Discover Utah's Treasures9 night self drive tour
Day 1: Salt Lake City
Arrive into Salt Lake City and transfer to your hotel. Tonight, venture into the city and choose to dine in one of the many restaurants - Salt Lake City’s culinary scene has evolved in recent times.
Day 2: Salt Lake City
Your first stop this morning must be Temple Square, the spiritual centre of the city. Take a free missionary guided tour to learn about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints first-hand, view the exterior of Salt Lake Temple and stroll through the pristine gardens. Head to the mountainside to visit Red Butte Gardens and the Natural History Museum of Utah, the perfect combination with great views over the city. Try to coincide your arrival to visit on a Thursday and watch the spectacular Tabernacle Choir rehearsing.
2 nights – Salt Lake City
Day 3: To Moab (234 miles)
Travel south to Moab, the centre of activity for two of Utah’s five national parks – Arches and Canyonlands. Arches National Park is a wonderland of over 2,000 natural stone arches. Delicate Arch is a must see; it frames a backdrop of mesas, canyons, and distant mountains. Get up-close by taking the three-mile roundtrip hike to it from Wolfe Ranch with some off-trail hiking. Alternatively stay with your car, using the 18-mile main road and stop at the various viewpoints to take in the incredible scenery. Arrive in Moab, your base for the next two nights, a perfect destination for outdoor enthusiasts who love hiking, biking and off-road adventures.
Day 4: Canyonlands National Park
Canyonlands, Utah’s largest National Park has three sections: Island in the Sky (an easy walk is to Mesa Arch, a natural frame to the canyon below); Needles District (strenuous hikes with over 60 miles of interconnecting trails) and The Maze. Numerous viewpoints highlight stops for photograph opportunities. Make sure to stop at Dead Horse Point State Park, located just north of the park which boasts mesmerising views over the Colorado River. Time permitting take in some of the incredible views of the starry night sky on an evening visit to Canyonlands or try stargazing on a ranger led programme at this International Dark Sky Park.
2 nights – Moab
Day 5: To Monument Valley (240 miles)
Head South on Highway 191 and venture west on Highway 95 to visit Natural Bridges National Monument, or head East on Highway 262 to Hovenweep National Monument. Bluff is a popular town to stop for a break or lunch, before heading via Goosenecks State Park to Monument Valley. Get your camera at the ready as you get closer to Monument Valley – the ever-changing colours and different angles are spectacular! One of the USA’s most iconic images and, made famous by countless western movies, Monument Valley has to be seen to be believed!
On arrival, explore the 17-mile scenic drive on a guided jeep tour, or get up close and personal with this natural wonder by hiking or horse riding through the valley. Later, don’t miss the mesmerising sunset, the perfect end to the day!
1 night – Monument Valley
Day 6: To Kanab
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. If there wasn’t a chance yesterday to see the sunset, catch an awesome sunrise. Or take a trip to Mystery Valley to see the ancient homes, pictographs and petroglyphs. Later, continue the journey to Kanab through desert landscape before admiring the contrasting sandy shores of Lake Powell. Arrive in Kanab and head out this evening to experience the eclectic dining scene of this classic western town.
Day 7: Bryce Canyon National Park (153 miles)
Today travel north to visit spectacular Bryce Canyon National Park where millions of years of water and ice erosion have left hundreds of towering red, yellow and orange pinnacles, known as hoodoos, pointing towards the sky. On arrival, stop at the Visitor Centre, to meet with local Rangers and watch the exhibits and videos explaining the history of Bryce Canyon. Then view one of the world’s largest collections of hoodoos from various vantage points. Explore further by descending into the canyon on foot or horseback. Spot the ancient Bristlecone Pine on The Queens Garden trail, then take the Navajo Loop back to Sunset Point. Return to Kanab for a further night.
2 nights - Kanab
Day 8: To Springdale (66 miles)
Take a short drive to Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, where mountains of red sand can move up to 50 feet per year. Explore on a half-mile walk along the nature trail to the visitor centre, or for some exhilaration try an ATV ride across the dunes. Moqui Cave, a natural history museum on the way to the park, and Best Friends Animal Sanctuary are both great places to pop in to along the way. There are also many tour companies in Kanab offering sightseeing and adventure tours of the stunning surrounding landscapes including Peek-a-Boo slot canyon or the hoodoos and fossils of the Grand Staircase-Escalante. On the way to Springdale catch a taster of Zion National Park through the windows of The Zion Mount Carmel Tunnel showcasing the grandeur of the park.
Day 9: Zion National Park
Today spend a full day in Zion National Park. Explore to the extreme, walking up to the plateaus or down along the river-bed. The Watchman Overlook trail is a three-mile hike with breathtaking views or for another vantage point try Upper Emerald Pools trail, a moderate hike above the waterfalls and the Virgin River below. Alternatively drop in at one of the adventure outfitters in Springdale to hire the equipment you need to hike The Narrows, a slot canyon along the bed of the Virgin River, with cliff walls up to 2,000-ft deep and running for 16 miles. Go as far as you like before heading back. This evening try some star gazing which can be arranged at the park’s visitor centre.
2 nights - Springdale
Day 10: To Las Vegas (161 miles)
Today head to the bright lights, glamour, and non-stop entertainment of Las Vegas, arriving in time for your departure flight, or speak to us about extending your stay in Las Vegas.
