Overview
Itinerary
Howdy folks! Arrive in Phoenix and transfer to Scottsdale on your own. You can spend the afternoon at leisure before meeting your new travel partners for dinner. (D) Stay: Sonesta Suites Scottsdale Gainey Ranch
Your trek through America's frontier history begins in the Sonoran Desert. Stampede through the luminous orange and red landscapes of Sedona with your choice sightseeing. Then, it's on through Oak Creek Canyon to the historic railroad town of Williams, where you'll Connect With Locals and enjoy a Be My Guest experience dinner hosted by the owners of a local western restaurant. (B/D) Stay: Grand Canyon Railway
Discover all that Flagstaff has to offer today. Head to Walnut Canyon National Monument to spot cliff dwellings and learn all about the Sinagua people who lived here over 800 years ago. Enjoy a scenic self-guided 0.9-mile loop trail that allows visitors to explore the dwellings up close, as well as breath-taking views of the canyon and its diverse plant and animal life.
Enjoy lunch on your terms in downtown Flagstaff before you Dive into Culture at the Museum of Northern Arizona learning all about the cultural heritage of the Colorado Plateau over a guided pottery-making class. The remainder of your evening is free for you to explore Route 66 just steps away from your hotel. (B)
Cut dirt and board your train to the Grand Canyon for some Family Fun, passing the vanilla-scented Ponderosa Pines and through the Kaibab National Forest. Tales of Old West legends are brought back to life as they travel with you along the rugged landscapes. We arrive at the UNESCO-listed Grand Canyon, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Walk the rim and learn from a Local Specialist how this extraordinary feat of nature developed over the past 40 million years. (B) Stay: National Park Lodges Grand Canyon
Enjoy a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience as you visit Desert View's Pueblo-style Watch tower and support the Grand Canyon Conservancy and their development of the Desert View Inter-Tribal Cultural Heritage Site. Enjoy lunch on your own in Page before heading over to the iconic Horseshoe Bend. You'll witness the Colorado River carving through the red rock canyons with sweeping vistas as far as the eye can see. Afterward, you can choose to join a Navajo Local Guide for a tour through one of the magical slot canyons surrounding the region.
In the evening, join an optional MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience at Red Heritage, a Navajo owned and operated Native American Performing Arts Theatre, for a show of powwow dancing, flute playing and live drum music while enjoying a tasty dinner. (B) Stay: Lake Powell Resorts & Marinas
Explore yet another great natural triumph in Zion National Park by shuttle or on foot. Connect to history following in the footsteps of Native Americans and the earliest pioneers. Immerse yourself in Zion's vibrant landscapes, where lush vegetation lines winding rivers, seasonal waterfalls cascade down canyon walls, and towering white and pink sandstone cliffs soar overhead. Perhaps challenge yourself with a hike to the Emerald Pools before continuing your adventure to the red-orange-pink-hued hoodoos of Bryce Canyon, your final stop for today.
Continue the fun over an optional barbeque dinner at Ebenezer's Show and Dinner feasting on salmon, flat iron steaks and grilled chicken and tasty sides while taking in an energizing live country music show. (B/L) Stay: Best Western Plus Ruby's Inn
Take your seat in an amphitheater of the must-see, towering sandstone spires of Bryce Canyon. Bask in these pink, orange and rusty-red limestone spires, known as hoodoos, that seem to rise from the desert floor.
Explore the rim, learning how the canyon was formed over millennia by the erosion of sandstone and limestone, before spending the afternoon at leisure. Choose to blaze your own trail on a one-hour horseback ride in the Dixie National Forest, climbing Bristlecone Pine Ridge with 1,500-year-old Bristlecone Pines (one of the oldest living things on the North American continent). Your adventure through the Old West almost at its end, you get gussied up for dinner. (B/D)
Hoodoos to your back and high-living ahead, depart on the last leg of your journey to Las Vegas with a stop in St. George, Utah for lunch on your own. You'll be transferred to Las Vegas International Airport, or your hotel if you're extending your stay. (B)
Trip Inclusions
- Explore the Grand Canyon with 'Canyon Tim', a Local Geologist
- Visit Sedona, Flagstaff, Walnut Canyon National Monument, Museum of the North, Horseshoe Bend, Historic Cameron Trading Post, Grand Canyon National Park, Page, Lake Powell, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park
- Scenic drive through Red Rock Country, Oak Creek Canyon and Desert View in Arizona. Grand Canyon Railway journey through the Kaibab Forest
- Iconic Train journey aboard the historic Grand Canyon Railway
Be My Guest
- Williams: No doubt Williams, Arizona has both a Route 66 and Old West Town. And Wild West Junction screams Old West! California transplants Dan and Judy Curns host a special Be My Guest dinner. The married couple will provide some entertaining history on Williams Wild Wild West past.
