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You will marvel at the contrast between the stunning mountain scenery found in the Colorado towns of Estes Park and Aspen to the red rock canyons of Moab or Bryce and Zion National Parks and of course the majestic Grand Canyon. This really is an itinerary for the outdoor person who likes to stay on the move and see as much as possible. There are plenty of opportunities for some hiking or short walks, which really will leave you feeling, revitalized and privileged to be out amongst the awesome North American Canyonlands.

Please do remember we can work on any number of variations of this itinerary to suite your own individual requirements, please just drop us a line, tell us what you’d like and we’ll do the rest!

Itinerary Summary Denver 1 night - Sheraton Denver Hotel Estes Park (Rocky Mountain National Park) 1 night - Holiday Inn Of The Rockies Aspen 1 night – Limelight Lodge Moab - (Arches National Park) 1 night – Best Western Canyonlands Inn Torrey – (Capitol Reef National Monument) 1 night – Best Western Capitol Reef Bryce Canyon National Park 1 night – Best Western Bryce Grand Hotel Springdale - (Zion National Park) 1 night – Cable Mountain Lodge Grand Canyon 2 nights – Canyon Plaza Resort Chinle (Canyon de Chelly) 1 night - Holiday Inn Canyon de Chelly Mesa Verde National Park 1 night – Far View Lodge Durango 1 night – Strater Hotel Gunnison 1 night – Quality Inn Denver 1 night - Sheraton Denver Hotel Total 14 nights

Flights
We are very proud to work with British Airways and have negotiated special inclusive tour rates exclusive for this itinerary giving you a great deal on non-stop flights with one of the finest carriers in the world to Denver International Airport. Should you be interested we can also extend special reduced travel rates in British Airways World Traveller Plus, Club World and FIRST.

Accommodation
With this itinerary featuring many National Parks and one-night stops we have selected firstly accommodation that is perfectly located so that you don’t miss anything. We have not used any luxury resorts, that is not what this holiday is about, our choice of accommodation, is for the most part, well priced clean and comfortable motel style accommodation that we know and can trust to provide a comfortable night. We are always happy to look at upgrades if you feel you will be unhappy with any of our choice – we don’t think you will!

Sometimes the hotels named in this itinerary are not available at the time of booking. Under these circumstances Complete North America will book alternative accommodation of a similar standard. Such changes will be confirmed in writing to you at the time of booking confirmation. If you are not completely happy with the alternative hotel we will happily discuss other possibilities with you in the same location.

Financial Protection
By booking this complete package with Complete North America you benefit from reduced rates on flights, accommodation and car rental along with complete financial protection. We are fully bonded with the Civil Aviation Authority and this package is ATOL protected under ATOL No.5368.

Arrival at Denver, Colorado.

Depart London Heathrow – 1545
Arrive Denver – 1825
Journey Time – 9 hours 50 minutes

Arrival into Denver where you will pick up your rental vehicle and travel towards Denver and the Sheraton Hotel, the perfect place to drop the bags catch your breath. Get a good nights sleep, tomorrow there is much to do and see.
Hotel : Sheraton Denver Hotel

Denver - Estes Park, CO. 100 miles

This morning pick up your Denver Visitor Guide as here you will find several city maps. You may wish to travel to some of the downtown attractions.

Denver highlights include -

• IMAX Theater/Museum of Science and Nature/City Park
  
• 16th Street Pedestrian Shopping area
  
• State of Colorado Capitol Building
  
• Denver Art Museum
  
• Denver Museum of History
  
• Lower Downtown shops and galleries
  
• US Mint
  
• And more.

Each person has a different idea as to what they want to see and do in Denver, so follow the maps or ask the hotel concierge for driving instructions.

In the afternoon you will follow I-25 North out of Denver and begin your journey to Estes Park passing through, Boulder (home of the University of Colorado) and on to Lyons where you will enter the St Vrain Canyon and the route up to Estes Park. An even more attractive route if you have time would be Route 119 from Boulder to Nederland and then the Peak to Peak Scenic Highway to Estes Park.

