Day 1
Fly to Salt Lake City, Utah
Arrive in Salt Lake City and transfer to your downtown hotel.
Overnight: Crystal Inn Hotel & Suites - Salt Lake City or similar
Day 2
Salt Lake City
To get your bearings wander around downtown Salt Lake City or take an optional walking tour visiting Temple Square, the spiritual centre of the city of the city, to learn about the founder of the city who continue to shape Utah today. For an introduction to the natural and cultural heritage of Utah, visit the Natural History Museum of Utah, home to First Peoples, paleontological and geological exhibits.
Elevate your experience: Discover space and the solar system and beyond at the Clark Planetarium. Entry to the main exhibits is free! If you’re in Salt Lake City on a Friday or Saturday, enjoy the Cosmic Light Show as part of one of the theatre screenings (entry fee applies).
Overnight: Crystal Inn Hotel & Suites - Salt Lake City or similar
Day 3
Salt Lake City to Park City (approx. 30 miles)
Head into the mountains with a short drive to world-renowned Park City. Adrenaline junkies are spoilt for choice with mountain biking trails, horse riding, mountain coasters and much more. For those wanting a gentler pace, take a scenic chair lift ride to the top of the mountain for 360-degree views of the surrounding area. Admire the wildflowers in the spring and in the autumn the yellow, orange and red hues of the changing leaves. After a day of activity enjoy an evening stroll down the Historic Main Street and a delicious dinner in one of the ‘perfect mountain town’ restaurants.
Elevate your day: Test your metal at the Olympic Park, host of the 2022 Winter Olympic Games. Experience the thrill of the Olympic Bobsleigh as you reach speeds of 70mph. Or simply take a guided tour of the site to visit the start line of the sledding race tracks and stand at the top of the highest Nordic ski jump.
Overnight: DoubleTree by Hilton Park City - The Yarrow or similar
Day 4
Park City to Vernal (approx. 140 miles)
Head east to Dinosaur National Monument where dinosaurs once roamed to discover fossils, petroglyphs and pictographs among dramatic vistas and remote canyons. At the Quarry Exhibit Hall more than 1,500 dinosaur fossils in an exposed cliff face await. Journey back to the late Jurassic period and view Allosaurus, Apatosaurus, Camarasaurus, Diplodocus and Stegosaurus bones. There are even several places where you can touch 150-million-year-old dinosaur fossils! In the nearby town of Vernal continue your journey of discovery at the Utah Field House Museum.
Elevate your trip: Stay an extra night to visit the fly-fishing mecca of Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area. Test your skills as you fish for record-breaking trout and kokanee salmon.
Overnight: Comfort Inn and Suites Vernal or similar
Day 5
Vernal to Moab (approx. 220 miles)
Travel south on Highway 191 to Moab, the centre of activity for two of Utah’s Mighty Five national parks – Arches and Canyonlands. Along the way stop at USU Eastern Prehistoric Museum, where ancient lives are documented back to the Ice Age 14,000 years ago. This route is part of the Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric scenic highway.
Elevate your evening: Your first experience of the incredible starry night skies – Utah’s night life! Take a stargazing tour to view planets, galaxies, star clusters and nebulae through high-powered telescopes.
Overnight: Red Cliffs Lodge or similar
Day 6
Moab to Canyonlands National Park (approx. 30 miles)
Canyonlands, Utah’s largest National Park, has been intricately carved by the Colorado River and its tributaries to form canyons, buttes and cliffs. Closest to Moab is the Island in the Sky section with numerous viewpoints for photographic opportunities from the sheer sandstone cliffs. Take the easy walk to Mesa Arch, a natural frame to the canyon below. As you make your way back to Moab make time for a stop at Dead Horse Point State Park with panoramic views over the Colorado River.
Elevate your day: Join an off-road adventure to view Canyonlands National Park from a different perspective. Travel into the depths of the park before journeying up the infamous Shafer Trail to the top of the cliffs.
