Journeys: Discover American Canyonlands

Arrive at any time. There are no planned activities today until the evening welcome meeting, so check out the strip or get tickets to a show for this evening.

Included Experiences

• Arrival Day and Welcome Meeting: The adventure begins tonight. Feel free to explore before your welcome meeting, but make sure you’re back in time to meet the group. Check for the meeting time on the welcome note at the hotel. After introductions, your Expedition Leader will review the details of your tour. Please note that normal check-in times apply at our start hotels, but you can usually store your luggage for the day if you arrive early.

Depart for the sandstone slot canyons of Zion, Utah's oldest national park, where monumental cliffs of cream, pink, and red pierce the sky. In the afternoon we get our first glimpse of the park as we hike along The Watchman Trail. This unpaved trail climbs 368 ft (112 m) to a magnificent viewpoint of the Watchman, Temples and Towers, lower Zion Canyon, and the Town of Springdale.

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.

Set out on an unforgettable guided hike to the famed Narrows. Splash, wade, and swim in the cool water of the river that cuts through this stunning slot canyon. Soak up the beauty of the high plateaus, towers, temples, mesas, and some of the planet’s tallest sheer sandstone walls. The canyon is narrow, and the river covers the bottom in many places, which means you will have to wade or swim to proceed. Prepare to get wet but the cool water makes this hike particularly pleasant during the hot summer months. During the cooler months, there are available gear rentals including Gore-Tex dry pants, canyon shoes, and neoprene socks. Hiking poles are available for rent year-round. Hiking is not permitted when the river is high from runoff or flash flooding. Runoff mostly occurs in April and early May. Late summer thunderstorms can occasionally produce flooding. If the hike is not possible due to weather, it will be replaced with another activity.

This is a moderate level hike of 4 to 5 hours, during which you are wading through water which could be ankle or waist deep, depending on local conditions. As well, the terrain is often rocky and uneven. We recommend bringing water shoes with a hiking tread. Should you choose to not do the hike, you can stay and relax at the lodge or discuss with your Expedition Leader other optional activities that may be available (at additional cost).

Included Experiences

• The Narrows Guided Hike: Take a guided hike to the Narrows in Zion National Park. Splash and wade through the cool river which cuts though this stunning slot canyon. You'll mostly be in up to your ankles and in some spots get waist-deep. The Narrows is one of the most popular hikes in Zion National Park, and is considered one of the world's best slot canyon hikes.

This morning, hike through Bryce Canyon National Park, famed for its maze of multi-coloured rock pinnacles called hoodoo. Keep your camera at the ready to snap shots of these spectacular natural towers that cover the canyon floor. Continue on to Page, Arizona, the gateway to Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and the beautiful Lake Powell.

Included Experiences

• Bryce Canyon National Park Visit: See a sight like no other at this giant forest of stone made up of collection of massive natural amphitheaters. This park contains hundreds of thousands of eroded spires, pinnacles, and other shapes as far as the eye can see.

Join a local Navajo guide for a thrilling exploration of Antelope Canyon, a stunning natural sandstone cathedral located on Navajo land and accessible only with an authorized guide. Later, go on a short hike to Horseshoe Bend, and stand on steep vermillion cliffs overlooking a spectacular natural bend in the Colorado River. Enjoy lunch at a Navajo-inspired restaurant and trading post, before continuing on to the awe-inspiring Grand Canyon. Marvel as the Grand Canyon unfolds before you but 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.

Included Experiences

• Antelope Canyon Tour: Named for the pronghorn that used to roam the land, Antelope Canyon is a natural sandstone cathedral created by years of flash flooding, wind, and rain. Tour this breathtaking canyon to discover beams of light, flowing rock walls, and spiral arches and soak in the natural beauty of this surreal place.
• 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.

Spend the day exploring this ancient gorge with an expert from the Grand Canyon Conservancy Field Institute. Set out on foot along the South Rim and gain insights on the unique geology and botany of this geological phenomenon, as well as the local human history. After, view iconic park structures at the Historic Village District, then descend below the canyon rim along the Bright Angel Trail to see 2,000-year-old rock art and 250-million-year-old fossils.

Included Experiences

• Grand Canyon Exclusive: As part of a specially designed experience for National Geographic Journeys travellers, spend a day with a researcher from the Grand Canyon Conservancy Field Institute. Begin with a walk with our expert along the South Rim to hear about the unique geology of the canyon and history of Native Americans here. Then visit the Historic Village District for a stroll past a number of iconic park structures including Hopi House, El Tovar Hotel, and Lookout Studio. Continue down the historic Bright Angel Trail to get a real sense of the feel of the canyon below the rim, viewing 2000-year-old rock art and 250-million-year-old fossils. Then, visit Kolb Studio, home to photography pioneers Emery and Ellsworth Kolb, who shared with the world some of the first pictures of the epic canyon in the August 1914 issue of National Geographic Magazine.

Optional Experiences

• 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.
• Grand Canyon Sunset: Head to the rim of the Grand Canyon at sunset. Point your camera in any direction and capture memorable shots as the shifting light plays off the layers of red, yellow, and brown rock. This is truly one of the great wonders. Enjoy the moment.

Go on a behind-the-scenes tour of Lowell Observatory to see the giant telescopes and learn about the study of astronomy, as well as enjoy a lecture on Mars. Return to Las Vegas, by way of Seligman, Arizona—the birthplace of Route 66. Check out the historic general store and original motels as you discover the legacy of the U.S.’s early transcontinental highway system.

Included Experiences

• Lowell Observatory Experience: Visit the highly renowned Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona for a behind-the-scenes tour of the facility alongside an educator. Established in 1894 (making it one of the oldest observatories in the United States), this centre focuses on educating the general public in astronomical research. Learn about the Clark and Pluto telescopes and enjoy an educational presentation. National Geographic has long supported space research and featured impressive images of our solar system in the pages of National Geographic magazine. As far back as the 1950s, National Geographic has provided funding to astronomers based at the Lowell Observatory to gather important photographic data of Mars.
• Seligman (Route 66) Visit: Take a trip back in time to the birthplace of Route 66. Established in the early 1900s as the first transcontinental highways in the U.S, Route 66 has a lot of history on it's original length of almost 2,500 miles. Starting in Chicago, Illinois and travelling through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, before ending at the ocean in Santa Monica California. The creation of the Interstate system bypassed the majority of Route 66, creating ghost towns along it's original route, though there are a few iconic Americana towns still delivering experiences from the past. Check out the historic general store, original motels, and don't forget to get your kicks!

Depart at any time. Want to spend more time in Sin City? Ask your GCO or Travel Agent about booking post-tour accommodation in the 'Entertainment Capital of the World'.