On this 12-night tour you’ll feast your eyes on these iconic US hotspots favoured by many:
Home to dazzling casinos, glitzy wedding chapels and incredible dining experiences, is there a better way to kick off your US national parks value tour than in Sin City? Meet up with your Travel Director for a glimpse of what’s to come, then, get right into the bright lights and fun-filled streets however you choose, with a walk through Downtown, head to ‘The Strip’…or both! Vegas is your ultimate playground.
Whether you’re a lover of great scenery or classic roadside attractions, iconic Route 66 has got you covered. Today’s destination? The Grand Canyon, one of the world’s seven natural wonders of the world and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Take in all the epic vistas of this 2-billion-year-old marvel of nature. Want to make your visit extra special? Why not treat yourself to a once-in-a-lifetime helicopter ride over the North and South Rim? Awestruck, you’ll then visit the Grand Canyon Village before arriving in Flagstaff, a laid-back outpost on Route 66.
How to kick off a day of adventure on your US national parks value tour? With an iconic breakfast at Charly’s Pub & Grill located in one of the oldest hotels in Flagstaff. Next up: Monument Valley, a symbol of the wild west with its rusty red spindles and buttes reaching 36 metres into the air. Dive into the local history and geology teaming up with a local Navajo guide for a Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park Guided Tour, a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience.
Ahhh, Zion. Famous for its red and white cliffs, canyons and wildflower meadows, buttes, mesas and natural arches. Walk the many hiking trails, take in the sights of the Virgin River and have your camera ready to capture the unique geological formations. Enjoy lunch at Zion Park Lodge before heading out to Bryce Canyon. Choose to join a chuckwagon dinner at Ebenezer’s dinner and show or rest up anticipating adventures in this stunning national park tomorrow.
Multicoloured ‘hoodoos’ and large amphitheatres, this can only be Bryce Canyon National Park. Stand in awe at the open areas whipped into shape by centuries of wind and rain. Walk along one of the juniper lined trails to the rim of the Paunsaugunt Plateau. From colourful scenery to colourful cities, Salt Lake City is your next stop on your US national parks value tour. With an evening full of possibilities, why not head to the downtown area for a stop in one of its tempting restaurants, coffeehouses and laidback bars?
This morning in Utah’s small town feeling capital city, drive by Temple Square, the city’s most famous sight. Hey, Wyoming! Where snow-covered mountain ranges seem to rise and fall before your eyes. Arrive in the city of Alpine where three rivers converge against the backdrop of the Tetons. Settle into your hotel this evening situated along the banks of Snake River. Play a round of tennis, stretch out in the indoor, heated swimming pool, or take a stroll through town of Alpine.
Today on your US national parks value tour, you won’t be able to take your eyes away from the window as you follow the Snake River through the forest and mountains before arriving at Grand Teton National Park. A stroll around Jackson Town Square gets you a lay of the land and admiring the famous elk antlers that signal the gateway to the park – eager to explore. Feeling the call of the outdoors? Join the Snake River Float Trip Choice Experience for a water adventure through the Tetons. This evening back at your hotel, choose to visit Melvin Brewery for a behind-the-scenes look at this booming Alpine brewery.
Hot springs, bubbling mud pots, vast canyons and lush forests as far as the eye can see are yours to behold at Yellowstone National Park. Wildlife seekers, get ready for a treat! Grizzly bears, wolves, bison and elk all roam free here. Take your time exploring as you tick off the key sites including the biggest crowd pleaser of them all, Old Faithful, named for its dependable eruption every 44 to 125 minutes.
One day at Yellowstone surely isn’t enough, and this morning your tour will take you to Mammoth Hot Springs. Said to look like a cave turned inside out, the soft limestone of this area needs to be seen to be believed. Be dazzled by the gradation of colours and levels before you tick off another hot spot: Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. This 19-mile-long canyon bedazzles in shades of yellow, red, white and pink. You’ll then head on to the frontier town of Cody, a lively place with saloons that will keep the high energy of the day going into the night. You can even indulge in a Choice Experience, Welcome to Cody: Chamberlin Inn and Irma Hotel Buffet for drinks and dinner in a historic setting.
Big mountains, big lakes and big stretches of uninterrupted skyline… it’s no wonder Montana has earned the nickname ‘Big Sky Country.’ On a free morning in Wyoming, discover the area your way with a Choice Experience visit to the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. Next stop, Little Bighorn Battlefield, the site of the 1876 battle between the US Army’s 7th Cavalry and the Lakota and Cheyenne warriors. In Buffalo, your evening is free to explore the city your way.
The Black Hills region is a mix of canyons and peaks that bridge the Wyoming and South Dakota border. See how it got its nickname from the dark ponderosa pines that cover the hillsides on your way to Crazy Horse monument which has been under construction for over 70 years. Discover more Native American history on your US national parks value tour by paying a visit to the nearby Indian Museum of North America. Tonight, choose to get your first glimpse of Mount Rushmore, learning more about the nation’s patriotic past, present and future with a National Park ranger.
Sure to be a highlight: Mount Rushmore. As the largest statue-monument in the world, the stony faces of four of America’s presidents carved 18 metres tall into the granite hillside loom large — bigger and more detailed than you could have imagined. Don’t miss your chance to join Badlands National Park Sightseeing, learning about the 99,000 hectares that make up the unique geology.
As your tour of the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone National Park – not to mention Las Vegas, Monument Valley, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Grand Teton and Mount Rushmore – comes to an end today, you’ll no doubt be reflecting on the phenomenal sights and experiences you’ve had over the past fortnight. The trip promised spectacular canyons and national parks, and we’re sure you’ll agree you saw the best of it. Complimentary airport drop off at Rapid City Regional Airport will be at 9 AM. Complimentary Airport drop off at Denver International Airport will be at 5:00 PM. Please be aware when booking your flights.
Find a personal travel manager to make an enquiry
Advertised prices are per person twin share, correct at time of publication and are subject to availability and change and can be withdrawn or amended at any time without notification due to fluctuations in charges, taxes and currency. Offer is not combinable with any other offer. Save $100 off trips 12 days or more for Contiki and Costsaver trips departing until 31 December 2024. Offer exclusive to Travel Managers bookings made in Australia. Quote: PPRTMMAY2024. Offer applies to new bookings only, made between 7 – 31 May 2024. Prices are per person twin share and are land only. Single supplements apply. Standard Payment Terms apply, unless combined with another promotional offer whereby stricter payment conditions may apply. If guests change to another tour or date not on sale, they are responsible to pay the difference and adhere to different payment conditions. Discounts are subject to availability and may be amended or withdrawn at any time without notice. Savings are combinable with Ongoing Deals (I.e. Global Tour Rewards, Multiple Trip Discount, etc.). Offer not valid with Last Minute Deals, Hot Dates, Double Loyalty Member Benefit, on special departure and interest groups, Future Travel Credit (FTC) carry forward discount or pre and post accommodation. Further restrictions apply. ^$200 per person deposit required at time of booking for Level 1 tours to hold space; some trips require payment in full at time of booking. Itineraries subject to change. Change and cancellation fees may apply. Your personal travel manager may charge additional service fees. Other conditions apply. Please view the TravelManagers general terms and conditions here and contact your personal travel manager for more details.