Welcome to Trafalgar's European website. Would you like to visit Trafalgar's US website instead?
Navigation Close Icon
This site is not fully supported in Internet Explorer 11 (and earlier) versions. Please upgrade your browser to Microsoft Edge, Chrome, Safari or other latest browser.
You are viewing the consumer version of the trip page.Please click here to return to search results where you can access the agent version of these trip pages.
This National Parks tour is an iconic journey, culminating at the Grand Canyon, through Zion’s pink cliffs, Monument Valley’s imposing mesas, Grand Tetons’ alpine landscapes, and Mount Rushmore’s rock-hewn faces. Hear from a Native American storyteller and overnight in Yellowstone, soaking it all in in just 15 days.
This National Parks tour is an iconic journey, culminating at the Grand Canyon, through Zion’s pink cliffs, Monument Valley’s imposing mesas, Grand Tetons’ alpine landscapes, and Mount Rushmore’s rock-hewn faces. Hear from a Native American storyteller and overnight in Yellowstone, soaking it all in in just 15 days.
The desert playground of Las Vegas launches our encounter with the soul-stirring natural landscapes of America’s most beloved national parks. This evening, meet your Travel Director and fellow travelers for a Welcome Reception and then soar 550 feet above the center of the Las Vegas Strip on the High Roller, the world’s tallest observation wheel.
Trip Summary Accomodation IconHotel - Horseshoe Las Vegas
Zion National Park’s towering cream, pink and red cliffs are our first stop today for sightseeing and lunch as we journey towards the enchanting landscapes of Bryce Canyon. Admire the rusty red limestone spires that rise up surreally from the desert floor to meet Utah’s skies.
Trip Summary Accomodation IconHotel - Best Western Plus Bryce Canyon Grand
Travel north to Utah's capital to see its Mormon center – Temple Square – and discover the basic beliefs and history of the Mormon pioneers.
Trip Summary Accomodation IconHotel - Sheraton Salt Lake City
Trip Summary Meals IconIncluded Meals - Breakfast
Day 4
Idaho Potato Museum
Travel from Salt Lake City to Blackfoot, Idaho home to the Idaho Potato Museum. Following a self-guided visit, you will be treated to a real Idaho baked potato with all the fixings followed by potato ice cream. Later, we arrive in Jackson where you can enjoy a relaxing evening at leisure.
Trip Summary Accomodation IconHotel - Modern Mountain Motel
Cross the alpine landscapes of Grand Teton National Park en route to Yellowstone’s geothermal wonderland. We overnight at one of the lodges within the national park.
Trip Summary Accomodation IconHotel - National Park Lodges
Enjoy a full day of exploring one of the world’s oldest national parks. Alongside your Travel Director, marvel at Old Faithful, the thousand-year-old geyser which has been catapulting water into the Wyoming sky every 90 minutes for centuries, amazing on lookers like clockwork. Exploring much of the park’s geological wonders in this awe-inspiring day, we stop at Lake Yellowstone, which contains the largest number of wild cutthroat trout in North America. We’ll also view Artists Point, a viewpoint from which you look upon the stunning cascade of the Lower Falls. You’ll also see the impressive Fountain Paint Pot area with its bubbling mud pots and geysers.
Trip Summary Meals IconIncluded Meals - Breakfast
Day 7
Experience Blue Skies And The Wild West
Pay tribute to "Buffalo Bill" in his hometown of Cody where you'll visit the Buffalo Bill Center of the West museum complex to gain a deeper understanding of the "Spirit of the American West." You’ll take your wild west adventure to the next level as we make our way towards Big Sky Country where we enjoy an authentic Western Be My Guest dinner. At the historic Billings Depot built in 1903 as a hub for three major railroads, you’ll learn all about Billing's railroad history from a local historian from the nearby Western Heritage Center while you get your fix of western hospitality. Savor every bite of local Chef Jordan Hodson’s three-course menu featuring local produce, a choice of entrees, a seasonal dessert, and beer and wine.
Trip Summary Accomodation IconHotel - Doubletree by Hilton Billings
Trip Summary Meals IconIncluded Meals - Breakfast, Be My Guest
Day 8
Unlock The History Of Little Big Horn
Our day begins with a visit to Little Bighorn, the battlefield where the ill-fated Custer led his men against a battalion of Sioux and Cheyenne warriors. Venture into the Black Hills of South Dakota as you make your way to the base of Crazy Horse Memorial. Admire the colossal carved face of the famed Lakota war chief and learn about preserving Native American Culture before continuing to Rapid City.
