Deserts of the Southwest USA - Spectacular!

This week long Desert Spectacular Tour will take you to the most incredible and spectacular high desert vistas to be found in the US - a vigorous trip through many of the desert landscapes of northern Arizona and southern Utah.

The high Mojave Desert offers the pristine shifting sands, mysterious hoo doos and legendary canyons that few people ever see. This adventure tour takes you to many of the most scenic spots in the region, through a small group tour that requires a considerable amount of hiking. We always focus on photography, so our objective is to take time to capture the essence of the landscape, but on this tour you will be required to hike 2-4 miles at times, in loose sand and over rocky terrain, but not up steep inclines or mountainsides.

Come and enjoy this unique adventure, and join us for a thrilling journey through this unforgettable landscape in the desert Southwest.

Your tour is guided by a professional photographer who will assist you in capturing outstanding images of some spectacular scenery.

Includes:

• General entrance fees to all parks
• 6 nights of motel lodging
• All meals not listed as a-la-carte in the itinerary
• Activities specified in itinerary as included
• Private or public coach/shuttle costs where required
• Professional advice on photography and capturing the best images
• Autographed copy of Greg Smith's latest co-authored "How To" photography book, Capture Your World
• A personalized 24-page tour book featuring a picture of you
• All tours are led by photographer and guide Greg Smith from beginning to end

Does NOT Include:

• Transportation to and from St. George, UT~ Passport and visa fees
• Meal beverages other than tea, coffee or water
• Items of a personal nature
• Room service or other services beyond the basic night's stay at motels
• Food outside of included meals and provided snacks
• Laundry service
• Telephone or other charged communication services
• Luggage and travel insurance
• Optional excursion fees
• Any costs related to cameras or recording devices
• Tips or gratuities to guides or tour leaders
• Also expenses incurred due to inclement weather, or other acts of God, altered river, road or trail conditions, sickness, flight delays, or unforeseen security issues

Sample Itinerary:

Day 1
Rendezvous in St. George, Utah for the evening, get to know each other, go over the final itinerary and compare notes about opportunities for photography in the desert vistas to be explored in the coming week. A good night's sleep, before leaving early and heading east into the field.

Day 2
The day begins with a drive through the center of Zion National Park for a glimpse of the sandstone cliffs, and then on to our first stop in Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park. We will have this remote and beautiful park to ourselves to walk in, explore and shoot beautiful pictures of seasonal wildflowers. We continue east and stop two more times to view the hoo doos and cliff faces along the route as the day winds down, arriving in Page for evening views of Lake Powell.

Day 3
It's up early for a field trip to the fabled Escalante Cliffs and hoo doos on the dry river bed northwest of Page. A four mile hike up and back will get us to these awe inspiring cliffs and a chance to use the morning light to our advantage! We make our way back to Page for lunch, and then take a short excursion to Antelope Canyon and a welcome ride from our Navajo hosts up to this world famous orange and red slot canyon. After a short walk through this crowded but magnificent cool retreat, we return to our motel for a welcome respite and dinner.

Day 4
With an early start, we head off to Monument Valley and its legendary Mittens and magnificent mesas and buttes. Along the way we take a side trip to Betatakin, the legendary ancient ruins in this Navajo National Monument. Late in the day, we arrive at Monument Valley and venture into the park to photograph the icons of the high desert. Settled into our motel, we take part in a well earned dinner and a quiet night's rest.

Day 5
Leaving at near dawn, we meet our Navajo guide and take a trip into the back country of Monument Valley that is forbidden to regular travelers. We'll see the dunes at dawn, and other landscapes that most people will never see or experience, providing us with exceptional photographic opportunities. We will eat our lunch here, and then head out for Chinle and a late-day self guided tour to Spider Rock and Canyon de Chelly. We will spend the night at the Thunderbird Inn at the entrance to Canyon del Muerto on the reservation and have a great dinner at this Navajo landmark.

Day 6
This morning we join our Navajo Guide and others on an exhilarating open air ride up Canyon del Muerto and learn about the last 1,200 years of Native American history as we view the magnificence of this tremendous canyon. We will stay with the tour as it travels up Canyon de Chelly to White House Ruin and experience even more of this Navajo Tribal treasure. After a late lunch, we will head for Tuba City, stopping at the Hopi Reservation for a late day visit to one of their village sites. Finally its Tuba City and a good night's rest.

Day 7
Today we travel back to St. George but take the Vermillion Cliffs route to see the breathtaking view from the bridge over the Colorado River at Marble Canyon. With a final stop at the book store, souvenir shop and cultural center here, we make our way up and over the Kaibab Plateau and back to the St. George airport for flights to Salt Lake City or the ground shuttle to McCarron Airport in Las Vegas. The pictures will last a lifetime, and don't forget the personalized book that will be arriving in the mail!

IMPORTANT NOTES:

Reservations are made on a first-come-first-served basis and tour sizes are between 4 and 9 persons only.

A minimum total of 4 participants is required for the tour to operate. Usually, cancellation of a tour due to insufficient participation will occur 30 days before the tour start date. In the event this tour has to be cancelled due to insufficient participation or other reason outside our control, a full refund will be made. However, we are not responsible for any expenses incurred by the traveler in conjunction with the tour such as airfare or other non-refundable arrangements, and we strongly recommend that tour participants purchase travel insurance to cover themselves when booking a tour.

