Compare American Parks Trail 2023 End Denver Classic Group by Insight Vacations vs Western Rails & Canyons with Rocky Mountaineer by Globus

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Trip	American Parks Trail 2023 End Denver Classic Group by Insight Vacations 5 \| Excellent 10543 Reviews Trip Details Save Trip Reserve	Western Rails & Canyons with Rocky Mountaineer by Globus 5 \| Excellent 10895 Reviews Trip Details Save Trip Reserve

Duration	9 days	9 days
Price From	$ 3,575	$ 4,859
Price Per Day	$ 397	$ 540
Highlights	Choose between two carefully selected activities UCross: Live the American frontier dream and begin your day with a scenic country horseback ride. UCross: Take a leisurely fishing outing and enjoy your serene surroundings as you attempt to catch a big brown trout or rainbow trout. : Our Well-Being Directors take a proactive approach to your welfare ensuring all well-being regulations are met (available on tours with 21 or more guests). : Enjoy the comfort of Insight's luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom. Our customized luxury coaches are sanitized before the start of your tour and are maintained to very high standards. Physical distancing measures have been implemented on our customized luxury coaches. : Experience enhanced hygiene protocols to align with the latest guidance following COVID-19. All Travel Directors, Well-Being Directors and Drivers have completed training in enhanced well-being and hygiene protocols. : We only work with establishments we are confident will consistently adhere to our high well-being standards, which include hotels, restaurants and sight-seeing venues. : Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day. Salt Lake City: At 18:00, join your Travel Director for a Welcome Dinner with wine where you'll have the chance to mingle with fellow guests. UCross: Savour a hearty ranch style Highlight Dinner, prepared by your local hosts. Custer (SD): Toast to the finale of your trip at your Celebration Dinner served at your lodge within Custer State Park. Dining Summary: 3 Dinner with Wine (DW), and 8 Breakfast (B) Yellowstone National Park: The world’s first National Park, Yellowstone spans 2,219,789 acres and even has its own Grand Canyon. The park is home to half of the world’s hydrothermal features, more than 10,000, of which over 300 are geysers. Yellowstone is also a wildlife paradise. Some 1,700 species of plants and 400 species of birds, fish and mammals live in the park, including bison, wolves, bears, elk and moose. Yellowstone National Park: Catch the renowned colourful bubbling mud pots and observe Old Faithful geyser shooting water over 120 feet (37 metres) into the air. The Upper Geyser Basin boasts the highest concentration of spouting geysers, hot springs and steaming fumaroles in the world. Cody: Explore the award-winning Buffalo Bill Center of the West, known for its excellent Western art collection and natural history. Yellowstone National Park: Travel out of Yellowstone NP through Shoshone Canyon and Absaroka Rocky Mountains to the Wild West Town of Cody. Black Hills: View the awe-inspiring Devils Tower, a butte that protrudes from the landscape and is considered sacred by the Lakota and other tribes. UCross: Live the American frontier dream and begin your day with a scenic country horseback ride. Custer State Park: Continue through the Black Hills to arrive at Custer State Park, renowned for its beautiful landscape and home to a famous herd of 1,500 free roaming bison plus elk, mule deer, white tailed deer, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, pronghorn antelope, mountain lions and feral burros. Badlands National Park: Badlands National Park in South Dakota preserves 244,000 acres of sharply eroded buttes, pinnacles and spires blended with the largest protected mixed grass prairie in America. Without a doubt, a hidden gem in the national park system, the unique beauty of the Badlands landscape is like no other. Black Hills: View iconic Mount Rushmore National Memorial where carvings of Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Roosevelt overlook the landscape. UCross: Take a leisurely fishing outing and enjoy your serene surroundings as you attempt to catch a big brown trout or rainbow trout. Black Hills: Visit Crazy Horse Memorial, which is dedicated to protecting and preserving the culture, tradition and living heritage of the North American Indians. A special Insight Experience awaits as you are taken up to stand face-to-face with this impressive sculpture. Measuring 641 feet (195 metres) long and 563 feet (172 metres) high, the piece takes the record as the world’s largest mountain carving.	N/A
Trip Style	Group tour	Group tour
Lodging Level	Premium	Standard
Physical Level	2- Easy	1- Very easy
Travel Themes	Cultural 50 plus	Cultural 50 plus
Countries Visited	United States	United States
Cities and Attractions	Denver	Arches National Park Canyonlands National Park Colorado Denver Moab Utah
Flights & Transport	Airfare included	No
Activities	Culture	Culture
Meals Included	N/A	N/A
Description	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.	All aboard for a spectacular 9-day adventure through the American Southwest! Your tour through Colorado and Utah begins with an overnight stay in the ‘Mile High City’ of Denver—5,280 feet above sea level. In Colorado Springs, board the Pikes Peak cog railway to reach the summit that inspired ‘America the Beautiful.’ Explore the stunning desert landscapes of Canyonlands and Arches National Parks, and the ancient indigenous dwellings of Mesa Verde National Park. Embark on a two-day scenic rail journey aboard the Rocky Mountaineer train from the outdoor mecca of Moab through Colorado Canyons National Conservation Area and over the Continental Divide to return to Denver. You’ll also explore the natural treasures of Great Sand Dunes National Park, the scenic Durango & Silverton Narrow-Gauge Railroad, and historic Glenwood Springs.

