Colorado National Parks

Colorado National Parks (8 days)

The majestic Rocky Mountains are not the only treasures you will discover on this eight-day journey through Colorado. Vibrant cities, quaint small towns, historic trains, giant sand dunes, ancient civilizations and towering red rock mesas will all be a part of your experience. You will visit three National Parks, all showcasing unique features and landscapes. You will also enjoy a ride on three historic trains, all with their own distinct personalities and scenery. Only in Colorado can you walk across the highest bridge in North America, soak in the world’s largest hot spring pool, see the tallest sand dues in North America and traverse the highest continuous paved road in the US reaching heights over 12,000ft. Join us on this epic journey and find your own Rocky Mountain High!

Dates

October 02 - October 09, 2021

Highlights

Knowledgeable Tour Guide Comfortable Transportation 7 nights lodging 7 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 4 Dinners Entrance fees to attractions National Parks and Monument as mentioned in Itinerary Tips for included meals Applicable Taxes and Fees Small Group Tour Rocky Mountain National Park Glenwood Springs Rafting through Glenwood Canyon Colorado National Monument Durango & Silverton Railroad Mesa Verde National Park Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railway Great Sand Dunes National Park Royal Gorge Route Railroad Colorado Springs Royal Gorge Park & Bridge Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park

Not Included: Airfare Meals other than mentioned in the itinerary Items of a personal nature (i.e. Room service, telephone, liquor, etc.) Customary gratuities for the tour director, driver, local guides and outfitters

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Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Denver - Greely, CO Arrive at the Denver Airport by 1:00PM and meet your tour director to begin your Colorado experiences as you travel north to Greely for touring of the fun Colorado Model Train Museum. Check into your hotel, then join the group for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant. (Dinner)

Day 2: Rocky Mountain National Park - Glenwood Springs It is a short drive this morning to Rocky Mountain National Park for sightseeing along the famed Trail Ridge Road, which crests at over 12,000 feet including many overlooks. It will be a day of mountain roads, wildlife and breathtaking views, a true Colorado Rocky Mountain High! A picnic lunch is included today. Arrive Grand Lake for a rest stop, then enjoy a scenic drive through the heart of the Colorado Rockies, passing through Silverthorne and Vail on your way to Glenwood Springs. The evening is free to visit the town’s namesake, Glenwood Hot Springs for a soak in the mineral springs, as well as to explore and have dinner on your own.(Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 3: Glenwood Springs - Grand Junction Visit Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park for a scenic gondola ride up the mountain with incredible views of the Roaring Fork Valley, Mt. Sopris and Colorado River. Enjoy a guided tour of historic Fairy Cave, then descend back down the mountain with free time for lunch on own. This afternoon, join the group for some thrilling whitewater rafting! You will be rafting through spectacular Glenwood Canyon, a beautiful, pristine stretch of water with unbelievable Rocky Mountain scenery and a perfect mix of calm water and whitewater. This trip includes Class II-IV whitewater and the Shoshone Class III-IV rapids offer the whitewater enthusiast a two-mile stretch of exciting but not intimidating rapids. A guide favorite with interesting geology, gorgeous scenery, and some fun whitewater! Travel west to Grand Junction for sightseeing of Colorado National Monument. Over the centuries, the elements have created beautiful steep canyons, monolithic spires and gorges all carved from the colorful sandstone. Overnight in Grand Junction and enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 4: Durango & Silverton Railroad This morning, take a scenic drive on the Million Dollar Highway traveling south through historic towns, including Ouray before winding your way up the mountainside and over the peak. Arrive in Silverton with free time to explore the many shops and have lunch on your own. Then, ride the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, one of the last such railroads operating in the United States. The high peaks of the Rockies, alpine meadows and the beautiful Animas River make up the wonderful scenery you will experience along the way. After a wonderful ride, arrive in Durango with the evening free to explore on your own.(Breakfast)

Day 5: Mesa Verde National Park After breakfast, travel to nearby Mesa Verde National Park for a day of exploration. Visit cliff dwellings built by the Anasazi culture that once thrived in the Four Corners region, but suddenly disappeared leaving a mystery of what happened to this ancient culture. Their dwellings and artifacts have been well preserved in the desert climate, all for the people of our day to try and interpret. This is the nation’s largest archeological preserve with 4,000 sights including 600 cliff dwellings. Start with the Visitors Center, which contains a large collection of ancient artifacts. Then, a local expert will guide you through the most famous ruin sites including a stop for lunch on your own. After a wonderful tour of Mesa Verde, return to Durango with the rest of the day free to explore this fun western town on your own. (Breakfast)

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Day 6: Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad The Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad, considered the finest remaining example of a once vast network of narrow-gauge rail lines in Colorado, is your destination this morning. This well preserved railroad has been called by author Lucius Beebe, "the most awesomely spectacular example of mountain railroading in North America." Board the train in Chama, then climb from the valley with ever changing landscapes as you make your way into the mountain peaks. Arrive at Osier, where you will disembark the train and enjoy lunch. Then, travel to Cumbres Pass and return to a modern form of transport as you drive to Great Sand Dunes National Park for sightseeing of the tallest dunes in North America, which are the centerpiece in a diverse landscape of grasslands, wetlands, conifer and aspen forests, alpine lakes, and tundra. After a wonderful day in Colorado, arrive in Alamosa for dinner and a one-night stay. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 7: Royal Gorge - Colorado Springs Start your morning off with Royal Gorge Park & Bridge, where the world's highest suspension bridge towers 1,053 feet above the Arkansas River. Here, you will have time to walk out on the bridge and explore the park. Next, board the Royal Gorge Route Railroad for a vintage train ride along the beautiful Arkansas River deep within Royal Gorge, lunch included. After a great ride, travel south to Colorado Springs for a view of Garden of the Gods. The park contains wide variety of plant and animal life, along with wonderful red sandstone rock formations, for which the Garden is best known. Check into your hotel and join the group for a farewell dinner. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day: Departure Transfer to the Denver Airport for your flight home (Breakfast)

Accommodations

Day 1 Doubletree Greely, Colorado Day 2 Hampton Inn Glenwood Springs, Colorado Day 3 Hampton Inn Downtown Grand Junction, Colorado Day 4 & 5 Holiday Inn Durango, Colorado Day 6 Comfort Inn Alamosa, Colorado Day 7 Drury Inn & Suites Colorado Springs, Colorado

Rates

2021 Rates:

TWIN TRIPLE QUAD SINGLE $2980 $2840 $2750 $3545

Per person Rates in US Funds.

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Payment Policy Deposit: $743 per person due at time of booking. Final payment due 30 days prior to departure

Cancellation Policy Please notify us in writing if you need to cancel or reschedule. No refunds for cancellations within 30 days of departure for all multi-day tours. Cancellations 31 days or more prior to departure receive a 10% cancellation fee the full price of the tour. Any monies not refunded will be available to apply to a future tour or trip for 2 years from the day of the cancellation. * A 10% charge will be applied to all tours that are rescheduled within 30 days of the tour. This will be 10% of the full price of the tour.

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