Day 1 — Arrive in Phoenix, Arizona

Arrive in Phoenix, Arizona and check in to your resort. Following an afternoon  at leisure, meet your fellow travelers for a welcome briefing and dinner. (D)

Day 2 — Phoenix

Get acquainted with the unusal flora of Arizona’s Sonoran Desert on a morning visit to the acclaimed Desert Botanical Garden, home to more than 4,000 species of cacti, succulents, and other plants. Follow walking trails amid the gardens, seeing some of the 500 rare and endangered species on display. Continue to Old Town Scottsdale, the city’s historic core, where you’ll have free time to browse the shops and galleries and have lunch on your own. Return to your resort and spend the remainder of the day relaxing by the outdoor pool, on the golf course, or taking advantage of the property’s other amenities. Dinner tonight is on your own. (B)

Day 3 — Sedona and Williams

Travel north today, stopping to explore the magnificent landscapes of Sedona. Tucked among vertical sandstone cliffs and towers, Sedona  draws outdoors adventurers as well as artists and photographers. You’ll have time to discover the town on your own over lunch before setting out on a thrilling off-road jeep adventure. Following winding dirt roads between soaring red-rock formations, taking in stunning views and learning about the region’s cultural and geological history. Your excursion includes a visit to the Honanki Heritage Site, a 700-year-old Sinaguan cliff dwelling. Continue north to your hotel in Williams, a few blocks from Route 66, and enjoy dinner together tonight. (B,D)

Day 4 — Grand Canyon

Considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World, the Grand Canyon is a magnificent chasm stretching nearly 300 miles in the Arizona desert.  Spend a full day in this World Heritage site. On a guided tour of the South Rim, take in jaw-dropping views of the multicolored canyon and the Colorado River below. Learn about its geological evolution and trace the site’s human history—which dates back some 10,000 years. Then enjoy lunch on your own and a free afternoon and evening to experience the magnitude and beauty of the six-million-year-old canyon as you wish. (B)

Day 5 — Page, Antelope Canyon, and Lake Powell

Today, follow the Colorado River to Page, Arizona, the gateway to the Glen Canyon Dam and its reservoir, Lake Powell.  After lunch on your own, venture into the sinuous and spectacular Upper Antelope Canyon. You’ll travel onto Navajo land to reach this slot canyon, known to local tribes as “the place where water runs through rocks.” Enter the narrow passageway, walking between red-orange walls of rock that soar to nearly 120 feet, eroded over the millennia into undulating waves. Check into your lakeside resort in time for dinner. (B,D)

Day 6 — Colorado River and Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

Just outside of Page, the 710-foot-high Glen Canyon Dam was built in 1963, causing a portion of the Colorado River to flood surrounding canyons and become Lake Powell. Explore this unique man-made wonder by motorized raft today, skimming from the base of the dam along shores lined with dramatic cliffs. At 186 miles long, the lake boasts nearly 2,000 miles of shoreline. Watch for wildlife as you raft, and keep an eye out for ancient Native American petroglyphs on the canyon walls. Travel into Utah on the way to Bryce Canyon National Park, stopping for lunch along the way. Dine together tonight. (B,L,D)

Day 7 — Bryce Canyon National Park

Start your morning at the visitor center of Bryce Canyon National Park, watching a film about the park’s unusual geology. The rest of the day is yours to explore this remarkable cathedral of sandstone pinnacles, hoodoos, and natural amphitheaters, carved by the elements over millions of years. Meander among thousands of these delicate, coral-colored spires on walks or hikes of your choice, and take in stunning views. Gather for dinner tonight. (B,D)

Day 8 — Zion National Park

West of Bryce lies Zion National Park, another celebrated Utah destination. Arrive in the town of Springdale mid-day and, after lunch on your own, walk to Zion’s nearby visitor center to learn more about this intriguing region, which encompasses four separate biomes: desert, riparian, woodland, and coniferous forest. Enter the park this afternoon, following river valleys and gorges between extraordinary rock formations. After a first taste of Zion’s wonders, enjoy a relaxing unscheduled evening in Springdale. (B)

Day 9 — Zion National Park

Immerse yourself in the majesty of Zion National Park today. One of the most geographically diverse national parks in the United States, Zion brings together deserts and forests, rivers and canyons, buttes and natural arches—as well as numerous plant and animal species. Admire the famous hanging gardens and see rock formations that represent about 150 million years of geological history. Meet with a naturalist for a guided hike and also enjoy plenty of time to explore the park as you wish. This evening, enjoy dinner together at your hotel. (B,D)

Day 10 — St. George and Las Vegas, Nevada

En route to Las Vegas today, stop in St. George, where the Mojave Desert, Colorado Plateau, and Great Basin converge. Take advantage of free time to explore the town before continuing to Las Vegas. This evening, toast your adventure in the canyons of the American Southwest at a farewell dinner. (B,D)

Day 11 - Depart Las Vegas

This morning transfer to the Las Vegas airport for your flights home. (B)