itinerary
Itinerary in Brief
DAY 1: Arrive Las Vegas
DAY 2: Las Vegas
DAY 3 - 4: Zion National Park
DAY 5: Bryce Canyon National Park
DAY 6: Drive to Moab
DAY 7: Moab
DAY 8 - 12: White water rafting Cataract Canyon
DAY 13: Moab
DAY 14: Drive to Salt Lake City
DAY 15: Fly Home
Extended Itinerary
DAY 1: ARRIVE LAS VEGAS
After arriving in Las Vegas, you will pick up your hire car and drive to your hotel where we suggest you take it easy and recover from your flight.
Meals Included: n/a
Accommodation: Platinum
Driving Time (where relevant): 15 minutes
DAY 2: LAS VEGAS
Las Vegas is full of sights and given the right attitude, is a fun place to explore. Children are allowed to walk through casinos, but are not permitted to gamble, or stop and watch gambling. Activities families may enjoy include visiting a water park, watching the circus acts at Circus Circus and visiting the Adventure Dome theme park.
Meals Included: n/a
Accommodation: Platinum
Driving Time (where relevant): n/a
DAY 3: ZION NATIONAL PARK
This morning you may as well take advantage of the early mornings that the jet lag is giving you and get an early start. Your destination is Springdale, the gateway village for Zion National Park. You may want to head into the park in the afternoon for a hike, there are plenty to choose from, or you could choose a more relaxing float trip down the river, watching the turkey vultures soaring high above you as you meander down-stream.
Meals Included: n/a
Accommodation: Majestic View
Driving Time (where relevant): 2 1/2 hours
DAY 4: ZION NATIONAL PARK
Today is spent exploring Zion, we suggest going for one of the many self-guided hikes on offer. The visitor centre has plenty of information about the various walks on offer. Cars are not permitted on most of the roads within the park, so you will need to catch a shuttle bus which will drop you off at the various trailheads. Popular choices include the Angels Landing Hike (not recommended for younger children) Emerald Pools or the Narrows hike, which is up a river. (You can hire water-proof shoes for this or wear sturdy water-proof sandals) In the height of summer, these are popular walks and it will be hot, so we recommend an early start and taking plenty of water and food with you.
Meals Included: n/a
Accommodation: Majestic View
Driving Time (where relevant): n/a
DAY 5: BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK
This morning you will drive to Bryce Canyon National Park. The stunning colours and unique ‘hoodoo’ rock formations are truly impressive. As ever with the popular national parks, an early start is highly recommended to beat the crowds. Most people explore by car and then go on one of the many hikes on offer. With a higher altitude than Zion and consequently slightly lower temperatures, this is a more comfortable place to hike. You may want to take a picnic and find a solitary spot from where you can take in the magnificent views. In the evening, you might want to go to watch a rodeo at the entrance to the park. This is run mainly for tourists, but is still a fun activity for all the family.
Meals Included: n/a
Accommodation: BW Bryce Canyon Grand
Driving Time (where relevant): 2 hours
DAY 6: DRIVE TO MOAB
Today you will drive along one of the area’s most scenic roads to reach the highway that will connect you to Moab. Driving through the mountains and then Capitol Reef National Park, the views are amazing. You might choose to stop off in Capitol Reef Park for a hike, or just detour to one of the many viewpoints along the way. There are some interesting petroglyphs to see which makes for a useful stop to stretch your legs. If you are not stopping off to hike, there is a great burger stop (try the chocolate milkshakes) in Hanksville. The drive from here to Moab becomes less interesting, but is fairly swift thanks to the highway that you will be joining. Once you reach Moab, you can have a swim at your hotel and then go for a meal in one of the many restaurants in the town.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: BW Canyonlands
Driving Time (where relevant): 4 - 5 hours
DAY 7: MOAB
Today is a day at leisure in Moab. We suggest a leisurely morning before going to Arches National Park (10 minutes drive) Here, you can go for a short hike and explore some of the amazing scenery and naturally formed sandstone arches. In the late afternoon, you will have a pre-trip briefing for your rafting trip.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: BW Canyonlands
Driving Time (where relevant): n/a
DAY 8: WHITE WATER RAFTING
This morning you will be driven to the Colorado River for the start of your rafting adventure. Heading into Canyonlands National Park through deep red canyon walls, you will catch a glimpse of Pyramid Butte, a 1,500 mountain peak near to Moab. Lunch will be served outdoors. Afterwards, you’ll board the boat and head down stream past Tex’s Grotto and Dead Horse Point – where Mission Impossible II and Thelma and Louise were filmed. There’ll be hiking opportunities at Little Bridges and Petrified Wood. Later on, your guides will set up camp and prepare dinner for you. You’ll have the chance to have a wander through the canyons or enjoy a bit of swimming.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Camping
