Your holiday summary
| Holiday type |
Tours |
|---|---|
| Country |
United States |
| Travel type |
Fly |
| Price range | From £2542 |
| Travel partner | Riviera Travel |
| Duration | 15 nights |
|
Need help with your booking? 0330 333 6751 |
Scenic Wonders of the USA
|
|
|
|
This tour visits some of the world’s finest National Parks with some its most truly spectacular and amazingly iconic scenery. Couple this with the fascinating culture of the Native Americans, the European discovery and settlement of the western USA, its resultant characters and stories and the combination is an assault on the senses.
A highlight is Yellowstone, the world’s first national park, with its stunning high altitude lakes, canyons, rivers, mountain ranges, huge waterfalls, hot springs, geysers, and free-ranging herds of bison – the oldest and largest in the USA. The extraordinary Devil’s Tower has been sacred to generations of Native American tribes including the Sioux and Cheyenne. Arches National Park is unique, where an amazing array of arches has been carved over millions of years by the erosion of huge sandstone deposits left by an ancient sea. Or the contorted, captivating colours of the rock formations and the strange, exotic pinnacles in Bryce Canyon National Park. In a complete contrast, it took fourteen years to sculpt the huge sixty foot high carvings of the heads of US presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln into the granite face of Mount Rushmore to represent the first 150 years of American history. Then there are the ‘Rockies’ with some of the most spectacular alpine scenery you will ever see, with their lofty pink peaks, dense forests, mirror-like lakes and torrential rivers. We see all this and much more.
Any frontier throws up characters, some good, some notorious. Showman Buffalo Bill made his name hunting the iconic beast and bears its name, but he subsequently became one of the first international entertainers and then remarkably one of the first peace campaigners and conservationists. Wild Bill Hickok – stagecoach driver, gunfighter, scout, lawman, actor and professional gambler – met his death in an argument over a poker game in a Deadwood saloon. Brigham Young, leader of the Mormons, is said to have had 55 wives. Their jaw-dropping stories are typical of many that you’ll hear and learn about as we follow in their tracks across the ‘Wild’ West.
Finally, where else could you find the Eiffel Tower, St Mark’s Campanile, erupting volcanoes and the Sphinx - all together in one place? It could only be Las Vegas! Lavish, indulgent, sometimes shocking, but always exciting and captivating. The display of neon is without equal and is almost an art-form in its own right. Whether you’re trying your luck in one of the countless casinos, enjoying some fine dining, watching a dazzling light show that spans an entire street, or opting for a helicopter ride to the magnificent Grand Canyon, you’re simply spoilt for choice. It’s a fitting end to our amazing North American journey that’s so full of striking contrasts.
A highlight is Yellowstone, the world’s first national park, with its stunning high altitude lakes, canyons, rivers, mountain ranges, huge waterfalls, hot springs, geysers, and free-ranging herds of bison – the oldest and largest in the USA. The extraordinary Devil’s Tower has been sacred to generations of Native American tribes including the Sioux and Cheyenne. Arches National Park is unique, where an amazing array of arches has been carved over millions of years by the erosion of huge sandstone deposits left by an ancient sea. Or the contorted, captivating colours of the rock formations and the strange, exotic pinnacles in Bryce Canyon National Park. In a complete contrast, it took fourteen years to sculpt the huge sixty foot high carvings of the heads of US presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln into the granite face of Mount Rushmore to represent the first 150 years of American history. Then there are the ‘Rockies’ with some of the most spectacular alpine scenery you will ever see, with their lofty pink peaks, dense forests, mirror-like lakes and torrential rivers. We see all this and much more.
Any frontier throws up characters, some good, some notorious. Showman Buffalo Bill made his name hunting the iconic beast and bears its name, but he subsequently became one of the first international entertainers and then remarkably one of the first peace campaigners and conservationists. Wild Bill Hickok – stagecoach driver, gunfighter, scout, lawman, actor and professional gambler – met his death in an argument over a poker game in a Deadwood saloon. Brigham Young, leader of the Mormons, is said to have had 55 wives. Their jaw-dropping stories are typical of many that you’ll hear and learn about as we follow in their tracks across the ‘Wild’ West.
