Arrive in Las Vegas, the “Entertainment Capitol of the World!” Upon arrival at your casino resort hotel located on the world famous Las Vegas Strip, meet your tour director for check-in and a briefing.  The rest of the evening is free to explore all that Las Vegas has to offer with new friends.

This morning, depart Las Vegas and travel past Lake Mead and the Hoover Dam entering Arizona with a rest stop in Kingman. Then drive on the longest remaining stretch of the once mighty Route 66 as we head east through northern Arizona. Stop in the small town of Seligman, the inspiration for the movie Cars, and have lunch on your own at the wonderful and historic Snow Cap Drive-in. Be sure to wander next door and visit Angel Delgadillo’s Barber Shop which is now a Route 66 museum. This afternoon you will see “One of the Wonders of the World,” Grand Canyon National Park. This 1.2 million acre national park hosts a vast variety of wildlife and scenic wonders. Learn about the geology and history of the canyon while taking in its breathtaking beauty at all the best view points along the South Rim including Grand Canyon Village. The Colorado River is the main contributor in the creation of the vast canyon and can still be seen carving its way through the rock roughly a mile below. After time to visit many of the scenic points, check into the hotel just outside the park with the evening free on own.

Make one more pass along the south rim of the Grand Canyon National Park for sightseeing with a stop at Desert View before exiting the park. Then enter the Navajo Nation with a stop at Cameron Trading Post. Here, you will find authentic Indian jewelry, blankets, pottery, rugs and sand paintings, all produced by the local Indians. After time to browse at the Post, continue your journey through Navajo Land and the Arizona “badlands.” You’ll see multi-colored mounds, created by the forces of nature; you’ll also see expansive Marble Canyon as you ascend the Echo Cliffs. Next travel to Lake Powell National Recreation Area, also part of the National Park system, and arrive at Antelope Point Marina for an included lunch. After lunch, enjoy a wonderfully scenic short hike to Horseshoe Bend. This 1.5 mile round trip hike provides one of the most iconic views of the Colorado River as it winds through spectacular red rock canyons 1,000 feet below. Then stop at Glen Canyon Dam for a view of the lake and dam. (pets are not allowed inside the visitors center, but outside is OK). The evening is free to enjoy the view, wander along the beach and have dinner with new friends.

Today you and your companions are in for a real treat as you get out on the water for a Private Power Boat Tour on Lake Powell. The contrast of the red rock walls and emerald blue waters are a stunning sight as you glide through the canyons. Your captain will take you to view beautiful Antelope Canyon and other sights along the way, then take you to a nice sandy beach where you can get off the boat, have some fun play time in and out of the water and enjoy a picnic lunch. This is what Lake Powell is all about! After lunch we depart Lake Powell and travel to famed Monument Valley, a sacred place to the Navajo. Today you will be immersed in the rich cultural heritage of the “Dineh” people. Their arts, music and livelihood are all closely tied to the dramatic desert landscape that is their home. Arrive at historic Goulding’s Lodge where you will meet your Navajo guide and board a 4-wheel drive vehicle for a scenic tour of Monument Valley, location of scores of famous western films, television programs and commercials. As we travel through the valley and visit famous locations such as John Ford Point, Artist Point and The Totem Pole, we will also learn more of the Navajo traditions and way of life. Then experience an evening of Navajo culture, food and entertainment at a Navajo Cookout. After a wonderful day, retire to your hotel located nearby.

