Rocky Mountaineer USA: Colorado Rockies to the Red Rocks Explorer

Begin your trip in style with complimentary airport lounge access before your day flight out to Denver. Denver began life as a gold-rush town as far back as 1858 where gunslingers, gamblers, gold miners, cattlemen and of course the town sheriff made this corner of Colorado the epitome of the American wild west. Now it's a bustling ultra-modern metropolis with first-class shops, restaurants, galleries, and museums where you can learn all about the region' fascinating history.

Stay:  The Crawford Hotel or similar, Denver (SilverLeaf)

Make you way to Denver Union Station, the renovated 1914 Beaux-Arts train station, board the Rocky Mountaineer and enjoy the full SilverLeaf experience, including  premium cuisine, compelling scenery, onboard storytelling and a social atmosphere in a custom-designed glass-dome coach. The culinary experience will feature cuisine and ingredients local to the Southwestern U.S. which will be complemented with drinks service, and served at your seat, so that you can enjoy the scenery as you dine. The train travels slowly through the stunning landscapes, cross the Continental Divide as you take in the spectacular views of rugged canyons and the Colorado River before arriving at the resort town of Glenwood Springs

Stay: Glenwood Springs accommodation (SilverLeaf)

Depart Glenwood Springs and travel back onboard Rocky Mountaineer, crossing the Colorado-Utah border with stunning mountain views in the background. Red sandstone landscapes emerge as you approach Moab, the gateway to Arches and Canyonlands National Parks.

Stay: Moab Hilton Curio, Moab (SilverLeaf)

Explore Moab at leisure, perhaps driving to Arches National Park, one of Utah's "Mighty 5" national parks. This park features walks to see the famous red arches. The Colorado River and Dead Horse Point State Park are also must stops along the way. It's hard to comprehend the forces of nature that sculpted Arches National Park. Over 2,000 structures, from towering spires to precariously balanced rocks, complement the eponymous arches themselves, all creating a remarkable assortment of landforms in a relatively compact area. 

Stay: Hoodoo Hotel, Curio by Hilton, Moab (SilverLeaf)

Today drive from Moab to Bryce Canyon National Park. Visit Capital Reef National Park along the way. Famous for its unique geology, Bryce Canyon is made up of a series of spectacular horseshoe-shaped amphitheatres, carved out of the red rock by centuries of weather erosion. The colourful limestone has been transformed into all manner of bizarre shapes, from slots, canyons and hoodoos to dramatic fins and spires. To make exploring easy, the park's shuttle bus picks up in town for a four-hour circuit of the park. If you prefer to explore on foot, a network of gravity-defying trails descend through fragrant juniper bushes to arrive in the grand amphitheatres below. View the largest collection of hoodoos in the world from the multiple viewpoints including Rainbow Point, Inspiration Point, Natural Bridge - and from an easy rim walk between Sunset Point and Sunrise Point.

Stay: Bryce Canyon Hotel, Bryce Canyon (Silverleaf)

After breakfast, take the scenic drive from Bryce Canyon to Las Vegas. Stop at Zion National Park. Known for its towering mountains and red canyons, carved out by the Virgin River, Zion National park offers both easy and challenging walks to admire the rugged landscapes with its jutting sandstone monoliths and surprisingly verdant valley floors. It's also at the confluence of several hiking trails that wind their way up into the canyon. You'll also well placed for rides on the shuttle bus, which stops at eight major locations throughout the national park. You'll end today amid the bright lights of Las Vegas.