At a Glance
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Unearth the charms of Utah as you navigate from soaring orange and red sandstone spires to its intricate canyon labyrinths and delicate arches. Escape to a red-rock wonderland and be hypnotised by nature's magnificent creations traversing three iconic National Parks, Canyonlands, Arches and on this remarkable 5-day voyage.
Your adventure begins in Grand Junction, Colorado, where you will shuttle west to red-rock country. Enjoy the panoramic views of Castle Valley, Onion Creek, and the Colorado River as you make your way up Fisher Towers. Venture through Arches National Park to see the most famous natural stone arch in the world, Delicate Arch. Relish the sweeping vistas of the vast desert wilderness as you hike along the mesa’s rim at Dead Horse Point State Park. Explore the southernmost region of the park ...
Trip Highlights
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What's Included
- Shuttle transfer to Grand Junction, Colorado on Day 5
- All luggage, airport, hotel transfers and shuttle transfers
- 4 nights accommodation in luxury hotels on a twin share basis
- Park and other entry fees
- Hiking and sightseeing as stated in the itinerary
- All meals as specified
- Professional guiding: two support vans, 6:1 guest to leader ratio on average
- Comprehensive travel planner with detailed pre-trip information
- Expertise and services of our experienced Trip Leaders
- Snacks and beverages between meals
- Van shuttles to support a variety of route options
- All gratuities at hotels and restaurants
Itinerary
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TWO HIKING OPTIONS: Today, you will meet your tour leaders at 9 am in the lobby of the SpringHill Suites Grand Junction Downtown hotel. Please arrive dressed in your hiking attire. Bring your luggage and a daypack with anything else you might want for today’s journey. (your luggage will be transported to our first night’s accommodation). After rendezvousing in Grand Junction, we will shuttle west to red-rock country. We follow the twisting Colorado Rivers to Fisher Towers, stopping on the way to enjoy lunch. After lunch, make your way up this maze of towering sandstone formations for panoramic views of Castle Valley, Onion Creek, and the Colorado River Canyon below. You’ll see exactly why the location has featured in many television commercials and films. |
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After our hike, we’ll take a quick shuttle to the rustic-style comfort of the Red Cliffs Lodge. A picturesque 180-acre hotel set on the banks of the Colorado river surrounded by over 600-meter sheer cliffs. Here, the afternoon is yours to spend as you wish. Stroll to the Castle Creek winery, where 30 award-winning wines are featured. Take a calming swim in the shimmering, soothe your muscles in the hot tub or enjoy alone time in your private patio. Tonight, we gather for a welcome reception followed by a delicious meal at the lodge. Savour the taste of traditional American cuisine.
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Morning Route Afternoon Route |
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After having had your fill of exploration, return to the shuttle for the ride back to Red Cliffs. Back at the lodge, you can choose to visit the lodge’s Moab Film and Western Heritage Museum or order a cool drink and rest by the pool before gathering tonight to enjoy dinner in the lodge’s dining room. Enjoy exquisite meals alongside ranch favourites. |
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THREE HIKING OPTIONS: This morning, we take a smooth ride to Dead Horse Point State Park, one of the state’s best with its peninsula of rock atop sheer sandstone cliffs. From Mesa rim, it is a staggering 600 metre straight down to the Colorado River. The park got its name from an old cowboy tale. Legend has it that the point was once used by cowboys to corral wild mustangs. But in one instance, the horses were left to die of thirst in the drypoint. Set out to hike along the peninsula’s rim with many breathtaking panoramic views of the vast desert wilderness along the trail. The flora and fauna in the park have adapted to the extreme weather and little water, with some being hundreds of years old. After lunch, hop in the shuttle and enjoy the ride to the town of Moab and our home for the next two nights, Hoodoo Moab. |
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A beautiful modern hotel surrounded by mountains offering both stunning city and mountain views. Pamper your muscles with a restorative session at the full-service spa or take a calming swim in the crystal clear water of the outdoor pool before reconvening tonight for dinner.
