depart at any time.  If you want to stay in Las Vegas longer, feel free to speak to your booking agent.