America's Canyonlands & Desert Southwest

America is known as the home where portions are big but when talking about America’s beautiful national parks, their brand of super-sizing has never looked so good. Especially in the desert southwest. Each day serves up a multitude of different views, diverse scenery, obscure rock formations, Navajo culture, and a network of walking trails that are as beautiful as they are dramatic.

You begin in the bizarre neon city of Las Vegas, before leaving the bright lights behind in favour of the alpine valleys of Zion National Park. Here you discover a labyrinth of narrow canyons, steep walls, and amazing rock formations resembling cathedrals, temples, spires, and altars. 

A short drive away is Bryce Canyon National Park, which is not actually a canyon, but a collection of giant natural amphitheatres along the eastern side of the Paunsaugunt Plateau. ‘Hoodoos’ (irregular columns of rock) cover the area which can be admired from the rim, before walking into the belly of Bryce Canyon where they tower above. The whole experience must be something like landing on the moon.

Next up is Arches National Park, where the main feature is, well, arches. More than 2,000 natural sandstone arches can be found here making it great for walking and photography. Around Canyonlands National Park, you walk the rim trail culminating in that iconic view of the Colorado River from Dead Horse Point.

In Colorado you hike to the lesser-visited Pueblo Indian ruins of Mesa Verde, followed by a visit to the sacred tribal lands in Monument Valley for a backcountry 4x4 and walking adventure; all this accompanied by a Navajo guide for cultural insights.

The main event is perhaps the Grand Canyon; possibly the most famous geological feature in the world. You have an afternoon to follow the rim trail and marvel at the setting sun, followed by a walk below the rim. This trip ends back in Vegas - a grand finale to an unforgettable trip!