In the Land of Enchantment

Art and Culture in Santa Fe, Mesa Verde and Taos

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Overview

When Georgia O’Keeffe first visited the Desert Southwest in 1917, she knew she had found home. The landscape was so inspiring to her, that she produced a profusion of artwork that continued unabated for decades. The land, the people, and the feeling of New Mexico and the Four Corners tend to inspire, drawing you in, making you feel connected, and rekindling the fire within.

Meander along winding, country roads, stroll cobblestone streets, and take in the warm adobe architecture, fine and folk art, multi-cultural traditions, and fascinating history. Immerse yourself in a wonderful collection of communities – the fine arts town of Santa Fe, Georgia O’Keeffe’s home of Abiquiú, charming Farmington, the energetic town of Durango, and finally, Taos, set high in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

Along the way, fascinating explorations await – the museums and exquisite restaurants of Santa Fe, a tour of Georgia O’Keefe’s home and studio, stargazing in Chaco Culture National Historical Park, a trip high into the San Juan Mountains on a restored steam engine, a day marveling at the Ancestral Puebloan ruins in Mesa Verde National Park, and time on your own at the fascinating Taos Pueblo.

From hiking to history, local flavors to cultural traditions, adobe dwellings to Old West legends – this journey will unveil the true spirit of the Land of Enchantment.

Price From*

$7,150 USD
Trip Type

Custom-Made Travel
Best Months for Travel

April, May, June, July, August, September
Duration

12 days / 11 nights
Trip begins/ends
Santa Fe, New Mexico / Albuquerque, New Mexico

*Price per person based on sample itinerary detailed. Pricing will vary depending upon number of travelers, rooming configuration, and other planning details specific to your trip.

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How Can We Customize This Sample Itinerary For You?

If this sample itinerary looks intriguing, let us know and we can begin the process of tailoring it for you and yours! Call or email us today: [email protected].

Trip Details

Trip Highlights

What’s Included? Everything you need, plus everything you want.

Georgia on My Mind: Be inspired by the same landscapes that led legendary artist Georgia O’Keeffe to become one of the most significant American artists of the 20th Century.
Celestial Wonders: Stargazing in Chaco Culture National Historical Park is nothing short of breathtaking. The lack of light pollution in this remote area makes for the perfect opportunity to contemplate the cosmos.
Step Back in Time: Mesa Verde National Park is home to some of the best-preserved ruins in all of North America. Explore fascinating Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings with your astute interpretive guide.
Convenient Comfort: All the accommodations on this trip offer their own unique charm, yet all share one common thread – a location that invites you to step outside and explore.

The Essentials

In the Land of Enchantment

Trip Type: Custom-Made Travel

Territory: North America

Region: Desert Southwest

Trip Price: $7,150

Duration: 12 days/11 nights

Trip Begins/Ends: Santa Fe, New Mexico / Albuquerque, New Mexico

National Parklands: Mesa Verde NP;Bandelier NM;Chaco Culture NHP

Select Terms & Conditions

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.

Energy Index

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! – 5-10 miles of hiking per day, plus possible peak bagging or other action-oriented fun

In the Land of Enchantment

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

Make It Private

How custom-made travel works at Off the Beaten Path

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!

Trip Highlights
The Essentials
Energy Index
How Custom Travel Works

What’s Included? Everything you need, plus everything you want.

Georgia on My Mind: Be inspired by the same landscapes that led legendary artist Georgia O’Keeffe to become one of the most significant American artists of the 20th Century.
Celestial Wonders: Stargazing in Chaco Culture National Historical Park is nothing short of breathtaking. The lack of light pollution in this remote area makes for the perfect opportunity to contemplate the cosmos.
Step Back in Time: Mesa Verde National Park is home to some of the best-preserved ruins in all of North America. Explore fascinating Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings with your astute interpretive guide.
Convenient Comfort: All the accommodations on this trip offer their own unique charm, yet all share one common thread – a location that invites you to step outside and explore.