Trip Summary Accomodation IconHotel - The Rushmore Hotel & Suites
Trip Summary Meals IconIncluded Meals - Breakfast
Day 9
Delve Into Native American Culture
Visit Mount Rushmore to view the faces of former American presidents etched into the granite rock-face, then choose to venture into Badlands National Park. This evening we enjoy a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience as we meet with Stephen Yellowhawk, who will regale you with stories of his tribe’s history during a festive dinner.
Ascend into the foothills of the Rockies and cross the Continental Divide en route to the alpine village of Vail, renowned for its epic powder-filled alpine basins that have attracted skiers since the 1960s. We continue to Moab for an evening on your terms.
Trip Summary Accomodation IconHotel - Best Western Plus Canyonlands Inn
Trip Summary Meals IconIncluded Meals - Breakfast
Day 12
Take In The Views Of The Canyonlands
Our national park journey takes us to Canyon Country, where we see first-hand the power of the Colorado River carving its way through the rocky red landscape at Canyonlands National Park. Next up, the Arches National Park provides an insightful encounter with thousands of natural sandstone arches formed by rain and wind where you may choose to take a short hike to iconic Delicate Arch view point.
Trip Summary Meals IconIncluded Meals - Breakfast
Day 13
Journey To The Heart Of Monument Valley
Admire the ancient cliff dwellings of the Ancestral Puebloan people, carved out of the sandstone of the canyon walls at the UNESCO-listed Mesa Verde National Park. We deepen our connection with the first nations of this land continues as we enjoy a cookout Regional Dinner in Monument Valley in a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience.
Explore the red valley floor of Monument Valley in a special open-air vehicle, accompanied by a Local Specialist. Visit the land of the Navajo people, stopping at the historic Cameron Trading Post, before arriving at the UNESCO-listed Grand Canyon where you’ll meet a Local Specialist. Dive Into Culture to gain a deeper understanding of into how this immense canyon came to be and why, as Theodore Roosevelt once proclaimed, “it is beyond comparison—beyond description”. Toast to the Trafalgar Highlights of America’s national parks and enjoy a Farewell Dinner with new friends.
Trip Summary Accomodation IconHotel - National Park Lodges
Consider an optional helicopter or fixed-wing aircraft flightseeing trip over the canyon. End your journey in Las Vegas where a transfer is provided to Las Vegas International Airport or to Horseshoe Las Vegas for guests extending their stay.
Notepad Icon You must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to travel
About this trip
About this trip
What's included
Trip Summary Accomodation Icon
14 nights
Accommodation
Trip Summary Meals Icon
24 Meals
1 Welcome Reception, 14 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 4 Dinners, 1 Be My Guest, 1 Regional Dinner, 1 Farewell Dinner
Trip Summary Transport Icon
On-trip Transport
All transport shown
The Trafalgar difference
Connect With Locals
Experience true Western hospitality in Montana's Big Sky Country.
MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®
Meet Stephen Yellowhawk and discover the history of his tribe during a festive evening of dance and song.
Dive Into Culture
Visit UNESCO-listed Grand Canyon, one of the highlights of your trip with a Local Specialist.
Sightseeing highlights
Experience Ti Filled Icon
Discover Salt Lake City
Experience Ti Filled Icon
Visit Zion, Bryce Canyon, Yellowstone, Grand Teton National Park, Arches, Mesa Verde, Grand Canyon National Parks, Jackson, The Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody, Little Bighorn Battlefield, The Mile High City of Denver, Monument Valley, Las Vegas
Experience Ti Filled Icon
View Crazy Horse Memorial, iconic Mount Rushmore in South Dakota
Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
Experience Tick Thin Icon
Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
Experience Tick Thin Icon
Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
Experience Tick Thin Icon
All transport and transfers shown
Experience Tick Thin Icon
Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
Experience Tick Thin Icon
Optional Experiences and free time
Live, unedited & independent traveller reviews
Scenic Parks Explorer trip reviews
Our guests are at the heart of everything we do, their feedback fuels our innovation, inspiring us to improve continuously and craft Simply The Best vacations. That's why we ask each of our guests to leave a third-party verified, independent review after every trip. As testament to our commitment we have been given the Trusted Service Award from Feefo, recognising we deliver exceptional experiences as rated by real guests.
