Fly Drive USA

Depart the UK on your chosen scheduled flight to Denver. Upon arrival, independently make your way to your hotel. There is a convenient rail service from the airport to Union Station in downtown Denver, providing the quickest and most cost effective option.

We’ve allowed a full day for you to explore the incredible city of Denver, but you may choose to extend your stay, perhaps even explore Colorado on our Rocky Mountain Discovery fly drive if time allows. Denver is one cool city! It has lots of sub-divisions, each with their own character. One of the newest, Dairy Block, is perfect for cool evenings with its plethora of bars and restaurants. If you want souvenirs, there’s lots of shopping both downtown and in the nearby outlet malls. Union Station is an attraction in itself, as is Larimer Square.  For a spot of culture, visit the world-class museums and art districts of the city.

Your scenic rail journey begins! Today you depart Denver and travel onboard the iconic Rocky Mountaineer.  Crossing the Continental Divide you’ll take in the spectacular views of rugged canyons and the Colorado River.  Enjoy a three-course regionally inspired lunch onboard before arriving at the resort town of Glenwood Springs. There will be time to explore and perhaps take a dip in the towns hot springs swimming pool.

Breakfast & lunch on-board Rocky Mountaineer included

This morning you’ll depart Glenwood Springs, by hopping back onboard the Rocky Mountaineer. You’ll cross the Colorado-Utah border with stunning mountain views shining through the windows as you go. Red sandstone landscapes emerge as you approach Moab, the gateway to Utah’s extraordinary Canyonlands. Disembarking, you’ll make your way to your hotel where you spend the next three evenings.

Breakfast on-board Rocky Mountaineer included.

Moab is known as the gateway to Arches and Canyonlands National Parks and we’ve included extra time here so you have a full day to explore each of these natural wonders. Collect your rental car from downtown Moab and head out on your adventure. Arches National Park contains the world’s largest concentration of natural sandstone arches. Although over 2,000 arches are located within the park’s 76,518 acres, the park also contains an astounding variety of other geological formations. Colossal sandstone fins, massive balanced rocks, soaring pinnacles and spires dwarf visitors as they explore the park’s viewpoints and hiking trails. Spend your evening taking in Moab,  which offers a unique combination of small resort town hospitality, beautiful scenery and the cool waters of the Colorado River.

Today you are heading towards Monument Valley, but we suggest you spend your day at Canyonlands National Park which is en route and shouldn’t be missed. Canyonlands is the largest national park in Utah (more than 500 square miles), offering awe-inspiring views across the valleys which stretch as far as the eye can see. The Colorado and Green Rivers divide Canyonlands into four districts – Islands in the Sky, The Needles, the Maze and the rivers themselves – each with its own distinct character. The easiest way to see the park is with a visit to the Island in the Sky district, only 32 miles (51.5 kilometres) from Moab. The Island in the Sky offers many places to pull over and enjoy the spectacular  views along the paved scenic drive. This evening, make your way to Monument Valley for your overnight accommodation.

Monument Valley is one of the most majestic and most photographed places on earth. Over the years Monument Valley has been the setting for more Western movies than any other site in the USA. This great valley boasts sandstone masterpieces that tower at heights of 400 to 1,000 feet, framed by scenic clouds casting shadows that graciously roam the desert floor. The angle of the sun accents these graceful formations, providing scenery that is simply spellbinding. Your hotel is located beneath the towering sandstone cliffs allowing you to see the sunrise and sunset whilst there are few others around.

It’s a relatively long drive today, but the scenery en route is exceptional as you drive through northern Arizona and your reward is worth the journey. The Grand Canyon really does take your breath away with its awesome views. This 5 million year old canyon is a must see with its seemingly never-ending, intricate landscape. The powerful and inspiring vistas have overwhelmed the senses of the millions of people that have visited each year. Carved by the mighty Colorado River, it is 277 miles long, up to 18 miles wide and 6000 feet deep and one of the seven natural wonders of the world. The South Rim of the Canyon is the most accessible part of the National Park and we have based you here for the greatest convenience.

Leaving the Grand Canyon, you traverse Kaibib National Forest and head south toward Flagstaff. Visitors from all over the world are attracted to Flagstaff’s clean mountain air, year round outdoor recreation opportunities, historic town charm and Western legacy of pioneer ranchers, railroad builders and lumbermen. Some of the west’s most beautiful countryside surrounds Flagstaff, from the Coconino National Forest to the San Francisco Peaks. During the summer months the climate is almost perfect with daytime temperatures in the mid 80’s and evening temperatures in the 50’s so it’s never too hot to enjoy the outdoor life of this charismatic western town. There’s a great choice of dining and microbreweries to suit all budgets and palates and for enthusiasts of Route 66, Flagstaff is a great place from which to explore some of the old landmarks of this famous route.

It is just a short drive today, but as with this whole itinerary, it is wonderfully scenic with many attractions to visit. Located in Arizona’s high desert, under the towering southwestern rim of the vast Colorado Plateau, the city of Sedona is a premier tourism destination for recreation, art and local culture, and today it is the setting for many television shows, films and advertisements making it a location that seems familiar even upon your first visit. Sedona is blessed with a mild climate combined with abundant sunshine yet it is a part of Arizona that offers a respite from the hot desert climate with convivial cool high-desert nights. When it comes to dining, there’s a wide choice of outstanding restaurants offering you many and varied dining styles, atmospheres and flavours. To enjoy the vistas and surroundings of this “Red Rock Country” there are many opportunities to sightsee, including, jeep tours, helicopter rides, hot-air ballooning and scenic railroads.

Journeying south, you soon arrive in Scottsdale. This cosmopolitan city offers a whole host of recreational opportunities and boasts a beautiful Sonoran Desert setting. Your accommodation for the next three nights is at Hyatt Regency Scottsdale at Gainey Ranch. A plethora of facilities including pools and a spa, make it the perfect place to relax. Be sure to explore Scottsdale’s historic downtown, visit the many shops in Fashion Mall or Kierland Commons, and enjoy the experience of a lifetime with a hot air balloon expedition over the desert; showcasing breath-taking views and desert wildlife.

You may wish to extend your stay  to enjoy some time in ‘Cowboy Country’ Tucson, located 135 miles to the south. Otherwise, make your way to Phoenix International Airport, return your car rental and check in for you flight back to the UK.