Tauck America's Canyonlands

• TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – Hear insider stories about the national parks during filmed narratives by filmmakers Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan
• TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – Champagne welcome & private yacht dinner cruise on stunning Lake Powell
• Inside-the-park accommodations at three national parks – Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon and Zion

• Flightseeing over Glen Canyon to see Rainbow Bridge
•  Insights into the Grand Canyon’s ecology from a geology expert
•  A gentle float trip on the Colorado River through Glen Canyon
• Guided tour to view the canyon landscapes near Lake Powell
• Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as detailed
•  17 meals, service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees,taxes and porterage

Day 1: Arrive Phoenix

Your tour begins at Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale. A transfer is included from Phoneix Sky Harbour International Airport to the Four Seasons. Meet your travel companions at the welcome reception and dinner tonight at your luxury desert resort.

Day 2: From the red rocks of Sedona to Grand Canyon National Park

On this first full day of your Southwest and Grand Canyon tour, stop in Sedona – home to famous red-rock formations with whimsical names like the Mittens and the Rabbit Ears, and the backdrop for many western movies and TV shows – and check out this intriguing town shaped by early settlers, cowboys, artists and Hollywood celebrities. Later, wind through Oak Creek Canyon en route to Grand Canyon National Park. Arrive at your inside-the-park lodge on the South Rim of the amazing Grand Canyon, carved over millions of years by the Colorado River, and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tonight, enjoy dinner at your choice of restaurants on the canyon’s rim at El Tovar, the Arizona Room or Bright Angel Café.

Day 3: The Grand Canyon and a private Lake Powell cruise

You just might want to take advantage of your lodge’s ideal location on the South Rim by waking early enough to catch one of nature’s grandest shows – a Grand Canyon sunrise! Learn about the geology and wildlife of the region from a local geology expert in a perfect location, right on the rim. And no Grand Canyon tour would be complete without exploring the canyon rim and Canyon Village as you please, witnessing the rugged landscape’s vast grandeur and changing colors as the sun climbs in the sky. Travel through the Navajo Reservation en route to the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Lake Powell, one of the largest man-made lakes in the world, for a two-night stay. Tonight, a true highlight – a private Lake Powell dinner cruise aboard the sleek double-decked yacht Canyon Princess.

Day 4: Flightseeing & canyon views at Lake Powell

See remote corners of 186-mile-long Lake Powell – created from the Colorado River by the Glen Canyon Dam in the 1960s – from a variety of perspectives. First take an included early morning, 45-minute flight to see the unusual red-rock formations reflecting in the lake; see Rainbow Bridge, the world’s largest natural arch. Then take a private boat cruise and guided tour past some of the incredible sandstone slot canyons in the Navajo Nation, among the most beautiful in the Southwest. You also have the possibility today to take an optional four-hour excursion to Monument Valley in the Navajo Nation (at an additional cost – see Pricing & Availability), made famous as a setting of many westerns by director John Ford; combine aerial sightseeing with a land tour by a Navajo guide through rock buttes and spires – ask at time of booking.

Day 5: Colorado River rafting & on to Bryce Canyon

This morning’s float trip on the Colorado River takes you through Glen Canyon; your experienced river adventure guide imparts a wealth of knowledge about the canyon as you glide past colorful walls of Navajo sandstone. Utah’s iconic landscapes have served as ideal locations for movie and TV westerns over the years; view them on an afternoon drive to Bryce Canyon National Park – a wondrous land of pines, pinnacles and oddly sculpted formations known as hoodoos, resembling the towers of fairy-tale castles. Magnificent spires, tinted with shades of pink, orange and red, put on a captivating show as the light changes throughout the day. Keep an eye open for the park’s abundant wildlife, including mule deer, coyotes, marmots, and prairie dogs, as you explore the park from your sought-after accommodations at The Lodge at Bryce Canyon. Listed on the National Historic Register, The Lodge is nestled in a forest of towering ponderosa pines in the heart of the park.

