Great Parks of the Southwest featuring the Grand Canyon

Your journey begins at Chicago Union Station*, where you meet your Tour Manager. We board the California Zephyr, an iconic Amtrak train known for scenic journeys through rugged western landscapes.

Today's Amtrak train is the ancestor of the original California Zephyr, which first departed in 1949. Dubbed "the most talked-about train in America," the Zephyr's main draw was the incredible scenery on its route between Chicago and San Francisco.

As we settle into our seats, we can look forward to the spectacular journey ahead. Our overnight route will take us across the Rocky Mountains to Grand Junction, CO, where we will begin our exploration of the natural wonders and rugged wilderness of the Southwest. Overnight train.

*Please note: if you are traveling from the West Coast, you will meet the Tour Manager on Day 2.

Waking onboard this morning, keep your camera handy as the Zephyr climbs across the Colorado Rockies, through the Moffat Tunnel, and along the Byers, Glenwood and Ruby Canyons.

Make time to visit the glass-walled Sightseer Lounge car for panoramic views of the passing scenery, as well as for an educational Trails and Rails presentation conducted by volunteer park rangers as we travel between Denver and Grand Junction. You can buy a variety of food from the Café Car, including meals, snacks and beverages, and enjoy comfortable seating with a view.

In the late afternoon, we arrive in Grand Junction, CO, where we board a coach to continue our journey to Moab. On arrival, we transfer to our hotel. Overnight Moab, UT.

After breakfast, we embark on a guided tour of Arches National Park, home to more than 2,100 rock formations of varying sizes and colors.

With a landscape like a movie set, Arches is one of the West's most beautiful and popular national parks. Highlights of the park include Delicate Arch, the free-standing arch that is the symbol of Utah, and Landscape Arch, the world's longest natural arch.

After a delicious lunch, we board a jetboat to glide down a calm section of the Colorado River (subject to river water levels). Moab is one of the few places where you can access the Colorado River along its 1,450-mile route to the sea. As we float past the red rock cliffs that mark the southern boundary of the park, marvel at the beauty of the wilderness and enjoy live western entertainment onboard the boat. After the relaxing ride, we drift back to the dock, where we enjoy a delicious cowboy-style Dutch Oven dinner. Overnight Moab, UT.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After a relaxed breakfast at the lodge this morning, we leave Moab by motorcoach for Torrey, UT. We stop for lunch at a friendly riverside restaurant before continuing to Capitol Reef National Park.

Though a lesser-known park, this remote area of Utah is a pristine wilderness famous for its Navajo Sandstone formations. Surrounding a long wrinkle in the earth known as the Waterpocket Fold, the park has layers of golden sandstone, canyons and striking white dome-like rock formations shaped by the elements.

Stopping first at the visitor center to learn about the area's fascinating history, we make two stops at spectacular viewpoints for pictures and see some of the park's ancient ancestral Pueblo petroglyphs. In the evening, we check in to our hotel at the park entrance. Overnight Torrey, UT.

• Breakfast, Lunch

Even more of Utah's stunning unique landscapes lie ahead today as the journey continues toward Kanab near the Arizona border. Windswept sandstone formations and towering cliffs offer lovely surroundings during the drive.

Our first stop of the day comes as we arrive at one of the newest monuments in the parks system, Grand Staircase-Escalante. This region consists of 1.9 million acres of wilderness cut by the Paria and Escalante Rivers. Our visit includes a stop at the Ranger Station to learn about the establishment of this area and excellent photo opportunities.

Next, we head toward Bryce Canyon National Park. The sediments of an ancient lake formed the pink rocks of Bryce Canyon. The hoodoos and spires of the canyon seem to stand erect as if mimicking people frozen in time. There is time for lunch on your own ahead of our guided park tour. After our explorations, we drive down Long Valley to Kanab. This town is known as "Little Hollywood" due to its history as a filming location for many western movies and television series, including Stagecoach, The Lone Ranger, and Gunsmoke. Overnight Kanab, UT.

• Breakfast

Today, we visit Zion, one of Amerca's oldest and most popular national parks. Established in 1919, the park features a total of nearly 147,000 miles of spectacular natural terrain. Enjoy free time to explore or have lunch on your own at Zion Lodge before this afternoon's guided tram tour.

Situated in the heart of Utah's Color Country, Zion is full of stunning, mineral-rich landscapes of vibrant red, orange, yellow and purple. Witness impressive archways, deep canyons and wooded plateaus as we journey through the park, listening as our guide introduces the region's geological history. Marvel at the famed West Temple and Zion Canyon and keep an eye out for photo opportunities as we pass through the ever-changing landscape.

After our tour of the park, continue exploring on your own before departing from the west gate. Look out for bighorn sheep along the sandstone slopes! Overnight Kanab, UT.

• Breakfast

Today's journey is just as impressive as the destination: Grand Canyon National Park. After breakfast, we leave Kanab by coach, traveling toward Lake Powell, UT to visit Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.

Brimming with the unique beauty of a high desert landscape, this 25-million-acre preserve offers incredible views. Here, we board a yacht for a delicious lunch cruise across Lake Powell. As we enjoy the meal, marvel at the contrast of the orange cliffs against Lake Powell and the Colorado River.

From here, we continue driving to Grand Canyon National Park. After checking in to our hotel, we set out along the scenic Desert View Drive for our first glimpse of the Grand Canyon. Built in 1931, this picturesque byway hugs the South Rim of the canyon, providing epic views of this natural wonder. Overnight Grand Canyon, AZ.

• Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast at the lodge this morning, we have a full day to discover the Grand Canyon independently. At 277 miles long, 18 miles wide and more than a mile deep, this massive gorge slowly developed over the past 70 million years. Today, this breathtaking area is a UNESCO World Heritage site and attracts huge crowds every year.

You can board one of the park's complimentary shuttle buses outside our lodge for a hop-on, hop-off tour around the park, stopping at the most picturesque points to explore the canyon at greater length.

You could also join a Ranger Talk, where a knowledgeable park guide shares information about the area's natural and human history, or take a trail walk along the South Rim. Shuttles are also available to take you west to the famous Hermit's Rest viewpoint, where the vast canyonlands appear to stretch endlessly into the distance. In the evening, we return to our lodge. Overnight Grand Canyon, AZ.

• Breakfast

Take the morning to continue experiencing the natural glories of Grand Canyon National Park. Making the short walk up to Mather Point rewards you with spectacular sunrise views, and myriad other trails cater to hikers of all skill levels.

Enjoy lunch on your own at one of the South Rim's eateries, then join the group in riding the Grand Canyon Railway. The 90-minute ride takes you from the South Rim to historic Williams, AZ, via Ponderosa pine forests, prairies, and high desert landscapes. Our motorcoach is waiting in Williams to finish our day's travels, which conclude in Flagstaff.

Gather with your fellow travelers tonight for a three-course farewell dinner. Overnight Flagstaff, AZ.

• Breakfast, Dinner

On this spectacular tour, we experienced the best of the Southwest's national parks. In Utah we visited the otherworldly Arches National Park and enjoyed a jetboat ride down the Colorado River. We visited Capitol Reef National Park, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Bryce Canyon National Park, and Zion National Park. We finished the tour with a two-stay stay at the Grand Canyon, where we explored this incredible natural wonder.

Your tour through the great national parks of the Southwest concludes this morning after breakfast, and you are free to make your way to the airport for your journey home.

• Breakfast