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Trafalgar
OFFER ID 1505984
Colorful Trails Of The Southwest With Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta
Journey past the Grand Canyon, ancient Puebloan cliff dwellings and natural arches near Moab. Explore the Old West as the sun sets against a sandstone backdrop and attend the largest hot air balloon festival in the U.S.
Dining Summary
10 nights from $4,175 per person
Trafalgar Tours: Colorful Trails of the Southwest with Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta
Day 1 - Welcome to Phoenix and Scottsdale
Arrive in sun-kissed Phoenix and transfer to Scottsdale at your leisure. This evening, meet your Travel Director and fellow travelers for a Welcome Dinner.
Accommodations: Sonesta Suites Scottsdale Gainey Ranch
Meals: Dinner
Day 2 - See the Red Rocks of Sedona Connect with Locals
Your first stop today is in the artists' enclave of Sedona – surrounded by red-rock buttes, steep canyon walls and pine forests. You’ll travel through Oak Creek Canyon next, with its rocky red cliffs, then venture to the UNESCO-listed Grand Canyon National Park, where a Local Specialist will share the canyon’s many geological marvels. Tonight, you’ll have an opportunity to overnight at one of the lodges inside the park.
Accommodations: National Park Lodges Grand Canyon
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3 - Take In The Sights Of The Grand Canyon Make Travel Matter
Don’t miss an unforgettable experience: Rise early for an optional flightseeing tour over the Grand Canyon and then trace the scenic South Rim of the Grand Canyon along Desert View Drive. Enjoy a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience as we visit Desert View's Pueblo-style Watch tower and support the development of the Desert View Inter-tribal Heritage Center. Later, we’ll stop at Cameron Trading Post. Finally, we'll take a walk to the rim of Glen Canyon to Horseshoe Bend. Finish the day connecting to the soul of the land over a Be My Guest experience on the Navajo Nation, hosted by Dine tribe local Baya, her husband Paul and storyteller Eli Secody.
Accommodations: Courtyard by Marriott Page at Lake Powell
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4 - Take a Scenic Drive to Moab Make Travel Matter
Depart Page and drive through Navajo Tribal Lands to Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, the largest reservation in the United States with over 17 million acres of land between Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico. Dive Into Culture as you board a 4x4 vehicle and navigate the iconic red valley landscape guided by a member of the Navajo Nation and Local Specialist. Pause and settle in surrounded by buttes and mesas in this sacred land for an outdoor chicken and steak barbeque lunch prepared by a Navajo tribe member as they share stories about the Dineh (Navajo) people and their connection to Monument Valley. Then continue to Moab on a scenic drive from Monument Valley where your Travel Director will share intel on some of the sights you’ll see along the way. Sit back and enjoy views of the San Juan River, Mexican Hat, Bluff, and the Abajo "Blue Mountain" and La Sal Mountains. Your final destination tonight is Moab, Utah - the gateway to Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, and the Colorado River. Kick off your stay with dinner at a locally owned diner.
Accommodations: Hyatt Place Moab
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5 - Admire the Landscape of Arches National Park
This morning, discover how the forces of wind and rain have shaped the enchanting landscape of Arches National Park in the stunning formations that they are, with countless perfect photo opportunities. Later, journey to Canyonlands National Park to connect with nature even more. We visit the Island in the Sky - a mesa resting 1,000 feet (305 meters) above the surrounding countryside, offering spectacular views over the dramatic sandstone formations.
Accommodations: Hyatt Place Moab
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6 - Discover the History of Mesa Verde Stays With Stories
We arrive in the UNESCO-listed Mesa Verde National Park to delve into the history and culture of the Ancestral Puebloan people. Explore their beautifully preserved sandstone dwellings. This evening, in Durango, your Stay with Stories is historic Strater Hotel. You’ll have the evening at leisure to explore the historic town of Durango.
Accommodations: Strater Hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7 - Dive into Durango Make Travel Matter
Enjoy free time in Durango today, or you may take a scenic drive along the Million Dollar Highway from Ouray and Silverton. If you’re lucky, enjoy a truly unforgettable step back in time, on a ride aboard the coal-fired, steam-powered narrow-gauge train (booked independently). The train chugs along rails that were originally laid at the end of the 19th century, winding through a spectacular wilderness which would be inaccessible by car. If you're feeling more adventurous, opt for a white-water rafting trip on the Animas River.
Accommodations: Strater Hotel
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8 - Unlock the Legacy of the Southwest
The journey continues along the High Road – Santa Fe Scenic Byway, a picturesque route in Northern New Mexico that stretches approximately 56 miles from Santa Fe to Taos. This byway offers travelers a unique blend of natural beauty, cultural heritage, and artistic communities. Cross the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, also known as the "High Bridge," an iconic steel deck arch bridge. It spans the Rio Grande Gorge, offering breathtaking views and serving as a significant engineering landmark. Later, arrive at the hotel, ideally located two short blocks from Santa Fe’s Historic Plaza.
Accommodations: Hilton Santa Fe Historic Plaza
Meals: Breakfast
Day 9 - Explore the Unique Culture of Santa Fe Make Travel Matter
Begin your day at the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum with a Local Specialist. Later, enjoy a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®?Experience as you visit one of the greatest Ancestral Puebloan archaeological sites in the Southwest. Be immersed in the fascinating adobe dwellings and take a walk through Taos Pueblo, a Native American community that has been continuously inhabited for the last 1,000 years. Meet your Taos tribal resident guide and explore the only living Native American community designated both a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and a National Historic Landmark. Cap off your trip with a Farewell Dinner at your hotel.
Accommodations: Hilton Santa Fe Historic Plaza
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 10 - Revel at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta
You're in for a wonderful time at Albuquerque's Balloon Fiesta. It is one of the largest and most renowned hot air balloon festivals in the world featuring mass ascensions, special shape balloons, balloon competitions and entertainment. You'll have access to the Chaser's Club, a private outdoor patio to witness the spectacular display of color and creativity in the sky.
Accommodations: Sheraton Albuquerque Uptown
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 11 - Depart Albuquerque
Gaze upwards as hundreds of colorful balloons take to the sky. Then, transfer to Albuquerque International airport or consider extending your stay at the Sheraton Albuquerque Uptown. Airport arrival will be at 11:00 AM, please be aware when booking your flights.
Meals: Breakfast
All fares are quoted in US Dollars.
2020 Evergreen Ct.
Ft. Collins, CO 80521
USA
(970) 484-5566
(800) 525-5306