Find inspiration for your next journey! Request a Free Catalog and Join our Newsletter.
Request a Free Catalog and Join our Newsletter.

Cliffs and Canyons of the American Southwest: A Tailor-Made Journey

9 days from $4,290

A Self Drive Journey

Immerse yourself in the geological wonders of the American Southwest on a customized journey across the canyon country of Utah and Arizona. Explore Zion and Grand Canyon National Parks, go kayaking on Lake Powell, and gain insights into American Indian cultures as you explore Monument Valley. Experience some of the country’s most striking landscapes on guided walks and hikes chosen to suit your pace and interests.

Tailor-Made Journeys
Request a Tailor-Made Itinerary

or call 855-215-8690

Highlights

  • Encounter the incredible geological formations of Zion National Park and the Grand Canyon on guided hikes or walks of your choice.
  • Join a Navajo guide to learn about flora, fauna, and local lore on a tour of Monument Valley.
  • Explore ancient cliff dwellings tucked into the lesser-known canyons of Arizona and Utah.
  • Set off on a thrilling 4X4 adventure to discover the hidden gems of Sedona's red-rock country.

Sample Itinerary

To see itinerary, please click on an option below.

The following itinerary is a sampling of the experiences that we offer on a Tailor-Made Journey. Working with our country specialists, you can customize your itinerary to fit your timing, your budget, and your interests, including accommodations, activities, and the places you visit.

Day 1 — Zion National Park

Fly into Las Vegas McCarran International Airport and pick up your rental car. Then set off on a three-hour drive to Zion National Park, admiring spectacular mountain vistas as you wind your way into southern Utah. You may wish to stop for lunch and window shopping in the delightful town of St. George before arriving in Springdale. Here, make yourself at home at your hotel and take in the views of Zion’s striped red-rock peaks.

Cliffrose Lodge

Day 2 — Zion National Park

Zion National Park awaits your discovery today. You may choose to see the highlights of the park on a six-mile scenic drive, but we also recommend spending time on foot exploring the park's many beautiful walking and hiking trails. Venture into the Narrows on a leisurely hike with a private guide and admire Zion’s towering sandstone walls from the Virgin River. More strenuous hikes are also possible. 

Cliffrose Lodge

Day 3 — Lake Powell

Leave Utah and head into Arizona, driving two and a half hours through arid desert scenery to Page, on the shores of Lake Powell. During a free afternoon, consider taking a boat tour on Lake Powell to discover its spectacular flooded canyons and sandstone formations. Alternatively, go snorkeling or sea kayaking, or just relax on the beach. 

Lake Powell Resort

Day 4 — Monument Valley

Continue your journey east with a two-hour drive to Monument Valley, an iconic landscape synonymous with the American Wild West. You have the afternoon free to explore this copper-hued desert, scattered with dramatically vertical sandstone buttes. 

Gouldings Lodge

Day 5 — Monument Valley / Grand Canyon National Park

Take a tour of the valley led by a Navajo guide this morning. Visit some of its ancient Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings and long-abandoned adobe and stone houses surrounded by thousand-foot high canyon walls.The Navajo have lived in the region for many hundreds of years and your guide will explain the history, geology, flora and fauna of Monument Valley from a Navajo perspective. This afternoon, drive three and a half hours west, following the Colorado through stunning scenery on your way to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Enjoy a free afternoon to get your first glimpse of the canyon, and walk along the rim to take in ever-changing views of this natural wonder. 

Best Western Premier Squire Inn

Day 6 — Grand Canyon National Park

Spend a full day exploring Grand Canyon National Park with a private guide. Choose from a variety of trails, from easy walks to a rigorous trek to the canyon floor. One option is to walk in the footsteps of prehistoric Native Americans on Bright Angel Trail on a hike that can be adapted to your pace. This is typically an easy trail, but the hike can be extended to 3 miles, 6 miles, 9 miles, or 12 miles round trip. The longer version is a strenuous hike to Plateau Point for sweeping views of the Colorado River—a great choice for adventurous visitors who want to take a long hike. Late this afternoon, be sure to find a good spot to witness the golden hour and the sunset as it illuminated the canyon’s mile-high cliffs. 

Best Western Premier Squire Inn

Day 7 — Sedona

Continue south this morning, driving two hours through forests to the red-rock region of Sedona. En route, consider stopping in the town of Flagstaff, which has several worthwhile museums dedicated to the area’s American Indian cultures and the history of its early settlers. Settle into your hotel and admire the panorama of buttes and mesas that surround the town. 