You will find the Holiday Inn Estes Park has easy access to walk to/from the shops, restaurants and boutiques of Estes Park Main Street. You may also wish to drive up to the famed Stanley Hotel (Stephen King wrote a part of his novel, The Shining, while staying at this lodge), but note they do charge a parking fee for all non-hotel guests.
Hotel : Holiday Inn of the Rockies

Estes Park - Aspen, CO. 225 miles

This morning you will follow the main street through Estes Park and then turn right where this route ends. This will bring you to the northeast entrance of Rocky Mountain National Park and the Horseshoe Bend Park. Continue on to the Trail Ridge Road and follow this up and over the mountains through the center of the Park. You will find several excellent photo stops along this route—rainbow curve, and others along the top of the pass. This route is the highest continuous paved roadway in North America at over 12000 feet above sea level. The walk to the top from the visitor centre/shop is nice, but take your time at this elevation.

The route then travels down the west side of the park to Grand Lake and Grandby. At US-40 we suggest to turn right and follow past Hot Sulphur Springs to Kemmerer and then down to Silverton. Silverton is the home of the largest outlet-shopping plaza in the American Rockies. You are now in the Colorado Winter Playground, here you will find Keystone, Breckenridge, Copper Mountain and then travel over Vail Pass and past the Vail Ski Resort. Just past Vail you will enter a wide valley (hole) before entering one of the most scenic drives along this entire route, the Glenwood Canyon.
Sorry, no real good places to stop along this route, just the rest areas.

Just as you exit the canyon you will enter the community of Glenwood Springs, take the first exit and follow the route around past the Hotel Colorado and Glenwood Springs pools (world’s largest thermal heated pool) and on to the community of Aspen. Follow the route to Durant Street and then south to the Limelight Lodge. You will be within walking distance of the main town plaza and all shops and restaurants.
Hotel : Limelight Lodge

Aspen, CO - Moab, UT. 250 miles

Morning touring in and around Aspen before returning to Glenwood Springs where you will again pick up the route of I-70 West and follow the Colorado River to Grand Junction. Here we suggest you take the business loop through town and follow the signage for the Colorado National Monument. This detour will take you about 2 hours through this beautiful park and you will exit the west and pick up I-70 once again at Fruita. The route will take you on into Utah at this point. You will now begin to notice the stunning change from mountains to red rock scenery.

At exit 212, take the back route (most scenic) again along the Colorado River past the Fisher Towers and the back wall of Arches and into the Moab area. Here we suggest a late afternoon/early evening visit to the Arches National Park. Any of the short walks you might wish to take would be an excellent choice. For any hiking in this region, be certain to bring along plenty of water, for the elevation and the very low humidity will both help to dehydrate your body. Arches offers some truly stunning rock formations, make sure the camera film is loaded!

From the park make the short drive south to Moab. The lodge for this date is located in the heart of the small resort village along the main street.
Hotel : Best Western Canyonlands

Moab - Capitol Reef National Park, UT. 225 miles

This morning we suggest you visit the area’s other park. Travel north on US-191 to US-313. This is a dead-end road but it will take you to the Canyonlands National Park-Island in the Sky District. Here you must certainly stop at the Mesa Arch short loop trail….you will not be disappointed, but be careful for any climbing on the arch! The drop is incredible. Continue to the views from the end before returning back to US-191 and the travels on for this day.

US-191 will now take you north to I-70 West, but just for a short distance as just past Green River you will need to take UT-24 South. If you have the time, the Goblin Valley is a most interesting state park area. The route will take you past Hanksville and on through the Capitol Reef National Park. Again, any of the stops and short hikes would be well worth your time in this most scenic area.

The lodge for this night is just to the west of the Capitol Reef National Park.
Hotel : Best Western Capitol Reef

Capitol Reef National Park - Bryce Canyon National Park, UT. 140 miles

The route today will be one that you will long remember, for the change in scenery and for the sheer rugged terrain. From Torrey you will take the route south over the pass, the Dixie National Forest and back into the deserts with the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. Some side trips for this day are, the drive into the Monument near Boulder and Kodachrome Basin State Park. Just past Tropic you will see the signs directing you the short distance on to Bryce Canyon National Park.

First stop should be the Visitor Centre. There are several excellent short and medium hikes near to the entrance of this park again get your water!!! Here you may also sign up for some optional programs for horseback riding or helicopter flights. The rangers at the Visitor Centre may have the best ideas for you as you enter the park area based on the current conditions.
Hotel: Best Western Bryce Canyon Grand Hotel

Bryce National Park – Zion National Park, UT. 100 miles

Morning touring in Bryce before the short drive on (about 2 hours) to Zion National Park. One short hike suggestion at this point, as you travel into the park from the east entrance you will come to the long tunnel. Just at the entrance is a parking lot and a trail to an overview of the valley floor and Zion Park. This is well worth the short walk.

