The Ultimate Southwest Roadtrip

On this exciting self-drive itinerary, discover how the forces of nature have given way to a amazing red rock pinnacles, spires, buttes, and domes in this unique region of the United States. From negotiating exhilarating rapids in Cataract Canyon, to rappelling down sheer cliff walls in Zion National Park, the Southwest's National Parks hold a distinct appeal for nature-lovers from around the globe.

Daily Itinerary

Day 1: Phoenix Arrival - Sedona

Phoenix Arrival - Sedona
Daily Summary
  • Transportation: Rental Car Pick Up
  • Accommodation: Enchantment Resort

Upon arrival in Phoenix, Arizona, pick up your rental car and proceed north to the breathtaking town of Sedona. A wonderland of red rock pinnacles, spires, buttes, and domes, Sedona is a center for the arts, drawing inspiration from the cultures of local Native American tribes, as well as from the vortex energy centers believed to be present in the sandstone formations soaring skyward from its high-desert terrain. Check into your well-appointed accommodations at the renowned Enchantment Resort, and spend the afternoon taking advantage of your resort’s luxurious amenities.

Alternatively, you may opt for an afternoon tour of Sedona’s backcountry with an expert naturalist guide who will go beyond the standard tourist circuit, and introduce you to sacred places seldom seen even by locals.

Day 2: Sedona - Canyon Point

Sedona - Canyon Point
Daily Summary
  • Transportation: Rental Car Transport
  • Tour: Grand Canyon South Rim Discovery
  • Accommodation: Amangiri
  • Meals: B, L, D

Grand Canyon South Rim Discovery

After a leisurely breakfast this morning, depart Sedona as you make your way to one of the USA’s most celebrated national parks, The Grand Canyon. Begin the day’s adventure with a hike led by an expert naturalist guide who– unlike other guides in the area– is credentialed to travel behind the barricades and provide access to less-visited vistas and trails. Next, enjoy an elegant lunch in the dining room of the historic Hotel Tovar, which is located directly on the canyon rim, and offers breathtaking panoramic views. Then, board a helicopter for a group tour over the Grand Canyon. Take in unforgettable sweeping views of the canyon from a unique perspective rarely experienced by visitors to the park. For an additional fee, you may upgrade to a private helicopter flight, which offers enhanced privacy and service.

After your tour concludes, hit the road and make your way to the luxurious and secluded Amangiri resort. Sanskrit for “peaceful mountain,” Amangiri is a wholly unique hotel property nestled in a protected valley near Canyon Point, Utah. Upon arriving at Amangiri, you will enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure to explore the grounds of this utterly remote oasis.

Day 3: Canyon Point

Canyon Point
Daily Summary
  • Transportation: Rental Car Transport
  • Tour: In & Around Canyon Point
  • Accommodation: Amangiri
  • Meals: B, L, D

Today, you will have the use of a rental car.

In & Around Canyon Point

This morning, you will have the opportunity to explore some of the alluring slot canyons that define the iconic Utah desert landscape. Led by an expert Navajo guide, embark on a non-strenuous hike through three distinct canyons located in Navajo Territory– two of which are completely off-limits to other travelers and guides. Marvel at the shafts of sunlight penetrating the earth’s cracks and crevices to create a breathtaking spectacle on the canyon floor as your guide educates you on the natural and human history of the region.

In the afternoon, you will enjoy an exciting half-day private boat charter on Lake Powell’s pristine, glassy waters. Begin your tour by cruising to a secluded sandy beach where you will enjoy a casual lakeside picnic lunch. Spend the rest of the day exploring the lake’s famed steep-walled side canyons and partaking in exhilarating water sports such as tubing, water-skiing, and wakeboarding. Alternatively, your expert captain may navigate to one of the lake’s most impressive natural wonders, Rainbow Bridge. Over 290-feet tall and inaccessible by land, Rainbow Bridge is the largest free-standing arch in the world. Depending on seasonal water levels, you may disembark for a brief non-strenuous hike to get an ideal vantage point of the arch; at other times, the arch stands above 46 feet of water. Either way, you will be able to get up-close-and-personal to observe the Navajo petroglyphs and dinosaur footprints on its surface. Snap one last photo, then board your vessel for the return trip back to the hotel. Enjoy the rest of your evening at leisure, taking advantage of Amangiri’s extensive amenities. (This service is on a private basis.)

Day 4: Canyon Point - Zion

Canyon Point - Zion
Daily Summary
  • Transportation: Rental Car Transport
  • Tour: Zion Canyoneering
  • Accommodation: Zion Mountain Ranch
  • Meals: B, L

Zion Canyoneering

Today, say goodbye to Amangiri and continue onwards on a short drive to Zion National Park, where you will meet your driver-guide for an adventurous day of off-the-grid canyoneering! Canyoneering is one of the most exciting ways to experience Zion’s unique desert landscape. You will hike, climb, and rappel down narrow slot canyons ranging from 20 to 175 feet in height. Gain an incredible new perspective as you learn canyoneering techniques from your local expert guides, then round out the day with a cool swim in a lush desert oasis. Lunch, water, and all your equipment are provided, just bring your thirst for adventure! Afterward, be privately transferred back into town for an evening at your leisure. (This service is on a private basis.)

Day 5: Zion - Moab

Zion - Moab
Daily Summary
  • Transportation: Rental Car Transport
  • Accommodation: Sorrel River Ranch Resort & Spa
  • Meals: B

Today, you will embark on a particularly exciting leg of your Southwest road trip, traveling through Utah’s badlands and stopping in three breathtaking national parks along the way. Rise early and check out of your hotel before entering Zion National Park ahead of the crowds. Enjoy a mild morning hike as you make your way past the iconic monolithic cliffs, waterfalls, and cool blue pools that define this spectacular landscape.