Minimum Age: Due to the hiking and other activities on this tour, we limit participation to a minimum age of 7. All participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Accommodations are typically in 2-3 star motels and include private baths. All prices quoted are per person for double occupancy, and single supplements must be ordered for any single traveler.

Meals: Included as indicated in itinerary. In some locations cash will be provided to each tour participant to purchase a meal, especially when the restaurant facilities are in remote locations or there is a choice available in a given location. At other planned locations, the meals will be paid for at the time they are taken, by the tour guide, or prepaid by the tour company strictly at its option. This is to maximize the comfort and convenience of tour participants.

Bottles of water and very limited snacks will be available in the tour vehicle.

Transportation: From the time we leave from our designated motel at the beginning of a tour, until we return, all transportation is provided or arranged for all participants. Exceptions would only be for non-tour excursions on helicopters, planes or other side trips not specified in the itinerary. We do use park shuttles where mandated in national parks. The primary tours are conducted in vehicles occupied by only our tour participants.

Hiking/Physical Ability: Included walks and hikes are deemed easy to moderate levels of activity. No special skill is required, but all tour participants should be in good physical condition and able to walk/hike 1-3 miles at a reasonable, non-competitive pace. We make casual photography and rest stops along trails and paths wherever we go. Also be aware that most of the tours are set in drier climates than you may be used to, and the drinking of water is key to remaining alert and feeling well. Please note that many of the park sites are located at or above 7,000 to 8,000 feet and often require some acclimation. Drink water regularly from the time you arrive at the start of your tour, and use whatever you require from the cooler in the tour van as well.

Traveler Responsibility: Trip members are responsible for choosing tours that are consistent with their ability, fitness, and overall health. All travelers are required to complete and return a trip enrollment form and consent to applicable Terms and Conditions prior to the commencement of their tour. Travelers are also responsible for reading and understanding all pre-departure materials provided by their tour guide, bringing appropriate clothing and gear as suggested by the tour guide, and acting in a manner that is considerate of other people with whom they come in contact.

Luggage: There is limited space in the vans, and since we will be on the move traveling from location to location, it is requested that you limit your luggage to one checked bag, a carry on, a small hiking day pack for your camera and personal items, and a small tripod if you choose. Digital photographers who opt to bring a laptop do so at their own risk. All personal luggage is the owner's responsibility and we assume no responsibility for any wear and tear, damage, breakage or loss.

Smoking/Illegal Drugs/Alcohol: Smoking is not permitted in non-smoking rooms, at meals, or in tour vehicles. Because of the dryness and high risk of forest fires in parks and along rural routes, it is necessary that you refrain from smoking on hikes and when the van stops at pullouts. Smoking is permitted at rest stops where local ordinances permit and if other tour participants are not bothered. Illegal drugs are not permitted at any time. Alcohol is not permitted during excursions, sightseeing or on hikes. You may order alcoholic beverages at meals and pay for them.

Zion Tours and its tour suppliers reserve the right to accept or reject any person as a trip member at any time.

Travel Insurance: We strongly recommend that you purchase travel insurance for this tour, covering medical and cancellation expenses. This is for your peace of mind!

Documentation: Upon confirmation of your order, we will email you an E-Ticket that will include contact information for your tour guide so you may obtain the responsibility disclaimers to be signed and a questionnaire to be filled out and returned to the guide. A detailed itinerary, tour check list and clothing suggestions will be provided by the guide at an appropriate date prior to departure.

Limitations of Liability: Zion Tours, its owners, agents, employees, suppliers and affiliated companies hereby give notice that they only act as agents for motels, transportation companies, land operators, and suppliers of travel services, and assume no responsibility or liability whatsoever in connection with the operation, safety, condition or service of any motor vehicle, boat or other conveyance, inn, lodge, or hotel which may be used wholly or in part, for services to Zion Tours participants. Zion Tours, its operators and agents will not be responsible for any act, error or omission, nor for any injury, loss, accident, delay, inconvenience, irregularity, or damage that may be occasioned by any cause whatsoever, including acts of nature, civil disturbance, government restrictions, or failure of any means of conveyance to adhere to public schedule.

Zion Tours and its tour suppliers reserve the right, either prior to or after departure, in its good faith and discretion and in circumstances that warrant it, to change or reprice any tour, trip or expedition. This includes, but is not limited to, the right in such circumstances to alter or omit any part of the itinerary, to substitute hotel or trip leaders, or to change any means of conveyance without notice and without allowance of refund, with the liability for increased costs – if any – to be borne by the traveler.

If any tour is canceled due to acts of insurrection, strikes, acts of God, or any other cause beyond our control, refunds will be based on the difference between the original trip price and the cost of services already provided.

Trip members grant tour operators express permission to take photographic records of its trips for promotional and commercial use.

MINIMUM 4 DAYS ADVANCE BOOKING REQUIRED (we strongly suggest ordering well in advance since these small group tours usually sell out). Rates are per person for the occupancy stated. Minimum age 7. All guests under 18 must be accompanied by parent or guardian. Please reserve online, or call us toll-free at 800-410-8302.