Southwest Grand Loop丨Zion National Park + Bryce Canyon National Park + Canyonlands National Park + Arches National Park + Antelope Canyon + Grand Canyon National Park 4-Day Tour [EW-BW4]

Today we will experience the ever-changing American West. The first stop is Zion National Park. Zion National Park is a beautiful sight, with beautiful mountains and clear waters. Then we will go to Bryce Canyon National Park. Bryce is more like a huge open-air arena than a canyon. The towering brown rocks are stacked up like stone figurines guarding the world. Stay overnight in Bryce.

Itinerary:

Las Vegas → Zion National Park (mandatory, 45 minutes) → Chessboard Mountain Group (25 minutes) → Bryce Canyon National Park (mandatory, 60 minutes) → Bryce

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Zion National Park
A dream destination for hikers and photographers, Zion National Park may be located in the desert, but its terrain is anything but barren. Formed over millions of years of erosion, the park's myriad rock formations, numerous wilderness trails, and unique wildlife beckon visitors seeking solitude and inspiration. The park's many canyons, animal communities, and cultural sites are perfect for exploring in any season, but spring and fall are when the weather is most pleasant and the flowers are in full bloom.

Bryce Canyon National Park

Bryce Canyon National Park is located in southwestern Utah, USA. Although it has the word "canyon" in its name, it is not a real canyon, but a huge natural open-air theater formed by erosion along the east side of the Ponsagant Plateau. Its unique geographical structure is called rock pillars, which are composed of sedimentary rocks eroded by wind, water and ice in rivers and lake beds. The red, orange and white rocks in it form a unique natural landscape, so it is known as the palace of natural stone figurines.

* Departs at 07:00 from Excalibur Hotel & Casino – Bus Pick up Area; 3850 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109

Meal
breakfast
Accommodation
Best Western PLUS Rubys Inn or Bryce View Lodge or similar
Transportation
Bus
Shopping Arrangements
none

Travel arrangements before 01/01/2024:

Today we will first go to the colorful Capitol Reef National Park. The pale white color and hemispherical shaped boulders and cliffs give it a bit of the flavor of Capitol Hill, which is also the origin of its name. Then we will go to the equally spectacular Leaping Horse Cliff State Park. The layers of overlapping mountains embrace the winding canyon. Come and take your own blockbuster! Finally, we will visit the elegant Wilson Sandstone Arch to explore how wind, water and time have eroded this elegant arch.

Itinerary:
Capitol Reef National Park (mandatory, 90 minutes) → Leaping Horse State Park (mandatory, 60 minutes) → Wilson Arch (mandatory, 30 minutes)

Schedule from 01/01/2024:

Today we will set off to visit Canyonlands National Park. This place is like an island suspended in the sky, and the scenery is extremely spectacular! After reluctantly leaving Canyonlands National Park, we will go to Arches National Park. As the world's largest concentration of natural sandstone arches, Arches National Park covers an area of about 309 square kilometers and has more than 2,000 natural rock arches. The arches that we see today have withstood thousands of years of wind and rain erosion in various strange postures, and still stand proudly on this salt layer, which is breathtaking.

Itinerary:

Canyonlands National Park (mandatory item, 60 minutes) → Arches National Park (mandatory item, 120 minutes)

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Capitol Reef National Park
Capitol Reef National Park was established in 1971 and is located in south-central Utah. Capitol Reef National Park protects the colorful canyons, ridges, sandstone and boulders in the area, as well as the unique natural and cultural history. Because some of the boulders and cliffs in the park are pale white and have a hemispherical shape, they look like the dome of the U.S. Capitol, so it is also called Capitol Reef National Park.

Dead Horse Point State Park
Leaning on the railings and gazing with bated breath, you will find that the scenery here is absolutely not inferior to any national park! It is about 6,000 feet above sea level, and there is a drop of about 2,000 feet from the bottom of the Colorado River. Standing on the narrow and protruding high ground, you can almost have a 360-degree view of the winding canyons and the overlapping mountains. It is really beautiful. This is a favorite of many photographers. With clear layers, anyone can take a master-level photo.

Wilson Arch
Wilson Arch is a sandstone arch located on Highway 191 between Moab and Monticello, Utah (approximately 24 miles from Moab). It spans 91 feet and stands 46 feet tall. Discover how wind, water, and time have eroded this graceful arch, named after Joe Wilson!

Canyonlands National Park
Canyonlands National Park is located at the confluence of the Green River and the Colorado River in southeastern Utah. The sandstone towers and canyons formed by years of river erosion and wind, frost, rain and snow have become one of the most famous erosion areas in the world, known for its rugged peaks and rugged rocks. The Island in the Sky is located on a steep sandstone cliff, 1,000 feet above the surrounding terrain. Every overlooking can see the spectacular scenery of the canyon area from a different angle.

