Get back to nature and encounter the dramatic rock formations of Arizona on a three-day trip into Monument Valley, Antelope Canyon, and the Valley of Fire. Take a jeep tour of the Navajo Nation with a native guide, and get spectacular views from Horseshoe Bend. Avail of the chance to shop at the boutique stores and arts and craft shops of Sedona and more.
Day 1: Las Vegas – Sedona
(Wednesday)
Start the day by traveling across the Mojave Desert and head up the Colorado Plateau. Journey along historic Route 66 as you make your way to Sedona. Then, take in the spectacular landscape of Oak Creek Canyon as it descends 2,000 feet (610 meters) to the valley floor. Stop to take photos of the red rocks and surroundings at the Oak Creek Canyon Overlook and Slide Rock State Park.
Break for lunch in Sedona and browse the authentic Native American arts and crafts stores. Then, head into the surrounding desert to visit the Chapel of the Holy Cross and get panoramic views of Sedona's red rock formations, including Bell Rock, Courthouse Butte and Cathedral Rock. Depart Sedona in the late afternoon and drive to Flagstaff for your overnight stay at La Quinta Inn & Suites.
Day 2: Monument Valley – Horseshoe Bend
(Thursday)
Head into Monument Valley to discover one of the Iconic symbols of the American West. Venture deep into the heart of the autonomous Navajo Nation, where the sandstone rocks tower from 400 to 1,000 feet (up to 300 meters) tall. Marvel at the near-vertical mesa buttes and see indigenous shrubs and trees. Take a jeep tour led by a member of the Navajo tribe, and go down into the valley to experience firsthand why they call this land “like no other place on earth.”
Then, head to the mighty Colorado River. Visit Horseshoe Bend for a spectacular view, unique to the region. Continue to Lake Powell for your overnight stay at the Clarion Inn in Page.
Day 3: Friday Antelope Canyon – Valley of Fire – Las Vegas
(Friday)
Start the day where “the water runs through the rocks” as per the local Navajo folklore. Tour the lower Antelope Canyon and visit the spectacular dunes created by the wind, water, and sand; there are no words to aptly describe these formations created by Mother Nature.
After the tour, depart this amazing area and start making your way back to Las Vegas, along the way stopping for a lunch break and then visiting the “Valley of Fire,” named for the magnificent red sandstone formations created from shifting sands and dunes during the age of the dinosaurs more than 150 million years ago.
The visit is timed to be able to see the appearance of the valley being on “fire” when reflecting the powerful sun’s rays into the valley (weather permitting). Depart the Park for an early evening arrival in Las Vegas.