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TWO HIKING OPTIONS: Today, we journey to Canyonlands National Park and explore more desert wilderness in an area filled with towering rock pinnacles and numerous canyons and valleys carved by the majestic Colorado and Green Rivers. Be prepared to hike the southernmost region of the park, where a rugged landscape dominated by colourful sandstone spires known as “the needles” serves as a backdrop. We’ll hike over Slickrock sandstone formations and through slot canyons to the Chesler Park Overlook with breathtaking views of the Needles. Variations of the red and white layers of Cedar Mesa Sandstone form dramatic spires in the distance. Don’t get completely engulfed by the vastness of the scenery. Keep an eye out for the small details of the desert including tiny plants and critters. |
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In the afternoon, you have enough time to wander around downtown Moab, a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. Or if you choose, you can head back to the hotel and enjoy the services of the full-service spa or indulge in the many amenities the hotel has to offer. Tonight, we gather for a farewell dinner at the hotel and toast to our adventure so far. Tantalise your taste buds with exquisite American cuisine.
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TWO HIKING OPTIONS: This morning, we shuttle north to Colorado National Monument, a place that houses 20,500 acres of sandstone monoliths and red-rock canyons. We meander through the twists and turns of Rim Rock Drive, nicknamed “Tour of the Moon” for its ethereal feel. As we ascend into the park, one of the largest flat-topped mountains in the world, The Grand Mesa stretches out in the distance. Be sure to keep an eye out for desert bighorn sheep and golden eagles as we start to hike at Upper Mountain Canyon, quickly descending through remote portions of Monument Canyon to the valley floor. Wind around the base of soaring sandstone cliffs and pass under Kissing Couple, an enormous rock monolith, before reaching Independence Monument. You could also choose to start your hike at Lower Mountain Monument Canyon and walk along the valley floor for as far as you’d prefer, then retrace your steps. Going back is guaranteed to be a different experience as you’re sure to notice rock features that are visible only on the return. After the hike, we gather to enjoy an alfresco lunch, bid adieu to canyon country, and shuttle to Grand Junction, where our trip ends. NOTE: This itinerary is provided as an example only – prevailing conditions and local arrangements may cause variation. |
Dates & Prices
Please contact us for private departures and group bookings. Single Supplement is available on request.
More Info
- The departure and finish point is Grand Junction, Colorado
- Major commercial flights provide convenient access to Grand Junction. The nearest airport is Grand Junction Regional Airport and is 8km (5 miles) from the center of Grand Junction, Colorado. The nearest international airport is Denver International Airport which is 430km 267 miles.
Moab and its surrounding areas offer pleasant temperatures in spring, characterized by warm days and cool nights. Temperatures are cooler in the fall (during day and night) with a greater chance of rain. Although you're in the desert, it does rain! We strongly recommend bringing quality waterproof rain gear made of a breathable material. We won't be visiting this area during the height of summer, but note that desert temperatures can spike at any time and the absence of trees along our routes makes for sunny conditions. Be sure to bring proper sun protection including a brimmed hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.
The routes on this trip are rated Levels 1-2.
Level 1, 2-5 hours, 3-8km (2-5 miles), Maximum Elevation Gain 244m (800 ft)
Level 2, 2-4 hours, 6-11km (4-7 miles), Maximum Elevation Gain 396m (1300 ft)
Level 3, 3-5 hours, 8-14km (5-9 miles), Maximum Elevation Gain 610m (2000 ft)
Level 4, 4-6 hours, 10-18km(6-11 miles), Maximum Elevation Gain 914m (3000 ft)
Level 5, 5-7 hours, 11-21+ km (7-13+ miles), Maximum Elevation Gain 1219m (4000+ ft)
Onlyluxe Travel acts as travel agency and work with different tour operators.
Payment Detail
All pricing is in Australian dollars and are quoted on a per person twin share basis. A supplementary price is available (see below). Bookings are not confirmed until full payment and the signed Booking Form has been received by Onlyluxe Travel.
A non-refundable 30% deposit is payable within 7 days of your booking, with the final balance due 120 days prior to departure. If a booking is made 120 days or less before departure, the full payment is payable immediately. Last minute bookings are payable before arrival. Failure to pay on time may result in automatic cancellation of a booking with cancellation penalties payable to Onlyluxe Travel. If you pay by credit card or PayPal a surcharge will be added to the total price.
Single Supplement
All accommodation is twin share. Single guests will share with someone of the same gender. If a single room is demanded, a supplementary price of will apply. The supplementary price refers to our quotation and needs to be stipulated at the time of booking.
