Hotels

Accommodation is in clean hotels chosen for their friendly atmosphere and proximity to the highlights of the region. You room with a fellow passenger of the same sex on a twin-share basis (two people per room) unless you are travelling as a couple.

There are no compulsory single supplements on our tours; however, if you’d like your own space, you can request a single room for an additional fee.

There are two breakfasts and one dinner included on this trip.

Most meals will be taken in local restaurants.

To help you budget for these meals, average costs are:

Hotel breakfasts: US$12-US$17
Lunches: US$15-US$20
Dinners: US$20-US$35, not including alcoholic beverages

Drinks cost on average:

Wine: US$7-10 per glass
Beer: US$5-8 per bottle

A tip of approximately 17%-20% is added to group meals in North American restaurants. Applicable taxes will also be added to all listed menu prices.

Your tour leader may offer your group the option to operate a lunch-only food kitty; this has proven a popular alternative to three daily restaurant meals. Leaders will explain this option on your tour, and the whole group will have to agree for this system to run.

Vegetarians and vegans can be well catered for on this trip, please inform us before departure of any special dietary requests so our local team can be well prepared. We do all we can to accommodate various other dietary requirements but in certain parts of North America certain food types can be limited.

Dress tends to be informal and you should take a practical selection of clothes for both warm and cool climates as you may encounter a wide variety of temperatures due to altitude and unforeseen weather conditions.

Besides your essential clothing, other items you should take include:

— Small daypack
— Waterproof jacket
— Warm sweater/fleece
— Casual ‘evening out’ clothes
— Hiking shoes/boots
— Thick walking socks
— Blister packs and plasters (band-aids)
— Hiking poles
— Comfortable day shoes
— Sandals or flip-flops
— Warm hat/gloves
— Swimwear
— Sun hat/sunglasses
— Camera/binoculars
— SD memory card/spare camera batteries
— Small torch (flashlight) or head torch (headlamp)
— Sunscreen
— Insect repellent (20% DEET)
— Travel power adaptor
— Toiletries/personal medicine

Help reduce plastic waste

— Reusable water bottle (to reduce single-use plastic bottles we have water for refills in our vehicle)
— Reusable travel cutlery with case (to reduce single-use plastic cutlery at hotels and on the go)
— Reusable lunch box (to avoid the use of ziplock bags)

Please note, airlines have various rules on what can be carried in your luggage. If in doubt, check with your airline before travelling.

Footwear
We recommend walking shoes/boots, as comfortable shoes with good ankle support will make all walking more enjoyable. If you do not own a pair, then sports trainers (sneakers) will suffice although this is a personal choice. If you intend to do some walking, it is recommended to bring thick walking socks for comfort.

Washing clothes

You will have the opportunity to wash your clothes on tour, and this can often be done in town. Ask your tour leader for local information.

Luggage allowance

One suitcase, soft holdall or rucksack (51lb/23kg maximum) per person. A small daypack and camera can also be carried in the van. Before you travel, please check the baggage allowance with the airline you’re flying with as this may be less than 51lb (23kg).

We are unable to offer luggage storage facilities; however, some of our pre- and post-tour hotels will provide this service although there may be a charge. Please contact the hotels directly for further information.

Your tour leader will take care of all the planning and organisation throughout your tour, drive the van, and make sure everything runs smoothly. Your tour leader is there to make sure you get the most out of your tour; organising activities, providing information and answering any questions you may have as well as sorting out any queries or problems. If you have any particular interests or things you would like to do, let your tour leader know at the beginning of the tour and they will do their best to help.

Working hour regulations for leaders: US law regulates the total number of hours your group leader can work. Tours are designed to make the most of your time in the States, but please understand there will be certain times each day that your leader will need to be off duty from work to rest and recuperate. Due to these restrictions, particularly after the longer driving days, your leader may not be able to join you for some of the daily activities or may need to tend to other work duties.

— Explore three national parks
— Enjoy a Navajo-guided backroads tour in Monument Valley and traditional dinner
— Discover ancient cliff dwellings at Navajo National Monument
— Gaze over the Grand Canyon at sunrise or sunset
— Take in sandstone cliffs of Zion and rock hoodoos of Bryce Canyon

Key information
Start hotel: Alexis Park Resort, 375 E Harmon Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89169
Phone: +1 702-796-3300
Recommended arrival time: You can arrive at any time today. The welcome briefing usually takes place in the morning of Day 2
Getting to the start hotel
The start hotel is approximately 10 minutes’ drive from the airport. Your options for this journey are:

Take an Exodus transfer

Exodus provides one group arrival transfer from the airport, which is timed to coincide with the arrival of a chosen flight from London, UK. You may join this transfer at no extra cost, provided you can be at the airport before the transfer leaves.

Make your own way

You are free to arrive any time on Day 1. Due to the late arrival time of the group flight from London, UK, it is likely that the welcome meeting will take place on the morning of Day 2. Details on the time and specific location of your meeting will be available by midday on Day 1. During the welcome meeting, you will meet your tour guide and fellow travellers and spend a few minutes filling out necessary paperwork, so please bring your insurance documents, passport and tour documentation to the meeting.

If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative.

Arrival complications

Sometimes the unexpected can happen; your plane may be delayed or you may even miss it. If you have missed your tour departure, first call the hotel to see if your tour leader has left you a message. If not, call the relevant emergency number and speak to our staff who will be happy to help you catch up with the group. Please note that you are responsible for any extra travelling expenses incurred due to missing your tour’s departure.
Catching your return flight
There’s a group departure transfer to Las Vegas International Airport for customers who Exodus have booked onto a chosen flight to London, UK. If you have booked your own flights, you may still join this transfer at no extra cost – please speak to your sales representative if you wish to join. If the group departure transfer does not suit your flight time, speak to your sales representative to arrange an alternative transfer.

