Itinerary

Day 1DENVER

Enjoy time at leisure to relax or to do some independent exploring. Your Tour Director is on hand this evening to answer any questions.

Day 2DENVER–CHEYENNE–BLACK HILLS OF SOUTH DAKOTA–KEYSTONE

Depart Denver and travel north to Cheyenne. See the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota and continue to Custer. Then, see the CRAZY HORSE MEMORIAL

The Crazy Horse Memorial is a monument under construction in the Black Hills of South Dakota

, a monument carved out of a mountain that pays respect to the great Native American hero, Chief Crazy Horse.

Day 3KEYSTONE–MOUNT RUSHMORE

Explore Mount Rushmore National Memorial

–DEADWOOD–LEAD

Deep in the Black Hills, behold the granite faces of MOUNT RUSHMORE, a monument to four American presidents—Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Roosevelt. Afterward, visit TATANKA, “The Story of the Bison,” and experience the richness of the Lakota people. On to Deadwood, a lawless frontier town during the 1876 Gold Rush, where Jack McCall murdered Wild Bill Hickok during a poker game. Overnight in the old mining town of Lead.

Day 4LEAD-SHERIDAN

Visit Little Bighorn Battlefield

Little Bighorn

, which commemorates one of America’s most famous battles. In June of 1876, two divergent cultures clashed in a life or death struggle. During your time here you will hear about the great Sioux warrior, Crazy Horse, and about the defeat of the U.S. 7th Cavalry by the Lakota (Sioux), Cheyenne, and Arapaho. Learn the true story of “Custer’s Last Stand,” which has been memorialized in many books, paintings, and films.

Day 5SHERIDAN–CODY

See the spectacular views of Cody, Wyoming

On to Buffalo, where open-range cattle kings made war on sheep ranchers in the 1890s. Drive by Sheridan, site of battles between the U.S. Cavalry and the Sioux, Cheyenne, and Crow Indians. Overnight in Buffalo Bill’s frontier town of Cody.

Day 6CODY–YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK

Yellowstone National Park

Proceed through Shoshone National Forest to YELLOWSTONE

Elk roam freely through Yellowstone National Park

NATIONAL PARK. Travel along Grand Loop Road to Artist Point with views of Yellowstone Canyon and the Lower Falls. See the bubbling geyser basins and the consistent “blow” of Old Faithful, Yellowstone’s most famous geyser. Overnight in Yellowstone National Park.

Day 7YELLOWSTONE–GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK

View of the amazing Teton Mountains

–JACKSON

Head south into magnificent GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK, one of America’s last preserves of wild solitude. Its 13,770-foot-high ridges are crested with snow most of the year. Stroll along the shores of beautiful glacier-fed Jenny Lake before ending the day in all-Western Jackson. This evening, join an optional barbecue cookout and Wild West show.

Day 8JACKSON

With its wooden sidewalks and swing-door saloons, Jackson is like a film set. Time today for an optional float trip on the Snake River.

Day 9JACKSON–SALT LAKE CITY

Today, drive to Salt Lake City for an overnight stay. Set on the edge of Great Salt Lake Desert, this center of the Mormon religion is where Brigham Young declared to his followers, “This is the place.” An included sightseeing tour shows you the capital of Utah, including Temple Square, the adjacent tabernacle, and the Beehive House.

Day 10SALT LAKE CITY–BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK

Bryce Canyon National Park

On to BRYCE CANYON

Bryce Canyon National Park in southwestern Utah

NATIONAL PARK with its 20 miles of sandstone cliffs and ever-changing colors. See some of Earth’s most brilliant shades of rock, sculpted by nature into pillars called “hoodoos.”

Day 11BRYCE CANYON–ZION NATIONAL PARK

Zion National Park located near Springdale, Utah

–PAGE

Travel to ZION NATIONAL PARK with its landscape carved over millions of years by rushing streams. Steep canyons, stone towers, and verdant vegetation form the scenery of Zion. Head east into Page on the shores of Lake Powell

Lake Powell, straddling the border between Utah and Arizona

.

Day 12PAGE–PAINTED DESERT–GRAND CANYON

Grand Canyon

Enjoy an optional flight over scenic Monument Valley

Monument Valley in southern Utah

. Then, cross the Painted Desert and through Kaibab National Forest. Arrive for an overnight at the South Rim of GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK with free time to explore.

Day 13GRAND CANYON–LAS VEGAS

Stay on the famed Las Vegas strip

For a once-in-a-lifetime thrill, take an optional flightseeing trip over the Grand Canyon. Next up: the world-class entertainment of Las Vegas.

Day 14LAS VEGAS

The trip ends today with guests departing on individual schedules. Transfers are provided to McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas.