Real American Rockies

Day 1
Arrival at Denver, Colorado

Depart London Heathrow – 15:30
Arrive Denver – 18:20
Journey Time – 9 hours 50 minutes

Arrival into Denver, pick up rental car and proceed to your downtown hotel. Denver is an exceptionally clean city with a fantastic downtown area with many cultural, sporting, educational, and tourist activities. The city has wonderful sunshine and mild weather with any outdoor or indoor activity just minutes away.

Overnight – Denver

Hotel:
Sheraton Downtown

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Day 2
Denver to Estes Park, Colorado
65 miles

Drive to Boulder and then on north to Estes Park at the East Entrance to the Rocky Mountain National Park. Time for exploring in the park and looking around the shops of Estes Park.

Overnight – Estes Park

Hotel:
Alpine Trail Ridge Inn

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Day 3
Estes Park to Keystone
382 miles

Make an early start today and travel down the Big Thompson Canyon to Loveland and then north to Cheyenne. A Short time for touring in Cheyenne, then proceed north to visit the Fort Laramie National Historic Site. Continue north to the southern Black Hills of South Dakota with overnight stay in the area of Keystone, at the base of Mt Rushmore.

Overnight – Keystone, SD

Hotel:
Mt Rushmore’s Whitehouse Resort

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Day 4
Keystone

Full day to enjoy the southern Black Hills with Mt Rushmore, Custers State Park, Rushmore Cave, Bear Country USA, Reptile Gardens, Crazy Horse Memorial, the new museum in Rapid City (The Journey), Needles Highway, Iron Mountain Road, so much to see. Spend a second night in Keystone.

Overnight – Keystone

Hotel:
Mt Rushmore’s Whitehouse Resort

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Day 5
Keystone to Sheridan, Wyoming
257 miles

Travel to the Northern Black Hills for a short stop at Deadwood to visit the historic gambling community, then onto Spearfish and the Devils Tower National Monument (the first National Monument in the USA). Pass through Gillette, a rich mining community and across the Wyoming Plains to Sheridan for your overnight stay.

Overnight – Sheridan

Hotel:
Holiday Inn

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Day 6
Sheridan to Yellowstone National Park
237 miles

Pass over the Big Horn Mountains to Cody to visit the Buffalo Bill Historical Center and the Old Trail Town. Then enter the East Entrance of Yellowstone Park by way of the Shoshone National Forest (first USA National Forest to the world’s first national park).

Overnight – Yellowstone National Park

Hotel:
Old Faithful Snow Lodge

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Day 7 & 8
Yellowstone National Park

Two full days for exploring the spectacular wonderland that is Yellowstone National Park. We recommend the Canyon with the Upper and Lower Falls and the area of Norris Thermal Basin with a possible visit to Mammoth. All the sites mentioned here are easily accessible along the loop roads on the Park.

Overnight – Yellowstone National Park

Hotel:
Old Faithful Snow Lodge

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Day 9
Yellowstone National Park (via Grand Teton National Park) to Jackson Hole
105 miles

Spend the morning in nearby Old Faithful Thermal Basin to see famed Old Faithful and other hot springs and geysers in this location. Then in the afternoon travel through Grand Teton National Park and on into Jackson for the evening.

Overnight – Jackson Hole

Hotel:
Lexington at Jackson Hole

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Day 10
Jackson Hole to Vernal
290 miles

Travel from Jackson south across the Wyoming Plains to Rock Springs. Then follow the road along the Flaming Gorge National Recreation area and on through the Unitah Mountains and into Utah.

Overnight – Vernal

Hotel:
Antlers Inn

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Day 11
Vernal to Moab
221 miles

Visit the nearby Dinosaur National Monument (to see the remains of some of the first citizens of the region). Then travel south from the mountains to the deserts of central Utah and visit the Arches National Park.

Overnight – Moab

Hotel:
Best Western Canyonlands Inn

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Day 12
Moab

A full day for hiking or just sightseeing in the Arches and Canyonlands National Park area or try one of the special activities found in this region: half day of river rafting on the Colorado River, Jeep touring into the Canyonlands Park, or full day combination of both tour programs. Whatever your choice you are sure to marvel at this stunning Canyon region.

Overnight – Moab

Hotel:
Best Western Canyonlands Inn

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Day 13
Moab to Mesa Verde National Park
130 miles

This morning you will travel south to enter Colorado near to Cortez and then up to Mesa Verde National Park to visit some of the ancient cliff dwellings. We recommend setting off early so that you arrive with the afternoon to spend exploring the ruins on one of the ranger led programs, you will need to book onto one of the guided walks when you arrive at the visitor center. Overnight within the Park. We highly recommend you have dinner at the Far View Lodge, arrive early and put your name down on the waiting list for a table next to the window. Dinner with the view is worth the wait!

Overnight – Mesa Verde National Park

Hotel:
Far View Lodge

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Day 14
Mesa Verde National Park to Colorado Springs
350 miles

Today you travel through the cowboy town of Durango where the railroad still runs right down the main street before you climb back into the Rocky Mountain range and travel along Wolf Creek Pass at over 10,000ft in elevation. Continue across the central valley (San Luis Valley) to Pueblo where you pick up Interstate 25 north to Colorado Springs. Spend time here and don’t miss driving through the beautiful Garden of the Gods City Park. How much you can do today will depend on your arrival time however the airport in Denver is not far tomorrow so whatever you cannot fit in today you have time to do in the morning.

Overnight – Colorado Springs

Hotel:
Cheyenne Mountain Resort

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Day 15
Departure for U.K.

The drive time to Denver International Airport is approximately 1hr 30mins and with your flight not leaving until late evening you have plenty of time to explore Colorado Springs. Visit Pikes Peak (drive or cog-railway to the top of a 14,000 foot Colorado Mountain), Garden of the Gods Park, towering sandstone rock formations that sit against the backdrop of snow-capped Pikes Peak and often brilliant blue skies. Visit the US Olympic Training Center, Broadmoor Hotel, Will Rogers Shrine, Seven Falls Park, Manitou and Old Colorado City shopping areas or even call in at the US Air Force Academy on your way back to Denver Airport, the beautiful chapel (not open to the public on Sundays) is just a short walk from the Visitor’s Center.

Depart Denver – 20:40
Arrive London Heathrow – 12:45 (Next Day)
Journey time – 9 hours 5 mins

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Your holiday includes

• Scheduled Flights
• UK & US Airport taxes
• Accommodation – 14 nights
• Compact car rental based on Hertz – 14 day rental
• Exclusive travel documentation portfolio including personalised maps, itinerary and driver directions along with all applicable tickets and vouchers.

Additional Experiences

Our holidays are completely tailored to suit you. We would be happy to help you choose from a vast array of additional experiences that will enhance your North America holiday adventure.

These might include:

There are many more, often quite unique to your chosen destination so please do ask.