Arches National Park
Arches National Park is located near the town of Moab in Utah, USA. It covers an area of 309 square kilometers and preserves more than 2,000 natural rock arches. About 300 million years ago, this salt layer was an ocean. Millions of years after the sea disappeared, the salt layer was covered by air and water debris, and squeezed into rock with other debris. Later, after the crust uplifted and natural weathering, it became the arches of today. The park not only has arches, but also numerous large and small spires, pedestals, balancing stones and other unique geological features; all the stones have textures with very strong color contrasts.

Meal
breakfast
Accommodation
Rodeway Inn & Suites Blanding or similar
Transportation
Bus
Shopping Arrangements
none

Friends who are interested in western blockbusters are in luck. Today we will go to Monument Valley. Monument Valley frequently appears in movies and is a symbol of the original American West. The cross-country long-distance race in "Forrest Gump" ends here. Then go to Horseshoe Bend, a famous photography spot selected by American National Geographic Magazine. The river turns 360 degrees in the reddish-brown canyon, cutting out a horseshoe-shaped canyon, which is why Horseshoe Bend got its name. Finally, we will visit the peculiar slit cave, the Lower Antelope Canyon, one of the top ten photography spots in the world. The rock walls of the cave are a perfect wave shape that combines the erosion of wind and torrents for thousands of years. It is an abstract painting of nature. The cave has always been a pure place for Navajo Indians to sit and think deeply. They believe that they can listen to the voice of God here. Stay overnight in Tuba, an Indian reservation.

Itinerary:

Monument Valley (mandatory item, 120 minutes, you can take a jeep tour at your own expense) → Horseshoe Bay (mandatory item, 75 minutes) → Lower Antelope Canyon (at your own expense, 120 minutes)

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Monument Valley
Monument Valley began to appear in many media in the 1930s and is a symbol of the original American West. It is most famous in many westerns by American director John Ford, including "Stagecoach" and "The Searchers". Director Robert Zemeckis's "Forrest Gump" ended the cross-country race here. The magnificence of Monument Valley is difficult to describe in words, with huge sculptures standing on the red wilderness. This is a place where desolate and wild music resonate and life and soul sublimate.

Horseshoe Bend
Horseshoe Bend – One of the top ten best photography spots in the United States selected by National Geographic Magazine! The dense aquatic plants on the Colorado River bed make the river water appear fluorescent green in the sun. The river turns 360 degrees in the reddish-brown canyon here, cutting out a horseshoe-shaped canyon, hence the name Horseshoe Bend. Standing on the edge of the cliff, you will be intoxicated by the breathtaking beauty of the blue water, blue sky and red rocks.

Lower Antelope Canyon
The Lower Antelope Canyon is located in the north of Arizona, USA. It is formed by soft sandstone after millions of years of various erosion forces. Flash floods often flow into the canyon during the monsoon season. Due to the sudden increase in rainfall, the flow rate of the flash flood is quite fast. In addition, the narrow channel narrows the river channel, so the vertical erosion force is relatively large, forming the corridor at the bottom of the Lower Antelope Canyon and the hard and smooth edges on the valley wall that look like flowing water. There is no artificial lighting in the Lower Antelope Canyon. All visible light comes from the cracks at the top of the canyon. These lights are repeatedly refracted by the rock texture and enter the valley bottom, producing a dreamy and irregular color change. These colors are from deep to light, colorful and beautiful.

Meal
breakfast
Accommodation
Moenkopi Legacy Inn & Suites Tuba City or similar
Transportation
Bus
Shopping Arrangements
none

In the morning, we will drive to the Grand Canyon National Park, which is known as the first of the seven natural wonders of the world, to appreciate the magic of the Creator. Here, every passerby is a photographer, and every photo is a landscape painting. You can take a helicopter or a sightseeing plane at your own expense to overlook the Grand Canyon from the air. After leaving the Grand Canyon Park, we will drive past the famous Hoover Dam and finally arrive at the world's gambling and entertainment capital - Las Vegas!

Itinerary:

Grand Canyon National Park Las Vegas & South Rim (mandatory item, 2.5 hours) → South Canyon helicopter or small plane (own expense, 1 hour) → Hoover Dam (passing by) → Las Vegas

Departure point: Excalibur Hotel & Casino – Bus Pick up Area; 3850 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109;

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Grand Canyon National Park
Grand Canyon National Park is located in northern Arizona, USA, covering an area of 1,904 square miles. It was established in 1919. The Grand Canyon was approved as a natural heritage site and included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979. Grand Canyon National Park is one of the seven wonders of the world, formed by the Colorado River cutting through the plateau. It is one of the most worth-seeing national parks in the United States.

Grand Canyon South Rim

South Canyon, also known as the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, is located in the middle of the Grand Canyon. The terrain is steep and magnificent, the canyon is bottomless, and it is the largest in scale. The park is mature and complete, especially suitable for self-driving on the road. There are no commercial facilities, and almost all the scenic spots are kept as original as possible. The large-scale magnificent landscape of the South Canyon and the perfect and suitable playing environment make people feel deeply moved and linger in the face of the Creator's uncanny workmanship.

Meal
breakfast
Accommodation
none
Transportation
Bus
Shopping Arrangements
none