Compare Enchanted New Mexico by Globus vs American Parks Trail 2022 End Denver Classic Group by Insight Vacations
Compare details and see what other travelers are saying.
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5 | Excellent
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 6 days | 9 days |
| Price From | $ 2,439 | $ 3,989 |
| Price Per Day | $ 407 | $ 443 |
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| Trip Style | Small group tour | Group tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Premium |
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| Flights & Transport | No | Airfare included |
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| Meals Included | N/A | N/A |
| Description | From the enchanting canyons and cultural traditions to the historic pueblos and vibrant art districts, you’ll be enchanted at every turn on this vacation in New Mexico. Taste the tradition of the Albuquerque desert in the kitchens and cliff dwellings that preserve the ancestral cultures of Native people and early settlers. Lose yourself in the artisan streets of Santa Fe and find yourself enthralled with the Painted Desert landscapes of Georgia O’Keefe. Enter a rugged world of spectacular sandstone canyons that dress in the changing light of each new day. A stunning Southwest America vacation to rewrite your history for years to come. | Experience the rugged and wild West during this 9-Day tour. Start in Salt Lake City from where you will continue to Jackson Hole and Yellowstone National Park, where you will walk beside the rainbow hot springs and watch Old Faithful spew water more than 120 feet into the air. In Cody, see a firearms collection at the Buffalo Bill Centre. Travel to Devils Tower, a butte of igneous rock jutting from the craggy Black Hills mountains. Visit Badlands National Park, a hidden gem in the national park system, then head to Mount Rushmore National Memorial, where the visages of Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Roosevelt are carved into the mountainside. And ascend 563 feet to the top of Crazy Horse Memorial, named for the Lakota warrior, and stand face-to-face with the world’s largest mountain carving. |
Day 1: ARRIVE IN ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO
Welcome to Albuquerque! At 6 pm, meet your travel companions for a welcome drink.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTCULTURE & TRADITION Exquisite desert landscapes, soaring snowcapped mountains, steamy hot springs, and enthralling national monuments make New Mexico a land of wonders. Add the enticing cultural richness of its Native American and Mexican heritage, and you’ll soon see why this stunning state is called the “Land of Enchantment.”
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Day 2: ALBUQUERQUE
The Land of Enchantment This morning, tour Albuquerque’s Old Town before visiting the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. Then enjoy [LF] lunch at the Indian Pueblo Kitchen for an unforgettable Indigenous dining experience. Tonight, your Tour Director will have dining suggestions for your evening in Old Town at leisure. (Breakfast,Lunch)
LOCAL FAVORITE TASTES & TRADITIONS Experience the spice of life inside Albuquerque’s Indian Pueblo Cultural Center where lunch is served at the renowned Indian Pueblo Kitchen. Experience an unforgettable Indigenous dining experience with traditional and creative Native American culinary artistry served with a warm and welcoming Pueblo hospitality.TOUR HIGHLIGHT HISTORY & HERITAGE Visit Albuquerque’s enthralling Indian Pueblo Cultural Center for a fascinating look at its museum and crafts market, collectively run by the 19 New Mexico pueblos (villages). Here, you’ll learn about the history, background, and life of the 19 pueblos of New Mexico. Top off your visit with a lunch at the Indian Pueblo Kitchen to enjoy indigenous dishes loved through generations.
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Day 3: ALBUQUERQUE–JEMEZ PUEBLO–TAOS
High Desert Dreams Travel through the New Mexico high desert to Jemez Pueblo, one of the remaining 19 pueblos of New Mexico. On an interpretive tour, learn of the Towa culture and ancestral traditions. Then, meet with a [LF] local artist for a demonstration. Then travel to historic Taos, long known as a bona-fide art colony and home to hundreds of years of rich culture from Spanish explorers to Native Americans to American immigrants making it a diverse and welcoming community. Visit the Taos Art Museum in the historic home of Russian artist Nicolai Fechin. After free time on the historic plaza, continue to your hotel for a free evening. (Breakfast)
LOCAL FAVORITECULTURE & TRADITIONS Visit Jemez Pueblo (Walatowa) between red rocks and mesa tops graced by cedar, cottonwood and aspen trees that blanket the enchanting mountains where fragrant juniper and white pine trees grow. Nestled just below the mountains is the village of Walatowa. The people of Walatowa take pride in the preservation of an ancient native language where over 90% of its people speak the Tanoan language of Towa.
