Arizona is a vast state containing some of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring landscapes of the American Southwest. Here numerous mountain ranges rise from colourful deserts and grasslands in a classic Southwestern landscape full of rock spires, rugged canyons, and sweeping vistas. Join Peg Abbott for a fabulous autumn tour from the Grand Canyon to Tombstone -'the town too tough to die'!
Autumn is a stunning time to visit Arizona's beautiful Grand Canyon, Sedona, and to the southeast, the Chiricahua and Huachuca Mountains. Enjoy warm days as maples turn red, cottonwoods yellow and sycamores burnt sienna. This is leader Peg Abbott's home terrain and she is looking forward to sharing some of her favourite places! For this NEW trip, we've selected a blend of south-western sites and stories in a mix of biology, history, geology, archaeology, and anthropology.
The tour is led by Peg Abbott, who will be joined by Wynne Brown, Portal-based author of 'More Than Petticoats: Remarkable Arizona Women' and 'The Falcon Guide to Trail Riding Arizona'.
Accommodation: Hotels and lodges with all rooms en suite.
Leaders: Peg Abbott and Wynne Brown
Numbers: Max. 12 clients
Outline Itinerary
Please also see our Utah Navajo extension, which can also be added as a pre-tour extension for this!
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Price: £ 4,295
Single supp*.: £ 795
Deposit: £ 500 per person
The price is per person, and is fully inclusive of return flights London - Phoenix, accommodation, most meals as specified in the itinerary (B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner), transport, tips, and the services of the leader(s).
The price excludes travel insurance, meals not mentioned in the itinerary (allow $30 per dinner and $15 for lunch), optional tips to local guides, drinks, and other personal expenses.
This trip will be operated in conjunction with Naturalist Journeys of the USA
Please note that we require full payment 18 weeks before departure on all USA tours.
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| Outline Itinerary |
| Day 1 | Scheduled flight from London to Phoenix, Arizona.
Overnight Phoenix (B)
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| Day 2 | We head north to the Grand Canyon. Watch sunset, a time-honoured tradition here, before dinner.
Overnight Grand Canyon (B,L,D)
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| Day 3 | We have the full day to explore Grand Canyon and the numerous excellent vistas available by tram and walking. End this incredible South-western journey with dinner at your choice of restaurants.
Overnight Grand Canyon (B,L)
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| Day 4 |
Mid-morning we pack up our things and head south to Flagstaff, where we enjoy lunch at a fun local brewpub. There is no shortage of grand scenery today as we venture on to a more intimate, colourful canyon known as Oak Creek.
Overnight Sedona (B,L,D)
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| Day 5 |
Sedona is a magical place. It's especially so at this time in October, when cottonwood trees are ablaze with colour.
Overnight Sedona (B,L,D)
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| Day 6 |
We leave red rock country this morning, bound for the Arizona Sonoran Desert Museum, which lies west of Tucson.
We then head southward to Amado, located between the Santa Rita and Atascosa mountains.
Overnight Amado Territory Inn, Amado (D)
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| Day 7 | As we drive through the Santa Cruz River Valley, our first stop will be at Tumacacori National Historical Park.
Continuing on to Sierra Vista, we arrive at Casa de San Pedro-a delightful B&B on the west bank of the San Pedro River.
Overnight Casa de San Pedro, Hereford (B,L,D)
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| Day 8 |
We check the Casa's 'backyard' of riparian cottonwoods and mesquite grassland, have breakfast, and then head off to the Nature Conservancy Preserve at Ramsey Canyon.
At midday, we visit Fort Huachuca for some military history. In late afternoon we head underground to tour a living cave at Kartchner Caverns.
Overnight Casa de San Pedro, Hereford (B,L,D)
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| Day 9 |
After an early breakfast, we will drive north to the San Pedro House where we can walk along the San Pedro River to a lovely pond.
Then it's on to the Old Wild West to Tombstone, "The Town Too Tough to Die,' home of the OK Corral, Doc Holliday, and Wyatt Earp.
Overnight Casa de San Pedro, Hereford (B,L,D)
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| Day 10 |
After enjoying our last Casa breakfast, we pack up our things and move on to the historic and picturesque mining town of Bisbee.
After lunch, we head toward the Chiricahua Mountains, a "sky island".
From there, we'll proceed east to Rucker Canyon and pause to stroll around Old Camp Rucker, rich with history of Apaches.
Then, back to Arizona and on to Portal's lovely Cave Creek Ranch, where we'll be the next three nights.
Overnight Cave Creek Ranch, Portal (B, D)
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| Day 11 |
Situated adjacent to the small village of Portal, population 300, Cave Creek presents a magical realm of massive, colourful cliffs that rise over 1,000 feet. Its vegetation is rich and diverse - here yuccas mix with pine.
Overnight Cave Creek Ranch, Portal (B,L,D)
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| Day 12 |
Today we discover a wonderland of rock at Chiricahua National Monument.
Overnight Cave Creek Ranch, Portal (B, L, D)
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| Day 13 | We plan to arrive at Phoenix airport late afternoon, in time for an evening flight to London, arriving home on Day 14.
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