Finally, where else could you find the Eiffel Tower, St Mark’s Campanile, erupting volcanoes and the Sphinx - all together in one place? It could only be Las Vegas! Lavish, indulgent, sometimes shocking, but always exciting and captivating. The display of neon is without equal and is almost an art-form in its own right. Whether you’re trying your luck in one of the countless casinos, enjoying some fine dining, watching a dazzling light show that spans an entire street, or opting for a helicopter ride to the magnificent Grand Canyon, you’re simply spoilt for choice. It’s a fitting end to our amazing North American journey that’s so full of striking contrasts.
Included
- Scheduled direct flights from London Gatwick & Manchester to Las Vegas
- All transport as indicated
- 14 nights accommodation in three & four-star hotels on room only
- Nine breakfasts (some continental)
- All tours and National Park entrance fees as mentioned
- Guided city tour of Salt lake City & Denver;
- Porterage of one item of luggage per person
- The services of a Riviera Tour Manager.
Please note: adverse weather conditions may result in some road closures in Yellowstone National Park in May or early October.
Visas and health: British passport holders do not require a visa under the USA Visa Waiver Programme.
Day 1
Departing the UK, we arrive in Las Vegas later the same day. Our hotel for tonight is the four-star newly renovated Tropicana Resort & Casino, located on the famous ‘Vegas Strip’.
Day 2
We leave Vegas behind us for now – but we’ll be back. A long but fascinating drive takes us northwards towards Salt Lake City, travelling through Nevada’s iconic landscape of endless, undulating desert with constantly changing colours. No sooner have you crossed into Utah, than lush pasture is the order of the day. As we approach Salt Lake City the peaks of the Wasatch Range loom above us, famous for their ‘champagne powder’ and some of the best skiing in North America. We stay overnight in Salt Lake City at the centrally-located three-star Shilo Inn, with breakfast.
Day 3
A guided walking tour of central Salt Lake City, will give you a fascinating insight into the history and culture that gave this city a unique place in North American history. It dates back to the arrival of the Church of the Latter-day Saints (the Mormons) in 1847, the first settlers in the valley, who had travelled far in their search for an isolated area where they could practise their religion. Our visit includes the splendid Temple Square, forty years in its construction, and the Beehive House – one of the two official residences of the Church leader Brigham Young. Later today we continue our American odyssey, crossing into Wyoming for a stay at the famous resort of Jackson Hole. Our hotel is the centrally-located three-star Parkway Inn, with breakfast.
Day 4
Depending on weather conditions, there may be time to take a fascinating optional ‘float’ trip on the Snake River this morning. Later, we head north into the strikingly rugged and beautiful mountain scenery of the Grand Teton National Park. One of the most spectacular, awe-inspiring places in the world, the park is home to massive mountains with a series of glacier-capped peaks soaring to nearly 14,000 feet, with pristine lakes and rivers. As we travel along the valley floor this awesome spectacle completely surrounds us. This afternoon we enter one of the most world’s most iconic national parks - Yellowstone, staying for two nights at the three-star Gray Wolf in West Yellowstone, with breakfast.
Day 5
Wilderness is the theme of the day as we head into the park - the USA’s first and finest nature reserve. The awesome scenery of Yellowstone is incredibly special and there’s so much to make your time here truly memorable. The stunning Lower Falls, astonishingly twice the height of Niagara… the Yellowstone Grand Canyon…amazing bubbling mud pools, steaming rivers and hot springs… this is one of the world’s hotspots of volcanic activity, being home to a staggering half the world’s geysers, including of course Old Faithful herself, the most famous of them all. The rainbow colours of the crystal clear waters of the many hot springs are simply remarkable, while the all-pervading clouds of steam in the air give the whole area an ethereal look. It is at moments like these that you fully appreciate how powerful mother-nature truly is, and for all man’s technological achievements, how insignificant we really are! Yellowstone offers so much more than this geothermal spectacle, breathtaking as it is. The park’s diversity is striking; the huge expanse of the azure coloured Lake Yellowstone reflects the passing clouds to great effect, whilst wild-flower covered meadows, studded by patches of woodland stretch to the horizon. Here and there you see extensive herds of that symbol of America, the bison - plus elk and if you are lucky bears too. In addition there are several wolf-packs, sightings of which are rare but not unknown. You’ll want to keep your camera ready at every moment of this amazing day.