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Day 4: TAOS–SANTA FE
Missions & Masterpieces Visit the San Francisco de Asís, a great example of a Spanish Colonial Mission Church and a modern art icon made famous by Ansel Adams and Georgia O’Keeffe. Continue to Santa Fe for a captivating glimpse into the diversity of folk art from around the world at The Museum of International Folk Art. Discover a vast collection of traditional textiles, ceramics, paintings and other unique treasures that showcase the rich cultural heritage of different regions and communities. Later, visit the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum for a guided tour to view her spectacular works of art. The rest of the day is free – visit one of the many restaurants, art galleries, or shops on the historic plaza. (Breakfast)
TOUR HIGHLIGHTLEGENDARY LIVES Georgia O’Keefe is synonymous with Santa Fe since it is here the legendary artist lived and worked in her own inimitable style. Painting the dramatic landscapes and lush plant life of the mesas, O’Keefe forged her own path as a female artist with a fiercely independent spirit that gained her the name of Mother of American Modernism. Visit the Georgia O’Keefe Museum to discover the stunning works of art created by this 20th-century trailblazer.
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Day 5: SANTA FE. EXCURSION TO BANDELIER NATIONAL MONUMENT
The Ancient Ways This morning, travel to Bandelier National Monument to view an ancient way of life. With 10,000 years of cultural history, the monument is home ancient to Anasazi Puebloan cliff dwellings dating back to 1150 AD. Spend time exploring the museum and visit an ancient pueblo. Return to Santa Fe for a free afternoon. Then enjoy a tasty farewell dinner while learning how to cook with southwestern flair at [LF] Santa Fe School of Cooking. (Breakfast,Dinner)
LOCAL FAVORITELOCAL TASTES Santa Fe is a rich culture of cherished traditions of the Native Southwest. A food-lover's paradise, this vibrant culinary scene preserves the heritage of the pre-Columbian peoples, the influence of the Hispanic culture (both recent and hundreds of years old), and the contemporary elements of delicious eating for which this desert destination is known. Right in the heart of beautiful Santa Fe, New Mexico, the Santa Fe School of Cooking is an internationally acclaimed, recreational culinary school and market specializing in foods of the American Southwest. Spice up your chef game with a cooking class to learn the art of southwestern cooking with traditional recipes and techniques.
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Day 6: SANTA FE–ALBUQUERQUE
Safe travels until we meet again! This morning, return to Albuquerque where your vacation ends at Albuquerque International Sunport Airport. Schedule departing flights after 11 am. (Breakfast)
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Day 1: Arrive Salt Lake City
Welcome to Salt Lake City, the capital of Utah. Situated between Wasatch Range and the Great Salt Lake, this mountainous city is perfect for outdoorsy types, with a strong focus on skiing and fishing. At 18:00, join your Travel Director for a Welcome Dinner with wine, where you will meet your fellow guests. If time permits, visit Temple Square and the State Capitol.
Day 2: Jackson and the Tetons
Before leaving Salt Lake City, take in the State Capitol building. Drive along the scenic Logan Canyon, over the Wasatch Mountain Range, and up to the Bear Lake Summit. Stop for lunch at Garden City, Utah while enjoying views of the beautiful turquoise waters of Bear Lake. You will then head north across the Oregon Trail to historic Jackson. Have your cameras ready for the famous elk antlers the central square, while eager shoppers will find a number of charming traditional boutique galleries to browse. Enjoy the rest of the evening at leisure, with your hotel located only a short walk away from Jackson's Town Square.