Proceed to Bryce Canyon National Park where you will be able to see some of the continent’s most intricate and colorful rock formations. Stop for a picnic lunch among a grove of 2000-year-old bristlecone pine trees, then continue onward to the best viewpoints that the park has to offer.

Traveling along Utah’s famed ST 12 highway, considered among the most beautiful scenic byways in the nation, arrive at Capitol Reef National Park in the early afternoon, and head out on a self-guided hike through the park’s spectacular canyons and cliffs. Pass over impressive natural bridges that span the unique Waterpocket Fold rock towers and naturally-formed arches.

Arrive in Moab in the late afternoon, and check into your rooms at the Sorrel River Ranch Resort & Spa, enjoying a well-earned evening of rest and relaxation.

Day 6: Moab

Moab
Daily Summary
  • Transportation: Rental Car Transport
  • Tour: Moab Rafting Adventure
  • Accommodation: Sorrel River Ranch Resort & Spa
  • Meals: B, L

Moab Rafting Adventure

Begin another rousing day of adventure as you board a state-of-the-art, inflatable motorized whitewater boat to run the mighty rapids of the Colorado River. After an initial few miles of calm water, the intensity will quickly ramp up as you cut through Cataract Canyon, a section of river that travels through the center of Canyonlands National Park. Take in the incredible views while lazily drifting along the upper river, as your guide points out the unique onshore flora and fauna. Swim, hike, or simply enjoy the sun during this excursion. Pull up on a riverbank and dine on a buffet-style picnic lunch, before heading downstream to enter the much-anticipated whitewater rapids. (If you would prefer a less rigorous day, you may opt for a calm-water cruise instead.) Finish the tour by zipping across Lake Powell to meet your driver-guide at the takeout site, and return to your hotel. (This service is on a private basis.)

Day 7: Moab

Moab
Daily Summary
  • Transportation: Rental Car Transport
  • Tour: Moab Hiking Excursion
  • Accommodation: Sorrel River Ranch Resort & Spa
  • Meals: B, L

Moab Hiking Excursion

Today, meet your private driver-guide for a day of exploring the stunning Arches National Park. Get ready to hike and drive through the park, scoping out unusual geological formations such as the famed Delicate Arch, the Marching Men, and the Eye of The Whale. Along the way, your expert guide will offer an informative perspective on the land and its wildlife. Enjoy a picnic lunch at a scenic overlook, then continue hiking, climbing over rocks, cutting through valleys, and traversing sandstone fins and dunes. Wander past seven distinct natural arches in the Devil’s Garden, check out the fossilized remains of real dinosaur tracks, and be treated to breathtaking vistas of the surrounding desert terrain. After your tour, your driver will transfer you back to your hotel for your final evening at leisure. (This service is on a private basis.)

Day 8: Moab - Grand Junction Departure

Moab - Grand Junction Departure
Daily Summary
  • Transportation: Rental Car Drop Off
  • Meals: B

After breakfast, make your way Grand Junction Regional Airport, where you will drop off your rental car and begin your journey home. Safe travels!

Accommodation

Enchantment Resort

Set on 70 acres of panoramic natural terrain, Enchantment Resort is located in the spiritual heart of Sedona, surrounded by the towering red rock walls of Boynton Canyon. Enchantment Resort combines the rugged grandeur of the Southwest landscape and Native American culture. Featuring 218, one-story guest accommodations, over 140 weekly guest activities, and panoramic views of red rock formations, our Sedona Resort is a place to naturally feel alive.

Amangiri

Amangiri

Residing in 600 acres of the Colorado Plateau, and requiring an Act of Congress to be passed so it could be built here, Amangiri blends into countless untouched square miles of red rock country. In the last remnant of the truly wild West, this ‘mountain of peace’ is cradled by the greatest concentration of national parks in the United States – a staggering landscape of canyons, mesas, mountains, gorges, rapids and desert, with traces of human life dating back more than 10,000 years. In this grand theatre of nature, the modernist Suites of Amangiri and the tented Pavilions of nearby Camp Sarika offer an inspiring welcome to one of the world’s most dramatically secluded settings.

Zion Mountain Ranch

Zion Mountain Ranch

In the mountains of Zion National Park, sits Zion Mountain Ranch, an authentic western destination that not only features premier park lodging, but is also the unique home of a roaming herd of buffalo.

Sorrel River Ranch Resort & Spa

Sorrel River Ranch Resort & Spa

Situated near scenic Moab, Utah, luxury meets adventure at the Sorrel River Ranch Hotel & Spa, a unique retreat amid the majestic Southwestern desert. Check in to a variety of Moab accommodations for intimate getaways or large gatherings, then fill every moment with adventure, discovery, or nothing at all. Located on 240 acres of Utah ranchland, our Moab Resort offers the comforts you've come to expect along with delightful surprises for a wonderful experience.

Pricing and Details

Starting from $ 10,588 per person

*Pricing is based on two persons traveling together, based on availability, subject to change.

Price Includes

  • Full support before, during & after your trip
  • Meals as mentioned
  • Accommodation as mentioned
  • Tours/activities as mentioned
  • Transport as mentioned

Price Excludes

  • International & domestic flights
  • Travel insurance (highly recommended)
  • Entrance visas when applicable
  • Other services not mentioned
  • Tips and gratuities to guides, drivers
  • Taxes and fees

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Our trips directly benefit local communities through a variety of educational, environmental, and cultural initiatives. Additionally, all of our partners have been qualified as upholding a level of service that we truly stand behind. We strive to work exclusively with like‐minded partners who are committed to making sure tourism does not have a negative impact on destinations.

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