Itinerary: American Parks Trail 2023 End Denver Classic Group

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. We visit Badlands National Park in South Dakota, 244,000 acres of sharply eroded buttes, pinnacles and spires blended with the largest protected mixed grass prairie in America. Without a doubt, a hidden gem in the national park system, the unique beauty of the Badlands landscape is like no other. Sightseers as well as scholarly scientists are attracted to the area for its astounding beauty and the opportunity to peek into an ancient world. 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.

Itinerary: Western Rails & Canyons with Rocky Mountaineer

Day 1: ARRIVE IN DENVER, COLORADO

Welcome to Colorado! At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions for a welcome drink.

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Day 2: DENVER–COLORADO SPRINGS

The Mile-High City See Denver’s historic Union Station, Mile High Stadium, and more on an orientation tour en route to Colorado Springs. Explore Garden of the Gods Park, featuring 300-foot towering sandstone rock formations against a backdrop of snowcapped Pikes Peak and brilliant blue skies. Take a thrilling ride on the Broadmoor Manitou & Pikes Peak Cog Railway. Travel up to the summit of 14,115-foot Pikes Peak, the place that inspired Katharine Lee Bates to write America the Beautiful. Tonight, a [LF] home-cooked BBQ dinner with western music under the stars at the historic Flying W Ranch (weather permitting). (Breakfast,Dinner)

LOCAL FAVORITE
LOCAL TASTES Enjoy some Rocky Mountain home cooking under the stars with a BBQ at Flying W Ranch. Tap along to western music to get you in the spirit in this working cattle ranch in the Colorado foothills!

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Day 3: COLORADO SPRINGS–GREAT SAND DUNES NATIONAL PARK–DURANGO

Peak Perfection A scenic drive travels along the Highway of Legends Scenic and Historic Byway, over the Sangre de Cristo Range, home to ten 14,000-foot peaks, and through meandering ranchlands to Great Sand Dunes National Park. Later, continue deeper into the Colorado wilderness passing through the San Juan National Forest to Durango. Tonight is free to explore Durango. Why not visit the saloons, speakeasy, and more on historic Main Street. (Breakfast)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
NATURAL WONDERS A sandbox of epic proportions, the entire dune field encompasses 30 square miles, with the tallest dune towering 750 feet high. With the highest dunes in North America, Great Sand Dunes National Park is a diverse landscape of grasslands, wetlands, forests, and soaring peaks. Enjoy free time here to explore the dunefield trails.

