Grand Circle 2.0

A full day tour of Sedona, the famous red rock capital of Arizona. There are red rock landscapes everywhere, which are sure to amaze everyone. At noon, you can shop and have lunch on Main Street in Sedona, which is full of cowboy style. Afterwards, a special arrangement was made to take the most famous and most popular “Pink Jeep” in the area. The two-hour exciting and fun journey allows us to enjoy the extraordinary scenery around us from zero distance. These graceful and characteristic rocky terrains have also appeared in many westerns. Your jeep guide will introduce you to local geology, desert landscapes and wildlife, as well as colorful Sedona legends.

In the morning, visit the Montezuma Castle National Monument, which was built between about 1100 and 1425 AD. Here is a group of well-preserved cliff dwellings built by the Sinagua people. This Hohokan culture is closely related to other indigenous cultures of the Southwest. After passing through Winslow, we specially arranged to have lunch (included meal) at La Posada Hotel, which is full of nostalgic feelings of the 1960s. Among them, the famous Turquoise Restaurant has been open since May 12, 1936, serving contemporary Southwestern cuisine. There are many historical stories related to train tycoon Fred Harvey behind it, so it has also been a favorite high-end dining place for important people and celebrities. Then we set off to the famous Petrified Forest National Park. The park preserves 225 million years of geological and cultural history. You will be dazzled by the towering ancient rocks. Winding lanes and rugged walks can take you to glimpses of craggy cliffs and colorful remnants, showing you the intense crustal activity of the earth’s past and the distinctive imprints of ancient civilizations. The rainbow forest in the southern part of the park is full of colorful petrified wood. There are also ancient villages, petroglyphs, strip-shaped painted desert wasteland, and the remains of a residence built with petrified wood more than 700 years ago, the Agate House. Arrangement of scenic spots include: Rainbow Forest Museum, Crystal Forest, Blue Terrace Trail, Painted Desert Inn (Museum), etc. Before arriving at the hotel in Canyon de Chelly, our bus will drive along the canyon rim sightseeing spots, allowing you to overlook the magnificent scenery of the dusk, enjoy the panoramic view of the canyon and take photos. Stay at Thunderbird Lodge or similar hotel next to the canyon.

In the morning, we specially arranged for everyone to take the Canyon de Chelly sightseeing bus to the bottom of the valley. The driver and tour guide are the aboriginal residents of the canyon. We are in the canyon, and the narration of the guide will lead to a better sense of on-site interaction. You can hear stories about the history of the canyon. Anasazi has lived here since time immemorial. In 1300-1600 the Hopi moved to plant orchards. Around the early 1700s, the Dine people entered the canyon, using the canyon as a shelter, as a place to grow vegetables and hunt. Canyon de Chelly was and is the center of Navajo culture. The tour guide let everyone know that they had migrated south across the Bering Strait earlier, and told the story of their culture passed down from generation to generation. Show and explain what they have been through as Navajos the Dine people over the past few years and how sacred the canyon is to them. At the bottom of the canyon, the tour guide took you to many ruins and rock paintings for you to take photos at close range. In this way, everyone can fully understand the past events that have also happened on this land without having to go too far.

After breakfast, depart from the hotel to Grand Canyon West Rim. During our visit, we were immersed in Native American culture through dancing, visiting Hualapai Point and Guano Point attractions. If there are group members among us who are not afraid of heights, you may wish to try the Grand Canyon Skywalk (glass bridge) at your own expense and challenge yourself to take a helicopter to enjoy the Grand Canyon West Rim from above. If you don’t want to miss the opportunity to take a helicopter, please book first! After the tour, we took the bus to Las Vegas. Two nights accommodation in Paris (September) /Flamingo (October) Casino Hotel. The hotel is located on the busiest street in Las Vegas, and is within easy reach of eating, drinking and entertainment.

Everyone has plenty of free time throughout the day to enjoy Las Vegas and to shop at the nearby famous factory outlet stores.

Transfer to the airport, take a noon passenger flight back to Vancouver, and end the wonderful seven-day trip Grand Circle 2.0 Southwest America: Canyon de Chelly + Sedona