Tour Duration: 8 days Tour Code: AVF2012 Tour Type: Prices From: A$1829 [Tour Dates]
Tour Itinerary
Day
Description
1
ARRIVE IN SCOTTSDALE. Welcome to sunny Scottsdale, the "West's Most Western Town!" This evening, your Tour Director kicks off your adventure with a 6:30 pm WELCOME PARTY & DINNER, where you can mix and mingle with your travelling companions in the Old West. (D)
2
SONORAN DESERT & 4X4 JEEP ADVENTURE. This morning, it's off through the wild and wooly landscapes of the vast Sonoran Desert. Although the area only gets about seven inches of rain per year, the plant and animal life here are diverse and abundant! Watch for bighorn sheep, mule deer, jackrabbits, coyotes, a large variety of lizards, and 350 bird species, including turkey vultures, hawks, doves, and hummingbirds. This is also home to the famed saguaro cactus-the only place in the world where it grows wild. Arrive in Sedona, Arizona's "Red Rock Country," where you'll zoom off on a scenic 4x4 JEEP TOUR to the top of Mogollon Rim to admire the impressive red rock formations and rugged lowland desert. Then, enjoy one of America's most beautiful drives as you journey through Oak Creek Canyon, home to colourful cliffs and rugged sandstone spires. This afternoon, arrive at the GRAND CANYON, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. The stunning beauty of this famous attraction draws more than 5 million visitors a year from around the globe. This evening, don't miss the spectacular sunset. (B,D)
SPECIAL FEATURE: Your hotel for the next two nights is located near the rim of the Grand Canyon, a rare opportunity for great views-a significant benefit when travelling with Globus.
3
GRAND CANYON SIGHTSEEING & HIKING. Early birds can greet the day with a brilliant sunrise at the canyon's rim, or take an optional flightseeing trip over the Grand Canyon. Later, a guided tour teaches you about the Grand Canyon's geology and how it was carved by nature over the course of nearly 2 billion years. Take scenic Hermit Road, with stops along the way revealing extraordinary views of the deep inner gorge and numerous red buttes and ravines. This afternoon is free for exploring on your own. Maybe take a leisurely hike down part of Bright Angel Trail or join a ranger-led nature walk to learn about the area flora and fauna. (B)
4
OFF-ROAD MONUMENT VALLEY ADVENTURE. This morning you'll feel like you've stepped on to the movie set of an American Western as you head to MONUMENT VALLEY NAVA JO TRIBAL PARK. Here, the incredible power of wind and water carved the area's oddly shaped monoliths, buttes, and red sandstone spires that rise hundreds of feet above the valley floor. Enjoy a 4-WHEEL DRIVE TOUR of Monument Valley with a knowledgeable Navajo guide who shares their Native American culture and how it is influenced by the surroundings. See where movie greats like John Wayne and John Ford left their footprints, then enjoy a NAVA JO COOKOUT lunch. Don't forget your dancing shoes so you can join in some of the Native American dances performed for you at lunch. Next up: the sparkling blue waters and towering red-rock canyon walls of Lake Powell. Its nearly 3220 kilometres (2,000 miles) of shoreline is longer than the entire West Coast of the continental United States! (B,L)
5
SLOT CANYONS & LAKE POWELL. Experience the raw beauty of Mother Nature on a guided ANTELOPE CANYON SLOT TOUR. Take a 4-wheel-drive vehicle to the canyon entrance, where you will walk through the spectacularly petrified sand dunes sculpted by wind and water. As you walk along the canyon floor surrounded by sandstone formations as high as 40 metres (130 feet), admire the geological masterpieces formed over millions of years. During free time this afternoon, relax by the resort's pool before this evening's poolside PIZZA PARTY . (B,D)
6
GO HORSEBACK RIDING IN BRYCE CANYON. Say your goodbyes to Lake Powell and head northwest to Utah's BRYCE CANYON with its colourful red, yellow, and pink "hoodoos." Years of erosion have carved the sandstone here into thousands of spires, arches, and mazes for an unforgettable sight. Stop and saddle up, then head into Bryce on HORSEBACK with an experienced wrangler, retracing trails taken by notorious outlaw Butch Cassidy. Discover the hidden secrets of Red Canyon, as well as the peaceful solitude of the Old West. Tonight, grab your cowboy hat and head over to the corral for the BRYCE CANYON COUNTRY RODEO, complete with mutton bustin' and bull ridin'. (B,D)
