Day 10: Valley of Gods – Gooseneck State Park – Monument Valley

Drive through Valley of the Gods, a largely undiscovered version of Monument Valley. Stop by Gooseneck State Park for views of a tight turn of the San Juan River, tributary of the Colorado. Then experience first-hand the wide open landscapes of Monument Valley, filming location for John Wayne westerns. Enjoy Navajo hospitality on a memorable jeep tour, Navajo dinner and entertainment within Monument Valley before heading to your hotel in nearby Mexican Hat.

Day 11: Monument Valley – Horseshoe Bend – Antelope Canyon (optional) – Lake Powell – Page Area

Drive to Page at Lake Powell. Hike briefly to the well-known Horseshoe Bend of the Colorado River. Participate in an optional, yet highly recommended tour of world famous Antelope Canyon, and/or an optional boat trip on Lake Powell. Overnight and itinerary dependent on season.

Day 12: Marble Canyon – Lees Ferry – Pipe Springs NM – Coral Pink Sand Dunes – Kanab

First stop at Marble Canyon. Touch the water of the Colorado River at Lees Ferry. Participate in a guided tour through the Mormon fort at Pipe Springs, N.M. and learn about pioneers and area native peoples. Coral Pink Sand Dunes and a stroll after lunch through the dunes. 2 nights in Kanab. (NOTE: Spring and Fall Itinerary is a bit different, due to the North Rim not being open yet, so we first stay 1 night closer to the South Rim entrance and the 2nd night in Kanab.  Contact us for detailed itineraries for each route.)

Day 13: Grand Canyon National Park North Rim

Leave for Grand Canyon National Park, North Rim. Explore the canyon on hikes and walks; enjoy marvelous views and, depending on the weather, perhaps a Grand Canyon sunset. Time permitting, participate in an evening ranger talk at Grand Canyon Lodge. Night in Kanab, Utah. (Spring / Fall different itinerary)

Day 14: Mt Carmel Highway – Zion National Park – Las Vegas

A scenic drive along Mt. Carmel highway leads to Zion National Park, a wonderland of towering cliffs and deep gorges–all colored in shades of cream, orange and red. Walk to an impressive overlook and then take a ranger-led shuttle bus through Zion Canyon and enjoy a hike along the river. In the later afternoon drive back to Las Vegas for the evening and the night.

Day 15: Las Vegas – Death Valley National Park – Sierra Nevada – Bishop

Traverse the lowest point of the continent in Death Valley, a rare, hot, and shimmering stretch of desert. Morning walk near Zabriskie Point, and several other scenic stops. Our journey then climbs up to the Sierra Nevada of California to the base of Mt. Whitney, the highest mountain in the continental US. View the Alabama Hills with their famous movie backdrops. Night in Lone Pine, California.

Day 16: Keough Hot Springs – Laws – Bodie Ghost Town – Bridgeport

Enjoy a swim in natural hot mineral waters at Keough Hot Springs. Explore historic Laws railroad station and picnic in the shade of old cotton wood trees. Then drive on to Bodie State Park for a special ghost town treat. Spend the night in Bridgeport, a small farming community.

Day 17: Mono Lake – Yosemite National Park – Mariposa

Walk among wondrous Tufa spires at alkaline Mono Lake. Then drive over 9900 feet (3000 meter) high Tioga Pass crossing the Sierra Nevada mountain range to Yosemite Park. Walk and experience views of glacial meadows, Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, giant Sequoia trees, and many more famous points of interest in Yosemite. Night in historic Mariposa.

Day 18: San Luis Reservoir – San Juan Bautista Mission – John Steinbeck Center – Monterey

Picnic and swim at a warm water reservoir. Step into California’s Spanish colonial history at San Juan Bautista Mission. Enjoy Salinas’s John Steinbeck Center before arriving at the scenic Pacific coast in Monterey, where the sea breeze will dissipate the dust collected in canyons and deserts. Evening at Fisherman’s Wharf in Monterey. 2 nights near Monterey.

Day 19: Monterey – 17-mile drive – Carmel Mission – Cabrillo Hwy.

The morning is open for a stroll through the famous Cannery Row, an optional visit to Monterey Bay Aquarium or an optional whale-watching tour. Afternoon drive and walk along 17-mile drive, with a stop at Pebble Beach. Visit to historic Carmel mission’s beautiful gardens. Evening in Monterey.

Day 20: Highway 1 – Sausalito – San Francisco

Spend the day driving north along the scenic Pacific Coast Highway to San Francisco with a beach stop along the way. In the evening we will cross Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito and enjoy a farewell dinner (not included) at a bayside restaurant.

Day 21:

Today, our tour ends. Independent travel or flight back home.