Day 3: Yellowstone National Park
Wake up to a mountainous view like no other and witness the striking Grand Tetons thrust skyward 6,562 feet (2,000 metres) from the valley floor. This morning, you have the opportunity to partake in an optional scenic float (8) down the Snake River inside Grand Teton National Park. In keeping with today’s rustic country charm, you’ll enter Yellowstone, the world’s first National Park. Known for its unique geothermal activity, spectacular landscapes and abundant wildlife, you’ll experience Wyoming in all its glory. Keep an eye out for black bears or wolves. Tonight you’ll stay in the National Park Lodges, allowing you to experience the park after hours, in its natural habitat.
Day 4: Geysers and Colourful Mudpots Relaxed Start
Savour the surreal surroundings of Yellowstone with a relaxed start. Walk among the rainbow tinted hot springs and watch the erupting geysers as you take in the history of the park on an informative stroll with your Travel Director. Catch the renowned colourful bubbling mud pots and observe Old Faithful geyser shooting water over 120 feet (37 metres) into the air. In the afternoon, enjoy the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone as you take in stunning natural wonders. While driving through Hayden Valley, famous for its wildlife, keep an eye out for wolves, bears, elk and hundreds of bison. The rest of the evening is at leisure for you to relax.
Day 5: The Ranch at Ucross Relaxed Start
Set off on your travels through the stark Shoshone Canyon and Absaroka Rocky Mountains, leading you to the Wild West Town of Cody. Channel your inner showman and learn more about America’s great Western legends at the Buffalo Bill Centre, known for its Western art collection, firearms, and natural history. Travel through the Bighorn National Forest to the Ranch at UCross. Take in the rustic charm as you're hosted at a traditional Wyoming Family ranch. Start off the evening with a cocktail hour in the historic Ranch House bar. After a home-cooked dinner, enjoy a fire pit with live entertainment, including country, folk and bluegrass music.
Day 6: Devils Tower into the Black Hills Relaxed Start
Live the American frontier dream and begin your day with a scenic country horseback ride accompanied by a Ranch Hand. If playing cowboy isn’t your thing, perhaps go fishing or merely relax and take in your beautiful surroundings, the choice is yours. Make your way to Devils Tower, an astounding geological feature that protrudes out of the surrounding the Black Hills. This symbolic landmark is considered sacred to the Lakota and other tribes. Experience Spearfish Canyon, a favoured spot among wildlife enthusiasts and one famous for its elvish woodland beauty. The limestone palisades of this creek-carved gorge are more ancient than the Grand Canyon itself.
Day 7: Custer and the Wild, Wild West
A day for those looking to explore the Wild West, try to spotting the fastest mammal in North America, the pronghorn antelope as you cross the great high plains to the Black Hills of South Dakota. Once in Deadwood, you’ll have the opportunity to join Kevin Costner’s Original Deadwood Tour. A Local Expert will tell you tales of Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane, who made this once lawless town famous during the Gold Rush of the 1870s. Continue on to Custer State Park, renowned for its beautiful landscape and abundant wildlife.
Day 8: Mountain Monuments of the Black Hills Relaxed Start
Travel to the iconic Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Here, carvings of Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Roosevelt overlook the landscape. Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience at the Crazy Horse Memorial- the world's largest mountain carving created in honour of the Lakota warrior. Curated with a with a view to help protect and continue the living heritage of the Native Americans, this experience details how the memorial was carved from land sacred to the tribes. With exclusive access not available to the general public, guests ascend 563 feet (172 metres) and have the opportunity to face the monument up close.Join your Travel Director and newfound friends for a Celebration Dinner with wine, as you reflect on your adventure across the wide-open spaces of America's national parks.
Day 9: Depart Denver
Travel south from Custer State Park where your trip ends on arrival in Denver. A transfer is available to Denver International Airport. Airport arrival in Denver will be at 16:30.
