America Adventures

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Trip Overview

You'll hit all the top spots in this 18 day camping tour of America's Wild West, including Yosemite, Yellowstone, Zion and the magnificent Grand Canyon! Hike under towering waterfalls, climb to alpine lakes, witness erupting geysers, and meet the Navajo on an included Monument Valley backcountry tour. Keep an eye out for bison, grizzlies, and bald eagle as we pass through some of the best wildlife reserves in North America. With so much to see and do, this tour embodies the true American spirit!

Optional Activities (paid locally)

• Whitewater rafting (in season) US$30-$200
• Great National Park hikes US$FREE
• Scenic Grand Canyon helicopter flight US$160-$400
• Western horseback riding US$45-$95
• Country Western saloons US$5-$20
• Mountain biking in Moab US$45-$95
• IMAX theater US$8-$12
• Float trip on the Colorado River US$50-$100
• Western Rodeo (in season) US$10-$25
• Extreme hummer tour US$75-$145
• Lake Tahoe sunset catamaran cruise US$45
• Lake Tahoe casinos US$FREE

City Sightseeing Tours

If you are spending extra time in our gateway cities, you can now plan in advance by pre-booking unique city sightseeing day tours in addition to your trip.

SAN FRANCISCO

All city day tours are operated by local experts who are dedicated to take you behind the scenes so you know it like a local! When booking your trip, simply select your chosen city tours from the Tour Extras section on the online booking form.

> View City Sightseeing Tours

Private Group Departures

Why not arrange your own Grand American Adventures departure? For groups of 8 or more, we can offer private departures on any of our published itineraries enabling friends, families or organizations to enjoy our style of travel at special rates. Although tours will run as per our standard itinerary shown here, slight modifications may be considered and dates can be chosen to suit your needs. (Subject to seasonal/operational restrictions). So contact us today and start planning your own adventure.

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Trip Itinerary

Our routes have been carefully chosen to include the best night stops and highlights. However, as local and operational conditions may vary and unforeseen circumstances can arise, the following itinerary should be used as a guideline.

As this tour departs at 0730 we recommend that you book pre-tour accommodation at our gateway hotel. Please request at the time of booking.

Day 1: San Francisco and Yosemite National Park

After crossing the Golden Gate Bridge on the way out of San Francisco, we head east through California's historic gold country and make tracks for Yosemite where everything is super-sized, including some of North America's tallest cliffs, waterfalls and trees. Enjoy an afternoon under the mighty Sequoias before setting up camp under the towering granite cliffs of Yosemite Valley.
Accommodation: Camping with meals included

Day 2: Yosemite National Park

Yosemite National Park sits nestled in the Sierra Nevada Mountain range of northern California. Here green forest meets granite walls measuring several thousand feet in height. Rock climbers come from all over the world to scale the rocks whilst hikers get to walk to the base of some of the largest waterfalls in the world.

After a visit to see the amazing giant sequoia trees, Yosemite Valley beckons. Here we may bicycle, take a dip in the Merced River or wander the meadows. We get to hike on one of the many trails that allow that enables us to leave the crowds behind. The famous sites situated along these trails include Yosemite Falls, Nevada Falls, Vernal Falls, Mirror Lake and Half Dome. The views are breathtaking from every vantage point - the granite formations of Half Dome, El Capitan and Cathedral Rocks are sure to be forever etched on our minds.
Accommodation: Camping with meals included

Day 3: Lake Tahoe

From Yosemite we continue the journey to the vibrant forest and deep blue of beautiful Lake Tahoe, the second deepest lake in USA with a maximum depth of 1645 feet. Formed about 2 million years ago and shaped during the Ice Age, the lake is actually located right on the border of California and Nevada and sits on an altitude of 6225 feet above sea level. It is a major tourist recreational area in both summer and winter with one of its ski areas, Squaw Valley, playing host to the 1960 Winter Olympics. We have the chance to enjoy an optional sunset cruise on a catamaran, which is sure to be an unforgettable experience. Tomorrow we head out across the vast Nevada Desert.
Accommodation: Camping with meals included

Day 4: Nevada

From Lake Tahoe we delve deeper into the vast desert for some grand scenery. The Great Basin Desert actually extends right across to California, Oregon, Idaho and Utah. We cover some great distances today, but also get to see some fascinating and contrasting scenery on our road trip.
Accommodation: Camping with meals included

Day 5-6: Yellowstone National Park

Enjoy a full day exploring the wilderness and wildlife at our next destination, Yellowstone National Park. The world's first and largest national park in the continental United States, Yellowstone was originally protected for it high concentrations of geothermal wonders, such as Old Faithful. This park is so large that its boundaries cross into three states. Most of it is in Wyoming, but parts of the reserve extend into Idaho and Montana. Home to a large variety of wildlife including grizzly bear, wolf, bison and elk, watch the herds of bison roam amongst the erupting geysers while steam rises from the various rivers running through the park. A fire in the 1980s ravaged much of the park, but it has recovered to the extent that it is now a living monument to nature's power of regeneration.
Accommodation: Camping with meals included

Day 7-8: Jackson, Wyoming

We continue our journey in Wyoming, and travel past Grand Teton National Park before reaching Jackson to enjoy a truly friendly and authentic western town experience. Once home to trappers and a hideout for outlaws and rustlers, Jackson is now the base for hikers to take on some lovely hiking trails as well as a town renowned for its cafes and western style saloons! With a permanent population of around 8,600 people and a far greater transient tourist population, it attracts many of the rich and famous and is a great base for exploring the Teton Mountains. Surrounded by beautiful scenery you can spend your day hiking, mountain biking, rafting and more!
Accommodation: Camping with meals included

Day 9: Salt Lake City

Our next destination is the capital of Utah - Salt Lake City. With a city population of 186,000 and a metropolitan population of 1.13 million, it is the largest city in the state. Founded in 1847 by Brigham Young and his Mormon (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) followers, it is still the base for the religion although less than half the population in the city today are Mormons. At the centre of town is Temple Square and we have the afternoon free to explore the city's beautifully landscaped grounds, the granite Salt Lake Temple with its six spires and the domed Tabernacle, home of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Besides occasional free concerts, there are also nearby shopping centres and tasty local restaurants.
Accommodation: Hotel included. Meals paid locally.

