Native Ancestral Cities and Cultures

Welcome to Phoenix, a thriving desert metropolis boasting beautiful desert scenery and more than 300 days of sunshine a year. Upon arrival, pick-up your rental car and proceed to your hotel. Begin your exploration of Phoenix / Scottsdale with a hot-air balloon tour and gaze below at the splendor of the Sonoran Desert. With its abundant sunshine and natural beauty, Phoenix/Scottsdale is a golfer’s paradise; there are more than 200 courses in the area, and golf enthusiasts will want to play on them for a day or two. The varied trails of the Desert Botanical Garden are a great opportunity for nature lovers who want to explore the flora and fauna unique to the Southwest desert. If Native American art and culture are your interests, head to the Heard Museum, which houses more than 44,000 objects. For spectacular mountain views, drive the Summit Road to Dobbins Lookout at South Mountain Park. Those looking for exercise and adventure can challenge themselves on two difficult summit trails at the rust-colored Camelback Mountain in the Echo Canyon Recreation Area. Shoppers will delight in bargains found at one of the area’s outlet malls or the high-end shopping at Biltmore Fashion Park. Nearby, explore ancient pueblo structures and learn about prehistoric farmers at the Hohokam Pima National Monument and Casa Grande Ruins National Monument in the Gila Valley. Overnight in Phoenix.

An Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwelling dating to around 1200, Montezuma Castle National Monument includes a five-story structure, essentially a home for about 50 people, built by the indigenous Sinagua people. Sedona, long considered a spiritual oasis because of the number of healers and artists living there, and Flagstaff on famous Route 66, often called the USA’s “Mother Road,” are must-stop destinations on the way to Grand Canyon National Park. Few places can top the stunning natural beauty of the awe-inspiring Grand Canyon, which is a mile (1.6 km) deep and up to 18 miles (29 km) wide. The more easily accessed South Rim is open year-round. Tour the park’s landscapes by car, bus, mule, helicopter, raft or on foot. Overnight in Grand Canyon National Park.

Experience the towering sandstone “sculptures” of Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, famous as the location for many Western movies, before visiting Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, which has more than 6,000 archaeological sites of the Puebloan and Native American cultures. Continue learning about ancient times with a visit to Mesa Verde National Park, famous for having some of the most well- preserved Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings with the 150-room Cliff Palace, the largest in North America, as the most notable. Explore the park’s museum collection of more than 3 million objects or hike to take in some of the most spectacular views of the canyons and landscape. Overnight in Mesa Verde National Park.

First stop today is Chaco Culture National Historic Park, considered to be one of the most important ancient ancestral homes of both the Hopi and Pueblo people. Stop at the Navajo Nation to learn about art and culture at the Hubbell Trading Post National Historic site, then continue to Canyon de Chelly National Monument, where people have lived for nearly 5,000 years. With a park ranger or Navajo guide, explore the landscape of canyons and Ancestral Puebloan and Navajo ruins. Overnight in Chinle.

Located along famous Route 66, Petrified Forest National Park is known for its fossils, especially fallen trees, from the late Triassic Period, about 200 million years ago. Sights along the way during rugged hikes, bike outings or drives include bluff overlooks, buttes, hoodoos and petroglyphs. Overnight in Phoenix.

Return your rental car prior to your departure flight.