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Rails and Trails

 

General information

DurationDestinationDeparture
9 days and 8 nights
United States (Salt Lake City, Canyonlands Nationals Park, Moab, Arches National Park, Montrose (Black Canyon), Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Ouray, Silverton (CO), Durango, Cortez, Mesa Verde National Park, Gallup, Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Taos, Great Sand Dunes National Park, Pueblo, Garden of the Gods Park, Breckenridge, Denver)
United States (Salt Lake City)

Description

Multilingual West Coast Escorted Tour: Experience a land of enchantment!
Multi-lingual tours showcase the most popular North American destinations and provide an excellent value. Characterized by a faster pace, they are designed for our budget-minded clientele and offer excellent value for the first-time visitor.

WHAT TO EXPECT:
Salt Lake City > Canyonlands National Park > Moab > Arches National Park > Colorado National Monument > Montrose > Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park> Ouray > Silverton > Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad > Durango > Cortez > Mesa Verde National Park > Albuquerque > Petroglyph National Monument > Turquoise Trail > Santa Fe > Taos Pueblo > Great Sand Dunes National Park > Pueblo > Garden of the Gods > Breckenridge > Denver

Program

Day 1:
Friday - Salt Lake City
Arrival into Salt Lake City and independent transfer to the hotel. This city is Utah’s State Capital and host of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games.

Day 2:
Saturday - Salt Lake City > Canyonlands National Park > Moab (277 mi / 445 km)
Continental Breakfast. Morning orientation tour of Salt Lake City including the State Capitol building (no admission), the famed Temple Square and Tabernacle. Upon conclusion of the tour, depart in a southern direction to one of Utah’s natural wonders: Canyonlands National Park, which preserves a colorful landscape eroded into numerous canyons, mesas and buttes by the Colorado river and its tributaries.

Day 3:
Sunday - Moab > Arches National Park > Colorado National Monument > Montrose (184 mi / 296 km)
Continental Breakfast. It is just a very short drive from Moab to yet another magnificent National Park: Arches, a symphony of colors and shapes, created by the forces of nature. Afterwards, head west to return to Colorado for a visit of Colorado National Monument, which preserves one of the grandest landscapes of the American West. Experience sheer-walled, red rock canyons along the twists and turns of 23-mile long Rim Rock Drive, where you may spy bighorn sheep and soaring eagles. Overnight stay in the town of Montrose.

Day 4:
Monday - Montrose > Black Canyon of the Gunnison > Ouray > Silverton > Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad > Durango > Cortez (178 mi / 286 km)
Continental Breakfast. Start the day with a visit of nearby Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, which owes its name to the fact that sections of the gorge only get 33 minutes of sunlight a day. Its steep cliffs and craggy spire are sure to impress. Next, ride along the famous "Million Dollar Highway," a designated All-American Byway and one of Colorado’s most scenic drives, from Montrose to Silverton. Stop along the way in the must-see town of Ouray, nestled in some of the most rugged and towering peaks of the Rockies, and often referred to as the "Switzerland of America." In early afternoon, arrive in the mining town of Silverton to board the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad to Durango. Take a trip back in time as this coal-fired, steam-powered train chugs along rails that were originally laid at the end of the 19th century, winding through a wilderness inaccessible by car. In Durango, board the coach again for the final stretch to Cortez for an overnight stay.

Day 5:
Tuesday - Cortez > Mesa Verde National Park > Gallup > Albuquerque (307 m / 493 km)
Continental Breakfast. Depart from Cortez for a visit of Mesa Verde National Park, once home of the Ancestral Pueblo Indians, a UNESCO World Heritage Site containing over 600 cliff dwellings, carved out of the sandstone of the canyon walls. Continue south into New Mexico to come to a stop in Gallup, located along historic Route 66 and home to the historic El Rancho Hotel and Motel, once home to notable movie stars such as John Wayne, Ronald Reagan, Humphrey Bogart and many others. In the afternoon head west alongside Route 66 towards Albuquerque.

