United States: Western Wonders
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Zion Great White Throne ©Saint George-Zion Convention & Tourism Office
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Zion National Park ©Saint George-Zion Convention & Tourism Office
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Zion River in Autumn ©Saint George-Zion Convention & Tourism Office
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Reflection of Upper Yosemite Falls ©Yosemite Mariposa County Tourism Bureau, Kristal Leonard
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Falls with a rainbow, Yosemite ©Krystal Leonard
“One cannot be pessimistic about the West. This is the native home of hope..” Wallace Stegner, The Sound of Mountain Water
Discover the natural beauty of deserts, canyons and national parks along with the glittering, exciting metropolises of western America. From the grand valleys of Yosemite to San Francisco’s iconic Golden Gate Bridge, this tour encompasses the best of the west. Explore Yosemite, Death Valley, Bryce Canyon, Zion and Grand Canyon National Parks. Enjoy the spectacular scenery, wonderful waterfalls and captivating canyons that define this vast and rugged region. See the effects of plate tectonics, faults and earthquakes on the desert landscapes. Western America is a unique region blessed with stunning natural beauty, ideal for geographers and scientists alike.
Outdoor adventures offer tremendous educational opportunities for students and this region is a perfect location for student travel allowing them exposure to a constant stream of interactive lessons in the sciences. It offers students hands on outdoor experiences which they will always remember. Geography, history and environmental students will also benefit from experiential learning as it teaches them about the complexities of our natural world and how it has influenced modern developments. Combining the wonders of the natural world with the engineering magnificence of the Golden Gate Bridge or the Hoover Dam just adds another dimension to the student experience.
The challenges they will face in the modern West as well as the wild and somewhat primitive environment of the parks canyons and deserts will give students a far better understanding than reading about it in a book or watching it on film. Watch your students develop their social skills and grow up as they learn new responsibilities and view the world through the eyes of others, perhaps even altering their perception of life through engaging with their peers. Give students of all levels the opportunity to experience this fascinating landscape on a memorable visit that they will cherish forever.
Day 1
UK to San Francisco
Fly from the UK to San Francisco. On arrival you will be met by a guide and transferred to your hotel. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure to relax and enjoy the hotel facilities.
Day 2
San Francisco – Alcatraz
After breakfast enjoy a cruise to Alcatraz Island. The former prison that operated here from 1934 to 1963 was once home to some of America’s most notorious criminals. Today Alcatraz is home to rare flowers and plants, marine wildlife, thousands of sea birds and Civil War-era buildings dot the island. It also played an important role in the American Indian rights movement. In the evening enjoy a three course dinner at Bubba Gump Shrimp.
Day 3
Oakhurst
After breakfast, travel to Oakhurst. Oakhurst is town south of the entrance to Yosemite National Park, in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. On arrival, check in and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.
Day 4
Yosemite National Park
Today you will travel through Yosemite National Park. Explore the dramatic waterfalls, giant sequoias and awe-inspiring vistas of Yosemite; an icon of majestic natural beauty. Learn about the park’s history and geology. Walk the granite slopes of Sentinel Dome or hike to Mirror Lake. The more adventurous may opt for a more strenuous climb to the top of Vernal Falls. Travel to Bishop and check in to your hotel.
Day 5
Death Valley
This morning travel to Las Vegas. Visit the Death Valley National Park and enjoy a guided tour. Known for its extremes: this below-sea-level basin is North America’s driest and hottest spot. Despite its morbid name, a great diversity of life survives in Death Valley.
Day 6
Las Vegas
Today is at leisure for you to relax and enjoy the hotel facilities or explore the city.
Day 7
Zion National Park
Travel to Cedar City and visit Zion National Park. On a guided tour, explore the crosshatch of canyons, hundreds of scenic trails and beautifully sculpted sand dunes. Zion’s diverse topography leads to a diversity of habitats and species.
Day 8
Bryce Canyon
Travel to Kayenta and visit Bryce Canyon. Explore this stunning National Park home to the world’s largest collection of hoodoos. Hike through the bristlecone pines and see the incredible natural bridges, narrow fins and breathtaking views – this is no ordinary forest.
Day 9
Monument Valley
Visit Monument Valley. Boasting sandstone masterpieces framed by scenic clouds, this park provides simply spellbinding scenery. Natural forces of wind and water have spent the last 50 million years eroding the land, cutting in to and peeling away at the surface of the plateau.
Day 10
Grand Canyon
This morning travel to the Grand Canyon. Dating back nearly two million years, the Grand Canyon is perhaps the world’s most distinguishable and recognised landform. This immense mile deep and 18 mile wide gorge offers incredible panoramic vistas, towering forests, and side canyons filled with lush vegetation, gargling streams and the sounds of wildlife. Experience the Skywalk and look down through the glass platform at the bottom of the gorge some 2000 feet below.
Day 11
Palm Springs
Travel to Palm Springs. Today is at leisure for you to relax or explore the city. Enjoy a spot of shopping at the Desert Hills Outlet, the largest collection of luxury outlets in California.
Day 12
Los Angeles
End the trip with a visit to Los Angeles. Enjoy a behind the scenes tour of Universal Studios, one of the oldest and most famous Hollywood film studios still in use. Face action head-on in heart-pounding rides, shows and attractions in the theme park. Experience The Ride-3D – that puts you inside some of the world’s most popular TV shows and movies.
Day 13
Los Angeles to UK
After breakfast you will be picked up and transferred to Los Angeles Airport for your return flight to the UK.
