UTAH - 14 Nights
THE HOLIDAY
The state of Utah contains some of America’s most dramatic National
Parks, including famous names like Arches, Bryce, Zion and of course
the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. This super holiday will take you
to all of these, as well as others, which might be less well known but
are equally beautiful.
We are offering our Utah Tour as either an escorted tour for private groups (minimum 4 people) or on an independent, unescorted basis only.
Your holiday starts on arrival in Denver, the mile high city, where you will spend the night, before setting off on your journey of discovery. Next day you drive through the Rocky Mountains, through the Eisenhower Tunnel at an elevation of more than 11,000 feet and over Vail Pass and the Continental Divide. You follow the Colorado River to the lively Mormon town of Moab, where you stay three nights. This allows time for two full days of great walking/hiking, first visiting many of the strikingly beautiful red sandstone arches in Arches National Park, then to Dead Horse Point and Canyonlands National Park. Arches, with its stunning vistas across to the La Sal Mountains, is hard to leave! You continue to Bryce Canyon National Park, via spectacular scenery, with a short visit to Goblin Valley State Park, then transiting Capitol Reef Nation Park and enjoying a short but lovely hike to Hickman Bridge. Then through Torrey Canyon and over Boulder Mountain, with superb views of the Henry Mountains, and finally through Escalante Canyon to Bryce.
Your three nights in Bryce gives two more days of super hiking. Trails descend from the plateau, with views of the tops of the pinnacles, down through a maze of soaring, twisted rocks to the valley floor. Another hike takes you along the rim trail. From Bryce you continue your journey through delightful Red Canyon and the Dixie National Forest to Cedar Breaks National Monument before continuing to Springdale, at the southern gateway to Zion National Park. Three nights here allows for two full days hiking in Zion, which, after the arid canyons of Arches and Bryce, is a green oasis and quite different from the other parks. Here the Virgin River has created deep narrow valleys between great soaring domes of rock. Zion offers some of the best hiking, with easy walks along the river valley and more strenuous options along higher trails.
Your final helping of hiking is around the North Rim of the world famous Grand Canyon. Three nights give the opportunity for some great walks along the rim to the east and west of the Grand Canyon Lodge and a partial, stiff descent to Roaring Springs. For the more intrepid there is the possibility of a thirteen mile hike down to the Colorado River at the bottom of the canyon, overnighting and climbing out again the next day. The last leg of the journey takes you from canyon country to the bright lights of Las Vegas. This is an experience not to be missed, even though for some, one night might be enough! However it is an exciting and very different way to end this most memorable of holidays.
ACCOMMODATION is at excellent hotels, motels and lodges. We have selected the best available, consistent with the programme and you are assured of every comfort. All bedrooms have private bathroom facilities, of course. Accommodation is generally in twin/queen sized beds or double/king sized beds. Single rooms are few and far between, which means sole occupancy of twin/doubles is usually necessary. This results in quite high single room supplements, over which we have no control.
FLIGHTS: Footloose of England does not arrange flights to Denver or from Las Vegas. We can, however, assist you by contacting fully bonded Tour Operators on your behalf. Please note that we do not take payment for flights ourselves, these must be made directly to the ATOL holder. By ensuring that you are booking direct with an ATOL holder you can rest assured that your flights are financially protected.
TRAVEL in Utah will be either by small, fully fitted coach in the case of larger groups, or by comfortable minibus/passenger van, driven by our leader, in the case of smaller parties. In this case numbers per vehicle will be limited, so that everyone has a window seat. This system has worked very well on previous American tours.
THE HIKING PROGRAMME is designed at Footloose Grades 2 to 4. With one leader hikes will be a mix of all grades, depending on location and the abilities of the party. With two Leaders we can offer a choice of two hikes on each of the 10 hiking days. The distances and ascents / descents may be modified to suit the needs and abilities of the group members but will generally be:-
Grade 2 : Up to 3,000 feet of ascent / descent, on way-marked paths. Terrain may be steeply inclined and rough underfoot, with loose rock at times. Early snow may be encountered at higher levels. Distances 10-15 miles.
Grade 3 : Up to 1,500 feet of ascent / descent, on way-marked paths. Terrain may be steeply inclined at times and rough underfoot, with possibly some loose rock, although many American trails are well manicured. Distances usually 5- 8 miles.
Grade 4 : Up to about 750 feet of ascent or descent, generally on manicured, way-marked paths. Terrain may be fairly steep but for only short sections. Distances usually 3-5 miles.
Footloose in UTAH 2007! - VITAL STATISTICS!
DEPARTURE DATE : Any date by arrangement. DURATION : 14 nights, in the U.S.A.
ROOM ONLY - no meals. FLIGHTS are not included in the price.
PRICES, per person : Escorted £1,995 / US$3,890. Unescorted : 2 persons £1,655 / US$3,225 :
3 persons £1,455 / US$2,835 : 4 persons £1,340 / US$2,615.
Single room supplement £790 / US$1540.
One Footloose Leader per vehicle.
THE PRICE INCLUDES
* 14 nights accommodation in twin or double rooms, all with private bathroom & toilet, in high quality hotels,
motels or lodges.
* Travel throughout the holiday by small coach or minibus/passenger van.
* All costs necessary to fulfil the hiking programme. (Escorted Tours only)
* Entrance fees to National Parks and Monuments and State Parks.(Escorted Tours only)
* Services of one or more Footloose Leader (Escorted Tours oly). * All local service charges and taxes.
THE PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE
Flights from to Denver & home from Las Vegas ; Meals (some breakfasts may be complimentary) ; travel to/from U.K. airport ; insurance ; admission to museums etc. except as specified ; single room supplements ; items of a personal nature, e.g. drinks, telephone calls etc.
