Welcome to Las Vegas, the modern gateway to the legendary American West. We begin with a group pick-up from Harry Reid International Airport before setting out toward the breathtaking landscapes of Zion National Park. Follow the paths where Native Americans and early pioneers once walked as you gaze up at massive sandstone cliffs of cream, pink and deep red. At the Zion Visitor Center, discover the stories that shaped this great American land before boarding a narrated tram along the iconic Zion Canyon Scenic Drive. Following the rushing Virgin River beneath soaring canyon walls, this historic roadway reveals some of the park’s most treasured and dramatic viewpoints.
If time allows, you may choose to join your travel director for a light hike to the Lower Emerald Pool or you may decide to stroll along the Virgin River Walk on your own, keeping your eye out for wildlife.

We conclude this inaugural day with a Grand Welcome Dinner, raising a glass to 250 years of American wonder as the sun sets against the canyon’s glowing rim.

Awaken to the spirit of the open road as we journey across a wide-open Western landscape where colorful sandstone cliffs rise above sagebrush plains and high ridges are crowned with piñon pine and juniper. Travel through Bryce Canyon Country on a portion of the Scenic Highway 89, recognized by National Geographic as the No. 1 Drivers' Drives in the world. Soon, the surreal beauty of Bryce Canyon National Park comes into view, an extraordinary wonderland of crimson rock spires called hoodoos, blush-colored cliffs, and sweeping, endless vistas that feel more like a Hollywood set than a natural wonder. We will trace the Rim Trail, stopping for photos at panoramic viewpoints that offer a cinematic look at the canyon’s depths. For a moment of true frontier serenity, enjoy a stroll between Sunset and Sunrise Points, where the light creates a technicolor masterpiece against the red rock. For those looking to experience the West the way early pioneers once did, an optional one-hour horseback ride through the forests of Dixie National Forest offers a true frontier-style adventure. This evening, you may also choose to take part in an optional Western-style barbecue dinner and country music show, subject to availability.

Today, we descend toward the shimmering blue jewel of the desert: Lake Powell. This region is a monument to American ingenuity and the daring explorers of the 19th century. You may decide to explore on your own or relax.

However, the spirit of the 250th calls you to the water. We recommend an optional expedition down the legendary Colorado River—the same "Great Unknown" navigated by Major John Wesley Powell during his historic 1869 voyage. As you float through the cathedral-like Glen Canyon, you will drift past the world-famous Horseshoe Bend, a site so perfectly cinematic it has defined the visual language of the American West for generations.
Dinner on your own.

Today, the "West like you’ve never done it" reaches a breathtaking crescendo. This is a day to curate your own American masterpiece. You may choose to join an optional excursion to explore the iconic and picturesque Antelope Canyon with a local Navajo (Diné) guide…a place where sunlight and stone create one of the most photographed natural wonders on Earth. For those seeking the ultimate "Hollywood-style" entrance, take to the skies on a helicopter excursion to the summit of Tower Butte, landing atop a 5,000-foot pedestal for a 360-degree view of the vast American horizon.

This evening, Navajo culture takes center stage with a special MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience at Red Heritage, subject to availability. This Navajo-owned performing arts theater brings the spirit of the Southwest to life through traditional song, vibrant powwow dancing, flute melodies, and powerful drum rhythms, all enjoyed alongside dinner and drinks. It is a powerful, patriotic tribute to the First Americans, whose heritage is an inseparable part of our 250-year national story.

Prepare to step directly into the silver screen. Today, you traverse the legendary asphalt of Highway 163, the iconic film location featured as the backdrop for Forrest Gump's final run featured in the film. This stretch of road, with the towering silhouettes of the mittens rising in the distance, is perhaps the most famous vista in all of American cinema—a true "bucket list" moment for every lover of John Wayne classics and Western American pop culture.

The adventure deepens as you enter Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park to experience the valley like a true pioneer, trading our motorcoach for an off-road, open-air vehicle. There, you deepen your knowledge and your connection with the first peoples of this land. Our destination is an exclusive MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience: an authentic cookout hosted by members of the Navajo Nation. Beneath the shadow of ancient monoliths, you’ll savor a delicious barbeque lunch, featuring the golden, warm delight of traditional Navajo fry-bread. This isn't just a meal; it's a bridge between cultures and a sustainable investment in the Navajo workforce. Bask in the serenity of the valley and the warmth of Diné hospitality as you find yourself in the heart of a landscape that represents the enduring, majestic soul of the American frontier.

On this final full tour day of our 250th Anniversary journey, we explore a landscape of such impossible beauty it feels like a stars and stripes Americana dream. We begin at Arches National Park, a red-rock wonderland containing the greatest concentration of natural stone spans on Earth. You’ll stand in the shadow of the Windows Section and the colossal Double Arch—geographic marvels that have served as the silent witnesses to centuries of American history and the backdrop for cinematic adventures like Indiana Jones.

Our expedition continues to the "Island in the Sky" at Canyonlands National Park. Here, we ascend a massive mesa resting 1,000 feet above the surrounding desert, offering a perspective reserved for the eagles. From the Grand Viewpoint, you’ll look down upon the mighty Colorado River as it carves its way through the earth—the same relentless force that shaped the rugged character of the American frontier.

This evening, dinner is on your own, unless you decide to join an optional excursion and take your experience to the next level with a Canyonlands by Night light show, complete with a lip-smacking cowboy-style Dutch Oven Dinner and a trip on the Moab Queen II jet boat cruising by the spectacular illuminated canyon walls.

This morning after breakfast, our journey through the American West concludes, but the American odyssey continues as we depart the high desert for the soaring peaks of the Rocky Mountains.

For those concluding their journey today, we travel by the Trafalgar coach to Denver, the "Mile High City," where there is a drop off point.

You’ll arrive at this historic crossroads of the West—a city built on gold-rush dreams and frontier grit—where you may choose to extend your stay and soak in the mountain air or depart for home, carrying the spirit of the 250th with you.

For the explorers seeking the ultimate "West like you've never done it" finale, your transition is truly legendary. Prepare to board the Rocky Mountaineer for the Rockies to the Red Rocks Rail Classic. This two-day, world-class rail journey is a stunning tribute to the "Golden Age of Travel." As the Iron Horse winds through narrow canyons and over the Continental Divide, you’ll experience the majesty of the Rockies from a perspective inaccessible by any other means. This isn't just a train ride; it's a cinematic passage through the heart of the continent, ending in Denver with a flourish of luxury and a final, breathtaking look at the land that 250 years of history have called "America."