Amara Resort & Spa

Day 8 — Sedona

Head into red-rock country on a 4x4 adventure today, discovering geological marvels from deep gorges to impossibly narrow pinnacles. This afternoon, relax at the hotel or continue your explorations with a visit to the well-preserved ancient cliff dwellings of Boynton Canyon, the birthplace of the Yavapai Apache.

Amara Resort & Spa

Day 9 — Sedona / Depart for home

Today, make your way to the airport and drop off your rental car in time to catch your onward flight. 

Included meals are denoted as follows: Breakfast (B), Lunch (L), Reception (R), Dinner (D)

Monument Valley

Slideshow

Starting Price

Dates

Availability

Price

Choose the dates that work for you
Available
from $4,290

Occupancy Double
Estimated Price $4,290
Request a Quote

Prices shown are per person based on double occupancy, and do not include international air. Reduced pricing may be available for triple or quad accommodations, or for parties of six or more travelers.

Starting price reflects the itinerary shown here, and are intended as a broad indication of how much you should budget for your trip. We can tailor your trip to match your budget by adjusting the trip duration or departure date, and choosing accommodations and activities that suit your needs and interests.

Prices are based on rates of exchange, airfare & fuel (where applicable), tariffs, taxes, and other costs as of the tour publication date. We reserve the right to correct errors and to increase program prices to cover increased costs, tariffs, and taxes received after prices are published and to reflect currency fluctuations.

Tour Details

Accommodations

Cliffrose Lodge
Springdale, UT, United States

Nestled in the heart of Zion Canyon along the Virgin River, the Cliffrose Lodge is an upscale lodge set on five acres of gardens and outdoor spaces. Rooms, suites and villas line the river and have sitting areas and balconies or patios, as well as high-end modern amenities. Along with a restaurant with patio dining, the lodge features a heated outdoor pool, a waterfall hot tub, riverside hot tubs, and a riverside beach.

Lake Powell Resort
Page, AZ, United States

Located at Wahweap Marina on the shores of Lake Powell, the resort is an ideal base for exploring the lake and its surroundings. The resort features comfortable lodging and suites, a slew of restaurants to choose from, two swimming pools and a sauna, and a fitness center. Activities on Lake Powell, from boat rides to fishing, can be arranged through the hotel.

Gouldings Lodge
Monument Valley, UT, United States

The historic Gouldings Lodge began as a trading post in the 1920s. Tucked in among the red cliffs adjacent to the Navajo Nation Park, the lodge offers sweeping views of the buttes of Monument Valley., Rooms and villas are comfortably furnished and feature a private patio or balcony looking out over the valley. With nearly a century in the valley, Gouldings is a destination in its own right, with a museum and movie theater as well as more typical amenities such as a restaurant serving southwestern and Navajo cuisine and a heated indoor swimming pool.

Best Western Premier Squire Inn
Tusayan, AZ, United States

The Best Western Premier Grand Canyon Squire Inn is located in the town of Tusayan, just two miles from the South Rim gate. It's a large hotel with spacious rooms and a full range of facilities including indoor and outdoor pools, three restaurants, several bars and lounges, a gym, a game room, and its own bowling alley.

Amara Resort & Spa
Sedona, AZ, United States

The Amara Resort and Spa is a creekside sanctuary that offers the best of all worlds; situated along Oak Creek with a spectacular backdrop of red rocks, as well as being close to the uptown area of Sedona. 

Special Gift: Commemorative 250th Smithsonian book “The Promise of a Nation”

Travel on a U.S. Tailor-Made land journey in 2026 and receive this commemorative 250th Smithsonian book.* – “The Promise of a Nation”.

The Promise of a Nation

Commemorating 250 Years of Patriotism, Resilience, and Aspirations from the National Collection
Featuring 700 Objects from the National Collection - Smithsonian Institution

Available to ship – March 2026

SMITHSONIAN BOOKS Retail price - $40.00

Celebrate 250 years of American history—and witness the nation’s decade-by-decade evolution—in this illustrated volume featuring 750 Smithsonian objects.

