Durango, Silverton & Ouray August 9-14, 2020 This 6-day and 5-night springtime tour to the mountains is filled with fantastic scenery and unique history – if you like both, this itinerary will suit you fine. We experience Mesa Verde National Park, ride the Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, travel on jeeps in the Rockies and stay in the historic La Posada Hotel. Activity Level: Moderate Highlights: • Mesa Verde National Park • Ouray Hot Springs • Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad • Jeep tour in the Rockies • Million Dollar Highway • Stay at historic La Posada in Winslow Day 1 We depart Tucson and journey north through juniper-covered hills to Salt River Canyon within the Tonto National Forest. After a lunch stop in the White Mountains we head to Gallup, New Mexico for a welcome dinner at the historic El Rancho Hotel and our overnight stay at Springhill Suites. (L,D) Day 2 This morning we explore Mesa Verde National Park. A UNESCO Heritage Site, Mesa Verde NP is the largest archaeological preserve in the United States. It’s known for its well-preserved Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings, notably the huge Cliff Palace, thought to be the largest cliff dwelling in North America, rock art and panoramic canyon views. We then head east to Durango, Colorado, where we stay overnight at the prominent downtown landmark, the Historic Strater Hotel, built in 1887, and enjoy dinner in another historic landmark, The Palace. (B,D) Day 3 Today we board a closed car on the Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. This 1880’s vintage train and railroad route was originally built to carry supplies and people to the fold and silver ore from the mines in the San Juan Mountains. Today it carries tourists through magnificent high-country scenery. The train departs in secluded and charming Silverton and we have free time to have lunch and explore the town. We then travel the Million Dollar Highway, one of the nation’s most beautiful highways that delivers jaw-dropping vista after vista, to the historic town of Ouray for our two-night stay at the Twin Peaks Lodge & Hot Springs. Ouray is one of our favorite destinations – nestled in the quiet serenity of a box canyon so picturesque it’s been dubbed the “Switzerland of America” and the “Gem of the Rockies”. Dinner in Ouray is included. (B,D) Day 4 This morning we board jeeps to explore the majestic Rocky Mountains and step back into history. We travel former stage and mining roads – a world of prospectors, adventurers and mountaineers – while seeing spring flower carpeted meadows, breathtaking views of pine studded peaks, waterfalls, ghost towns, historic mining areas and wildlife (at their discretion!). (B,L) Day 5 This morning we travel around the mountain and descend to Cortez. This afternoon we’ll travel to Winslow for our overnight stay at the historic La Posada Hotel, and our farewell dinner at the venerable Turquoise Room Restaurant. Designed by noted architect Mary Jane Colter and built in 1929, La Posada has been restored to its former glory! (B,D) Day 6 Today we make our way back to Tucson, ready to take on the Summer, stopping for lunch in Payson. (B,L) Price: $2,169 per person single Deposit: $150 $1,926 per person double Optional Insurance: $187 per person single (based on price of tour) $137 per person double Includes: • Roundtrip motorcoach transportation • Jeep Tour • Pick-up / livery service • Admissions as described • 5 nights lodging • Services of a tour director • 12 meals (5 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 4 • Baggage handling dinners) • Bus refreshments • Train ticket • Driver tips .