Dive Into Culture
- Flagstaff: Explore the history and culture of the Ancestral Puebloan people who lived in northern Arizona. You'll see examples of pottery from the past and observe its evolution over time. View contemporary Indigenous pottery and learn about the traditional tools and techniques, many of which are still in use today. Finally, create your own clay pot or sculpture using either ancient or modern tools, which you can take home as a keepsake.
Iconic Experience
- Sedona: Take the scenic route down into the serene, artistic town of Sedona to take in the surrounding red rock and pine forests.
- Grand Canyon National Park: Explore Grand Canyon Railway and view Kaibab National Forest on your way to The Grand Canyon.
- Grand Canyon National Park: Meet Canyon Dave, who shares fascinating stories about this extraordinary feat of nature and its development over the past 40 million years.
- Page: Behold the majestic beauty of Horseshoe Bend, where the mighty Colorado River gracefully curves through the heart of the desert landscape, creating a breath-taking natural spectacle that must be seen to be believed. The hike to Horseshoe Bend is approximately 0.75 miles (1.2 kilometres) one way, making it a total round-trip distance of about 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometres). The trail is relatively easy and well-maintained, suitable for people of all ages and fitness levels. It typically takes around 20 to 30 minutes to hike from the parking area to the overlook, where you'll be rewarded with stunning panoramic views of the bend and the surrounding landscape.
- Zion National Park: Unlock geological history as you walk the paths and trails of Zion National Park, following in the footsteps of Native Americans and the earliest pioneers. The lush vegetation, wild rivers, roaring waterfalls and towering cliffs of this park will have you reaching for your camera over and over again. You'll even drive through the amazing 1.1-mile, sandstone Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel built from the late 1920s through 1930, when it was the longest tunnel of its type at the time.
- Bryce Canyon National Park: Hello, hoodoos. As you arrive at Bryce Canyon National Park, enjoy seeing the pink, orange and rusty-red limestone spires, known as hoodoos, rise up from the valley floor. Explore the visitor center to learn more about the history and geology of the park before a scenic drive along Bryce Canyon Road with possible stops at Sunrise Point, Sunset Point and Inspiration Point. You'll love seeing how Bryce Canyon, home to the largest collection of these spires in the world, is in a league of its own.
Make Travel Matter®
- Grand Canyon: At Desert Viewpoint Inter-tribal Cultural Heritage Site learn about the 11 Grand Canyon tribal communities. Discover Native crafts watching a carpet weaving demonstration, or you may enjoy traditional song and dance performances. Your visit and donation provide a continuous source of funding for the on-going development of the Cultural Heritage Site while allowing guests to engage directly with Indigenous community members. The experience directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities and Goal 11: Responsible Production and Consumption.
Trafalgar Difference
- Grand Canyon: Step into a bygone era at refurbished Grand Canyon Railway Hotel which was built to serve passengers on the Santa Fe Railroad in 1908. Next door to the train depot and just a block away from downtown Williams and historic Route 66, you're in the ideal spot to make the most of the Grand Canyon. Tempt yourself with dining options at the Fred Harvey Restaurant and Spenser's Pub or relax in the indoor pool and hot tub.
- An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
- Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
- All porterage and restaurant gratuities
- All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
- Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
- Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
- Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
- All transport and transfers shown
- Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
- Optional Experiences (Additional Cost) and free time
- On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilised
- 3 Dinner (D)
- 7 Breakfast (B)
- 1 Lunch (L)
- Itinerary and inclusions are subject to change
- Price is for land, cruise and internal flights as specified. Flights not specified are not included
You’ll enjoy the icons and hidden gems with a Local Specialist by your side. Read more
With one on every itinerary, Be My Guest ensures your journey is truly one-of-a-kind, wherever it takes you. Read more
Find yourself overnighting in accommodations with stories as rich as the destinations you’re exploring. Read more
Trip Reviews (1) Most Recent 'Pioneer Adventures of the Old West' Reviews
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Trafalgar USA (2026-27)
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