Day 6
Leaving Yellowstone we set off for Cody, the town named after William Frederick “Buffalo Bill” Cody - US soldier, bison hunter, showman, and one of the most colourful figures of the Old West. A true legend, at 11 he worked on the wagon trains, at 15 was the youngest rider on the ‘Pony Express’, a Union soldier in the Civil War and a famed Indian fighter, he then formed his ‘Wild West Show’ which played for 30 years – ten of them in Europe. He became probably the world’s first international showman, dining with heads of state, including Queen Victoria. This afternoon you’ll enjoy a fascinating insight into the life and times both of the man himself and his famed Wild West Show, the source of our many of our ideas and knowledge about the West. We continue to central Wyoming and stay overnight at the three-star Holiday Inn in the small town of Sheridan with breakfast.
Day 7
Heading eastwards, our first stop is to visit the remarkable Devil’s Tower National Monument. The remains of an ancient volcano that rises mystically above the surrounding area, it has been a spiritual icon for many of the Plains tribes since the dawn of history. It’s also instantly recognisable as the aliens’ landing ground in Steven Spielberg’s film ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind’!
Next we visit Deadwood, the historic Gold Rush town, classified as a historic monument, with the main street in particular, wonderfully restored and a delight to wander around. Wild Bill Hickok was murdered here whilst playing poker in a saloon and Calamity Jane was one of the town’s most famous citizens, immortalised by Doris Day in the ‘Deadwood Stage’. We stay in Rapid City in South Dakota at the three-star Grand Gateway hotel.
Day 8
Today you’ll enjoy one of the highlights of your tour - the amazing rock carvings of the four Presidents at Mount Rushmore. The faces of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln look down from their stony heights to inspire and remind us that even the impossible is possible. You’ll be fascinated by the story of the one man who designed and sculpted this incredible monument and the ingenious techniques used in its construction, all set in the most glorious natural beauty of mountains, forests and emerald-green meadows. We continue south to Wyoming’s state capital Cheyenne for our overnight stay at the three-star Holiday Inn, with breakfast.
Day 9
We cross into Colorado, over the famous ‘plains’ of the Midwest, with grasslands extending to the horizon. The skyscrapers of the ‘mile-high’ city of Denver, where we take a short tour, slowly come into view and gradually behind them, the skyline of the Rockies appears. As the road slowly rises, the scenery becomes ever more rugged, with the muted greys and pinks of the jagged peaks contrasting beautifully with the dense forests. We follow the Colorado River valley and pass the chic ski resort of Vail before over-nighting at the three-star Grand Vista hotel in the small town of Grand Junction. Whereas much of the
European alpine areas are ‘managed’ in some way, being so vast, most of the ‘Rockies’ are simply left as wilderness so the scenery is just as beautifully pristine as it has always been. You will love it.
Day 10
A shorter drive today as we arrive in the charming small resort of Moab. After some free time to explore the town, we visit one of the least well-known but nevertheless spectacular viewpoints in the whole USA - Dead Horse Point State Park. Overlooking the winding multi-hued canyons of the Colorado River below, many people consider this to be an equal to the Grand Canyon. The story of its interesting name is based on the fact that the flat-topped plateau formed a natural corral used by cowboys in the 19th century to contain wild horses. We stay for two nights at the three-star Ramada Inn with breakfast.
Day 11
This morning we have the option of a jet-boat trip on the Colorado River itself. It is all on calm water though and you’ll be able to see this fascinating landscape from a completely new perspective. Other options are 4x4 off-road tours and an easy-grade rafting experience.
This afternoon is at leisure to explore fascinating Moab.
