Tour Description

WOW! This tour is not just a destination! Even though the ultimate destination of the Grand Canyon National Park is definitely the most beautiful of them all, around every turn you will find one of God’s Masterpieces of Nature that is worthy of a destination all its own. Just imagine one tour, 11 days of viewing awesome sites such as the Palo Duro Canyon, White Sands National Monument, the Saguaro National Monument and Arizona Sonora Desert Museum. Another highlight of your tour will be a three hour Pink Jeep Scenic Rim Tour of the red rocks of Sedona. There’s more! Million-dollar views from the top of Sky City, Acoma Pueblo and then ride the Aerial Tramway to the top of the 10,378 foot Sandia Peak for an 11,000 square-mile panoramic view of the Rio Grande Valley and the Land of Enchantment.

Day 1:

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The first day of this fabulous tour will be a travel day, so we have time to get acquainted with our new traveling friends. Our destination will be Elk City, OK.

Day 2:

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After our included breakfast, the spectacular beauty of nature begins for real. Your Tour Director will keep you informed of your schedule today as we travel into Amarillo, Texas for some shopping and free time on Old Route 66. This is the number one attraction in Amarillo. This mile long stretch features such places as the Nat Ballroom, now an antique store, but a former stop for the big bands that passed through Amarillo. The Golden Light Café is where the best hamburgers in town have been served for more than 50 years. There is a shuttle that will take you from one end of the shopping area to the other so that you have maximum time to really enjoy your morning. You will need to have lunch here before departing for Palo Duro Canyon State Park. A guide will board our coach at the entrance to Palo Duro Canyon for a driving tour of 16 miles of scenic drives that descend to the canyon floor, some 1,000 feet below the rim. The canyon exposes geological formations more than 250 million years old. We depart Palo Duro and cross over into Roswell, New Mexico.

Day 3:

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This morning, we will experience all the interesting phenomenon of space as we visit the Olga Planetarium Stars Show. I’m sure you remember the UFO that crashed near Roswell, New Mexico. We are going to visit the Roswell UFO Museum and check out the Aliens before we depart for the White Sands National Monument in Alamogordo, New Mexico. The White Sands National Monument is the source of rare gypsum sands that form snow-white dunes rising up to 60 feet above the Tularosa Basin floor. The driver will stop and let you play in the sand for a few moments. You will feel like you are playing on the beach and in the snow at the same time! We continue on to Las Cruces, New Mexico for a guided tour of the Historic Mesilla Plaza. Your guide will give you the history of this town, which had its official beginnings in 1850. Billy the Kid was tried and sentenced in Mesilla, a former territorial capital. Our lodging tonight will be in Las Cruces New Mexico.

Day 4:

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We depart for Tucson, Arizona this morning and should arrive in time for lunch. After lunch, we will tour the Saguaro National Monument. We will drive by the Giant Saguaro Cactus that only grows in the Sonora Desert. Some can grow between 40 to 60 feet tall! Be prepared for some breath taking views as the Saguaro should be in full bloom. Our next stop is at the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, one of the top 10 museums in the country and the number one Tucson Attraction. You have a close-up view of many desert creatures living in their native habitat as well as a chance to travel nature trails through labeled desert botanical gardens. In the evening after we check into our hotel, we have a fun treat for you. We have included dinner at the Pinnacle Peak Steak House. Our overnight lodging will be in Tucson Arizona.

Day 5:

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This morning, we travel through desert land that has a beauty of its own. Mountains can be seen in the distance as we travel to Phoenix. We pick up a Step-On Guide for a narrated tour of Downtown Phoenix, Old Town Scottsdale, Camelback Mountain, Paradise Valley and more. This afternoon we arrive in Sedona, Arizona. It has been said, “God created the Grand Canyon but He lives in Sedona,” so it’s no wonder people from all over the world come to see the magnificent red rock formations but fall in love with the friendly town. Our lodging tonight will be in Sedona Arizona.

Day 6:

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This exciting day begins with a full hot buffet breakfast and an opportunity to watch the sun rise over the bright orange and red formations. Our high adventure today will be our Pink Jeep Tour, a fun, scenic, off-road adventure in spectacular red rock country! Sedona, Arizona is one of the most beautiful places on earth. Our Scenic Rim Tour, a stunning jeep ride with a dazzling view of forever vistas, is a memory you will never forget. They will also include a tour of the Holy Chapel of the Cross before returning you to the Hotel. You will have a little free time to shop and have lunch before departing via Oak Creek Canyon to Flagstaff. Oak Creek Canyon is a gorge about 13 miles long between Sedona and Flagstaff. Designated one of the top ten most beautiful drives in America, it is second only to the Grand Canyon as the most popular tourist attraction in Arizona. Next, we will visit the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff to view some of spaces most spectacular exhibits before continuing on to Williams, Arizona.

Day 7:

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This is the day we have been waiting for! It’s all aboard as the Grand Canyon Train comes into the station. Traveling through the Northern Arizona countryside to the Grand Canyon, this adventure relives the excitement of the Old West. All the previous beauty and excitement we have been enjoying will not prepare you for the breath taking views that you are going to experience as the train pulls into the South Rim Station and you receive your first glimpse of the Grand Canyon. Making Memories will treat you to lunch before we begin our in depth tour. After lunch, our driver will give you a tour of the South Rim, and then, you will have some free time to check out one of the most famous canyon in the world. Our lodging tonight will be at the Grand Canyon.

Day 8:

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We depart the Grand Canyon but, we have one more exciting stop this morning. We will visit the National Geographic Visitor Center and view the IMAX showing the Grand Canyon: The Hidden Secrets. The IMAX is equipped with a seven-story-tall screen and chair-shaking surround sound. We will continue to Winslow, Arizona for lunch. Our afternoon break will be at the Painted Desert Visitor Center. Our overnight will be in Grants, New Mexico.

Day 9:

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History. Culture. Art. Over Two thousand years old, Acoma Pueblo, also known as Sky City, is the oldest continuously inhabited settlement in North America, and the 28th Historic Site designated by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Founded in the 13th Century, Sky City has been the home of Native Americans for centuries. We will tour the San Esteban del Rey Mission and be able to browse the authentic crafts and food offerings. We continue on to Albuquerque, New Mexico and have some free time for shopping and lunch in Old Town before visiting Sandia Peak for a ride on the Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway that transports you above deep canyons and stunning terrain. We will travel a distance of 2.7 miles to the top of the 10,378 foot Sandia Peak for some of the most fabulous views in the entire West. We depart Sandia Peak and begin our homeward journey. Our overnight will be in Santa Rosa, New Mexico.

Day 10:

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Today is a day of travel and much needed rest because we have seen and done more on this tour then most people get to do in a lifetime. You will clutch the memory of all beauty and all of God’s masterpieces in your heart for many years to come. Our Lodging tonight will be in Oklahoma City’s Bricktown. There are so many themed restaurants, shows and other attractions within walking distance for you to enjoy on your last night of this already magnificent tour.

Day 11:

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I’ve always heard that “all good things must come to an end,” but in this case, I really don’t believe they will. As we retell our adventures to our friends and family, describing all of the majestic scenes and unforgettable beauty we have seen, I believe our good things are going to last forever.