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      Spirit of the Desert: The National Parks of the Southwest

      Ken Burns American Journeys

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      Year, Departure Type

      Select small group departures (averaging 24 Tauck guests), or classic departures, and the year you would like to travel.

      Days
      10
      From
      $5,990
      Journey Type
      Land
      Time of Year
      May - Jun, Aug - Sep
      Cities & Landmarks
      Grand Canyon, Zion National Park, Arches National Park, Las Vegas, Moab, Bryce Canyon
      National Parks Southwest Escorted Tour
      Bryce Canyon hoodoos, Utah
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      Tour Overview

      National Parks Southwest Escorted Tour Map MORE DETAILS

      EXPERIENCE WITH TAUCK

       

      TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – Filmed vignettes by Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan share their own personal stories and tell the stories of those who shaped the creation & preservation of the six national parks

       

      TAUCK EXCLUSIVE - Local experts associated with Ken Burns's documentary, The National Parks: America’s Best Idea, give special talks and lectures

       

      TAUCK VALUE INCLUDES

       

      On the ground or by air, explore Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon, Zion and Grand Canyon national parks – more than any other Tauck trip

       

      Two Flightseeing Adventures! Fly over the extraordinary remote reaches of the Capitol Reef National Park and see the Grand Canyon from the air en route to Las Vegas

       

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      Activity

      2
      ?

      Guests should be able to easily walk one to two miles, which may include climbing one or two flights of stairs and walking over uneven pavement, groomed hiking trails or cobblestones. Standing up to one hour or more may be required.

      Pace

      3
      ?

      Often robust – may include long days, active sightseeing, early starts, evening activities, significant travel times.

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      Experience six national parks over the course of 10 days on one of our most popular Southwest national park tours.

      Legendary Journeys and Adventures

      Stunning landscapes so arresting that they’ll live forever in your mind’s eye… impossible red rock arches opening before you like grand entryways, offering a sense of endless possibility… canyons and immense cliffs, seemingly carved by a giant to form an island in the sky… fanciful hoodoos come alive while gods and legends linger everywhere… how the human spirit is cheered and fortified by the spirit of the desert.

      On the ground or by air, explore Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon, Zion and Grand Canyon national parks. Fly over the remote reaches of Capitol Reef and see the Grand Canyon from the air en route to Las Vegas. Spend two nights on the Grand Canyon’s North Rim for a fresh, “new” perspective of the park, enjoyed by fewer than 10% of park visitors. Attend special talks and lectures by local experts from Ken Burns's documentary, The National Parks: America’s Best Idea. Enjoy independent sunrise and sunset spirit-of-the-moment experiences in the national parks… and gain insights through filmed vignettes by Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan, sharing their own personal stories and of those who shaped the creation of the national parks. Read Less

      A talk by historian Al Runte at Zion

      Day 6

      In Zion National Park, historian Al Runte talks about railroads and the national parks

      Environmental historian and author Al Runte is an internationally recognized expert on national parks and railroads; a member of the team advising Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan during the production of “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea,” he appeared in every episode of the series. He’ll give an interesting private talk on the history of the railroad in America’s national parks at Zion National Park.

      Picnic at Dead Horse Point State Park

      Day 3

      Sunset picnic dinner at Dead Horse Point State Park overlooking Canyonlands

      Perched some 2,000 feet directly above a dramatic horseshoe bend in the Colorado River, Utah’s Dead Horse Point State Park offers a spectacular panoramic view overlooking the sculptured pinnacles, mesas and buttes of the adjacent Canyonlands National Park. And it’s a perfectly breathtaking – and breathtakingly perfect – spot for a private Tauck picnic dinner at sunset that’s nothing short of inspirational.

      Inside-the-park stays in the national parks

      Days 2 – 8

      Experience the West’s great national parks from inside-the-park lodges

      On Tauck's “Spirit of the Desert: The National Parks of the Southwest,” you'll experience six of the region’s great national parks as a true insider. And you’ll explore three of them – Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon and Zion – from sought-after lodges situated right inside national parks, several of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Tauck arranges coveted accommodations at these inside-the-park lodges, often sold out a year in advance: Grand Canyon Lodge – North Rim in Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona; The Lodge at Bryce Canyon in Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah; and Zion Lodge in Zion National Park, Utah.