Day 12
Today we cross some of the most beautiful desert landscapes in the West, passing the through the San Rafael Desert, the Capitol Reef National Park and the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. The remarkable variety and sheer vastness of the scenery make this one of the very best drives in North America! We climb to almost 8,000 feet as we arrive in the afternoon to marvel at the spectacular views of Bryce Canyon National Park. Created by countless years of erosion by wind, water and ice, the red, orange and white colours of the rocks and delicate pinnacles combine to create an almost surreal multi-hued landscape – a strange and exotic topography with a uniquely fragile quality. Our hotel is the four-star Best Western Grand Hotel, with breakfast.
Day 13
Early risers can see Bryce bathed in early morning light... after which we drive south through Red Rock canyon country for two nights in Las Vegas, staying again at the excellent four-star Tropicana Resort.
Day 14
Today you’re in the entertainment capital of the world and free to enjoy Las Vegas at your leisure. It has been described as many things; the world’s most spectacular city; flamboyant; the city that never sleeps, and countless other superlatives. Far from just being ‘tacky’, it’s continually re-inventing itself and is not all about gambling. Entire cities have been re-created; Paris, New York and Venice are all here, and you can also see some of the world’s most spectacular shows. Helicopter rides are available to the nearby Grand Canyon, but whatever you choose to do, it will certainly be memorable!
Day 15
Your last morning is free in Las Vegas before we catch our late afternoon flight back to the UK.
Day 16
We arrive back home full of memories of a unique tour covering some of the USA’s most amazing landscapes and sights.
Departing the UK, we arrive in Las Vegas later the same day. Our hotel for tonight is the four-star newly renovated Tropicana Resort & Casino, located on the famous ‘Vegas Strip’.
Day 2
We leave Vegas behind us for now – but we’ll be back. A long but fascinating drive takes us northwards towards Salt Lake City, travelling through Nevada’s iconic landscape of endless, undulating desert with constantly changing colours. No sooner have you crossed into Utah, than lush pasture is the order of the day. As we approach Salt Lake City the peaks of the Wasatch Range loom above us, famous for their ‘champagne powder’ and some of the best skiing in North America. We stay overnight in Salt Lake City at the centrally-located three-star Shilo Inn, with breakfast.
Day 3
A guided walking tour of central Salt Lake City, will give you a fascinating insight into the history and culture that gave this city a unique place in North American history. It dates back to the arrival of the Church of the Latter-day Saints (the Mormons) in 1847, the first settlers in the valley, who had travelled far in their search for an isolated area where they could practise their religion. Our visit includes the splendid Temple Square, forty years in its construction, and the Beehive House – one of the two official residences of the Church leader Brigham Young. Later today we continue our American odyssey, crossing into Wyoming for a stay at the famous resort of Jackson Hole. Our hotel is the centrally-located three-star Parkway Inn, with breakfast.
Day 4
Depending on weather conditions, there may be time to take a fascinating optional ‘float’ trip on the Snake River this morning. Later, we head north into the strikingly rugged and beautiful mountain scenery of the Grand Teton National Park. One of the most spectacular, awe-inspiring places in the world, the park is home to massive mountains with a series of glacier-capped peaks soaring to nearly 14,000 feet, with pristine lakes and rivers. As we travel along the valley floor this awesome spectacle completely surrounds us. This afternoon we enter one of the most world’s most iconic national parks - Yellowstone, staying for two nights at the three-star Gray Wolf in West Yellowstone, with breakfast.