This morning we depart Monument Valley traveling north with a rest stop in Blanding. Continue north and arrive Dead Horse Point State Park for a picnic lunch and one of the most spectacular scenes in the southwest. You will see the expanse of Canyonlands National Park stretching to the south and the mighty Colorado River 2,000 feet below. Then you are off to nearby Arches National Park for sightseeing the highest concentration of natural arches in the world with over 2,000 named arches within its 73,000-acre boundary. Visit all the park highlights including Park Avenue, Balance Rock, The Windows and Delicate Arch. *(At Arches National Park, feel free to walk your pet on park roads for public vehicular use, established picnic areas, Devils Garden Campground or in parking lots, as long as you remember that they must be leashed at all times. Pets are not allowed on any hiking trails, nor in the visitor center) In the late afternoon, join the group for a unique experience as you take a Jet Boat Ride on the mighty Colorado River through spectacular red rock canyons. As the sun dips in the west, the canyon colors come to life while you learn about the river’s ecosystem, geology and history. After a thrilling ride, enjoy a delicious BBQ dinner served on the banks of the Colorado River. Then arrive at your hotel in Moab and check in for a two night stay.

This morning, you can join the group for an optional hike in Grandstaff Canyon. This is one of the best trails to take your dog on. It’s an easy going trip that follows along a scenic canyon with a shallow river running through it. The Morning Glory Natural Bridge is at the end of the second canyon, and is the sixth-longest natural rock span in the United States. It also has impressive rock formations to look at along the way. Make sure you’re okay with getting your feet wet on this hike, as you and your dog might have to cross the river at multiple points.What an exciting morning in Moab! Then return to Moab with the rest of the day free to explore on your own and even experience one of the many outdoor adventures available in the area. Moab Rafting and Canoe Company is pet friendly!

We depart Moab this morning and travel west. Your first stop will be Goblin Valley State Park where wind and water have carved fantastic goblin-like sculptures out of sandstone, creating a unique landscape that inspires the imagination. Numerous rocks and coves offer unlimited walking, exploring, or hiking opportunities. Next arrive in Capitol Reef National Park for a wonderful picnic lunch under towering cottonwood trees. After Capitol Reef, enjoy a drive on one of America’s most spectacular roads. Scenic Highway 12 has been designated as an “All American Road,” the crown jewel of the Scenic Byways system. First, drive over Boulder Mountain reaching elevations over 9,000 feet with spectacular views of the Water Pocket Fold and beyond. Then travel through Grand Staircase – Escalante National Monument, with vast expanses of cream and rose colored Navajo sandstone. There are dramatic cliffs, high mesas, beautiful streams and deep canyons in multi-hued colors across the 1.9 million acre monument. In the late afternoon, arrive Bryce Canyon National Park for sightseeing and optional hiking along the Rim Trail. The hues and intricate shapes of Bryce Canyon carry even the most mature adult away into a fairyland fantasy. The Paiute Indians used a word to describe Bryce that translates into, “red rocks standing like men in a bowl-shaped canyon.” Mormon settler Ebenezer Bryce, for whom the canyon was named, described it as “a hell of a place to lose a cow.” Overnight just outside of the park at the famous Ruby’s Inn.

Return to Bryce Canyon National Park for a morning view. Then take a short drive to see Utah’s oldest and most famous national park, Zion National Park. An early Mormon settler described the park’s massive formations as “temples built by hands, not of man.” The Paiutes believed mischievous spirits lived among the 2,000-foot high towers and would not enter the canyon alone or remain there after dark. *(Pets must be under physical control on a leash less than six feet long at all times. Properly restrained pets are allowed along public roads and parking areas, in the developed campgrounds and picnic areas, and on the grounds of the Zion Lodge.) There will be time for lunch on your own at Zion Lodge. Then you can enjoy a walk along the Pa’rus Trail, a dog friendly paved trail that follows the Virgin River through the canyon from Canyon Junction to the Visitor’s Center. A wonderful 3.5 mile walk round trip. In the late afternoon, travel across the desert returning to the glitz and glam of Las Vegas! After an amazing trip through some of nation’s greatest natural treasures, check in for your final night with the evening free to explore and celebrate this epic journey and say goodbye to new friends.

This morning, depart for home with your own transportation or transfer to the Las Vegas Airport by taxi. As you travel home, remember all the wonderful memories and friends you have met on your fabulous vacation!