Driving Time (where relevant): 3 1/2 hours
DAY 9: WHITE WATER RAFTING
After breakfast you and your guides will strike camp before setting off on the river again. In the morning you’ll pass Lockhart Canyon – where Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid hid their stolen cattle. You’ll also see Indian Ruins at Lathrup Canyon. After lunch you’ll see Airport Tower, Coffee Pot Ruin and the Racing Stripe – a bright white strip of Gypsum suspended amidst the deep red sandstone of the canyon. There’ll be hiking opportunities at Lathrup Canyon and India Creek Canyon. In the evening there’s the chance to explore sandy beaches before enjoying dinner as the sun sets.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Camping
Driving Time (where relevant): 15 minutes
DAY 10: WHITE WATER RAFTING
After breakfast you’ll board your boat and head down river. In the morning there’s the possibility of participating in the Loop Hike – a route that takes you round the top of the ridge on a four-mile bend back on to itself. From here, you’ll be able to see both sides of the ridge from nearly 1,000 feet above the river. In the afternoon you’ll reach the Confluence of the Green and Colorado Rivers. If it’s rained recently, the mixing of the rivers will be defined in brilliant swirls of red and green. After the Confluence, you’ll experience the first of the Cataract Canyon rapids - numbers one to ten. By now the river has doubled in size and force, and while the rapids aren’t huge, they’re big enough to get everyone good and wet before disembarking for the night. Hiking opportunities are possible either at the Loop Hike or at The Dolls House. In the evening, you can swim, hike or just relax as the crew set up camp and cook dinner.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Camping
Driving Time (where relevant): n/a
DAY 11: WHITE WATER RAFTING
Today’s a day of white water. After breakfast, you’ll board the boats and start out on some of the biggest whitewater in the Western United States. (Summer trips have smaller rapids). By lunch, everyone will be soaking wet after having tackled whitewater rapids called ‘Big Drop Two’, ‘North Seas’ and ‘Capsize’. But that’s just the beginning. After lunch, you’ll be back on the boats and heading into even bigger white water. You’ll navigate through more intimidating rapids like ‘Big Drop Three’, ‘Satan’s Gut’ and ‘Little Niagara’. In the evening it’s time to relax. Your guides will set up camp and prepare your evening meal. Traditionally, this night is ‘Dress Up Night’ – but anything goes. Formal wear or floppy hats – you decide. Likewise, if you don’t fancy it, it’s fine to sit this one out and spend time on your own.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Camping
Driving Time (where relevant): n/a
DAY 12: WHITE WATER RAFTING
Your final day of rafting begins with a tasty breakfast and hot drinks so you’re ready to go for the day ahead. You’ll head through the final rapids, and there may be time to hike some of the canyons like Clearwater Canyon and Dark Canyon. After lunch, you’ll climb back on-board and follow the Colorado River as it pushes its way into the calm waters of Lake Powell. Here you’ll be in the deepest part of the canyon, surrounded by nearly 2,000 foot cliffs. You’ll see the Dirty Devil River and Piano Leg Arch. Later on, you’ll be escorted to the landing strip for your return flight to Moab. As you take this scenic flight, watch for the Henry Mountains, the White Rim, the Abajo Mountains, the La Sal Mountains and nearly the entire Colorado Plateau. You’ll be met at the Moab airport and transferred back to Moab where your journey ends.
Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodation: Camping
Driving Time (where relevant): n/a
DAY 13: MOAB
Today is a day at leisure in Moab. You may want to relax around the pool in your hotel, or take the time to explore downtown Moab. Later on, you could drive to Dead Horse Point to see the Colorado River, where you have just been rafting, from above.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: BW Canyonlands
Driving Time (where relevant): n/a
DAY 14: DRIVE TO SALT LAKE CITY
This morning sees you checking out of of your Moab hotel and driving to Salt Lake City. Once you have arrived, you can either relax around the pool or take advantage of the cheaper prices and head to the shops. For those wanting to do some sight-seeing, then a visit to the Temple Square is recommended.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Little America
Driving Time (where relevant): 3 1/2 hours
DAY 15: DEPART
Today is your departure day. You will need to drop your car off at the airport before catching your flight home
Meals Included: n/a
Accommodation:
Driving Time (where relevant):