Overnight: Red Cliffs Lodge or similar
Day 7
Moab to Arches National Park to Monument Valley (approx. 180 miles)
Arches National Park is a wonderland of over 2,000 natural stone arches, hundreds of soaring pinnacles and giant balanced rocks. Take the short walk to Double Arch and the North/South Arches in at The Windows section, spot smaller hidden arches and admire the contrasting colours, textures and landscapes - a photographers’ dream! En-route to Monument Valley, take a short detour to Goosenecks State Park, with incredible viewpoints over the twisting canyons of the San Juan River.
Elevate your day: Rise early to view Delicate Arch at sunrise. Take the three-mile round trip hike to view the free-standing 46-ft tall arch up close as the rising sun gradually changes the colours of the landscape around you.
Overnight: Goulding's Trading Post and Lodge or similar
Day 8
Monument Valley to Kanab (approx. 210 miles)
Head into the ancient Navajo Tribal Park of Monument Valley, the set of so many famous westerns synonymous with John Wayne and the wild west. A guided tour will take you into the depths of the park and provide you with an in-depth insight into the life and traditions of the Navajo people. You’ll view breathtaking buttes, arches and rock formations before journeying to Kanab.
Elevate your experience: Stay an extra night to immerse yourself in Utah’s Native American culture. Extend your tour of Monument Valley to include the ancient homes, pictographs and petroglyphs of Mystery Valley. Or join a guided tour into Bears Ears National Monument to hear stories told by Indigenous guides.
Overnight: Best Western Red Hills or similar
Day 9
Kanab
Prepare yourself for a day of adventure in Kanab, the basecamp for off-the-beaten path Utah and exploration into Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. There are many tour companies offering tours of the stunning surrounding landscapes including Peek-a-Boo slot canyon, Buckskin Gulch and White Pocket. Alternatively, push your comfort level with an exhilarating ATV and repelling adventure or simply soak up the movie heritage of this typically western town, known as Utah’s Little Hollywood.
Elevate your evening: For more of Utah’s night life join a Campfire S’mores and Stargazing Tour in a private canyon where over 35 movies have been filmed.
Overnight: Best Western Red Hills or similar
Day 10
Kanab to Bryce Canyon National Park (approx. 75 miles)
Another of Utah’s Mighty 5 National Parks awaits today. After a pit-stop at Red Canyon on your way from Kanab, explore one of the world’s largest collections of hoodoos – rock spires. Take a walk along the rim of the canyon or descend into the canyon on The Queens Garden trail then take the Navajo Loop back to Sunset Point. Stay into the evening to watch the sun set.
Elevate your day: Why walk through the hoodoos of Bryce Canyon on your own two feet when you can see them from the relative comfort of horseback? Ask one of our travel experts to prebook this for you.
Overnight: Best Western Plus Ruby's Inn or elevate your stay at the Clear Sky Resorts Bryce Canyon or similar
Day 11
Bryce Canyon National Park to Zion National Park (approx. 45miles)
Early birds can head back into Bryce Canyon National Park to watch it come to life as the sunrises before hitting the road for the short drive to Zion National Park. On the way catch a taster of the scenery to come through the windows of the Zion Mount Carmel Tunnel. Hop on the Zion Canyon Shuttle to the Visitor Center to get your bearings and plan for a day of exploration tomorrow.
Overnight: Holiday Inn Express Springdale - Zion National Park Area or similar
Day 12
Zion National Park
Take the shuttle along Zion Canyon Scenic Drive and explore to your heart’s content, walking high up the plateaus and down along the riverbed. The Grotto Trail is a great route to admire the towering sandstone cliffs around you and spot wildlife. The Upper Emerald Pool trail will take you above waterfalls with views of the Virgin River below. You will be spoilt for choice in the evening with Springdale’s many restaurants to relax in and admire the scenery.
Elevate your day: Take a guided hike through The Narrows, a slot canyon along the bed of the Virgin River, with cliff walls up to 2,000-ft deep. Go as far as you like before heading back. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Overnight: Holiday Inn Express Springdale - Zion National Park Area or similar
Day 13
Zion National Park – Las Vegas (approx. 150 miles)
Before heading to Las Vegas for your return flight make a stop at Snow Canyon State Park to view ancient lava flows and red Navajo sandstone. In nearby St George stop for lunch at one of the many eclectic restaurants in town. The wave goodbye to Utah as you hit the road for Las Vegas for either a couple of nights stay or to fly home.