Continue on down to the park valley where you will need to stop at the Visitor Centre in order to take the shuttle further on into the park itself, no cars allowed beyond this point. The lodge for this night is found just outside the south entrance of the Zion Park in the community of Springdale. Here you will also find shops and restaurants all nearby.
Hotel : Cable Mountain Lodge

Zion National Park, UT. – Grand Canyon, AZ. 350 miles

This day you will pass back through the Zion Park and back to Mt Carmel Junction. (Alternative route will take you to Hurricane and then around the south and past the Pipe Springs National Monument.) From Kanab you will continue east to the Lake Powell/Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. The views from the dam and city area are again impressive. Continue past Page and on through the Navajo Indian Reservation (largest in the continental USA). Just past Cameron you will find the AZ-64 route that will bring you to the eastern entrance of the Grand Canyon South Rim. Follow through the park and out the south entrance to the community of Tusayan. Here you will find your accommodation for the night.
Hotel : Canyon Plaza Resort

Grand Canyon, AZ.

A full day for exploring and hiking the South Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park. First suggestion is to stop at the Visitor Centre located along the rim just after you re-enter the park. You will also wish to visit the Village Area with the famed El Tovar Hotel. Some other options for this day include the Helicopter and Airplane flights over the canyon. These are from the Grand Canyon Airport located just south of your lodge, do remember to bring along photo ID just as you would for any flight these days.

You will find plenty to keep you busy, with a huge suggestion to catch either the sunrise or sunset (or both) from the canyon rim—or maybe even take one of the park tour busses for these daily events! A second night at the lodge near the park entrance.
Hotel : Canyon Plaza Resort

Mesa Verde National Park – Durango, CO. 70 miles

This morning you may spend more time in Mesa Verde, or travel on to Durango. You will want to spend some time along the main street of Durango with the fun shops and restaurants, and historic hotels of this community.

Hotel: Strater Hotel

Suggested alternative activity 'Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge' railroad journey (not included in cost):
If you would like to include the very scenic 'Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge' railroad journey within your 'Canyonlands' holiday it can be done however we will need to amend your itinerary slightly to accommodate it. You would need to extend your stay in Durango by one night as the train now only operates once a day & it departs from Durango at approx 09:00am (the journey must be pre-booked). The train will take you through some of the most beautiful mountain scenery in this region. If you do decide to take this option (& therefore have 2 nights in Durango) but still wish to keep your overall itinerary to 14 nights then we suggest that you exclude the last 2 nights of the existing itinerary (1 night in Gunnison & 1 night in Denver) & replace this with a night in Colorado Springs. You would then drive back to Denver airport (from Colorado Springs) on your last day before flying back to the UK. Please speak to us for more details if you would like to consider this option.

Durango - Gunnison, CO 170 miles

Get ready to head up and over as you travel north from Durango you will pass over TWO mountain passes with the small community of Silverton located between them. This is one of the most scenic drive routes in Colorado and will bring you into the Box Canyon community of Ouray. From Ouray, continue north to Montrose where you will find an excellent museum for the Ute Indian Nation. In Montrose take the route to Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park (one of the newest parks in the NPS System). There really are no trails into the canyon, but the views of the world's narrowest gorge are quite impressive. Overnight in Gunnison
Hotel : Quality Inn

Gunnison – Denver, CO 201 miles

From Gunnison you will head east past Gunnison and the National Recreation area, over the Monarch Pass and into the South Park Valley. Continue to follow the route along the Arkansas River to Canon City, near here you will see the signs for the Royal Gorge, the world's highest Suspension Bridge-nice stop and very scenic. Head north past Fort Carson Military Base and into Colorado Springs. Here we have a couple of suggestions for touring before heading north and back to Denver for this night. Visit Garden of the Gods. The city park is a MUST see for this area and offers some nice shorter trails into the huge red rocks with Pikes Peak as a backdrop. You could also visit Old Colorado City with the historic shops and galleries. From Colorado Springs you will continue north to Denver.
Hotel - Sheraton Denver Hotel

Departure from Denver

This day you will have time to relax and enjoy Denver once again until time to depart to the airport for your flight home. As you near the airport watch for the rental car return signs as they will then shuttle you to the departure terminal. Safe travels home.

Depart Denver – 2015
Arrive London Heathrow – 1210*
Journey Time – 9 hours 05 minutes
*= Next day arrival

Canyonlands Flydrive - Photo Album

We are pleased to be able to display a selection of photographs from this Flydrive

Prices (in Pounds Sterling)

The prices shown below are 'per person'.

