Red Rocks and Canyons

Your holiday will start with a 2-night stay in Phoenix / Scottsdale which is located in the beautiful Sonoran Desert at the foot of the scenic McDowell Mountains. The city is home to a wide collection of luxury hotels, boutique desert hideaways and hip, urban hotels and your Discover North America Travel Specialist will match you with the right property. Wherever you stay in this one-of-a-kind destination, you’re surrounded by world-class golf, acclaimed spas, art, outdoor recreation and an endless variety of shopping and dining. There’s plenty of urban intrigue too, not least in the walkable Old Town, which serves up a wide array of shops, nightlife, restaurants, cafes, galleries and museums.

Sedona is regularly described as one of America's most beautiful places. Nowhere else will you find a landscape as dramatically colourful. Surrounded by natural beauty and blessed with an ideal climate, the striking red rocks of scenic Sedona attract all walks of life.

Spend 2-days here exploring the area. The state parks near Sedona offer breathtaking sights and ample opportunity to commune with nature. Red Rock State Park features an environmental information centre as well as wonderful locations for hiking, biking, birding and fishing. Shaded by cottonwoods and sycamores along the canyon walls, at Slide Rock State Park the adventurous can glide down a natural water slide, or simply relax at picnic tables in the meadow. Those interested in ancient ruins and anthropology will be awestruck by the area's natural rock formations and preserved remains of old cultures. Visitors can hike past the ruins of the Sinaguan Indian on the Boynton Canyon Trail or check out the unique geological deposits at Rachel's Knoll. At the end of a busy but energising day, great restaurants and shopping can be found a Tlaquepaque, a recreated Mexican village.

On day 5, head to the awe inspiring Grand Canyon National Park (South Rim) for a 2-night stay - truly one of the most spectacular sights in the world. You don't want to miss the opportunity to stand on Mather or Yaki Point and see the sunrise over the East Rim, otherwise known as Desert View, nor do you want to leave before experiencing the sunset from Hopi, Yaki or Mather Points. During the daylight hours, be sure to take in all the sights, browse the visitor centres, stroll the Rim Trail or attend free ranger talks. In the evening there are park ranger programs and dark-sky star-gazing you won't want to miss.

Day 7 sees you arrive into Page, Arizona the gateway to Lake Powell, Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend for a 2-night stay. Here you will discover a dramatic and timeless landscape of canyons, lakes and bays, where your days can be as active or as relaxed as you wish. Witness the world-famous Rainbow Bridge, marvel at the Reflecting Canyon, and snap photos of Horseshoe Bend. For an adventure, you could hike the trails of the Glen Canyon Recreational Area, look out from the perch of Hite Overlook, or take a scenic flight to the top of Tower Butte. And you can see first-hand how pioneers and engineers have made their mark on the natural landscape, from the blasted passageway of Hole in the Rock to the Glen Canyon Dam – the engineering wonder which formed Lake Powell itself.

Take a drive to Bryce Canyon National Park in Southwestern Utah. Bryce Canyon National Park is home to the world’s largest collection of hoodoos – tall and thin rock spires of multiple colours and varying thickness. The rare geological formations rise from the ground in abundance and leave visitors in complete amazement. The hoodoos are a must-see at sunrise and sunset, when the orange glow makes the rocks come alive and casts long shadows deep into the natural amphitheater. Even though Bryce Canyon is just a few hours from Las Vegas and Salt Lake City, it’s far enough from the city lights to have one of the darkest skies in North America. At night, as the towering rocks disappear, gaze skyward and see thousands of brilliant stars.

Take the short but beautiful drive to Zion National Park and see huge sculpted rock formations, waterfalls and blossoming gardens. Zion National Park is a majestic natural space that’s home to a red rock canyon that stretches more than 600 metres deep and is surrounded by walking trails and scenic observation points. Zion National Park is an adventurer’s oasis with giant rock domes, towering slot canyons, red sandstone cliffs and lush natural swimming holes – and it’s all yours to explore. Spend your days hiking untamed trails, cooling down in the Virgin River or chilling out at the Hanging Gardens of Zion. At night, look skywards for a spot of stargazing.

We suggest you return your rental car upon arrival into Las Vegas on Day 13. Las Vegas is the entertainment capital of the world, so enjoy a couple of days at leisure to soak up the atmosphere. Tour the Las Vegas strip, visit the themed hotels, take in a show, roll the dice in the casino or simply relax around the pool to round off a truly memorable holiday.

Your tour ends when you return your rental car to the agreed drop-off point. Alternatively, speak with your Discover North America Travel Specialist about possible trip extensions.