In the Land of Enchantment

Trip Type: Custom-Made Travel

Territory: North America

Region: Desert Southwest

Trip Price: $7,150

Duration: 12 days/11 nights

Trip Begins/Ends: Santa Fe, New Mexico / Albuquerque, New Mexico

National Parklands: Mesa Verde NP;Bandelier NM;Chaco Culture NHP

Select Terms & Conditions

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.

Energy Index

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! – 5-10 miles of hiking per day, plus possible peak bagging or other action-oriented fun

In the Land of Enchantment

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

How custom-made travel works at Off the Beaten Path

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!

Itinerary

Days 1-3: Santa Fe, New Mexico

Arrive into Albuquerque, then drive the Turquoise Trail to Santa Fe. Settle in for 3 nights in your pueblo revival-style accommodations, within walking distance of Santa Fe’s historic plaza. Visit Bandelier National Monument to hike through the mesas and rugged canyons, then marvel at the Frijoles Canyon ruins. Spend the day with a fascinating local on a personalized city tour of Santa Fe. Your Journey Guidebook will have personalized activities, Santa Fe sites, restaurants, and hikes to choose from.

Day 4: Abiquiú, New Mexico

Today’s drive takes you north, past Camel Rock, Black Mesa, the town of Española, and a fabulous fruit and vegetable stand. Your destination today is tiny Abiquiú, the former home of Georgia O’Keeffe, where the surrounding desert landscapes inspired her iconic works.

Days 5-6: Farmington, New Mexico - Chaco Culture National Historical Park

Before leaving Abiquiú, you’ll pay homage to the artistic genius of Georgia O’Keeffe with a guided visit of her home and studio. Your next stop is Farmington, the gateway to the wonders of Chaco Culture National Historical Park, where you’ll join an exceptionally knowledgeable guide for a full day deep in the park, exploring the vast ruins of this former hub of the Chacoan people.

Days 7-9: Durango, Colorado - Mesa Verde National Park

Perched at 6,500 feet, Durango seamlessly blends Old West cowboy charm, college-town energy, and outdoor adventures. Spend the day reliving the “Golden Age” with a ride on the original Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. The next day, it’s time to explore Mesa Verde National Park. Join a tour to explore the archaeological sites and learn about the architecture, social structure, and history. Or, for a more personalized immersion into the park, spend the day with a private historian.

Days 10-11: Taos, New Mexico

Cross the state line back into New Mexico from one amazing mountain community to another. Spend one full day in Taos your way – perusing craft stores and art galleries, visiting museums, and marveling at Taos Pueblo which has been inhabited by the Taos Indians for over six centuries.

Day 12: Departures Home from Albuquerque

It's time to bid farewell to the Land of Enchantment and take your memories with you on your flight home from Albuquerque.

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Lodging

Inn on the Alameda

The Inn on the Alameda is nestled in the heart of the city, just a short walk from the historic Santa Fe Plaza and closer to the Canyon Road galleries than any other hotel. An oasis within the center of the city, spacious rooms and comfortable common areas persist throughout the property, with beautifully maintained gardens and shaded courtyards throughout. While in Santa Fe, there are few properties that rival the Inn on the Alameda for its combination of traveler-centric benefits.

Las Parras De Abiquiu Guesthouse

Located outside the quiant community of Abiquiu and set on 55 acres near the Chama River. The guesthouse with its old-world charm is located next to the vineyard and gardens, and you will be able to take walks in the vineyard or stroll down to the river and look for wildlife.

Casa Blanca Inn

Perched on a bluff overlooking Farmington, New Mexico, this wonderful bed and breakfast property has been our most favored for clients traveling to this area. With its wonderfully landscaped gardens, the inn offers a tremendous sense of peace and respite from the busyness of town. The number of uniquely designed and decorated suites and rooms provide great options for every visitor.

Strater Hotel

Located in the very heart of Durango, Colorado, the Strater Hotel is a lovely restored and maintained historic hotel that our clients just adore. Perfectly perched in the middle of Durango’s historic downtown, the Strater keeps you in the middle of everything in town, while providing a comfortable retreat in a grand historic setting. No doubt, the Strater Hotel embodies of the best of the Old West!