Day 6:
Wednesday - Albuquerque > Petroglyph National Monument > Turquoise Trail > Santa Fe (85 mi / 137 km)
Continental Breakfast. Start the morning with an orientation tour of the city, including Old Albuquerque. Next, visit the Petroglyph National Monument, one of the largest petroglyph sites in North America, featuring designs and symbols carved onto volcanic rocks by Native Americans and Spanish settlers 400 to 700 years ago. From here, proceed to the Turquoise Trail, a 50-mile long scenic highway linking Albuquerque and Santa Fe through rolling hills with mountain views and quaint historic mining towns. Following the trail, travel north to Madrid, once a ghost town and now a thriving artist enclave. At the end of the Turquoise Trail.

Day 7:
Thursday - Santa Fe > Taos > Great Sand Dunes National Park > Pueblo (325 mi / 523 km)
Continental Breakfast. Follow the Rio Grande Gorge north to the Taos region, a thriving artist community. Visit Taos Pueblo, one of the oldest continuously inhabited communities in the USA and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore their unique way of life which has remained unchanged for almost ten centuries. Proceed north into Colorado to Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, an enormous sandbox covering about 30 square miles (78 square km) and with sand dunes up to 750 feet (229 m) tall. Overnight stop in Pueblo.

Day 8:
Friday - Pueblo > Garden of the Gods Park > Breckenridge > Denver (235 mi / 378 km)
Continental Breakfast. Head north to take in the majestic scenery of the aptly named Garden of the Gods Park: a giant rock garden of towering red sandstone formations sculpted by rain and wind over millions of years with snow-capped Pikes Peak Mountain in the background. Enjoy the final stretch of scenic mountain views while driving to Breckenridge, a popular ski resort with beautifully preserved Victorian houses. Continue to Denver for the end of the tour.

Day 9:
Saturday - Denver
Continental Breakfast. End of the tour.

Price includes

- Accommodation for 8 nights including taxes (porterage is not included)
- Daily Continental Breakfast (8 meals)
- Air–conditioned motorcoach and guide for the entire tour
- Orientation tour of Salt Lake City, Albuquerque and Santa Fe
- Admissions to: Colorado National Monument, Petroglyph National Monument, Taos Pueblo, Garden of the Gods and all National Parks
- Train ticket Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad (one way, Silverton to Durango)

Price does not include

- Gratuities for tour guide and driver
- Porterage
- Meals unless specified
- Admissions unless specified
- Any expenses of a personal nature

Itinerary

Day Overnight Itinerary highlights
1 Crystal Inn and Suites or similarSalt Lake City   Salt Lake City - Crystal Inn and Suites
2 Big Horn Lodge o Aarchway Inn or similarMoab   Canyonlands National Park - Departure from Crystal Inn and Suites at 08:00am
3 Super 8 o Hampton Inn Montrose or similarMontrose   Arches National Park
4 Baymont Inn and Suites Cortez or similarCortez   Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
  Ouray
  Silverton - Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad
  Durango
5 Baymont Albuquerque Airport or similarAlbuquerque   Mesa Verde National Park
  Gallup
6 Inn at Santa Fe or similarSanta Fe   Santa Fe - Turquoise Trail
7 Quality Inn Pueblo or similarPueblo   Taos - Rio Grande Gorge Bridge
  Great Sand Dunes National Park
8 Wingate by Wyndham Denver Airport or similarDenver   Garden of the Gods Park
  Breckenridge
9   Denver

Accommodations provided in each place

Place
Salt Lake CityCrystal Inn and Suites or similar
MoabBig Horn Lodge o Aarchway Inn or similar
MontroseSuper 8 o Hampton Inn Montrose or similar
CortezBaymont Inn and Suites Cortez or similar
AlbuquerqueBaymont Albuquerque Airport or similar
Santa FeInn at Santa Fe or similar
PuebloQuality Inn Pueblo or similar
DenverWingate by Wyndham Denver Airport or similar