U.S. National Parks for Solo Travelers: The Grand Canyon to Zion

Welcome to Arizona! Settle into your hotel. Then, gather with your Tour Director and fellow group members at a mixer before enjoying a welcome dinner, served with beer or wine. 

Start your exploration of the Southwest by journeying into the landscapes of Arizona.

• Stop at Montezuma Castle National Monument to view cliff dwellings built by the Sinagua people around the 11th century. Nestled into limestone cliffs, the rooms resemble a high-rise apartment complex. Interestingly, despite its name, the monument has no connection to the Aztec emperor Montezuma, but was rather misattributed by early European settlers.
• Visit a vineyard along the Verde Valley Wine Trail, an area known for producing flavorful red wines, including zinfandels, syrahs, and merlots. Sample some signature sips during an included wine tasting and lunch.
• Make photo stops at the whimsical red rock formations surrounding the town of Sedona, including Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, and Courthouse Butte.
• Continue to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon for your first glimpse at the legendary fissure. Take a moment to admire its colorful rock walls at sunset and feel the anticipation build for the awe-inspiring spectacle that awaits tomorrow.

After arriving at the South Rim, set out on a scenic hike to Shoshone Point guided by your Tour Director, who’ll illuminate the geological wonders and natural splendor of the landscape.   

• Marvel at towering rock formations that bear witness to millions of years of geological evolution, their striated layers revealing the passage of time in hues of red, orange, and ochre.  

• Walk along a trail through a ponderosa pine forest and end on a plateau to take in panoramic vistas that stretch to the horizon. Sigh as the vast expanse of the Grand Canyon unfolds endlessly before you. 

To fully appreciate the enormity of the Grand Canyon—it’s not just a name after all—add an optional helicopter tour to your itinerary and take to the skies for an electrifying perspective. Prefer to explore the Grand Canyon on terra firma? Use your free afternoon to hike along the South Kaibab Trail to Ooh Aah Point, where a steep descent along the canyon walls is punctuated by ancient rock formations and a view of the snaking Colorado River.  

Later, meet back up with your Tour Director for a guided sunset hike. As the sun descends below the horizon, it bathes the canyon walls in a warm, golden light. When it fades, the canyon takes on a mystical quality, with the silhouettes of rugged cliffs and spires standing in stark contrast against the darkening sky.  

Begin your day with a stop at the Cameron Trading Post, a historic outpost that has served travelers and locals alike for more than a century. Browse a curated selection of Navajo artwork, jewelry, and crafts, and learn about the time-honored traditions of the artisans who created them.   

Continue to Lake Powell and enjoy a free evening or add an Upper Antelope Canyon adventure to your growing camera roll. As sunlight filters down between these towering sandstone walls in the heart of Navajo Nation, ethereal beams of light illuminate the canyon’s smooth walls, creating an ever-changing pattern of light and shadow.  

If you’re up for a thrill with a side of Monument Valley vistas, join today’s optional Jeep ride and rumble through the park where iconic rock formations like Mexican Hat, Three Sisters, and Elephant Butte capture imaginations with their playful shapes.

If you’d rather spend your free day on your own, the calm, clear waters of Lake Powell are the perfect setting for paddleboarding or kayaking.

Tonight, head to the Navajo-owned Red Heritage center for an evening filled with authentic Native American dancing, flute playing, drumming, and singing, all served with a traditional dinner.

Make your way through southwestern Utah to tour the surreal landscapes of Bryce Canyon National Park. Long before the arrival of European settlers, Indigenous people inhabited the area; the Paiute tribe had a deep connection to the lands that now constitute the park. The Paiute referred to Bryce Canyon’s hoodoos—huge rock pinnacles—as “Legend People,” believing them to be ancient beings transformed by Coyote, a prominent figure in their mythology.   

• Enjoy a guided exploration of the park by bus and on foot. You’ll learn about its unique formations, sculpted over millions of years through the process of erosion. The park sits atop the Paunsaugunt Plateau, where the forces of wind, water, and ice gradually carved out the intricate maze of canyons, fins, and spires that we see today.    
• Feast your eyes as you get up close and personal with Bryce Canyon’s iconic rock formations. Watch as arches, bridges, and spires made of pink limestone and sandstone change with the shifting light in a bewitching display of color and contrast.  
• Keep your camera ready as you encounter the park’s famous inhabitants—the hoodoos. These whimsical rock formations, shaped like totems and towers, create a surreal and otherworldly atmosphere that’s unlike anything you’ve ever seen.   

Continue to your hotel near Zion National Park and enjoy a free evening to rest and unwind. 

Continue your scenic journey through this rough-hewn portion of the Southwest as you reach Zion National Park. Here—at the intersection of the Great Basin, the Colorado Plateau, and the Mojave Desert—the earth’s rich tapestry flashes hues of yellow and orange as deeply eroded sedimentary rocks rise majestically into the azure sky.   

• Delve into the history of Zion National Park, named by 19th-century Mormon settlers who were awestruck by its otherworldly beauty and reminded of their heavenly city.  
• Experience the park from a unique vantage point aboard an open-air tram, where a local guide will unravel the park’s geological wonders, diverse flora and fauna, and cultural heritage.   
• Enjoy the sway of winding roads and watch as each bend reveals a new panorama of sandstone monoliths, green valleys, and waterfalls. You may also spot one of the park’s many sheep, goats, and deer.   
• Join your Tour Director for a walk along the paved Pa’rus Trail, which offers views of the colorful scenery and babbling rivers. 
• Enjoy free time to continue exploring the park on foot: Hike the Lower Emerald Pool Trail for a short but rewarding outing; take the Riverside Walk to follow the Virgin River; or tackle the more challenging Watchman Trail for a view of Watchman Peak’s soaring rocky spire. 

Stop in Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada’s first state park, before continuing to Las Vegas. Here, fiery red sandstone outcroppings surround petrified trees and 2,000-year-old petroglyphs. As the road stretches ahead of you, look for rock formations swirling in shades of white, yellow, pink, and grey.  

As the desert scenery gives way to the bright lights of the big city, join your Tour Director on an evening walk along the Las Vegas Strip. You’ll see the area’s bright neon lights, iconic hotels, and famous casinos before heading to a local restaurant for a farewell dinner, served with beer or wine. 

Transfer to the airport for your flight home or extend your stay in Las Vegas for gaming under glittering neon lights or relaxing in this desert oasis.