South West Family Explorer
Tailored for today's family, this classic South West USA itinerary takes in sweeping desert vistas and sculptural sights at a rate and pace that's perfect with children. You'll self-drive through the magnificent landscapes of Arizona and Utah. Enjoy a private off-road Jeep ride across Sedona's famous Red Rocks, and a guided tour of the Grand Canyon's hidden trails. Learn about sacred Monument Valley from a Navajo guide and the planets from a professional astronomer. Kids will love the ten swimming pools at your Scottsdale starting point.
DAY 1 UK - Phoenix Arrive at Phoenix Airport and collect your spacious hire car. Drive to your hotel, the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Gainey Ranch, in serene Scottsdale. We recommend you spend the day relaxing and recuperating after the journey. DAY 2 Scottsdale With no fewer than ten swimming pools, plus eleven hectares of landscaped grounds, most parents will struggle to extract their children from the hotel today! Should you wish to explore head for Old Town Scottsdale. Here you may well see modern-day cowboys roaming the streets. DAY 3 Scottsdale - Sedona It's around a 2.5-hour drive from Scottsdale to Sedona, through rock and desert landscapes that will amaze and delight. You'll check into the Enchantment Resort, snuggled amid the spectacular folds of vermilion Boynton Canyon, where you'll spend the next two nights. DAY 4 Sedona Once the kids have had time to explore, hop aboard your private jeep for an exhilerating off-road ride across Sedona's famous red rocks. Savour a picnic lunch in a starkly beautiful setting. That evening, enjoy star-gazing alongside a professional astronomer. The skies here are so clear that you'll see the rings of Saturn and the moons of Jupiter! DAY 5 Sedona - Grand Canyon The 2.5-hour drive to the world-famous Grand Canyon brings you through Arizona's most scenic stretch, the dramatic Oak Creek Canyon. You'll be staying at the El Tovar Hotel, perched right on the rim of the Grand Canyon, one of the most famous sights on earth. DAY 6 Grand Canyon Today your family will get to see the parts of the Grand Canyon that other visitors so rarely do. Enjoy a Grand Canyon tour with private guide, who'll show you to the secret trails that other hikers barely know. In the afternoon, you'll explore historic lodges and buildings on the rim of the canyon. Kids will love the vertiginous studio where pioneers Emery and Ellsworth Kolb photographed the Grand Canyon. DAY 7 Grand Canyon - Lake Powell Today you’ll drive for around three hours through the sculptural landscapes of Utah to Lake Powell, where stark rock formations descend into serene waters. Check into the Courtyard Page Lake Powell, set in splendid isolation amid the red rocks, and spend the afternoon exploring independently. We recommend a sunset trip on Lake Powell, especially for photographers. DAY 8 Monument Valley Monument Valley is an area sacred to the Navajo Nation and its people. From your hotel, it's around a two-hour drive. Immerse yourselves in Navajo culture as your guide explains the mysteries of the unusual rock formations that make the valley sacred. You'll be back at your hotel by late afternoon, in good time for a swim in the expansive pool. DAY 9 Glen Canyon Float Trip Younger children will find today the highlight of your South West USA itinerary: a canyon float trip and a dinosaur museum. Laze down the Colorado River on a shared float through sheer walls that tower more than 300 metres above the gentle waters. Then visit the Big Water Visitors Center for a private tour. If you're lucky, Merle Graffam, who discovered the fossilized skeleton of an extraordinary dinosaur, will be available. DAY 10 Lake Powell – Zion National Park Just two hours from Lake Powell, Zion National Park is a highlight of any visit to Utah, with its stark and sculpted landscapes of peaks and canyons. Spend the afternoon hunting for dinosaur fossils, learning about native tribes and hiking with your own private guide. You're just a short drive from Zion Mountain Ranch. This western-style ranch comes complete with well-stocked stables. You'll spend the next two nights here. DAY 11 Canyoneering in Bryce National Park Enjoy a scenic two-hour drive through magnificent canyon country from the ranch to Bryce Canyon National Park. Here you'll meet your private guide for a day of canyoneering in Bryce's backcountry. The forest of pinnacles is spectacular, and your guide will lead you to some of the finest viewpoints. In the evening, lounge around the campfire for s'mores, stargazing and storytelling. DAY 12 Las Vegas - UK Enjoy one last indulgent breakfast spread at Zion Mountain Ranch before you embark on the three-hour drive across the desert to Las Vegas. You might wish to extend your stay in Vegas, so your family can make the most of its theme parks and attractions. Or else, simply return your hire car and board your flight back to the UK.South West Family Explorer
- Best time to go: March to November
- Holiday Length: 12 nights
- Price Guide from: £5,680 per person
- Holiday type: Tailor-Made
Your holiday will be tailor-made to suit you and there are many factors that can influence the price, such as standard of accommodation, class of flight and time of year. Ask your travel specialist for more information. All prices and details are subject to change and availability.
Reference : A&K