US National Parks Explorer & Eclipse

Our trip begins in Las Vegas, a name that conjures up images of flashing lights, wedding chapels, slot machines and limousines - you will find all of this and so much more in this decadent, sense assaulting metropolis.

Due to the number of evening flights into Las Vegas, your Leader plans to do the welcome meeting on the morning of day two, and will leave a message in reception with details on timings and everything else that you'll need for the day. There are no activities planned today, so you are free to arrive in Las Vegas at any time. If you would like to receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into McCarran International Airport (LAS). We will provide shuttle bus transfers to take you from the airport to the city (approximately 15 minutes), and you will receive a voucher containing instructions on how to take the transfer prior to departure.

If your flight arrives earlier in the day, you could choose to take a stroll along the strip where you can see dancing fountains, a pirate ship, an erupting volcano, a pyramid and the Eiffel Tower all within a short walk of each other or take the opportunity to try and win a little holiday spending money! With multiple bars and restaurants to start your culinary journey in the US, Las Vegas is a great place to really get into that holiday mood. Stay: The Strat Hotel (Premium)

You will meet with your Tour Leader after breakfast this morning for the initial tour briefing before we leave behind the bright lights of Vegas and drive towards the, aptly named, Grand Canyon. We will travel today along Historic Route 66, one of the most well known driving routes in the world and one of the original highways within the US Highway system. The route is well-documented in songs and television programmes, and we will stop for lunch in the quirky Route 66-themed Seligman before continuing on to the first of our National Parks, the Grand Canyon.

Once described by Theodore Roosevelt as 'the one great sight every American should see', the canyon extends some 445 kilometres from east to west, from the western edge of the Navajo Reservation, to the Nevada border around Lake Mead. Reaching a depth of 1600m the canyon's floor is littered with some of the oldest rocks on the planet and as watch the sunset at the Canyon this evening, we gaze out across a land that has taken over 2 billion years to create. Stay: Hotel Whitcomb (Comfortable)

Today has been left free to make the most of this natural wonder at your own pace. You may want to follow the path down from the South Rim into the canyon itself, walking down to Indian Gardens and maybe even heading out to Plateau Point for some incredible views down onto the Colorado River below. Those not wishing to undertake the walk in and out of the canyon might prefer to take a helicopter flight over the canyon, or make use of the park's shuttle service to explore something of the rim, enjoying the vast panoramas from the crest of this remarkable setting. Sunsets at the Grand Canyon present an altogether unforgettable experience, with the possibility of condors circling on the thermals above to add to the majesty of the moment. Stay: Red Feather Lodge (Comfortable)

We have a final morning at the Grand Canyon today, our last chance to look over that spectacular vista and hike on some of the canyon's trails.

In the afternoon, we drive out to Kayenta, located on the largest First Nations (in this case, Navajo) Reservation in the country, founded in 1888 to provide a protected region for the Navajo people.

Monument Valley lies within the heart of this vast tribal area and in spite of its familiarity through the exposure by Hollywood, nothing can truly prepare you for the sheer grandeur and spectacle of this incredible setting. Isolated monoliths, sandstone pinnacles and towering spires rocket skywards, as much as 1000m above the desert floor. This will be the dramatic location of our eclipse viewing tomorrow. Stay: Red Feather Lodge (Comfortable)

An annular eclipse of the Sun will take place today, 14th October 2023. Our location for the eclipse is Monument Valley. As the only way to experience the park's dramatic backcountry, we'll be accessing the eclipse location by jeep, with a Navajo guide. We won't just drive directly to the location, but we'll also have the privilege of being guided around some of Monument Valley's most iconic and cinematographic scenery.

This morning, at around 10.29am, you can expect to experience some four minutes and 27 seconds of annularity (weather permitting).

Eclipse glasses will be provided to allow you to view this natural wonder safely and we will be accompanied by an expert astronomer to provide an insight on the science behind the eclipse, and to answer any questions you may have. There will be other Explore groups with us, and we'll be able to share stories about our travels so far.

According to weather records, this day in Monument Valley has had some level of cloud cover 21% of the time (since 2000), although we are unable to make any guarantees regarding the weather conditions and the likelihood of seeing the eclipse.

In the afternoon, we'll drive out of native lands to Moab, Utah's adventure capital and home to both Arches and Canyonlands National Parks.

Note: While on your jeep tour and at the eclipse, food will be provided - we have listed this as 'lunch', but depending on timings it may be more like a 'brunch'! Stay: Monument Valley Inn (Comfortable) (L)

Located a short distance from Moab is Arches National Park, home to the world's largest concentration of natural sandstone arches. With over 2000 arches, giant sandstone fins, balancing rocks and towering spires, the park provides a unique setting for today's hike. We take in the Devil's Garden, a strenuous four-hour trek that takes us through a landscape littered with arches. We'll also walk to Delicate Arch for sunset (2 hours). Probably one of the most photographed arches in the American southwest, Delicate Arch, with its backdrop of the snow-capped peaks of La Sal, provides the perfect setting for our late afternoon hike.

There will be some flexibility in the itinerary today, with some time free in Moab either in the morning or afternoon before the sunset hike. After our walk we then head back to Moab for the evening. Stay: Redstone Inn (Comfortable)

Bryce is without doubt one of the natural highlights of the journey, and this morning we'll drive east into this world of surreal formations of multi-coloured sandstone, steeped in the legend of the Paiute.

Indian legend has it that the sandstone 'hoodoo's' of Bryce are in fact the petrified followers of the Coyote God, turned to stone as they stood listening to his angry tirade. The reality is somewhat less dramatic, with water playing the main part in the creation of these remarkable landscapes; the constant freezing and thawing and the violent summer storms causing the soft rocks to erode and split into the towering pillars that litter the floor of its great amphitheatre.