— Flights
— Travel insurance
— Single accommodation (available on request)
— Visas or vaccinations
— Optional activities

Dress tends to be informal and you should take a practical selection of clothes for both warm and cool climates as you may encounter a wide variety of temperatures due to altitude and unforeseen weather conditions.

Besides your essential clothing, other items you should take include:

— Small daypack
— Waterproof jacket
— Warm sweater/fleece
— Casual ‘evening out’ clothes
— Hiking shoes/boots
— Thick walking socks
— Blister packs and plasters (band-aids)
— Hiking poles
— Comfortable day shoes
— Sandals or flip-flops
— Warm hat/gloves
— Swimwear
— Sun hat/sunglasses
— Camera/binoculars
— SD memory card/spare camera batteries
— Small torch (flashlight) or head torch (headlamp)
— Sunscreen
— Insect repellent (20% DEET)
— Travel power adaptor
— Toiletries/personal medicine

Help reduce plastic waste

— Reusable water bottle (to reduce single-use plastic bottles we have water for refills in our vehicle)
— Reusable travel cutlery with case (to reduce single-use plastic cutlery at hotels and on the go)
— Reusable lunch box (to avoid the use of ziplock bags)

Please note, airlines have various rules on what can be carried in your luggage. If in doubt, check with your airline before travelling.

Footwear
We recommend walking shoes/boots, as comfortable shoes with good ankle support will make all walking more enjoyable. If you do not own a pair, then sports trainers (sneakers) will suffice although this is a personal choice. If you intend to do some walking, it is recommended to bring thick walking socks for comfort.

Washing clothes

You will have the opportunity to wash your clothes on tour, and this can often be done in town. Ask your tour leader for local information.

Luggage allowance

One suitcase, soft holdall or rucksack (51lb/23kg maximum) per person. A small daypack and camera can also be carried in the van. Before you travel, please check the baggage allowance with the airline you’re flying with as this may be less than 51lb (23kg).

We are unable to offer luggage storage facilities; however, some of our pre- and post-tour hotels will provide this service although there may be a charge. Please contact the hotels directly for further information.

— Travel by private minibus
— Mixture of cultural experiences and walks
— Walks are suitable for a range of abilities
— Group normally 5 to 13, plus leader. Minimum age: 16
— Accommodation: 7 Classic nights (5 hotel, 2 lodge)

We recommend you take at least US$50 per day for meals not included in the tour, drinks, snacks and other incidentals. You should also budget for expected tipping and for the optional activities you plan to do. We suggest you bring US$150 with you in cash to have at the beginning of your trip.

It is customary in North America to tip local guides, waiters, bar staff, taxi drivers and anyone who provides a service for you. Service workers are paid a low wage and depend on tips for their livelihood. It can be embarrassing if you’re confronted by a local who is expecting a tip and you are not aware of how much to offer. For this reason, we have listed guideline prices below.

A 15-20% tip is standard in restaurants and you should also expect to tip $1 per drink in bars, $1-2 per bag for porters, $2-3 for hotel housekeeping as will 10% for taxi drivers. It’s also typical to tip around 10% for local guides who provide optional activities.

Your tour leader will work long and hard for you during your tour and we recommend a discretionary tip of US$12-$15 per passenger per day if your leader’s performance meets or exceeds your expectations.

You’ll travel in a private 15-seater vehicle which is driven by your tour leader. All luggage, equipment, and other necessities are stored in a specially designed trailer or storage area to maximise space and comfort in the vehicle. The size of our vehicles allows us to reach more remote destinations not accessible to larger vehicles. All our vehicles are equipped with air conditioning, Bluetooth compatible stereo and USB charging ports throughout the vehicle.

This tour has been graded Activity Level 2 (Easy & Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.

This cultural tour is designed for active adults and offers a well-paced mix of cultural visits with walks for all fitness levels. Most walks are of leisurely-to-moderate difficulty and up to four hours’ long, however there are often shorter walks available for those who prefer to take in the views at a slower pace. For the more adventurous, there are sometimes optional moderate-to-strenuous hikes up to eight hours’ long. Your tour leader will organise these for you and you can pay locally in cash. It may not be possible to do all optional activities listed on each tour.

The tour includes some long days as there is so much to see! Although each tour follows an itinerary, there is a certain amount of flexibility needed and from time to time your tour leader may suggest changes. This may be due to road conditions, weather or a visit to a special attraction or event that happens to be in progress. Flexibility is key, and often a side diversion will be a highlight of the tour. Hikes and optional activities cannot be guaranteed and may vary depending on ability, group interest, weather and time of year.

The West has very dry weather and blue, sunny skies in spring, summer and autumn. However, temperatures vary greatly depending on the elevation. Generally, the higher the elevation, the cooler the temperature. Outside of summer, it can be very cold in the morning (below freezing) in some locations, so you should bring thermals and thick gloves with you.

Spring and autumn have perfect hiking days in the deserts and cooler days at higher elevations.

In summer, Bryce and the Grand Canyon offer pleasant temperatures, ideal for hiking, whereas some of the deserts might experience hotter temperatures. On warmer days, the leader will opt for early morning and late afternoon walks, leaving time for mid-day rest.

Please note, the hottest time of day in the deserts is 3pm. Most nights will be mild to warm. In summer, prepare for afternoon thunderstorms. Spring has stunning displays of desert wildflowers, summer has mountain wildflowers and in autumn the tree colours are beautiful.