Yosemite & Grand Canyon holiday
| country: | USA |
| location: | Grand Canyon, Yosemite, National Parks of America |
| trip type: | Moderate walking holidays |
| departures: | 2008: 30 Aug 2009: 27 Jun |
| price: | From £1814 - £2014 (21 days) including flights from the UK, from £1299 excluding flights. Local payment from US $320 |
read 1 travellers review
the amazing things you'll be doing
Pausing to absorb the vibrant atmosphere and sites of San Francisco, we absorb the rich cultural mix and breathe in the fresh bay air, before heading east toward the Sierra Nevada.
Yosemite & Death Valley Reaching Yosemite, we'll explore its rushing rivers and scented forests on foot. Here are the sheer granite slabs of El Capitan and Half Dome - nearly vertical and rising 1219m above the valley floor. We'll see a forest sanctuary where giant Sequoias are preserved. Next we visit Bodie, a ghost town from the Gold Rush period, before driving south in the shadow of the Sierra Nevada. Crossing the barren landscapes of Death Valley we head for the surreal and flamboyant city of Las Vegas.
Zion, Bryce & Grand Canyon We'll hike beneath the cathedral-like cliffs of Zion National Park and through the eroded moonscape of Bryce Canyon. We explore Arches and Canyonlands National Parks before visiting the Navajo Reservation area to see the sandstone buttes of Monument Valley. We'll also spend time at the Grand Canyon in awe of the vast size of this wondrous chasm, created millions of years ago by the turbulent Colorado river. Finally we drive via Joshua Tree National Park to Los Angeles
Yosemite & Death Valley Reaching Yosemite, we'll explore its rushing rivers and scented forests on foot. Here are the sheer granite slabs of El Capitan and Half Dome - nearly vertical and rising 1219m above the valley floor. We'll see a forest sanctuary where giant Sequoias are preserved. Next we visit Bodie, a ghost town from the Gold Rush period, before driving south in the shadow of the Sierra Nevada. Crossing the barren landscapes of Death Valley we head for the surreal and flamboyant city of Las Vegas.
Zion, Bryce & Grand Canyon We'll hike beneath the cathedral-like cliffs of Zion National Park and through the eroded moonscape of Bryce Canyon. We explore Arches and Canyonlands National Parks before visiting the Navajo Reservation area to see the sandstone buttes of Monument Valley. We'll also spend time at the Grand Canyon in awe of the vast size of this wondrous chasm, created millions of years ago by the turbulent Colorado river. Finally we drive via Joshua Tree National Park to Los Angeles
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Fly London/San Francisco |
| Day 2: | In San Francisco; tour. |
| Day 3: | Drive Groveland |
| Day 4: | Continue to Yosemite NP area |
| Day 5-6: | In Yosemite NP; optional hikes including Glacier Point and Panorama Trail, Sequoia and Lower Yosemite Falls |
| Day 7: | Drive via Bodie to Lone Pine |
| Day 8: | Descend into Death Valley, then continue to Las Vegas; optional casino |
| Day 9-10: | Drive Springdale; hiking and exploring in Zion NP |
| Day 11: | Drive Bryce Canyon, optional walks |
| Day 12: | Sunrise walk; drive Moab |
| Day 13: | In Moab; optional rafting or jeep to Arches NP and Canyonlands NP |
| Day 14: | Drive Monument Valley; overnight on Navajo Reservation Land |
| Day 15-16: | Drive South Rim of Grand Canyon; walks, optional overflight |
| Day 17: | Drive via Lake Havasu to camp on banks of Colorado River. |
| Day 18: | Drive Los Angeles. |
| Day 19: | In Los Angeles; sightseeing. |
| Day 20: | Fly London. |
| Day 21: | Arrive London |
travellers' tales
The sheer variety of locations and the walking options meant that each day provided something special... The knowledge and enthusiasm of the hardworking driver leader all contributed to the whole hugely enjoyable experience.
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small group adventure holiday
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as seeing new places.how this holiday makes a difference
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Using low-impact 12-seater diesel minivans - which have a far lower environmental impact than the usual American fly-drive holiday - we explore some of the most spectacular National Parks and natural landscapes in the United States on this tour. Working closely with National Park Service guidelines, to ensure our operation we operate in a responsible manner, our visits help promote the protection of these stunning locations.
Many of the nights on this tour are spent camping, and on leaving we are always careful that we leave the area in a good state - all litter is carefully disposed of, and extra care is taken when we stay within the National Parks themselves. We are keen to ensure that our conduct is in keeping with the local communities and spend a night with the Navajo Indians in Monument Valley, learning about their heritage, enjoying a traditional meal and ensuring that support is put into these local communities. As well as the above, we support a variety of charities and projects worldwide which support vulnerable communities and habitats including Friends of Conservation, SOS Children’s Villages and Send A Cow. We are also actively engaged with UK travel industry bodies which promote best practice in responsible tourism such as the Travel Foundation and AITO. Our commitment to responsible tourism is not limited to our overseas operation and have measures to ensure our UK office operates according to our responsible tourism policy. We offset the emissions of all our staff flights through Climate Care and encourage our customers to do likewise (www.climatecare.co.uk). |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |