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Bryce Canyon And Zion Overnight Tour From Vegas
Itinerary
There is a new and much better version of this tour!
Day 1 - Las Vegas to Zion National Park - 162 mi / 260.66 km - About 2 3/4 hours
Map | Our Bryce Canyon overnight tour, departing every Friday, will take you into three states, on the way to one of the most magical, mystical places on earth. The dates can be seen in the calendar at the top right of this page. There are relatively frequent stops along the route, to enable you to stretch your legs, enjoy the scenery, use the restroom, or perhaps have a bite to eat.
Like all our tours, this is a very small group trip. Our guides are extremely knowledgeable about the geology, geography, customs, people and traditions of the region so please feel free to ask questions!
Pick ups take place from the Las Vegas Strip at about 6.15 a.m. If there are enough people in the downtown area, we will also pick up at one central downtown location. Should you have to take a taxi or bus to meet us, we will reimburse you a maximum of $10 against the receipt.
The route is picturesque in parts, and we will stop briefly in the Virgin River Gorge to take pictures. There will be a comfort stop at either the small southern Utah town of St. George, or the even smaller one of Hurricane. Springdale is just outside Zion, and we'll pause there briefly to pick up sack lunches, which we generally enjoy in Bryce. |
Zion National Park - About an hour
| | Our first major destination is Zion National Park - a story of rock and water, with plenty of both to be seen. The relatively soft and porous Navajo Sandstone is often layered over impregnable Kayenta Shale, and the interaction of this rock with the water has created myriad amazing shapes and patterns. Amongst the stops is the Great Arch of Zion, a gigantic work in progress. From the Arch we climb up a precipitous switchback road, before entering a magnificent, mile long, tunnel that has been blasted into the Navajo Sandstone. Emerging on the other side, you will see how massive sand dunes have been cemented into rock over the millennia. |
Day 1 - Zion to Bryce Canyon - 78 mi / 125.5 km - 1 1/2 hours
Map | Leaving Zion by the east entrance, we travel up one of the most beautiful roads in the country, Utah Highway 89, through verdant, lush countryside, alongside rivers and streams, before climbing up to the Paunsaugunt Plateau, home to Bryce Canyon. |
Day 1 - Bryce Canyon - 2 to 2 1/2 hours
| | Bryce is simply unbelievable, and the hoodoos will wow you. People tell us they have had a spiritual experience when they gaze out over the hoodoos for the first time. You will wonder not only how the hoodoos got there, but also what carved them into those mythical shapes, and created the rich palette of colors.
Our guide will take you into the park to show you the lay of the land, and you will visit three or four of the main overlooks.
We generally drop off guests at Sunrise Point, for the easy stroll along the rim to Sunset Point. Take your time as you gaze down through the cleanest air in the USA, into the most amazing amphitheater on earth. Relax, unwind, and check out the sights, shoot a bunch of pictures, and listen as your guide explains how these incredible shapes came into being. You will enjoy a sack lunch at Bryce.
There are two other main areas we will visit at Bryce, both of which are even more spectacular than what you've seen already. These are the aptly named Inspiration Point and Bryce Point. Please be aware that Bryce is at a high elevation. You may become breathless if you are not used to the altitude, and you shouldn't try and overdo it.
After Bryce Point our guide will start back to Vegas with the guests who are just doing a one day tour. You are on your own now until tomorrow afternoon. At this point you have the option of catching a ride with our guide to your motel, Bryce View Lodge, and checking in, or of staying in the park and exploring some more. If you choose to stay in the park we will drop your luggage off for you at the Lodge (not even a mile outside the park) and you can use the free Bryce shuttle to get around.
The National Park Service offers a very good free shuttle service at Bryce and we will show you how to use it to travel around for nothing. There is a pick up and drop off location across the road from your motel, at Ruby's Inn, so it is very easy to tour the area. In 2009 the free shuttle service runs from May 23rd to September 28th. |
Day
| | If you went back to check into your motel we suggest that you now return to Bryce and explore some more. It is literally just a few minutes away. There is so much to see and do there. Please note that the shuttle generally stops running at 6 p.m., and you may like to double check this with one of the drivers.
There is a rodeo every Friday evening during the summer months, from Memorial Day through the end of August. It costs about $10 to get in and can be a lot of fun to watch. The grounds are a very easy walk from your motel. |
Day 2 - Bryce Canyon - Until about 4 p.m.
| | The free shuttle generally starts at 9 a.m. Before that, depending on the time of the year, you may like to go for an ATV ride or horseback ride.
You have an option of two different horseback rides. One is for two hours and will take you down to the bottom of the amphitheater at Bryce, while the other lasts half the day and uses the extra time to give you a more comprehensive tour of Bryce.
Please note that there is a 220 pound (100 kg) limit with the horseback riding, and you must be at least seven years old for the two hour ride, and 10 for the half day ride.
If you choose to take an ATV ride, you will first get a few pointers from an experienced guide, and then hop onto your ATV, to go chasing over 14 miles (22 kilometres) of dirt road through the Dixie National Forest surrounding Bryce Canyon. Please note that you will get dusty! This lasts an hour. |
Day
| | Bryce Canyon is a popular place to go hiking and walking, and, depending on how energetic you are, you can either go strolling along the rim trail, which is an easy walk, or tackle one of the hikes below the rim.
Because of the altitude, and the fact that you are hiking up a steep incline on the way back, these can be tiring. Whatever you choose to do, please research the hike properly, take good hiking shoes with you, and carry a lot of water. |
Day 2 - Bryce Canyon to Zion - 78 mi / 125.5 km - About 1 1/2 hours
| | At 4 p.m. our guide will pick you up at Bryce View Lodge for the trip back to Las Vegas. You will have the opportunity to travel through Zion once again, and we will once again stop to take photographs. |
Day 2 - Zion to Las Vegas - 162 mi / 260.66 km - About 2 3/4 hours
| | From Zion we will retrace our steps back to Las Vegas, arriving back at about 9 p.m. Thank you for joining us! |
 Tour ID | 1096 |
Please note the following...- This tour is subject to a 3.00% per person fuel surcharge.
- This tour picks up and drops off on the Strip. If there are sufficient people staying downtown, we will pick up at a central downtown location as well. If you are staying elsewhere please keep your taxi or bus receipt. We will reimburse you a maximum of $10 towards the cost of your taxi or bus.
- There is a single surcharge of $35.00
- Pick ups take place at about 6.15 a.m.
- The return to Vegas on the second day will be at about 9 p.m.
- The tour runs on Fridays. The dates can be seen in the calendar at the top right of this page.
- All times are approximate. We are in no way responsible if late departures from a destination, or a late arrival into Las Vegas result in your missing a show, a flight or other means of transportation.
- The vehicles we use are mini buses or vans with individual, high back, reclining seats.
- The entry fees to both parks are included
- In 2008 the free shuttle service at Bryce ran from May 23rd to September 28th, between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.
- One night's lodging is included at Bryce View Lodge
- Rate subject to lodging availability
- A sack lunch is included on the first day
- There is a 220 pound (100 kg) limit with the horseback riding, and you must be at least seven years old for the two hour ride, and 10 for the half day ride.
- The tour itinerary may change at our discretion without notice. Should any activity, event or destination be omitted the only amount we will be refunding is the actual cost to us of that item. We will not in any way be liable for any other amounts.
- Bad weather, dangerous conditions or factors beyond our control may result in the cancellation or postponement of this tour. Should this occur, the only amount we will refund is the actual cost of the tour.
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Please call us at (USA) 406 646 1118 x 12, or mail us for additional information.
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