Day 6: Explore Bryce Canyon and Zion national parks

If you rise early this morning, you’ll be rewarded with an awe-inspiring Bryce Canyon sunrise, as the light of dawn slowly spreads across the hoodoos and other unique geological features steps from your room at The Lodge at Bryce Canyon! Spend the morning at leisure, perhaps venturing out on one of the park’s renowned hiking trails to observe a great variety of bird species, beautiful wildflowers and diverse wildlife. After lunch, travel across southwestern Utah to Zion National Park, where colorful sandstone canyons and 3,000-foot-high palisades tower above the lush greenery of the canyon floor. The park’s shuttle system and network of hiking trails afford access to its key geologic features – thriving vegetation includes cottonwood trees and dry desert plants; wildlife ranges from mule deer to hundreds of bird species. Spend the night at the restored Zion Lodge, the only hotel accommodation inside the park.

Day 7: From Zion National Park to a finale in Las Vegas

The morning is yours to explore Zion National Park’s diverse geological features at leisure; its dramatic peaks and cliffs, odd geologic formations, desert oases featuring abundant pools and waterfalls, and mighty canyons splashed with vivid colors are all equally compelling. The Paiutes believed this place to be the home of their coyote spirit, Sinawava, while early Mormon visitors referred to it as “the natural temples of God.” Highlights include a trio of peaks known as the Three Patriarchs; the Emerald Pools, fed by waterfalls cascading over the canyon walls; and the veil of spring water trickling over Weeping Rock. Depart Zion for a memorable journey across the vast, colorful vistas of the northeastern Mojave Desert. Then get ready for a bit of culture shock as you arrive in Las Vegas, Nevada – a city that truly never sleeps, offering non-stop entertainment and fancifully themed casinos. Accommodations tonight are at the Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas, providing easy access to the famed Strip – and yet the hotel is a welcoming oasis unto itself. Wrap up your Zion, Bryce Canyon and Grand Canyon tour with a farewell reception and dinner at the Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas, one last chance to share travel memories with new friends.

Day 8: Journey home

Tour ends: Las Vegas. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas to Las Vegas McCarran International Airport. Checkout time at Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas is 12:00 PM; allow a minimum of two hours for flight check-in at the airport.

Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North, Arizona

In the foothills of Pinnacle Peak high in the Sonora Desert, the Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North is surrounded by spectacular scenery. Guest rooms, located in Southwestern-style casitas, have a private patio or terrace, custom furnishings and handmade Huichol Indian yarn art. A 42-inch LCD TV with a DVD player, an MP3 docking station, a deep soaking tub and separate shower, coffee/tea-making facilities and a gas fireplace are just some of the amenities provided to make guests feel at home. The free-form, bi-level outdoor swimming pool adjusts its water temperature, depending upon the air temperature at any given time.

Tennis players will find two courts and golfers enjoy special privileges at both The Pinnacle and the Monument championship courses at Troon North Golf Club. Or, take advantage of the full range of weight-training and cardiovascular equipment in the Fitness Center. Crescent Moon specializes in regional cuisine influenced by the flavors of the Sonora Desert and Mexico while Talavera puts a new spin on the traditional steakhouse with intriguing steak and seafood pairings. The readers of Travel + Leisure have included the Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North on their list of America’s best hotels.

Lake Powell Resort

Located right on the shores of Lake Powell, Lake Powell Resort puts guests in the midst of all the wonders of this incredible spot. Guest rooms feature TV, coffee maker, refrigerator and a hair dryer. Enjoy the two swimming pools and other resort facilities in between your Lake Powell explorations and adventures.

Please note, prices listed are guide prices only and are based on 2 people sharing and don’t include any additional supplements. Holiday prices are fluid and dynamic and may be changed at a moment’s notice, prior to booking, at which point they are confirmed. Please call the team free on 0800 707 6229 for more departure dates available and a quote.