Day 5
Wilderness is the theme of the day as we head into the park - the USA’s first and finest nature reserve. The awesome scenery of Yellowstone is incredibly special and there’s so much to make your time here truly memorable. The stunning Lower Falls, astonishingly twice the height of Niagara… the Yellowstone Grand Canyon…amazing bubbling mud pools, steaming rivers and hot springs… this is one of the world’s hotspots of volcanic activity, being home to a staggering half the world’s geysers, including of course Old Faithful herself, the most famous of them all. The rainbow colours of the crystal clear waters of the many hot springs are simply remarkable, while the all-pervading clouds of steam in the air give the whole area an ethereal look. It is at moments like these that you fully appreciate how powerful mother-nature truly is, and for all man’s technological achievements, how insignificant we really are! Yellowstone offers so much more than this geothermal spectacle, breathtaking as it is. The park’s diversity is striking; the huge expanse of the azure coloured Lake Yellowstone reflects the passing clouds to great effect, whilst wild-flower covered meadows, studded by patches of woodland stretch to the horizon. Here and there you see extensive herds of that symbol of America, the bison - plus elk and if you are lucky bears too. In addition there are several wolf-packs, sightings of which are rare but not unknown. You’ll want to keep your camera ready at every moment of this amazing day.
Day 6
Leaving Yellowstone we set off for Cody, the town named after William Frederick “Buffalo Bill” Cody - US soldier, bison hunter, showman, and one of the most colourful figures of the Old West. A true legend, at 11 he worked on the wagon trains, at 15 was the youngest rider on the ‘Pony Express’, a Union soldier in the Civil War and a famed Indian fighter, he then formed his ‘Wild West Show’ which played for 30 years – ten of them in Europe. He became probably the world’s first international showman, dining with heads of state, including Queen Victoria. This afternoon you’ll enjoy a fascinating insight into the life and times both of the man himself and his famed Wild West Show, the source of our many of our ideas and knowledge about the West. We continue to central Wyoming and stay overnight at the three-star Holiday Inn in the small town of Sheridan with breakfast.
Day 7
Heading eastwards, our first stop is to visit the remarkable Devil’s Tower National Monument. The remains of an ancient volcano that rises mystically above the surrounding area, it has been a spiritual icon for many of the Plains tribes since the dawn of history. It’s also instantly recognisable as the aliens’ landing ground in Steven Spielberg’s film ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind’!
Next we visit Deadwood, the historic Gold Rush town, classified as a historic monument, with the main street in particular, wonderfully restored and a delight to wander around. Wild Bill Hickok was murdered here whilst playing poker in a saloon and Calamity Jane was one of the town’s most famous citizens, immortalised by Doris Day in the ‘Deadwood Stage’. We stay in Rapid City in South Dakota at the three-star Grand Gateway hotel.
Day 8
Today you’ll enjoy one of the highlights of your tour - the amazing rock carvings of the four Presidents at Mount Rushmore. The faces of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln look down from their stony heights to inspire and remind us that even the impossible is possible. You’ll be fascinated by the story of the one man who designed and sculpted this incredible monument and the ingenious techniques used in its construction, all set in the most glorious natural beauty of mountains, forests and emerald-green meadows. We continue south to Wyoming’s state capital Cheyenne for our overnight stay at the three-star Holiday Inn, with breakfast.
Day 9
We cross into Colorado, over the famous ‘plains’ of the Midwest, with grasslands extending to the horizon. The skyscrapers of the ‘mile-high’ city of Denver, where we take a short tour, slowly come into view and gradually behind them, the skyline of the Rockies appears. As the road slowly rises, the scenery becomes ever more rugged, with the muted greys and pinks of the jagged peaks contrasting beautifully with the dense forests. We follow the Colorado River valley and pass the chic ski resort of Vail before over-nighting at the three-star Grand Vista hotel in the small town of Grand Junction. Whereas much of the
European alpine areas are ‘managed’ in some way, being so vast, most of the ‘Rockies’ are simply left as wilderness so the scenery is just as beautifully pristine as it has always been. You will love it.
Day 10
A shorter drive today as we arrive in the charming small resort of Moab. After some free time to explore the town, we visit one of the least well-known but nevertheless spectacular viewpoints in the whole USA - Dead Horse Point State Park. Overlooking the winding multi-hued canyons of the Colorado River below, many people consider this to be an equal to the Grand Canyon. The story of its interesting name is based on the fact that the flat-topped plateau formed a natural corral used by cowboys in the 19th century to contain wild horses. We stay for two nights at the three-star Ramada Inn with breakfast.