General Cancellation Policies
- Outside of 120 days monies will be refunded less 30% of full fee
- Within 120 days prior to arrival all monies will be forfeited
- No refunds will be given in the event of non-arrival, any unused services or unused nights due to flight or weather disruption
- We strongly recommend guests protect themselves with travel insurance and medical insurance
Please Note: Cancellations must be advised in email and will take effect from the date they are received.
Liability
The participant agrees to indemnify Onlyluxe Travel, and its servant, tour operator and agents, in relation to any liability, loss and damage which the tour operator, or its servants and/or agents may incur as a result of the participants, negligence or misconduct during the tour.
Smoking is not permitted on the bus, or in tents or in other accommodation being used by tour operator at the time that a trip is being conducted.
Child Policy
Please consult travel consultant on age limit.
Changes to Itineraries
Local conditions may necessitate changes to sightseeing, walking and driving routes, camping and accommodation locations. While every effort will be made to provide the services and experiences as offered in our brochure, on our website, and in our trip letters, we reserve the right to vary your itinerary. In the event that we are forced to change your arrangements, substitute arrangements of a similar standard will be provided. The tour operator will not be liable where interruptions to itineraries are caused by weather conditions, technical problems to transport used by the tour operator, industrial action, political or civil commotion or other circumstances beyond our control. We refer you to the conditions regarding travel insurance.
Changes in Prices
While we will do its utmost to honour its pricing unforeseen circumstances may mean that prices may be subject to change without notice.
Pre-Existing Medical Conditions and Age Limits
You need to advise Onlyluxe travel and the tour operator on any pre-existing medical condition, mobility impairment and/or disability that might reasonably be expected to increase the risk of your requiring medical attention, or that might affect the normal conduct of a trip and the enjoyment of other trip members. Onlyluxe Travel and the tour operator may require an assessment of your medical condition from a qualified medical practitioner. If you fail to adequately notify the tour operator of any pre-existing medical conditions and/or disability, the tour operator reserves the right, at its reasonable discretion, to cancel your participation in a trip at any time, including after the commencement of your trip, with no right of refund if your medical condition, mobility impairment and/or disability could be reasonably expected to affect the normal conduct of the trip and the enjoyment of other trip members.
Cancellation by The Tour Operator
The tour operator is at the mercy of nature in all her beauty and all her fury. The tour operator will under no circumstance knowingly place at risk the health and well-being of our guests and guides. In the case of natural threats, acts of God and the like (e.g. bushfires, impassable snow, etc) the tour operator may need to cancel a tour with very little notice. In some cases, this can occur after the tour has commenced. The tour operator reserves the right to cancel any tour up to 60 days prior to departure if the minimum number requirement is unable to meet for a tour. If the tour operator needs to cancel for any reason, the cost of the tour or any other costs associated with travel to the designated pick up point, overnight accommodation, meals, etc will not be covered by the Onlyluxe Travel and therefore we strongly recommend travel insurance be taken out prior to travel.
Force Majeure
'Force Majeure' means (without restriction) any event which Onlyluxe Travel or its third party providers could not, even with due care, foresee or avoid. Force Majeure covers events such as, but not limited to, adverse weather conditions, fire and all similar events beyond our control. In the case of Force Majeure Onlyluxe Travel will not accept liability, and reserves the right to change and cancel trips.
Evacuations
In rare circumstances, due to injury or unforeseen illness, the tour operator may need to evacuate you from a remote part of the walk. Helicopter evacuations are expensive and in most cases will be at a cost to the customer.
For Australian residents, under the Australian Government Medicare Act, it is prohibited for any domestic travel insurance product to provide any financial reimbursement with regard to ambulance or air ambulance services. We therefore strongly advise our customers to take specific ambulance cover through their health insurance provider. Evacuation cost will not be covered by the Onlyluxe Travel and therefore it is also strongly recommended that our customers take out travel insurance to cover (amongst other things) the costs associated with evacuation.
Travel Insurance
In view of the heavy cancellation penalties applied to cancelled reservations in certain circumstances, we strongly recommends suitable travel insurance be purchased at the time the holding deposit is paid. We recommend insurance cover that covers any loss which may be suffered due to cancellation. We also strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance against loss of baggage and medical expenses.