Land Journey

Spirit of the Desert: The National Parks of the Southwest

Ken Burns American Journeys
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Year, Departure Type

Select small group departures (averaging 24 Tauck guests), or classic departures, and the year you would like to travel.

Days
10
From (per Person)
$7,790 USD
Journey Type
Land
Time of Year
May - Jun, Aug - Oct
Cities & Landmarks
Grand Canyon, Zion National Park, Arches National Park, Las Vegas, Moab, Bryce Canyon
Bryce Canyon hoodoos, Utah

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Overview

EXPERIENCE WITH TAUCK

 

TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – Filmed vignettes by Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan share their own personal stories and tell the stories of those who shaped the creation & preservation of the six national parks

 

TAUCK VALUE INCLUDES

 

On the ground or by air, explore Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon, Zion and Grand Canyon national parks – more than any other Tauck trip

 

Two Flightseeing Adventures! Fly over the extraordinary remote reaches of the Capitol Reef National Park and see the Grand Canyon from the air en route to Las Vegas

 

SEE WHAT YOUR JOURNEY INCLUDES

Activity

2
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Guests should be able to easily walk one to two miles, which may include climbing one or two flights of stairs and walking over uneven pavement, groomed hiking trails or cobblestones. Standing up to one hour or more may be required.

Pace

3
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Often robust – may include long days, active sightseeing, early starts, evening activities, significant travel times.

View Full Itinerary

Legendary Journeys and Adventures

Stunning landscapes so arresting that they'll live forever in your mind's eye… impossible red rock arches opening before you like grand entryways, offering a sense of endless possibility… canyons and immense cliffs, seemingly carved by a giant to form an island in the sky… fanciful hoodoos come alive while gods and legends linger everywhere… how the human spirit is cheered and fortified by the spirit of the desert.

On the ground or by air, explore Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon, Zion and Grand Canyon national parks. Fly over the remote reaches of Capitol Reef and see the Grand Canyon from the air en route to Las Vegas. Spend two nights on the Grand Canyon's North Rim for a fresh, "new" perspective of the park, enjoyed by fewer than 10% of park visitors. Enjoy independent sunrise and sunset spirit-of-the-moment experiences in the national parks… and gain insights through filmed vignettes by Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan, sharing their own personal stories and of those who shaped the creation of the national parks. Read Less

Picnic at Dead Horse Point State Park

Day 3

Sunset picnic dinner at Dead Horse Point State Park overlooking Canyonlands

Perched some 2,000 feet directly above a dramatic horseshoe bend in the Colorado River, Utah's Dead Horse Point State Park offers a spectacular panoramic view overlooking the sculptured pinnacles, mesas and buttes of the adjacent Canyonlands National Park. And it's a perfectly breathtaking – and breathtakingly perfect – spot for a private Tauck picnic dinner at sunset that's nothing short of inspirational.

Inside-the-park stays in the national parks

Days 2 – 8

Experience the West's great national parks from inside-the-park lodges

On Tauck's "Spirit of the Desert: The National Parks of the Southwest," you'll experience six of the region's great national parks as a true insider. And you'll explore three of them – Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon and Zion – from sought-after lodges situated right inside national parks, several of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Tauck arranges coveted accommodations at these inside-the-park lodges, often sold out a year in advance: Grand Canyon Lodge – North Rim in Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona; The Lodge at Bryce Canyon in Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah; and Zion Lodge in Zion National Park, Utah. (Exception dates do apply; see specific tour departure date for more information.)

Red Cliffs Lodge

Nights 1, 2 and 3

Among red-rock cliffs on the banks of the Colorado

Situated near Moab, Utah, at the foot of dramatic red-rock cliffs beside the Colorado River's best white-water rapids, Red Cliffs Lodge occupies a classic, rugged Western landscape worthy of Hollywood – and was in fact the location of numerous movies, including "Rio Grande" with John Wayne. Red Cliffs Lodge is also home to the Castle Creek Winery, the largest in Utah; the Moab Movie Museum, chronicling the rich history of filmmaking in the region; and the Cowboy Grill, offering delicious Western fare.

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Your Journey

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About Booking This Tour

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COVID-19 Travel Requirements

The below provides an overview of Tauck's requirements and those of the countries we visit, along with our supplier partners who have implemented their own Covid policies that may go beyond Tauck's requirements. The trip-specific guidelines are for U.S. travelers.