Day 10-11: Moab & Arches National Park

Next - what seems impossible - more spectacular scenery amid the magnificent splendour of Arches National Park, located just a few miles outside Moab and our base for the next three days. These stunning red sandstone arches have been created by millions of years of wind whipping down the west slope of the Rocky Mountains. Here we have the opportunity to hike to many of these incredible arches, which are known by descriptive names such as Landscape Arch and the famous Delicate Arch. Alternatively, why not tackle the terrain high above on a guided "hummer" tour or take a float trip down the Colorado River.
Accommodation: Camping with meals included

Day 12: Canyonlands National Parks

In contrast, Canyonlands National Park is a little known place where the mighty Colorado and Green Rivers meet, carving this amazing landscape popular with mountain bikers and whitewater rafters. Whatever you choose to do, make sure you explore all if offers from natural bridges to towering cliffs and bottomless canyons.
Accommodation: Camping with meals included

Day 13: Monument Valley

From red rock canyons to Indian territory, we travel out of Utah and into the heart of the Navajo Nation in Arizona. Monument Valley is sacred land to those who call it home. The sandstone monoliths and spectacular sunsets and sunrises have been the backdrop to countless 'westerns' featuring cowboys riding off into the desert. Met by a Navajo guide, we will be taken on an included backroads tour of the Monument Valley Tribal Lands. Learn about the history and culture of the Navajo people. Hear how Native Americans have embraced this harsh environment, and how their relationship to the world around them constantly changes and evolves. Such a day could only be topped by a spectacular desert sunset before we return to our hotel.
Accommodation: Hotel included. Meals paid locally.

Day 14-15: Grand Canyon National Park

Leaving Monument Valley we travel south through the Navajo Reservation to the Cameron Trading Post to browse and shop for local jewellery, crafts and cultural souvenirs. Then we traverse the eastern entrance of Grand Canyon and catch our first glimpse of it at Desert View. This incredible spectacle is difficult to comprehend, even as you stand at the rim or hike down into the canyon. Carved over several millennia, this massive wonder of nature is 445 kilometres (277 miles) long, up to 29 kilometres (18 miles) wide and over 1.6 kilometres (1 mile) deep. Snaking through the canyon floor is the mighty Colorado River, which runs 2330 kilometres (1450 miles) through seven US states and two Mexican states.

Once again, you will have plenty of opportunities to explore the park at your own pace. In your free time, we highly recommend a scenic helicopter flight over the canyon, which offer perspectives that you cannot see by just visiting on foot. Venture down the Bright Angel Trail to Plateau Point, or just stroll along the more leisurely West Rim Trail and shuttle bus out to Hermit's Rest. Finish off the day by watching the amazing IMAX film, "The Grand Canyon Experience" and enjoy a spectacular sunset over one of the World's natural wonders.
Accommodation: Camping with meals included

Day 16: Zion National Park

We make our way back to Utah and onto Zion, our last national park, and one of the most spectacular destinations in the US. Zion Canyon was named by the early Mormon settlers of Utah who thought of it as their 'promised land'. Some of the best hiking in this desert terrain of southwest USA can be found here in and around the fertile Virgin River as it meanders below massive, cathedral-like, sandstone walls. With two nights here, we will have plenty of time to explore.
Accommodation: Camping with meals included

Day 17: Zion National Park

We have a full day to further explore the delights of Zion National Park. There are various hikes to choose from, ranging from easy to strenuous ones. We warm up our legs by taking some of the short hikes from the valley floor to view the Lower Emerald pool and then continue on to the sparkling Upper Emerald pools, passing a waterfall along the way to discover Zion's "beach." We can also cool off from the summer sun by exploring the Riverside Walk section of the Virgin River.

If you are feeling ambitious, enjoy the park's more challenging option and ascend 760 metres (2500 feet) to experience unbeatable panoramic views from the top of Angels Landing. After a beautiful but strenuous hike along the knife-edge ridgeline you will be rewarded with one of the most breathtaking and powerful panoramas you will ever experience. If weather conditions permit, you may choose to hike deep into the Zion Narrows. Of course, horse riding is available if you'd prefer a seat with a view!
Accommodation: Camping with meals included

Day 18: Las Vegas

We leave nature behind and head into Las Vegas, Nevada, and all of its neon splendour. Las Vegas is the fastest growing city in United States and the entertainment capital of North America - home to pirates and pyramids, weddings and waterfalls. If it is gambling you want, you have come to the right place! Nowhere else in the world will you find as many casinos, clubs and all-you-can-eat buffets. Why not hit the strip tonight for a farewell party?

This tour ends at our gateway hotel at approximately 17:00 hrs. We can book you post-tour accommodation at our gateway hotel if required. If you are planning to fly tonight, please do not book a flight that departs before 21:00 hrs.

Book Online

You can easily book your trip online using our secure booking engine. You only need to pay a 10% deposit or (whichever is greatest) with full payment due 8 weeks before departure. We are members of ABTA (Association of Britsh Travel Agents) and are fully financially bonded so your money is 100% safe & protected at all times whether you pay by debit, bank or credit card. If you prefer to book by telephone, please contact our sales office and speak to one our friendly travel consultants.

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