The 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence marks a major milestone, representing two-and-a-half centuries of upholding democracy, building communities, defining freedom, and working to become a more perfect union. In “The Promise of Our Nation”, Smithsonian curators share aspirational stories that have shaped the nation in chapters representing each decade from the 1770’s to the 2020’s. Smithsonian objects help bring each decade to life, from George Washington's sword (1770’s) to an African American volunteer fire company badge (1860’s) to Marian Anderson's attire worn at her Lincoln Memorial concert (1930’s) to the Space Shuttle Discovery (1990’s). Each chapter begins with a timeline of major events and census data, followed by an essay that considers American history through a meaningful and often unexpected lens. Full spreads feature spotlight objects that tell decade-specific stories and offer important insight into each decade and the American story.

*One book fulfilled per reservation.

Gift Membership – Friends of Smithsonian

When you travel on a Tailor-Made Journey, you will receive a Friends of the Smithsonian Archivist Circle membership*. Benefits include:

  • An annual Smithsonian calendar with full-color images of exceptional art and artifacts, mailed in the fall.
  • Subscription to Smithsonian, the award-winning magazine of the arts, sciences, and history. 
  • Invitations to four exclusive virtual programs for Friends of the Smithsonian members with Smithsonian experts.
  • Access to special members‑only hours at select Smithsonian venues.
  • 10% discount in Smithsonian Museum Stores (good on purchases up to $200); 10% discount with the SmithsonianStore.com, and Folkways Recordings
  • Special member rate for tickets to the Smithsonian’s IMAX® theaters and Einstein Planetarium.
  • Free admission to the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum in New York City.
  • A complimentary copy of the Smithsonian annual pocket guide profiling exhibitions and work across the Institution.
  • Invitation to a special welcome members-only tour at a Smithsonian Museum (offered one time to Archivists upon joining at this level).

*Offer only available for first-time Smithsonian members. 

Reading List

*As an Amazon Associate, Smithsonian Journeys earns from qualifying purchases.

Highly Recommended

Grand Canyon National Park: The Complete Guide (Color Travel Guide)
By: Kaiser, James
Buy Now
The Exploration of the Colorado River and Its Canyons (Penguin Classics)
By: Powell, John Wesley
Buy Now
A Naturalist's Guide to Canyon Country (Naturalist's Guide Series)
By: Williams, David
Buy Now
Lonely Planet Utah's National Parks: Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches, Canyonlands & Capitol Reef (National Parks Guide)
By: Keith, Lauren
Buy Now

Also Recommended

Canyon Wilderness of the Southwest
By: Ortner, Jon
Buy Now
Ancient Peoples of the American Southwest (Ancient Peoples and Places)
By: Plog, Stephen
Buy Now
Indian Arts of the Southwest
By: Page, Susanne, Page, Jake
Buy Now
Revenge of the Saguaro: Offbeat Travels Through America's Southwest
By: Miller, Tom
Buy Now
Beyond the Hundredth Meridian: John Wesley Powell and the Second Opening of the West
By: Stegner, Wallace
Buy Now
Laughing Boy: A Navajo Love Story
By: La Farge, Oliver, Gomez, Wanden Lafarge
Buy Now
Desert Solitaire
By: Abbey, Edward
Buy Now
Where the Water Goes: Life and Death Along the Colorado River
By: Owen, David
Buy Now
Carving Grand Canyon: Evidence, Theories, and Mystery, Second Edition
By: Ranney, Wayne
Buy Now
History of the World Map by Map (DK History Map by Map)
By: DK
Buy Now

Travel Insurance

For the convenience of our travelers, Smithsonian Journeys includes a basic medical expense and evacuation plan through Trip Mate, a Generali Global Assistance & Insurance Services brand, at no additional charge. This plan provides post-departure Medical and Dental coverage of $250,000 per person and Emergency Assistance and Transportation coverage of $1,000,000 per person (U.S. Residents Only). Note: For full details regarding these coverages please review the following Plan Documents here.

In addition, we recommend that travelers purchase a travel protection plan to help protect their travel investment from unforeseen events such as cancellation due to illness, flight delays due to adverse weather, baggage loss, and more. For your convenience, Smithsonian Journeys offers an optional Travel Protection Plan administered by Trip Mate, a Generali Global Assistance & Insurance Services brand. For those interested, optional "Cancel for Any Reason" coverage is available for an additional charge. Note: Certain eligibility requirements apply and Cancel for Any Reason coverage is not available to New York residents. For full details regarding this coverage please review the following Plan Documents here.

To learn more about the Travel Protection Plan, you may visit https://www.generalipartner.com/smithsonianjourneys or call the administrator, Trip Mate, a Generali Global Assistance & Insurance Services brand at (866) 501-3252.