Trip Full & Closed

$1494
(non-member: $1569)
Single Room–add $515
 

Activity Level:
  50% Easy;
  30% Moderate
20% Strenuous

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Travelers will make their own air reservations and are requested to arrive and depart as follows:

Arrive: Las Vegas (LAS) on Sunday, May 18th no later than 5:00pm

Depart: Saturday, May 24th at your convenience.

Early Arrival:  WTT is not making early arrival reservations for this trip.

· Any personal expenses, and any guide/driver gratuities.

Sunday, May 18:  Arrive Las Vegas Airport, Group Dinner

Arrive Las Vegas McCarran Airport (LAS) at your convenience but no later than 5:00pm. Should you arrive earlier in the day your WTT tour leader will greet you at the hotel and have suggestions of things to do.

The tour begins at 6:00pm in the hotel lobby.  After introductions we will go out to dinner. (D)

Monday, May 19:  Bryce Canyon National Park, Hike

We will depart this morning from Las Vegas on our way to Bryce Canyon National Park. Much of the journey is along scenic highways in Nevada, Arizona and Utah. Southern Utah is a geologic fantasyland that offers some of the most fascinating and breathtakingly beautiful landscapes to be found anywhere.

After a chance to have lunch and refresh, we will take our first hike, along the 1.3 mile Navajo Trail, where you will walk among the "hoodoos," spires of rock formed when ice and rainwater wear away the limestone. Bryce Canyon was designated as a national park because of the uniqueness of these "hoodoos." The trail descends into a fantasyland of pinnacles and spires known as "Wall Street", a narrow track with huge sandstone walls on either side named after New York’s skyscrapers. 

Your evening will be free to relax or hop on the park shuttle to view some of the park's sights. An easy walk to Sunset Point to watch the sunset at 8:36pm would make a nice end to our first day at Bryce. (B) 

Tuesday, May 20:  Hike and Scenic Drive

The 5.5 mile Peek-A-Boo Loop Trail is one of the most popular hikes in Bryce Canyon because it goes into the heart of the Bryce Amphitheater, where the magic of the Bryce escarpment is at it's greatest. Bryce Canyon is not actually a canyon at all, but an escarpment eroded over time. As you walk down into the canyon, a formation called the "Wall of Windows," (considered the highlight of this hike) will appear above you. This monstrous slab of limestone has been punctured with gaping holes that let the bright blue sky show through.

After an exhilarating morning, we will take a more relaxing afternoon drive overlooking 13 scenic viewpoints of the amphitheater. One special stop is Inspiration Point to view hundreds of pink, red, orange, and brown hoodoo stone sculptures. There will be time in the afternoon to stop at the Visitors Center and museum before going to dinner. (B,D)

Wednesday, May 21:  Zion National Park, Scenic Walk

This morning we will leave Bryce Canyon National Park and drive to Zion National Park, Utah's first national park. To experience Zion, you need to walk through the towering cliffs along the many hiking trails throughout the park. These unique sandstone cliffs range in color from cream, to pink, to red. They have been described as sand castles decorating the desert canyons.

Our hike this afternoon is the easy but very scenic 2-mile Riverside Walk. The paved trail follows the Virgin River under hanging gardens, past pools, brooks and towering cliffs. There will be free time in the afternoon to visit the Human History Museum, with displays of the rich human history of the American Indian culture, historic pioneer settlement, and Zion's growth as a national park. This evening, we will take the park shuttle to nearby Springdale for dinner. (B,D)

Thursday, May 22:  Morning Hike; Afternoon free

The Emerald Pools Trail is one of the most popular hikes in the park. It is a collection of three trails ranging from easy to the lower pool, moderate to the middle, and strenuous to the upper pool, thereby allowing everyone the opportunity to experience all or part of this hike. The pools and waterfalls are the attraction here, but the surrounding scenery is outstanding as well. Magnificent sights can be seen all along the trail, including views of the Great White Throne. With its white-topped monolith, it is perhaps the most famous of all Zion National Park landmarks.

The remainder of the day is free to enjoy the park at your leisure. You might want to visit Zion Canyon Cinemax to view movies on a six-story giant screen or stop by the Visitor Center for a film highlighting the park. (B)

Friday, May 23:  Valley of Fire State Park, Las Vegas

Today we drive from Zion National Park to Las Vegas, making a stop at Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada's oldest and largest state park. The valley derives its name from the red sandstone formations and the stark beauty of the Mojave Desert. Ancient trees and early man are represented throughout the park by areas of petrified wood and 3,000 year-old Indian petroglyphs. We will continue to Las Vegas, where we will get together for a farewell dinner and a chance to talk about our experiences and say our goodbyes. (B,D)

Saturday, May 24:  Return Home

Today it's time to return home. Make your return flight arrangements at your convenience. (B)