Overall rating
4.8
Out of 5
Based on 1,168 independent reviews
Trip rating
Customer experience
Trip rating is the overall quality of the itinerary and trip
4.8
Out of 5
5
Review Star Icon
958
4
Review Star Icon
183
3
Review Star Icon
18
2
Review Star Icon
6
1
Review Star Icon
3
Customer experience is the standard of service you receive
4.8
Out of 5
5
Review Star Icon
998
4
Review Star Icon
144
3
Review Star Icon
16
2
Review Star Icon
7
1
Review Star Icon
8
Navigation Chevron Left Icon
Charles Patti in Lake Hiawatha, NJMy Account Icon
Clock Icon
Quote Icon
Wonderful time
Trip Rating
Review Star Icon
5
We saw so much in the 2 weeks that we were on the tour.
Scenic Parks Explorer, as compared to other tours, has the most number of Parks in the itinerary. We even had a great 'surprise' from *********** for taking us to Red Rocks Amphitheater ... indeed a bonus!!!
Our tour director *********** is Superb!!! He is very knowledgeable of the area, very accommodating and most of all funny! He is from Colorado but his enthusiasm made us feel that he is seeing these National Parks for the very first time too! He played The Beatles song 'Here Comes the Sun' every morning to set the tone for the day and got us in very good moods. Paul's an excellent driver and made us feel safe the entire journey of so many miles. Elizabeth made sure our hands got sanitized as needed. She even had an eyedrop solution that she lent me when something got into my eyes. These three very nice individuals represented Trafalgar in a very commendable way!!!
By having this tour so late in the year there were several things already closed for the season such as roads, visitor centers, museums, restrooms, restaurants, and all but one of the optional excursions. I feel that I was not given the full experience I paid for.
Loved the Travel Director, the Wellness Guide, Local Specialists, and the Coach Driver. Do not like the deceptive practices of the Trafalgar Company itself.
The tour crew was excellent. My experience with the company was not. I was told that there would be no more than 24 people on the trip, when there were 48 for the first part. The fact that some places were closed because it was late on the year was not good. I wasn't happy that my trip was moved three times, and that I was expected to pay more even though the changes were made by Trafalgar, not me.
Welcome Reception (WR), Breakfast (B), Lunch (L), Dinner (D), Be My Guest (BMG), Regional Dinner (RD), Farewell Dinner (FD)
Unless otherwise stated, trip prices are per person, land only, based on double occupancy and reflect applicable discount. Discounts are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice.
Trip prices are correct at the time of the products going live, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking. All trip information is correct at time of trips going live, however are subject to change - please confirm all details at time of booking.
Twin-share option not available for trips to South America, Costa Rica, Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii, South Africa, Kenya & Tanzania, Botswana, Zambia or for any holiday & cruise combination, or in Asia and Eastern Mediterranean except Highlights of Turkey (without cruise) & Best of Turkey. It's also not available on Small Group trips. Guided Vacations included in this restriction are Newfoundland and Labrador (DNLA). Does not apply to trips operated by Inspiring Journeys & our Mini-stays.
For trips that are part of our Guaranteed Room Share, please note that there is a no smoking policy in all shared rooms. Solo travel is not accepted on guided Family Experiences holidays unless travelling as part of a family group.
Navigation Close Icon
Your selected departure date will feature some seasonal itinerary changes to what is displayed. Click 'VIEW ITINERARY' below to see full details.
Active Trip Details
Navigation Close Icon
What is an Active Trip? This is an "Active" lifestyle itinerary, with walks and hikes most days. Hikes will range from easy/moderate to strenuous. No technical climbing skills are required but a reasonable level of fitness is required to make the trip more enjoyable. Understanding that not all people want to hike at the same pace or even on the same trail we will, where possible, host map orientation and then let everyone disperse to enjoy the trails best suited to them.
What to Pack Guests should bring lightweight hiking shoes or boots, broad brimmed sun hats, sunglasses, layered clothing, reusable water bottle(s), a hiking day pack and hiking poles (optional)
Weather & Altitude While the itinerary is laid out below, we are at the mercy of the weather and so reserve the right to adjust the program as necessary. Please keep in mind that the higher elevations and possible variations in weather and temperature can increase the perceived level of difficulty of our activities. Elevation ranges up to 9,000 feet for Utah’s Mighty Five and up to 11,000 feet for California High Country Adventure.
Everyone reacts differently to altitude and so if you do have any health issues you should check with your doctor that this trip is suitable for you.