Up-to-date destination entry requirements will be posted 60 days prior to the first seasonal departure for each tour or cruise series. For journeys not yet posted below, please visit our Travel Requirements page. As entry requirement change frequently, please check often.

 

Tauck 2024 Covid Policy

For 2024 tours and cruises, Tauck has no remaining Covid requirements. There is no vaccination requirement or travel pledge to be signed. This 2024 policy could change if there is a surge in infection rates or other factors that could impact the safety of our guests and employees.

Tauck 2023 Covid Policy

  • Vaccination Requirement: All Tauck guests age 12 and older must be fully vaccinated. Additionally, you must have had at least one booster dose and/or have proof of recovery from Covid.
  • Requirements for Minors: Though highly recommended, vaccination for minors age 11 and under is not required by Tauck. However, if unvaccinated they must present a negative result from either a PCR or antigen test taken within 3 days of departing for their Tauck trip. If a child age 11 or under is vaccinated but not boosted, they must also present a negative test prior to their Tauck trip.
  • Tauck Travel Agreement: Tauck requires all guests to sign our Travel Well Pledge. Your Tauck Director will provide this document for your signature on the first day of your trip, and will check your proof of vaccination and booster/or proof of recovery. Additional information can be found at here.

To ensure the safety of your fellow travelers and the communities we visit, all guests must follow health and safety protocols when necessitated by local health guidance or our supplier partners. Your Tauck Director will keep you informed of these local requirements.

Although not required by Tauck, some countries may require a pre-travel Covid test. It is important that you carefully check the most recent entry requirements (listed below) for your tour or cruise. 

Additional Destination Requirements

Your health and safety remain our number one priority while you are traveling with us. The below requirements are mandated by the US National Park Service and are applicable to all Tauck guests without exception:

  • All Tauck guests age 12 and older must be fully vaccinated. Additionally, you must have had at least one booster dose and/or have proof of recovery from Covid. Although highly recommended, vaccination for minors age 11 and under is not required by Tauck. However, if unvaccinated they must present a negative result from either a PCR or antigen test taken within 3 days of departing for their Tauck trip. If a child age 11 or under is vaccinated but not boosted, they must also present a negative test prior to their Tauck trip.
  • For entry to National Park Service Facilities:

    • There are no specific Covid destination requirements for this tour.

    How to Book a Tour

    See your travel advisor, or call Tauck at 800-468-2825 to make a reservation.


    At the time of booking, please have the following information ready for all members of your party:

    • Tour Name and Departure Date
    • Traveler's Name: First and last names as they appear on your passport or driver's license
    • Traveler's Address(es)
    • Email Address*
    • Traveler's Phone Number(s)*
    • Emergency Contact Information: Please provide the name and phone number of a relative or friend (not travelling with you) whom we could contact during the tour in the unlikely event of an emergency
    • Interest in purchasing a travel protection plan (US and Canada)
    • Interest in extending your trip by staying in a Tauck recommended hotel before your trip begins or after it ends
    • Interest in our specially negotiated airfares

     

    * Required Fields

    Deposits & Final Payment

    Deposits:

    The deposit and the fees for the optional Protection Plan or Cancel Fee Waiver [CFW] coverage are due at time of booking.

    The deposit amount is $525 per person

     

    Final Payment:

    Final Payment for Land Journeys is due at Tauck's Wilton Woods, CT office 60 days before departure. Any bookings without full payment at this time may be subject to cancellation without notice.

    Travel Protection Plan

    Effective for plans purchased as of July 1, 2021:

     

    Tauck's Guest Protection provides you with cancellation protection before your journey begins as well as insurance benefits while you are traveling. Guest Protection includes the following:

    Cancellation Waiver – Provided by Tauck:

    Under Tauck's Cancellation Fee Waiver you can cancel your tour for ANY REASON up to the day before departure and receive a money-back refund (except in Extreme Circumstances*) on the land tour cost, based on your original method of payment.