Day 11
This morning we have the option of a jet-boat trip on the Colorado River itself. It is all on calm water though and you’ll be able to see this fascinating landscape from a completely new perspective. Other options are 4x4 off-road tours and an easy-grade rafting experience.
This afternoon is at leisure to explore fascinating Moab.
Day 12
Today we cross some of the most beautiful desert landscapes in the West, passing the through the San Rafael Desert, the Capitol Reef National Park and the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. The remarkable variety and sheer vastness of the scenery make this one of the very best drives in North America! We climb to almost 8,000 feet as we arrive in the afternoon to marvel at the spectacular views of Bryce Canyon National Park. Created by countless years of erosion by wind, water and ice, the red, orange and white colours of the rocks and delicate pinnacles combine to create an almost surreal multi-hued landscape – a strange and exotic topography with a uniquely fragile quality. Our hotel is the four-star Best Western Grand Hotel, with breakfast.
Day 13
Early risers can see Bryce bathed in early morning light... after which we drive south through Red Rock canyon country for two nights in Las Vegas, staying again at the excellent four-star Tropicana Resort.
Day 14
Today you’re in the entertainment capital of the world and free to enjoy Las Vegas at your leisure. It has been described as many things; the world’s most spectacular city; flamboyant; the city that never sleeps, and countless other superlatives. Far from just being ‘tacky’, it’s continually re-inventing itself and is not all about gambling. Entire cities have been re-created; Paris, New York and Venice are all here, and you can also see some of the world’s most spectacular shows. Helicopter rides are available to the nearby Grand Canyon, but whatever you choose to do, it will certainly be memorable!
Day 15
Your last morning is free in Las Vegas before we catch our late afternoon flight back to the UK.
Day 16
We arrive back home full of memories of a unique tour covering some of the USA’s most amazing landscapes and sights.
Las Vegas - The four-star newly renovated Tropicana Resort & Casino, located on the famous ‘Vegas Strip’.
Salt Lake City - We stay overnight in Salt Lake City at the centrally-located three-star Shilo Inn, with breakfast.
Jackson's Hole - The centrally-located three-star Parkway Inn, with breakfast.
Yellowstone - Stay for two nights with breakfast at the three-star Gray Wolf Inn, in the small town of West Yellowstone.
Deadwood - We stay in Rapid City in South Dakota at the three-star Grand Gateway hotel.
Wyoming - Overnight stay at the three-star Holiday Inn, with breakfast.
Colorado - We stay for two nights at the three-star Ramada Inn with breakfast.
Bryce Canyon - Our hotel is the four-star Best Western Grand Hotel, with breakfast.
Las Vegas - Two nights in Las Vegas, staying again at the excellent four-star Tropicana Resort
Salt Lake City - We stay overnight in Salt Lake City at the centrally-located three-star Shilo Inn, with breakfast.
Jackson's Hole - The centrally-located three-star Parkway Inn, with breakfast.
Yellowstone - Stay for two nights with breakfast at the three-star Gray Wolf Inn, in the small town of West Yellowstone.
Deadwood - We stay in Rapid City in South Dakota at the three-star Grand Gateway hotel.
Wyoming - Overnight stay at the three-star Holiday Inn, with breakfast.
Colorado - We stay for two nights at the three-star Ramada Inn with breakfast.
Bryce Canyon - Our hotel is the four-star Best Western Grand Hotel, with breakfast.
Las Vegas - Two nights in Las Vegas, staying again at the excellent four-star Tropicana Resort
4 results
| Departure date | Departing point | Departure UK | Arrive in UK | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 06-Sep-2012 | Manchester | 12:35 | 11:05 | 2592.00 | book |
| 06-Sep-2012 | Gatwick Airport | 11:25 | 10:30 | 2542.00 | book |
| 13-Sep-2012 | Gatwick Airport | 11:25 | 10:30 | 2542.00 | book |
| 13-Sep-2012 | Manchester | 12:35 | 11:05 | 2592.00 | book |
4 results
This offer has no reviews. [NEED SOME TEXT HERE AND MAYBE A LINK TO THE REVIEW FORM].
