Southwest Family Journey: Sedona, Zion & the Grand Canyon

Welcome to Phoenix–your arrival transfer to the hotel is included. Check in and get excited to meet your fellow travelers during a welcome meeting this evening where all families can bond before the Journey ahead.

Included Experiences

• Welcome Moment - Meet Your Expedition Leader and Group: Your opportunity to meet your National Geographic Expedition Leader and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.
• Arrival Transfer: Sit back and scan the scenery during your included arrival transfer from the airport to your joining hotel in Phoenix.

Your day begins with a visit to Montezuma Castle to explore a window into the region’s past. The castle was the third National Monument dedicated to preserving Native American culture and was established in December 1906. Enjoy a picnic lunch on site before continuing to Sedona. Upon arrival, take to the terrain on a guided jeep tour, where you’ll travel down unpaved trails and canyons while learning about the native landscape, wildlife and geological history of the area. You’ll also get spectacular views of Sedona’s iconic red rock formations. In the evening, arrive at the hotel, where dinner will be at your leisure.

Included Experiences

• Montezuma Castle Visit: Glimpse back in time over 800 years, to view one the most preserved ancient cliff dwellings in North America. Once a 45-50 room residence, some 20 rooms remain tucked into the side of a limestone cliff.
• Sedona Jeep Tour: Set off on an adventurous 2-hour jeep tour through Sedona's iconic red rock landscape. Enjoy spectacular views, explore canyons, winding trails, and learn about the geological history and wildlife of the native landscape.

Explore Experiences

Enjoy a morning on your own to explore Sedona with your family. You may choose to hit the trails on a hike, where you can explore the area’s stunning scenic surroundings, which includes everything from caves to canyons, red rocks and natural bridges. In the afternoon, depart for Verde Canyon, where you’ll climb aboard a private train car and ride the rails of the historic route from Clarkdale to Perkinsville. Continue through a protected corridor along the rippling green waters of the Verde River, bordered by towering red rock pinnacles, fortified bridges and a tunnel carved through solid rock. Return to the hotel in Sedona and enjoy an evening at your leisure.

Included Experiences

• Free Time: Enjoy a free morning to explore Sedona on your own as a family, and perhaps walk along some of the nearby hiking trails
• Verde Canyon Train Ride: See the abundance of flora, fauna, and rugged, high-desert rock formations in a canyon only accessible by rail. Step aboard a private train car and travel for four hours and 20 miles through the untouched and unspoiled Verde Canyon. Watch the daylight as it glimmers over the rippling green waters of the Verde River. Look up the canyon walls into the brilliant blue skies of this deep gorge and travel from Clarkdale to Perkinsville and back. On the return journey the canyon takes on an entirely new appearance as the shadows grow taller in the shifting sun. This heritage railroad has existed in harmony with nature and its inhabitants since 1912.

Spend the day exploring one of nature’s most spectacular natural formations—the Grand Canyon. Marvel as the vastness unfolds before you and the land drops almost straight down for more than 3,280 ft (1,000 m) into the rainbow-colored canyons below. In the morning explore along the rim of the canyon, then spend the afternoon on your own. Choose to view iconic park structures at the Historic Village District, then descend below the canyon rim on your own along the Bright Angel Trail to see 2,000-year-old rock art and 250-million-year-old fossils. Other options include a visit to the Yavapai Geology Museum, a walk along the South Rim or watching a documentary at Grand Canyon IMAX Theater. In the evening, there will be an optional pizza dinner on the rim of the canyon overlooking the setting sun—an unforgettable experience for your entire family.

Included Experiences

• Grand Canyon National Park Visit: Spend the day exploring the Grand Canyon. Marvel as the land drops almost straight down for more than 3,280 ft (1,000 m) into the canyons below. Choose to walk along the South Rim, watch a documentary at the IMAX theater, visit the Yavapai Geology Museum, or descend below the rim along the Bright Angel Trail.