This afternoon we will explore something of the myriad colours and shapes of this fairytale realm, hiking along the Navajo Loop, or taking in the grandeur of the Queen's Garden. As you look out across the pink, orange and red spires it is easy to sympathise with Ebenezer Bryce, a Mormon farmer who is best remembered for the profound words. 'Well it's a hell of a place to lose a cow!' Stay: Redstone Inn (Comfortable)

This morning we will take the two hour drive to Zion National Park, aiming to get there early to explore.

The main area of the national park that we will visit is Zion Canyon, a 15 mile rift in the beautiful red and tan Navajo sandstone. We may take a walk along the Watchman's Trail, a moderate hike of approximately two hours that will take us past many of the park's famous geological formations, including the Towers of the Virgin and the Altar of Sacrifice. The very end of the walk brings us to a spectacular overlook of the Watchman, a red rock pinnacle that dominates the skyline. Photographic opportunities are plentiful, with a great contrast between the red of the rocks and the running rivers that we'll pass.

There are so many walking possibilities in Zion, and your Tour Leader will outline the options to you from the easy to the strenuous. Scout's Lookout is a challenging, but extremely worthwhile, hike of three hours that affords breath-taking views across the valley. For those of us who aren't hikers, the park's shuttle bus takes people along the valley floor with regular stops to get out, explore and jump back on the next vehicle. Quite simply, there is something in Zion for everyone. Stay: Bryce View Lodge (Comfortable)

This morning we will continue to explore this magnificent creation, first paying a visit to the impressive visitor centre before taking the park's shuttle bus to the start of the walks. Perhaps undertake one of the walks that you missed yesterday, or simply explore the valley floor again on the shuttle bus.

This afternoon we drive back to Las Vegas again, with some free time in the evening to explore this unique city. Stay: La Quinta Inn - Springdale (Comfortable)

Starting early to avoid the heat, we descend into Death Valley today, one of the lowest and hottest places on earth. We then journey into the heart of one of the most remarkable settings on earth, where the marbled rocks, salt pans and black mountains provide us with an incredible backdrop.

Leaving the depths of the valley, we start climbing to the base of the Sierra Nevada mountains, and our hotel for the night near Bakersfield. Stay: The Strat Hotel (Premium)

As we climb into the Sierra Nevada, we begin to witness the fabulous natural beauty of Yosemite National Park, a region which in 1864 became the first protected land in the world, a landscape which caused one of the first white men to see it to gasp in admiration. As we arrive in the valley, the towering presence of the two most demanding peaks of the park will be visible - Half Dome (the sheerest cliff in North America) and the vast granite bulk of El Capitan (twice the size of the Rock of Gibraltar) - both of which attract serious rock climbers from all over the world. The central valley is a mere 20km long by 5km wide but is hemmed in on either side by dramatic 2km-high sheer cliffs, its cascading waterfalls and skyline of jagged pinnacles and smooth domed granite presenting an awe-inspiring backdrop.

We spend some time visiting various viewpoints in the valley this afternoon, depending on the seasonality and which roads are open. We may take a walk to the bases of Yosemite Falls and Bridalveil Falls, before continuing to our hotel just outside the park boundaries. Stay: Yosemite Southgate (Comfortable)

More than 90% of Yosemite is designated wilderness area and today we will take the opportunity to explore it in a little more depth. Away from the main tourist areas of the Yosemite Valley the park is filled with a myriad of options to make the most of its spectacular natural charms. One possibility is a drive up to Glacier Point then hike along the Panorama and Mist Trail back down into the valley (a challenging walk of some 4-6 hours). The hike takes in an ever-changing tableau that includes the impressive cascades of Nevada and Vernal Falls, as well as some breath-taking views of Half Dome and the High Sierras. There are a number of other possibilities available including a relaxing day along the riverbanks. As well as some of the most beautiful mountain landscapes on earth, the park is filled with a variety of wildlife too, including hummingbirds, deer and of course the ever present black bear, ensuring you a captivating encounter whatever you choose to do. It is not possible to do all the options, so your Tour Leader will explain the possibilities and you can choose the ones that interest you most. Options may also be affected by the weather. Stay: Yosemite Southgate (Comfortable)

This morning we leave Yosemite behind us and drive west, heading through the fertile landscapes of Stanislaus County towards San Francisco and the Pacific Ocean.

This afternoon is spent exploring some of the city's highlights as we wander its famous streets, taking in the delightful Victorian architecture of Alamo Square and the colourful eccentricity of Haight Ashbury, San Francisco's once thriving 'hippie district' of the 1960s. We'll also drive up into the elegant Twin Peaks district of the city to enjoy some of the stunning views across the city and the bay (weather dependant), before moving on to the Golden Gate Bridge and finally the eclectic bustle and resident sea lions of Fisherman's Wharf. This evening there is the option to walk to Chinatown, discovering the labyrinthine chaos of the largest Chinatown outside of Asia. Stay: King George Hotel (Comfortable)

There's so much to see and do in San Francisco that the world really is your oyster today. You may wish to pay a visit to Lombard Street and Coit Tower, before returning by the city's famous cable cars back to Union Square and Market Street. You could also visit the famous prison of Alcatraz - tickets should be booked prior to departure directly through the website. Stay: King George Hotel (Comfortable)

The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in San Francisco.

There are no activities planned today, so you are free to depart from San Francisco at any time. We don't offer departure transfers in San Francisco, and information on how to get to the airport will be in your final documents.