National Parks Included: Zion, Carlsbad, Monument Valley, Grand Canyon
This trip is perfect for the independent traveller not wanting to travel solo or friends wishing to travel together with a small group of like minded, fun seeking explorers!
We believe there's no better way to travel than in a small, informal group of like-minded friends. With travellers joining our groups from over 45 countries. With our adventure tours, holiday time isn't wasted waiting for a big group or spent hoping a bus will be on time.
Our private transportation provides the freedom of the open road and the flexibility of independent gap year travel so getting off the beaten track is never a problem. Our tours are all about fun freedom and flexibility.
Accommodation
Based on sharing accommodation is included.
Getting There
The programme begins in New York. If you would
like assistance with your flights, we can assist with sourcing the best
value flight options, just indicate on your booking form.
When To Go
This tour runs in the summer months March to October.
Price and Dates
Prices for this trip can vary on time of year, please contact us for exact prices and dates
Local Payments apply to this trip: Food Kitty: US$10 per day
En-route Hotels: 4 nights approx US$50pppn in multi-share rooms
Admission to all National Parks & Monuments as per the itinerary
Excluded
Flights
Visas
Insurance
Local Payments: Food Kitty: US$10 per day
En-route Hotels: 4 nights approx US$50pppn in multi-share rooms
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Tour Route Map
Flexible Itinerary
Days: 1-2 Los Angeles & Las Vegas
We start our adventure with a sudden burst of neon - Vegas is right in your face - the greatest show on earth. Watch out though, some dub this place 'Lost Wages'! Why not cruise "The Strip" in a super-stretch limo, indulge in an all-you-can eat buffet, take in a show or just watch the amazing crowds, neon signs and attractions that many hotel casinos have to offer. And if that's not enough, take a helicopter flight back down The Strip or just gamble the night away in one of the world class casinos.
Accommodation: 2 en-route hotel nights paid locally
Days: 3-4 Zion National Park & Lake Powell
Journey further east to Zion National Park. Explore the hidden canyons or maybe hike to Angels Landing. Okay, so getting up there can be devilish at times, but the famous trail puts Zion on a 360-degree display of this magnificent national park. Swim the deep blue waters of Lake Powell, formerly the great Glenn Canyon, ride a waverunner or just sit back on the shore and soak up the powerful rays of this beautiful and surreal man-made desert oasis.
Accommodation: Camping included
Days: 5-6 Grand Canyon National Park
No trip west is complete without a stop at the Grand Canyon and we have a full day tomorrow to experience the grandeur of Earth's natural wonder. Pack your best boots and don't forget your camera for a sunrise/sunset hike along the rim. For the more ambitious take the long hike down Bright Angel Trail to Plateau Point, or choose the "bird's eye" view on a scenic flight. Watching the sinking sun paint it amber, maroon and red, its breathtaking immensity still blows you away.
Accommodation: Camping included
Days: 7 Monument Valley
Venturing further into the desert southwest, we hit the iconic Monument Valley used in Hollywood scenes from Westerns to 2001: A Space Odyssey and everything in between. Get jeep-bound and flit between towering buttes and massive mesas. This is sacred Navajo land; take home their secrets, legends and the odd handcrafted keepsake. Tonight, experience a stunning sunset overlooking the valley.
Accommodation: Camping included
Days: 8 Arizona / Roswell, New Mexico
After a visit to the famous Roswell's UFO Museum, pitch your tents together and chew the fat long into the night. What are those lights in the sky?
Accommodation: Camping included
Days: 9-10 Carlsbad Caverns National Park & Texas
Do you know your stalactite from your stalagmite? Carlsbad Caverns boasts over 100 limestone caves sporting glinting minerals and telling names like the Hall of the White Giant and Green Lake Room. The Lone Star then bids you a big-hearted welcome for four nights in the mighty Texas. The biggest state of the continental USA is also home to plenty of Mexican-American cuisine, "Tex-Mex", including spicy fajitas and tacos could be on the menu tonight.
Accommodation: Camping included
Days: 11-12 San Antonio
Don your Davy Crockett hat and check out the Alamo, symbol of Texan pride and independence from Mexico. Or stroll the Paseo del Rio. If your Spanish is shaky, that's the cobbled 'river walk', bursting with greenery, cafés and boutiques.
Accommodation: Camping included
Days: 13 Texas/Louisiana
We say farewell to Texas and head into Louisiana. Look for gators on our optional swamp tour through the mysterious bayous of Cajun country (a must do!).
Accommodation: Camping included
Days: 14-15 New Orleans
Beyond Mississippi we hit Louisiana, home of the Big Easy & Bourbon Street. Now we're talking all that jazz! We head into the enchanting French Quarter of New Orleans and hear the real deal at Preservation Hall, echoing with chirpy trumpet and smooth sax. Sample a Hurricane at Pat O'Brien's! New Orleans has more than just food, drink and music to offer. Do the Huckleberry Finn thing as you chug along the Mississippi River.
Accommodation: 2 nights en-route hotel paid locally
Days: 16 Mississippi/Alabama
Next, travel into the 'Deep South' to Mississippi and Alabama for a taste of true southern hospitality. License plates proclaim you're in the 'Heart of Dixie', as the radio pumps out a
hatful of country tunes to back this up.
Accommodation: Camping included
Days: 17-18 Tennessee & Virginia
You'll need no second invitation to appreciate the grand views of the rolling green slopes of the Appalachian mountains in Virginia. In Tennessee, choose to don a lifejacket, grip a paddle and bounce along a churning stretch of white water an optional rafting trip. Pure adrenalin!
Accommodation: Camping included
Days: 19-20 Washington D.C
Washington DC, is the social, cultural and political hub of the United States. Explore the best of America's Capitol - from the Smithsonian to the Lincoln Memorial on the guided tour. During the day the city is awash with greenery so once you're done with sightseeing, go people watching in the parks. Why not take advantage of the great nightlife in Georgetown!
Accommodation: Camping included
Days: 21 New York Area
Make sure to stay on an extra day or two to explore the sights and sounds of New York City on your own. Splurge along Fifth Ave, hit the top of the Empire State Building, or soak up the trendy, laidback vibe of Greenwich Village before
heading home.
Tour ends at approx 17:00 hrs in New York Area on day 21.
