Day 1
Fly to Salt Lake City
Arrive into Salt Lake City international airport and either pick up your hire car and drive to your hotel for the night. Or if you would prefer you could take the airport shuttle bus directly to the hotel.
Overnight: Ramada by Wynhdam Salt Lake City Airport (or similar)
Days 2 & 3
Salt Lake City – Arches & Canyonlands National Parks (239 miles)
Begin your epic road trip! Travel through the sandstone pinnacles and buttes of the Colorado River Plateau. Arriving at Arches by early afternoon, you’ll have the next two days to explore Arches’ scenic drives and trails. For the adventurous there are guided hikes through Arches’ Fiery Furnace, narrated jet boat excursions or lunch and afternoon rafting trips on the Colorado River. As an alternative, start at Canyonlands Island-In-The-Sky and Dead Horse State Park area for an afternoon scenic drive and trails looping back to Arches fro sunset. Stay two nights in Moab.
Overnight: Big Horn Lodge (or similar) or upgrade to the Hotel Moab Downtown
Day 4
Moab – Canyonlands Needles District – Monument Valley (215 Miles)
Make your way to the Canyonlands’ Needles District named for its colourful sandstone spires. After visiting the Needles, drive to Utah’s remote and remarkable Canyon Country. Visit sites bearing witness to an ancient pueblo people and amazing narrow canyons. You’ll arrive in Monument Valley Area late afternoon.
Overnight: Gouldings Lodge, Monument Valley (Lodge Room, upgrade to a Hillside Villa for a supplement)
Day 5
Monument Valley – (Goosenecks-Natural Bridges) – Capitol Reef NP (213 miles)
Today you’ll drive to Natural Bridges National Monument to see three of the world’s largest sandstone natural bridges. You will reach the colourful formations of Capitol Reef in the late afternoon and spend the night in Torrey.
Overnight: Days Inn by Wyndham Torrey Capitol Reef (or similar)
Days 6 & 7
Capitol Reef – (Grand Staircase/Kodachrome Basin) – Bryce (198 miles)
This morning you’ll have time to explore Capitol Reef, known to the Navajo as the Land of the Sleeping Rainbow. Drive through the Grand Staircase of the Escalante and take a side trip to Kodachrome Basin, which will bring you to Bryce Canyon for the next two nights.
Explore Bryce from sunrise to sunset with its series of natural amphitheatres, 38-miles of Scenic Loops and its various hiking trails among the hoodoos.
Overnight: Bryce View Lodge (or similar), upgrade to Best Western plus Bryce Canyon Grand Hotel
Day 8
Bryce Canyon – Zion National Park (85 miles)
Travelling from the east you will exit Mt. Carmel Tunnel where a spectacular set of steep switchbacks will reveal Zion’s awesome beauty. A free shuttle will take you to Zion Canyon’s trailheads for Weeping Rock, Gateway to the Narrows and Emerald Pools.
Overnight: La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham at Zion Park / Springdale (or similar) or upgrade to Zion Lodge
Day 9
Zion – Kolob Canyons – Cedar City (103 miles)
Travel onwards to Zion National Park’s lesser visited Kolob Canyons where the adventurous can explore the Timber Creek Overlook Trail or Taylor Creek Trail. Make your way to the historic Cedar City for the night.
Overnight: Comfort Inn & Suites Cedar City (or similar)
Day 10
Cedar City – Salt Lake City (252 miles)
Today you're heading north and back to Salt Lake City, on the Interstate for an easy half day journey so you can stop on the way for a stroll in Fishlake National Forest and for a bite to eat in Provo downtown. Arrive in Salt Lake City for either your final night, or extend your stay by a night or two to give you chance to explore the sights and indulge in some shopping.
Overnight: Holiday Inn Express Salt Lake City Downtown (or similar), upgrade to Kimpton Hotel Monaco
Day 11
Depart Salt Lake City for your flight home.