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Day 4: DURANGO. RAIL JOURNEY TO SILVERTON

Rocky Mountain Highs This morning, board the [LF] Durango & Silverton Narrow-Gauge Railroad for a scenic ride through San Juan National Forest. Return to Durango for a free evening. (Breakfast)

LOCAL FAVORITE
EPIC RIDE The legendary Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad train hugs steep canyon walls as it winds its way through Rio de las Animas Canyon to Silverton, a National Historic Landmark. Silverton, once a major mining town, owes its name to an early miner’s claim, “We have no gold, but silver by the ton!” Spend time visiting the breweries, boutiques, and saloons that dot the thriving Greene Street.

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Day 5: DURANGO–MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK–CANYONS OF THE ANCIENTS–MOAB, UTAH

Ancient Mystery Today is a step back to ancient times, lands, and people. Start with a visit to Mesa Verde National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, continuing to the Canyon of the Ancients Visitor Center and Museum. Continue to Moab for a free evening. (Breakfast)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
HISTORY & TRADITION Learn about the Ancestral Puebloans and see their mysterious, centuries-old cliff dwellings. Also, visit the museum that depicts the story of the people who once thrived on this 8,000-foot plateau, and stop at a great vantage point for pictures of Cliff Palace (one of the largest of the 700-year-old Anasazi dwellings). Visit the Canyon of the Ancients Visitor Center and Museum en route to Moab. Learn of the Ancestral Puebloan, Native American, and historic cultures in the Four Corners region. Then, walk in the footsteps of these great peoples by visiting the Escalante and Dominquez Pueblos.

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Day 6: MOAB. EXCURSION TO CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK & DEADHORSE STATE PARK

Crimson Canyons Visit magnificent Canyonlands National Park. Return to Moab for a free evening. Perhaps visit the quaint shops and restaurants on Main Street or stretch your legs on the Mill Creek Parkway Trail. (Breakfast)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
NATURAL WONDERS Explore the magnificent views of Canyonlands National Park to see deep canyons stretching across the Colorado Plateau, an intricate canyon labyrinth with a million crimson hues. Then, on to Dead Horse Point State Park to see a vast mesa with an incredible view of the Colorado River as it twists through a gooseneck canyon 2,000 feet below.

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Day 7: MOAB–ARCHES NATIONAL PARK–ROCKY MOUNTAINEER–GLENWOOD SPRINGS, COLORADO

Rockies by Rail Today, explore the incredible landscape of Arches National Park, containing more than 2,000 natural sandstone arches, including the world-famous Delicate Arch. Then embark on the Rocky Mountaineer for a scenic train ride in Silver Leaf Class. Travel east through the Colorado Canyons National Conservation Area. See Parachute Creek and Mount Logan while following the scenic Colorado River. Take in the beautiful red rock formations, desert cliffs of Ruby Canyon, and mountain vistas. Overnight stay in historic Glenwood Springs, Colorado. (Breakfast,Dinner)

NOTE:
Glenwood Springs’ properties are considered moderate 3-star hotels or better. Your chosen hotel is determined by Rocky Mountaineer; however, you can rest assured that it satisfies our high standards of cleanliness and comfort.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
TRAIN SPOTLIGHT The Rocky Mountaineer travels through spectacular scenery. SilverLeaf Service features a single-level coach offering reclining seats, and meals served at your seat, and panoramic views from oversized windows. Enjoy an onboard culinary experience in regional cuisine and ingredients local to the Southwestern U.S.

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Day 8: GLENWOOD SPRINGS–ROCKY MOUNTAINEER–DENVER

On Top of the World A full day aboard the Rocky Mountaineer through the Colorado high country. From dense wooded forests and white-capped mountains of White River National Forest to the picturesque Byers and Gore Canyons and the tranquil mountain lakes of Arapahoe National Forest, you’ll experience the journey of a lifetime. Cross the high elevations of the Continental Divide with a sparkling wine toast while driving through the six-mile-long Moffatt Tunnel. Arrive in Denver this evening for a farewell dinner hosted by your Tour Director tonight. (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

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Day 9: DENVER

Safe travels until we meet again! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. Want to explore more of Denver? Extra nights are available for purchase. (Breakfast)

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