Day 1: Las Vegas

Welcome to Las Vegas, a city that never sleeps. Lights, gambling, shows, exquisite dining and world class shopping will dazzle you. Travel Dream West invites you to a welcome dinner-buffet. You will receive detailed information about the tour, a travel documentation,  and meet your fellow travelers and the tour guide/driver.

Day 2: Las Vegas – Valley of Fire State Park – Red Canyon – Tropic/Bryce

Today we travel to Bryce Canyon National Park, a favorite and amazingly scenic canyon-like formation. On the way, stop for a hike at Valley of Fire State Park with its petroglyphs and bizarre, red-sculpted sandstone cliffs. We stop in St. Georg and visit the beautiful temple where we learn about the Utah pioneers. We enjoy a dinner at a rustic restaurant on our way up to the Colorado Plateau where we spend the night at 6.300 feet at the gateway to Bryce Canyon National Park. Depending on the season, we stop at Red Canyon for an evening walk and a first glimpse of the brilliant red spires called hoodoos, which are the main attraction in Bryce Canyon. Spend two nights in comfortable cabins near Bryce Canyon.

Day 3: Bryce Canyon National Park

Today’s highlight is Bryce Canyon National Park. We explore on foot the impressive chasms of one of the most beautiful national parks in Utah. Stop at the visitor center for displays and an informative movie, then drive and walk along areas near the scenic rim and stop for unforgettable views. The more adventurous and energetic guests hike down into the canyon, experiencing the colorful formations from below. Enjoy lunch picnic in the park.

Day 4: Tropic/Bryce – Kodachrome State Park – Escalante Petrified Forest State Park – Torrey

Today, we drive on Highway 12, one of the few All-American-Highways, a National Scenic Byway, which offers breathtaking scenery with each turn. We stop at photogenic Kodachrome Basin State Park for a short hike. On a hike up to a table mountain, we view giant fossilized tree trunks at Escalante Petrified Forest State Park. Our drive ascends to Boulder Mountain pass on 9,600 feet offering a majestic view over the canyons including Capitol Reef National Park, the Escalante Grand Staircase National Monument and the Henry Mountains where wild buffalo are still roaming.  Spend then night in the small town of Torrey, gateway to Capitol Reef National Park.

Day 5: Torrey – Capitol Reef National Park – Goblin Valley Sate Park – Sego Canyon – Moab

At Capitol Reef National Park we hike a dry riverbed through a gigantic slot canyon (weather permitting) and visit the Fruita Rural Historic District, an early Mormon settlement. Then at Goblin Valley State Park we walk and pose near unusual Disney-like formations. If time permits, we explore seldom-visited Sego Canyon to view petroglyphs and pictographs from three different cultures. In the evening, we arrive in pedestrian friendly Moab, a popular tourist town, gateway to Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. 2 nights in Moab.

Day 6: Moab – Arches National Park

This morning you can relax and stroll through Moab and enjoy Native American art galleries, many shops and good restaurants. You have an option to participate in a whitewater rafting tour on the Colorado River. The afternoon’s highlight is hiking in Arches National Park among amazing natural wonders, including Delicate Arch in the evening.

Day 7: Moab – Canyonlands National Park – Dead Horse Point State Park – Durango, Colorado

In the morning we walk to mesmerizing view points at Canyonlands National Park and stop to photograph well-known Mesa Arch. Arriving at Dead Horse Point State Park, we look out over the Colorado River Plateau, where the intersection of the Green and Colorado River have dug deep chasms into colorful rock. On to the historic gold mining town of Durango, Colorado where we stay for the next 2 nights.

Day 8: Durango – Silverton – San Juan Mountains (Rocky Mountains)

Main attractions today are the historic towns of Durango and Silverton. We highly recommend an optional ride on the Durango & Silverton narrow gauge steam railway – dating back to gold rush days of 1882. The train takes you from Durango’s lively downtown through a scenic canyon high up to Silverton on 9300 feet, a peaceful mountain village founded by gold miners in the San Juan Rocky Mountains. For guests who do not ride the train, we drive up to Silverton in the afternoon. Spend the evening in attractive Durango with many shops and good restaurants.