      Red Cliffs Lodge

      Nights 1, 2 and 3

      Among red-rock cliffs on the banks of the Colorado

      Situated near Moab, Utah, at the foot of dramatic red-rock cliffs beside the Colorado River’s best white-water rapids, Red Cliffs Lodge occupies a classic, rugged Western landscape worthy of Hollywood – and was in fact the location of numerous movies, including “Rio Grande” with John Wayne. Red Cliffs Lodge is also home to the Castle Creek Winery, the largest in Utah; the Moab Movie Museum, chronicling the rich history of filmmaking in the region; and the Cowboy Grill, offering delicious Western fare.

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      Itinerary

      Day-By-Day

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      All the information you need for this journey at your fingertips – day-by-day details, map, hotel descriptions, key highlights a personalized quote and more.

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      Accommodations

      Where you stay is an important part of your journey – with Tauck, accommodations have been handpicked and carefully selected for their location and ambiance, enhancing the destinations you explore. Download accommodation details and your travel plans begin!

       

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      Overnight Accommodations

      Hotel Highlights

      Red Cliffs Lodge

      Moab, Utah

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      Grand Canyon Lodge - North Rim

      Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

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      Extend your stay

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      Room Upgrades Available

      Your Journey

      Pricing & Availability

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      Accommodation Upgrade additional cost per person (limited availability):

      Double – $170; Single – $340; Triple – $113

      Upgrade to a Strip-View Studio in Las Vegas: On most departures of Spirit of the Desert: The National Parks of the Southwest you have an opportunity to purchase an upgrade to a Strip-View Studio your final night in Las Vegas at Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas – ask at time of booking (limited availability).

      Small Group Departures

      Our small group departures, averaging just 24 guests, are designed for travelers who want more time to experience each destination up close and personally. One of the benefits of small group travel is the personalized service and attention you’ll enjoy. Small groups enable our Tauck Directors to spend more time in the places you explore with more opportunities to connect with them. Smaller groups foster camaraderie and lasting friendships among like-minded travelers; you'll engage more closely with local experts and enjoy enhanced insider access, ease of travel and freedom to linger longer.

      Solo Traveler Savings

      Traveling solo doesn't mean traveling alone – with Tauck, it means camaraderie on a journey with like-minded travelers who share similar interests, enjoying the spirit of travel that makes exploring the world a necessary part of life – and sharing the special travel experiences found on Tauck’s guided land trips and cruises that create lifetime memories. For 90+ years, solo travelers have found a special "travel" home with Tauck in destinations the world over – and we’re offering solo travelers an additional reason to travel with Tauck – special Solo Traveler Savings on select departures.

      Book Your Air

      Traveling with Tauck ensures more than a memorable travel experience; it also enables you to take advantage of additional do-it-for-you travel services that take the hassle out of arranging them yourself. As an added service, we can make flight arrangements for your journey, if your travels originate in Canada or the United States, offering you a number of welcome advantages. With Tauck, you can reserve your flights now and pay later when tickets are issued; benefit from Tauck’s lenient change and refund policies; earn Frequent Flyer mileage on most airlines; and more.

      What you need to know

      Before You Go

      Required

      Travel Documents, Booking and Deposits, and more

      No matter where your destination may be, you should bring identification with you; a valid passport is always an appropriate form of identification. Contact your booking agent for information about all necessary documents required for your journey, such as passport and visa information or documentation required for transportation security measures.

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      Important Information

      Health and Activity

      You'll find Activity and Pace Levels on all of our trips to give you a better idea of physical activity level – higher numbers mean a more active journey. To fully enjoy most journeys, you should be in good health and able to walk reasonable distances; some of the most memorable sightseeing can only be accomplished on foot and may include unpaved and uneven surfaces. Please consult your physician for pre-departure health advice.

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      Protect Your Travel Investment

      Cruise Protection Product

      Your cruise is an important investment – and to help you protect it, Tauck's Cruise Protection Product provides you with important benefits before your trip and while you are traveling, including 24-hour worldwide emergency assistance services; truly peace of mind travel at its best!

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      The Tauck Experience

      Why Tauck?

      Leave Your Worries At Home

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      One Upfront Price – No Hidden Costs

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      Tauck Directors – Simply The Best

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      Never Settle For Ordinary

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      REVIEWS AND FORUM TOPICS

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        About the Weather

        To help you plan your trip, here's an overview of average temperatures, weather conditions, and what you might expect from Mother Nature. 

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        Conditions of Tour

        Take a look at some general travel information that will be helpful to you as you plan your Tauck journey.

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