Cost Includes ....

• British Airways non-stop flights
• UK & US Airport taxes
• 14 nights room only accommodation
• 14 days Compact car rental based on Alamo ‘Gold Rate’ (Intermediate for Triple/Quad Rates). Click here for details.
• Exclusive travel documentation package including personalised maps, itinerary and driver directions along with all applicable tickets and vouchers.
• Due to the varying and frequently changing fuel surcharges imposed by all carriers from time to time the costs above do not include these charges. Any applicable charge will be confirmed to you at the time of enquiry or booking.

Weather
Whilst very pleasant during the summer months the contrasts in elevation mean the weather is very changeable with snowfall or lying snow common place from October right through to June in some areas such as Bryce Canyon National Park and the Rocky Mountain National Park.

Hotel Availability
Sometimes the hotels named in this itinerary are not available at the time of booking. Under these circumstances Complete North America will book alternative accommodation of a similar standard. Such changes will be confirmed in writing to you at the time of booking confirmation. If you are not completely happy with the alternative hotel we will happily discuss other possibilities with you in the same location.

Hotel Upgrades
For this itinerary we have chosen to work with a good choice of mid range hotels and motels. Our aim is to provide a good location in Denver and convenient clean and comfortable places to overnight whilst on the road. Such is the driving nature of this itinerary that for most people a clean comfortable room for the night is the order of the day. That said if you would like to consider upgrading any of your hotels here are a selection of our reccomendations.

• Denver - The Brown Palace
• Aspen - The St. Regis Resort
• Moab - Sorrel River Ranch
• Bryce Canyon National Park - Bryce Canyon Lodge
• Zion National Park - Zion Lodge
• Grand Canyon National Park - El Tovar

Best days to travel, seat assignments, special requests and flight upgrades

• British Airways operates the only non-stop flights to Denver. Should you wish to fly with an alternative carrier to British Airways we would also be happy to prepare a quote for you.
• • Where available we will be delighted to take care of any special meal requests on your flights (vegetarian, child meals etc) – please discuss with us at the time of booking.
• We have exceptional deals on upgrades with British Airways to World Traveller Plus, Club World and FIRST.
• We have discounted prices for British Airways regional flights to Heathrow, please ask for details and if you are flying from Northern Ireland or Republic of Ireland? Read about special deals for connecting flights here.

Car Rental in America

The car rental included in this package is based on the Alamo 'Gold' rate which represents the mose inclusive rate you can buy. For a full breakdown of just exactly what this rate includes, a full explanation of all inclusions and information on cars please visit our car rental section by clicking on the link below.

As part of our agreement with Alamo we are able to offer you GPS Satellite Navigation as an optional extra that must be pre-booked. For more information on this click the link below.

Go to the car rental section » Read more about Sat Nav »

Travel Insurance
Whilst it is not compulsory to take our travel insurance, it's imperative that you do not travel without comprehensive travel insurance. Our adult premium is £49 per person for 2 weeks (Age restrictions do apply), however we do have rates for family policies and annual travel insurance, please call for details. In all cases taking our travel insurance will require acceptance of the medical health declaration and all pre-existing conditions should be declared to the insurance company.

All travellers must hold a full 10 year machine readable British Passport and have no criminal convictions to travel to the United States without the need for a visa. For more details on passport requirements please visit www.usembassy.org.uk

Ready to book?

Call our booking line on 0845 263 7100

(Mon-Fri. 09.00-18.00 or Sat 10.00-17.00)

A member of our team will be happy to answer any questions you have before processing your booking and the initial non-refundable deposit payment of £150.00 per person. We will endeavour to secure your flights and take care of any special meal requests during this call. The remaining components of your holiday will be put in place and a written 'Confirmation/Invoice' detailing everything we have confirmed on your behalf will be sent by regular mail along with a receipt for the deposit to your nominated contact address. We try to complete this whole process within 7- 10 working days of accepting your order and deposit, however meeting this target is very much dependant on the speed of response from our hotel and tour partners in North America.

Please note - By agreeing to pay a deposit you are instructing us to commence with the booking of your holiday arrangements and as such you enter into an agreement with Complete North America Limited. This agreement is governed by our standard booking conditions a copy of which is available to you at anytime and included with your written holiday confirmation.

Click here to view our Booking Conditions & Promise of Fair Trading