7
HIKE IN ZION NATIONAL PARK. Continue to nearby ZION NATIONAL PARK, a spectacle of massive stone formations whose colours change with the light of the day and the season. To Mormon pioneers, it was a haven of beauty resembling natural temples and cathedrals, and they called it "Little Zion." Spend time exploring the unique geology within the park that has evolved over the past 150 million years. Later, leave the wonders of nature behind for the bright neon lights of Las Vegas, one of America's most popular vacation destinations. Your hotel is located in the heart of the "Strip" for easy access to all the casino resorts and amusement parks. This evening, your Tour Director hosts a SEND-OFF CELEBRATION DINNER at a local restaurant followed by the FREMONT STREET EXPERIENCE. See where Las Vegas started 100 years ago with a stroll down Fremont Street, vintage Vegas, it's the perfect finale to your vacation. (B,D)
8
LAS VEGAS. The vacation ends today with guests departing on individual schedules. Transfers are provided to Las Vegas McCarran Airport. (B)
BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK: Horseback riding; Bryce Canyon Country Rodeo
ZION NATIONAL PARK: Sightseeing and hiking
LAS VEGAS: Orientation tour; Send-Off Celebration Dinner & Fremont Street Experience.
MEALS: American breakfast daily (B), 1 lunch (L), 5 three-course dinners (D), including a Welcome Party & Dinner in Scottsdale and a Send-Off Celebration Dinner in Las Vegas.
Inside visits and special features are shown in UPPERCASE in the tour description, including admission charges where applicable.
Meals Breakfast - 8 Lunch - 1 Dinner - 4
Optional Excursions
To help plan your leisure time, as well as your pre-tour budgeting, here is a list of optional excursions that may be offered on this tour.
Availability is subject to sufficient participation, weather conditions, seasonal suitability, group interests, and general feasibility for your tour. Please note prices may be based on the previous year and are subject to change. Full terms and conditions are contained in the important travel documents.
Cost
Description
13
USD
Name:GRAND CANYON IMAX Location:GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK Details:Fly like a condor over the rim and into the Canyon, be drenched in the power of the raging Colorado River without ever leaving your seat at the Grand Canyon National Geographic Visitor Center. And relive the history and mystery of one of the most storied natural wonders of the world. From the mysterious Anasazi who inhabited the Canyon 4,000 years ago, viewers at The National Geographic Visitor Center will travel through Grand Canyon history to join Major John Wesley Powell as he challenges the unexplored Canyon and raging Colorado River in 1869. (40 minute multimedia presentation).
175
USD
Name:GRAND CANYON HELICOPTER FLIGHTSEEING - NORTH CANYON TOUR Location:GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK Details:Explore impressive Dragon Corridor, the deepest and widest part of the Canyon, and one of the most remarkable panoramas of the Grand Canyon. The Tower of Ra, a 6,076-foot butte named in the 1800s after the Egyptian sun god, comes into view, as do other fanciful rock formations resembling temples and shrines. Fly in a comfortable, climate controlled helicopter with specially designed windows for optimum viewing. (30 minute flight, weather dependent).
199
USD
Name:ECO-STAR GRAND CANYON HELICOPTER FLIGHTSEEING Location:GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK Details:This experience will be a highlight of your holiday. Fly over the widest and deepest portion of the Grand Canyon. You will see the amazing views of the Dragon Corridor, Colorado River and other geologic features and formations over a billion years old. If you have ever wanted to see the Grand Canyon from a bird's eye view this is the trip for you. Fly in our first class state of the art ECO-Star helicopter with specially designed windows and seating for 180 degrees of virtually unobstructed views. This is a comfortable, climate controlled helicopter with quiet ride technology for a more comfortable Grand Canyon helicopter tour experience. Grab your camera and enjoy this spectacular journey to the Grand Canyon. (30 minute flight).
Optional Excursions
