Classic Road Trip through the Best of Canyon Country
Credit: Sorrel River Ranch
Trip Type: Custom-Made Travel
Territory: North America
Region: Desert Southwest
Trip Price: $4,190
Duration: 10 days/9 nights
Trip Begins/Ends: Las Vegas, Nevada / Grand Junction, Colorado
National Parklands: Arches NP;Bryce Canyon NP;Canyonlands NP;Grand Canyon NP;Zion NP;Grand Staircase-Escalante NM
All custom travel is tailored to the desires and interests of our traveling clients (see How Custom Travel Works tab). Trip pricing detailed is an estimate of the per person pricing for the sample itinerary detailed and includes all of the lodging, activities, and guided experiences described. Actual pricing for the trip designed expressly for you and others traveling with you will depend on the features and elements developed during the trip planning process. Travel with Off the Beaten Path requires agreement to our standard Terms & Conditions.
No Sweat - 1-2 miles of walking or hiking per day, plus easy activities
Nice & Active – 3-6 miles of hiking or walking per day, plus physically active exploration
High Five! – 5-12 miles of hiking per day, plus possible peak bagging or other action-oriented fun
The Energy Index detailed above relates to the level of exertion associated with the sample trip detailed. This would be modified to fit the style and ability of your group as a part of the custom trip planning process
We’ve been tailoring custom journeys for clients since our very inception in the mid-1980s! The process is all about connecting the interests of the travelers with the best that a given destination has to offer. To achieve this, we rely upon good ol’ fashioned conversation! Our geographically focused travel designer love to meet new people and learn about their interests for travel. Understanding your goals informs the process immensely and serves as the foundation for the development of a bespoke travel experience for you and yours.
The trip detailed on this web page is a sample of something we’ve done for other clients over the years. In order to start the process of designing your own custom travel experience, just call us at (800) 445-2995 and ask to speak with one of our Travel Advisors. After a bit of time on the phone, you will then have the opportunity to connect with one of our travel designers.
The entire planning process is very personalized and works in an iterative fashion until a final, perfect trip has been created. We then secure all of the lodging, activities, and guided experiences associated with your trip and send along abundant trip materials capturing these details – and much more about your travels!
Land in Vegas, and head straight for the beautiful Bellagio! Be entranced at an evening performance of “O” by the one-and-only Cirque du Soleil. After, consider a walk along the strip to see the Bellagio Fountains and Mirage Volcano at night!
Your next stop is the one-and-only Grand Canyon. The canyon’s depth and immensity are truly stunning, leaving you with only one word: Wow! Stay in park accommodations within walking distance to the rim, allowing for a stroll along the rim before coffee, after dinner, or both! Spend a day exploring and hiking with an expert naturalist, who will tailor the day to your interests and help you wrap your arms around this oh-so-Grand Canyon!
You’re off to a completely different canyon, this one carved by the Virgin River in Zion National Park. The Desert Pearl Inn is a wonderful base, located on the river outside the park’s entrance, surrounded by red rock walls. Another full day of exploring with a local naturalist lends itself to your visit. Enjoy a day of hiking to high places, to emerald pools, or through the Zion Narrows, or consider learning the ropes of canyoneering. At day’s end, relax by the pool, then walk to dinner and delight in Southwest cuisine!
You’re off to lesser-known territory today, and the area around Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. En route, stop at Bryce Canyon National Park, taking time to marvel at the bright orange spires from overlooks or along a short trail. Relish a stay at Boulder Mountain Lodge, a beautiful retreat set in the heart of Escalante. Indulge in delicious, creative, southwestern cuisine at the lodge’s renowned organic restaurant.
Head for Moab, one of the country’s true adventure capitals! Settle in to fine accommodations on the banks of the Colorado River, a short distance and world away from the bustle of town. One day brings a very memorable day of 4x4 exploration in the exceptional Needles District of Canyonlands National Park. Slowly – very slowly – make your way over Elephant Hill, then take to the sandy washes and slickrock of Chesler Park. Day two takes you on a private, naturalist-guided outing to Arches National Park, to gawk at the crazy-cool arches, bridges, and formations, some with very fitting names!
Drive along the Colorado River through Castle Valley to Grand Junction, Colorado, for flights home.
As the apex lodging experience in Las Vegas, the Bellagio is synonymous with spacious rooms, plush furnishings, and the highest level of service. The hotel boasts its own gallery of fine art, botanical gardens, Mediterranean Villa-style pool area, and the famous Bellagio Fountains. It’s an oasis amidst the clamor of the Vegas Strip.
Located in the town of Tusayan, just two miles from the entrance to Grand Canyon National Park, the Grand Hotel offers very nice room amenities and of course, great proximity to the areas you will explore along the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park.
A long-time client favorite, the Desert Pearl Inn is a classic Southwest gem. Set along the banks of the Virgin River, the property is very nicely operated and holds a number of outstanding amenities. For our clients, we prefer to use the riverside rooms, all of which are expansive in size and enjoy wonderful views of Zion Canyon with great patios or balconies overlooking a lush grassy common area and the Virgin River. Simply perfect!
Boulder Mountain Lodge is an exceptionally comfortable and peaceful basecamp for exploring this area. The lovingly managed and maintained backcountry ecolodge is a real gem, with its bird sanctuary and stunning views of the rugged, gorgeous country. The lodge’s fantastic organic restaurant is also sure to make an impression. People come from all over to enjoy the creative cuisine served at Hell's Backbone Grill.
Set amongst the most spectacular scenery near Southern Utah’s famous arches and red rock mountains, Sorrel River Ranch Resort and Spa elevates the standard of luxury lodging in Moab, offering 160 acres of wide open ranch land tucked away along the Colorado River.
Nicely located near the Grand Junction airport, the Double Tree is our preferred hotel in town and overlooks the bluffs of the Grand Mesa Plateau.
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