Family Adventure Holidays

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Trip Overview

Discover three National Parks (Grand Canyon, Zion and Bryce), Monument Valley's Navajo Indians, our western ranch and Lake Powell's refreshing waters on this 10 day family adventure holiday. With activity filled afternoons, incredible scenic vistas and comfortable, family friendly hotels and lodges throughout, this western USA trip will be fun for the whole family!

Optional Activities (paid locally)

• Great National Park hikes US$FREE
• Mountain biking US$45-$95
• Scenic Grand Canyon helicopter flight US$160-$400
• Watersports US$20-$45
• River tubing US$15

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: Las Vegas to Zion National Park

Departing Las Vegas, it is a comfortable scenic drive into the State of Utah and our destination - Zion National Park where nature puts on a show of her own during our two day visit. 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 Gorge. With two nights here, we will have plenty of time to explore.
Accommodation: Hotel included | Meals: Paid locally

Day 2: Zion National Park

We have a full day to further explore the delights of Zion National Park. Hire a bike or visit the ghost town where "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" was filmed. Walk up from the valley floor to Emerald Pools (always a hit with the kids!) or try river tubing before take a dip. For the more adventurous, there is the challenging option to ascend 2500 feet to experience unbeatable panoramic views from the top of Angels Landing. If weather conditions permit, you may choose to hike deep into the Zion Narrows. There is also a chance to partake in some horse-riding or just relaxing by the pool.
Accommodation: Hotel included | Meals: Paid locally

Day 3: Bryce Canyon National Park

Leaving Zion National Park we climb in elevation to almost 8000 feet and drive across a high plateau to Bryce Canyon National Park. Bryce Canyon is a fascinating natural amphitheatre of pink, orange and white sandstone spires, known locally as 'hoodoos'. There are a variety of scenic overlooks and trails that range from easy to moderate in difficulty. The Navajo or Peek-a-Boo Loop trails will enable us to hike right in amongst these unique rock formations. Some of us may prefer to remain on the rim and photograph the ever-changing shadows and hues as the sun makes its way across the wide-open sky.
Accommodation: Hotel included | Meals: Paid locally

Day 4: Mountain Ranch, Utah

Our next stop is a very special one as we spend a day checking out life on an authentic Western Ranch nestled in the secluded high country of central Utah. We spend a night in ranch house cabin-style accommodation, set amidst stunning mountain scenery. Whether you're an experienced horse-rider or a novice, this is certainly the place to get on a horse and take a ride around the wide expanses and absorb the beauty of the great outdoors. As the sun goes down, we get the chance to huddle around a camp fire and exchange stories like the cowboys have done so all those years. Country-style hospitality and sumptuous home-cooked meals are all included during our stay at our home on the range.
Accommodation: Ranch included | Meals: Included

Day 5: Monument Valley

In the heart of the Navajo Nation, Monument Valley is sacred land to those who call it home. The red sandstone monoliths and spectacular sunsets and sunrises have been the backdrop to countless 'westerns' featuring cowboys riding off into the desert. We explore the incredible array of rock formations on an included guided backroads tour and learn the magic and myth of the rich Native American culture. There is also ample time to relax and view the valley's surreal sunset.
Accommodation: Hotel included | Meals: Paid locally

Day 6-7: Lake Powell

From the dusty trail we leave Navajo Territory and head towards the cooling blue waters of Lake Powell for two days. Located on the border of Utah and Arizona and created by the construction of the Glen Canyon Dam on the Colorado River, Lake Powell has a shoreline that stretches longer than the western coast of the USA! Many say that Glen Canyon was even more spectacular than the Grand Canyon before the dam was built. Now the lake is a haven for water sports or just relaxing in one of the many sandstone coves. An ideal spot for a family holiday, we enjoy our days of fun in the sun and stay a couple of nights in a hotel near this beautiful lake.
Accommodation: Hotel included | Meals: Paid locally

Day 8-9: Grand Canyon National Park

Leaving Monument Valley we drive towards Grand Canyon. Traversing the eastern entrance of the canyon, we 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.

In your free time, we highly recommend a scenic helicopter flight over the canyon, which offers perspectives that you cannot see by visiting on foot. Also recommended is the film show at the IMAX Theater, which will give you a good overview of the area and how it developed. Alternatively, stroll the easy meandering South Rim Trail, hike your way down the more challenging trail to Plateau Point, or simply relax at the canyon's edge and enjoy a spectacular sunset over one of the World's natural wonders. There is also time to shop for local souvenirs.
Meals: Paid locally | Accommodation: Hotel included

Day 10: Las Vegas

From Grand Canyon we complete our journey by travelling back to Las Vegas, Nevada. Las Vegas is the entertainment capital of North America - home to pirates and pyramids, weddings and waterfalls.

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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