    *Extreme Circumstances: In the event of an act of God, war (whether declared or undeclared), terrorism, accident, natural disaster, outbreak of disease, or other event or circumstance beyond our control that contributes to or results in cancellation rates above our historical cancellation rates in the absence of such event or occurrence, Tauck reserves the right to issue a credit to you in lieu of a money-back refund, applicable to a future Tauck journey.

    Travel Insurance Benefits – Underwritten by United States Fire Insurance Company.

    • Trip Cancellation – If you must cancel your tour due to a covered reason, the plan provides coverage for the amount you paid for your travel arrangements. Since the non-insurance cancellation waiver takes care of the land package cancellation fees already, this benefit reimburses the airfare cancellation charges up to the value of your original airfare purchase.

    • Trip Interruption – If you have to interrupt your tour for covered reasons, the plan provides reimbursement for up to $5,000 to catch up to your tour or return home.

    • Travel Delay – Provides reimbursement for missed, prepaid travel arrangements if you are delayed by a common carrier, natural disaster, unannounced strike, or other reasons as cited in the plan.

    • Medical Expense – Reimburses covered medical expenses incurred in the event you become injured or sick during your trip. 

    • Baggage / Personal Effects Protection – Provides reimbursement in the event your luggage or personal effects are, lost, stolen, damaged or delayed during your trip.

    Worldwide Emergency Assistance Services – Provided by Carefree Travel Assistance; 24-hour emergency telephone assistance hotline for medical and travel related problems.

     

    The cost of Tauck's Guest Protection is: $449 per person

     

    This protection provides insurance coverage that applies only during the covered trip. You may have coverage from other sources that provides you with similar benefits but may be subject to different restrictions depending upon your other coverages. You may wish to compare the terms of this policy with your existing life, health, home and automobile policies. If you have any questions about your current coverage, call your insurer, insurance agent or broker.

    This optional Guest Protection must be requested at time of booking and fee must be included with initial payment. Fees are based on costs as of July 1. 2021, and are subject to change. Details will be provided with written confirmation of your tour reservation. Guest Protection does not protect travel agent commissions. Reimbursements will be made according to original method of payment. The amount of any refund shall be reduced by any recoveries obtained by you from any third parties.

    The Guest Protection plan waives cancellation fees outlined below, provided we are notified of cancellation before your tour departs. Tour cancellation fees are waived regardless of reason, without written notice, and Tauck will refund land tour cost.


    To obtain your state-specific Certificate of Insurance that contains the complete terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions of the certificate, visit affinitytravelcert.com/docs/TACGPPDOM.

    If You Have To Cancel

    If you cancel within 10 days of initial deposit

    Within the first 10 days after you place your initial deposit, you may cancel your reservation for any reason with no cancellation fees.

    If you cancel more than 10 days after initial deposit

    Regardless of reason, cancellations result in costly charges from our travel and hotel providers covering penalties and fees incurred by canceling confirmed bookings. These fees vary from tour to tour. Therefore, the following fees apply.

     

    Cancellation Fees with Tauck's Guest Protection Plan:

    Loss of Guest Protection fee, per person

     

    Cancellation Fees without Tauck's Guest Protection Plan:

    60 days or more before departure = $525 per person

    59-8 days before departure = $925 per person

    7-1 days before departure = $1500 per person

     

    Time of cancellation will be when notice is received in our Wilton Woods, CT office.

    In the event of an unforeseen circumstance beyond our control, Tauck reserves the right to amend the cancellation terms outlined herein.

    Note: All Guests, regardless of residency, who book a Tauck journey have the option of purchasing the Cancellation Fee Waiver provided by Tauck in the event they need to cancel their trip after making their reservations. Tauck's Guest Protection, which includes both the Cancellation Fee Waiver and the Travel Insurance Benefits and Assistance Services described above, is not available to residents of Puerto Rico. 

    Travel Terms and Conditions

    Click here to find Tauck's Travel Terms & Conditions.

    Travel Requirements For This Tour

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    The Tauck Experience

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    Book Today... And Travel Dreams Begin

    Discover The World

    Call us, or call your travel advisor, to book your preferred departure date today – and explore our beautiful brochures to find your inspiration for your next journey.

    Book Today... And Travel Dreams Begin

    Discover The World

    Call us, or call your travel advisor, to book your preferred departure date today – and explore our beautiful brochures to find your inspiration for your next journey.

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