America's captivating Canyonlands with Tauck

Enjoy complimentary lounge access before boarding your daytime flight to Phoenix, known for its year-round sun and spectacular desert surrounds as well as being the largest city in Arizona. On arrival, you'll be met and transferred to the nearby oasis town of Scottsdale. Settle into your luxury hotel nestled in the foothills of Pinnacle Peak amid towering cacti. Take some time to relax before your welcome reception with your travel companions, including dinner and drinks.

Stay: Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale

Begin your first full day with a stop in the town of Sedona, surrounded by steep canyon walls, brittle pine forests and home to the famous red rock formations. The backdrop for many western movies and TV shows, you'll check out this intriguing town shaped by Native Americans and early cowboys. Later, wind through Oak Creek Canyon en route to Grand Canyon National Park. Located on the South Rim of the spectacular Grand Canyon, many of the rooms in your lodge have a partial canyon view. Carved over millions of years by the Colorado River, the Grand Canyon is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of North America's star attractions. Tonight, enjoy dinner at your choice of restaurants on the canyon's rim at El Tovar, the Arizona Room or Bright Angel Café.

Stay: Kachina Lodge

Wake up early in time to watch the sun rise over the canyon, taking advantage of the lodge's ideal location for one of nature's grandest shows. Following breakfast, a local expert will teach you about the unique geology and wildlife of the region from a perfect location right on the rim of the canyon. There will be plenty of time to explore the Canyon and close-by village as you please, witnessing the rugged landscape's vast grandeur and changing colours as the sun climbs the sky. Then, it's on to Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Lake Powell, travelling through the Navajo Reservation en route. The next two nights see you perched right on the banks of Lake Powell, one of the largest man-made lakes in the world, and a favourite for lovers of boating, waterskiing and fishing. A true highlight this evening sees you enjoy a private dinner cruise aboard the sleek double-decked yacht Canyon Princess, combining the spectacular scenery with a delicious dining experience.

The following morning, take an included 45-minute flight over remote corners of the 186-mile-long Lake Powell, viewing the unusual red-rock formations reflecting in the lake. This afternoon, get ready for some adventure aboard an open-air Jeep tour of sandstone slot canyons in the Navajo Nation, among the most beautiful in the Southwest. There will also be the opportunity to take an optional four-hour excursions to Monument Valley – made famous as a setting of many Hollywood Westerns – where you can combine aerial sightseeing with a land tour by a native Navajo guide through the iconic rock buttes and spires.

Stay: Lake Powell Resort

After breakfast, this morning will be spent rafting on the famous Colorado River. Taking you through Glen Canyon, your experienced river adventure guide imparts their wealth of knowledge about the canyon as you glide past the colourful walls of Navajo sandstone. Later, it's on to Bryce Canyon National Park where a scenic afternoon drive will take you through a wondrous land of pines, pinnacles and oddly sculpted formations known as hoodoos, resembling the towers of fairytale castles. So iconic are these landscapes that they've served as the perfect setting for many a western movie over the years. Keep your eyes open for possible sightings of the park's shy but abundant wildlife, including the likes of deer, coyotes, marmots and prairie dogs, as you explore the park from your sought-after hotel in Bryce Canyon.

Stay: The Lodge at Bryce Canyon

Early risers will be rewarded with a magnificent Bryce Canyon sunrise just steps from your room at the lodge. Enjoy a free morning at leisure, perhaps venturing out on one of the park's renowned hiking trails. Here, you can observe a great variety of birds, beautiful wildflowers and a thriving mix of wildlife.

Following lunch, head through southwestern Utah towards Zion National Park. The scenery at Zion is dramatic, full of deep colourful sandstone canyons, high cliffs and forested plateaus. The park's shuttle system and network of hiking trails afford access to its key geologic features. Possible wildlife sightings here includes everything from mule deer to hundreds of bird species. Spend the night at the restored Zion Lodge, the only hotel accommodation inside the park.

Stay: Zion Lodge

The morning is yours to explore Zion National Park at your leisure. Its dramatic peaks and cliffs, odd geologic formations, desert oases featuring abundant pools and waterfalls, and mighty canyons splashed with vivid colours are all equally compelling. Later, you'll depart Zion for a memorable journey across the vast desolate landscapes of the northeastern Mojave Desert, arriving at the city that never sleeps – Las Vegas. With non-stop entertainment, fancifully themed casinos and indulgence to the extreme, it is internationally renowned as the entertainment capital of the world. Check into your hotel which provides easy access to the famed strip. Wrap up your tour with a farewell reception and dinner at the hotel this evening – one last chance to share travel memories with new friends.

Stay: Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas

Your tour ends this morning after breakfast, where an included transfer will pick you up and take you to the airport in time for your flight back to the UK arriving the next day.