Optional Experiences

• Grand Canyon South Rim Visit: Visit the south rim of the canyon for a great first impression. Marvel as the Grand Canyon unfolds before you. Don't get too close. The land drops almost straight down for more than 1,000m (3,280 ft) into the serpentine canyons below! The gorge is filled with rocky buttes, sheer limestone cliffs, and deep canyons all arrayed in a rainbow of colors. Words defy. This is truly one of the most magnificent sights on earth.
• Grand Canyon Hike: Opt to hike along the rim or down into the canyon. Experience breathtaking scenery with spectacular views. Bring lots of water, a hat and plenty of energy. Remember -- hiking down is optional, hiking back up is mandatory!
• Grand Canyon IMAX Movie: On a giant six-story movie screen, watch the most viewed IMAX film of all time, "Grand Canyon: The Hidden Secrets". Escape, fly, and discover the history and beauty of this awe-inspiring landscape.
• Bright Angel Trail Hike: Hike towards the heart of the Grand Canyon on the spectacular Bright Angel Trail. Descend into the canyon to experience its natural beauty in a way most visitors miss. Journey to Indian Garden, and depending on group fitness and the season, continue on to Plateau Point.
• Grand Canyon Sunset Pizza: Find a spot to sit and dig in to the most scenic dinner you've ver had! Enjoy some pizza as the sun sets over the Grand Canyon offering breathtaking views while the canyon walls glow red and orange in the fading light. This is truly one of the great wonders. Enjoy the moment.

Explore Experiences

Get an early start to the day with a visit to the mighty Horseshoe Bend on the way to Page, Arizona. Stand on the steep vermillion cliffs overlooking the horseshoe bend in the Colorado River, which was formed 5 to 6 million years ago. Enjoy a picnic lunch in Page before an unforgettable, private kayak adventure through a section of Antelope Canyon that is only accessible by water. Paddle alongside your knowledgeable and experienced guides as you explore this stunning sandstone slot canyon while learning about its history. Along the way, jump into the refreshing water for a swim in the shadows of the massive canyon walls. This evening, arrive at your accommodations in Zion and have dinner at your leisure.

Included Experiences

• Antelope Canyon Kayaking Adventure: Hop aboard a kayak for a 2.5-hour private, guided trip through the very scenic Antelope Canyon. This canyon is one of the most famous slot canyons in the entire world. Float through the waters of the Colorado River alongside your experienced guides. Pass by sandstone canyon walls with the orange and red hues contrasting against the deep blue water below. Paddle through calm water and listen to an insightful interpretation of the canyon and its history. Part way through there will be an opportunity to jump in the water for some swim time and a much needed cool down. Splash in the refreshing water and marvel at the thick walls of the canyon high about you against a cloudless sky.
• Horseshoe Bend Hike: Take a short hike to this spectacular horseshoe-shaped meander of the Colorado River. Stand atop steep orange-coloured sandstone cliffs and look out at Horseshoe Bend. Peer down more than 300m (1,000 ft) at the emerald river below.

Explore Experiences

Enjoy a full free day exploring the many amenities and activities at the ranch. Opt in for activities like, horseback riding, hiking, jeep tours, canyoneering and more! You may also choose to relax with a rejuvenating yoga flow, sit by the pool or just admire the magnificent landscape that surrounds you. You may also choose to go on a walk in search of the diverse plants and animal life in the area of the park that transitions from desert to forest. In the evening, join together with your fellow travelers for dinner. At night, be sure to head outside for some stargazing beneath the infinite sky.

Included Experiences

• Free Time: Spend the day free in Zion and opt to indulge in the many amenities at the Ranch in Zion where the group will be staying. Choose to go horseback riding in the vast property, hike along the available trails, jump on a jeep tour, try canyoneering, or sign up for a relaxing yoga section. At night there will be time to stargaze into the infinite dark sky above.

Travel further into Zion National Park for a guided hike along the Emerald Pool Trail. This 3-mile loop features a striking desert oasis in the middle of the park. The trail follows along a small, verdant stream, which collects in a series of pools. There are 3—upper, middle and lower—making this hike one of the most peaceful destinations in Zion Canyon. Lunch will be on your own in Springdale before you continue on to Las Vegas. In the evening, attend a farewell dinner with your fellow travelers.

Included Experiences

• Zion National Park Visit: Admire monumental sandstone cliffs of cream, pink, and red that tower into the sky. Experience diverse plant and animal life, and wade through water in a narrow slot canyon as the park transitions from desert to forest. Gaze at the awe-inspiring beauty of the high plateaus, striking towers, temples, mesas, and the earth's tallest-known sheer sandstone walls.
• Hiking: Set out on a guided hike with your Expedition Leader along the Emerald Pool Trail in Zion National Park. Enjoy the three-mile loop featuring a striking desert oasis in the middle of southwestern Utah. Wander along a trail that follows a small stream that collects in a series of pools along the way.

Explore Experiences

Depart at any time.