Packages and Options

Note: The following description describes our inn-to-inn trip. The activities for the camping departures are identical to those of the inn trip, the only difference being the evenings’ accommodations and meals.

Day 1. Hiking in Bryce Canyon, Bryce Canyon Lodge
Our group assembles in St. George at 8:00 a.m. Following introductions and a brief orientation we shuttle to Bryce Canyon National Park, where an array of fantastically shaped "hoodoos" have been carved into the side of the Paunsaugunt Plateau. Bryce's stunning amphitheater and colorful spires and buttes beckon immediately upon arrival. Winding below the rim on the Fairyland Trail, explore an intricate maze of contorted and colorful hoodoos and rock formations. The scenery along this trail rivals any in the park, with the Sinking Ship, Aquarius Plateau and distant Navajo Mountain forming the backdrop. Marvel at the geologic layering featuring many shades of red, purple, white, and yellow. For those wanting some more and equally spectacular hiking before dinner, the Navajo Loop trail descends to Two Bridges and Thor’s Hammer, passing through Wall Street where Douglas firs tower between the glowing red walls.
• Fairyland Loop Hike [4.9 miles; 900 feet of elevation loss/gain]
• Navajo Loop Hike [1.4 miles; 521 feet of elevation loss/gain]

Day 2. Mountain Biking in Red Canyon, Grand Canyon Lodge Cabins
En route to the north rim of the Grand Canyon we stop in Red Canyon, a little-known gem of southern Utah filled with wind-sculpted bluffs and red rock formations. Here, we bike deep in the heart of Butch Cassidy country, in a narrow canyon with radiant red rock walls and pinnacle hoodoos towering overhead. The Red Canyon area is as magnificent as any national park, yet we are almost assured a solitary experience. After lunch, we depart for our exploration of the Grand Canyon, one of the world's seven natural wonders. Carved over eons, the Grand Canyon is a remarkable testimony to the forces of nature. Only one in ten guests to the Grand Canyon visit the tranquil sanctuary of the North Rim, making it an ideal spot to explore one of Mother Nature's finest masterpieces free from the crowds. Before dinner, enjoy a walk to Bright Angel Point for your first glimpse of this awesome canyon and an incredible Arizona sunset!
• Mountain Biking Red Canyon [8 to 15 miles; up to 500 feet of elevation change, with numerous short ascents and descents]

Day 3. Hiking North Rim of the Grand Canyon, Grand Canyon Lodge Cabins
Rise and shine for a day of exploration! Today you have two options. For the hardy looking to experience the canyon from below the rim, we descend into the Grand Canyon on the North Kaibab Trail. From the trailhead on the Kaibab Plateau, switchbacks through breaks in the sheer cliffs of Coconino sandstone lead us into the void of Roaring Springs Canyon. Blasted in the 1930s, the Supai Tunnel then takes us down through the Esplanade to the top of the Redwall limestone formation, where a bridge spans the rocky gorge. The Redwall traverse is spectacular, descending to a rocky notch just below the spire of the "Needle". Then the "fun" begins as we reverse direction and climb back out of the canyon.
For those seeking a more leisurely hike, the Widforss Trail winds along the rim through forests of quaking aspen, ponderosa pine and Douglas fir and through meadows of lupine. The trail leads to a seldom-visited canyon overlook.
Tonight, we again take in the views from our dinner table in the expansive Grand Canyon Lodge.
• North Kaibab Trail to Supai Tunnel [3.6 miles round trip; 1200' elevation loss/gain]; or further on the North Kaibab Trail to Redwall Bridge [total of 5.4 miles round trip; 2200' elevation loss/gain]
• Widforss Point Hike [ up to 10 miles round trip; 400' elevation gain/ loss] 

Day 1. Bryce Canyon Lodge
Day 2. Grand Canyon Lodge Cabins 
Day 3. Grand Canyon Lodge Cabins
Day 4. Flanigan’s Inn
Days 5. Flanigan’s Inn

Campground Highlights for all Camping Departures:
• Bryce Canyon: set within a short walk of Bryce Canyon's rim (September 28) with showers available a short distance from camp or at Ruby's Inn Campground (June 15), a facility run by the Syrett family since the pioneering days long before Bryce was recognized as a national park; showers available [Day 1]
• Grand Canyon National Park: set within a short walk from the rim of the Grand Canyon with showers close by [Days 2&3]
• Zion National Park: we stay at the mouth of the cliff-lined Zion Canyon, a stone’s throw away from the Virgin River; no showers but solar showers (and the stream) are available for cleaning up [Days 4 & 5]

Passports
Valid passport required by all nationals referred to in the chart ; validity varies - for most countries the passport must be valid for at least six months from the date on which the holder enters the USA. If not, the holder will be admitted until the expiration date on the passport; check with the embassy (see Contact Addresses).
Passport Note
(a) For nationals included in the Visa Waiver Program (see below), passports must be valid for at least 90 days from date of entry.
(b) All travellers entering the USA under the Visa Waiver Program require individual machine-readable passports. Children included on a parent's passport also now require their own machine-readable passport. Travellers not in possession of machine-readable passports will require a valid USA entry visa.
(c) Passports issued on or after 26 October 2005 will need to have a biometric identifier in order for the holder to travel visa free under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Machine-readable passports issued between 26 October 2005 and 25 October 2006 require a digital photograph printed on the data page or an integrated chip with information from the data page. Machine-readable passports issued on or after 26 October 2006 will require an integrated chip with information from the data page (e-passport).

New Requirements for Travellers: As of 23 January 2007 all persons, including US citizens, travelling by air between the USA and Canada, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda are required to present a valid passport, or other approved document, when entering or re-entering the USA. Similar requirements for those travelling by land or sea will be introduced on 1 June 2009.

For further details about the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, visit the website of the US Department of State: (website: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html).

The US has announced new measures that require all travellers to provide details online 72 hours prior to travel. Although these will be on a voluntary basis as of August 2008, it is expected they will become compulsory for all travellers from 12 January 2009. For more information, and to apply online please visit the following website at http://esta.cbp.dhs.gov.

Visas
Not required by nationals referred to in the chart above for stays of up to 90 days except:
1. nationals of Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania and Slovak Republic, who do require a visa.
Visa Note
(a) Landed Immigrants of Canada and British residents of Bermuda who are citizens of, and have valid passports from, Commonwealth countries or Ireland are not eligible to enter the USA without a visa. (b) All passengers using US airports for transit purposes are required to obtain a transit visa. This does not affect qualified travellers travelling visa free under the Visa Waiver Program. (d) To qualify for visa-free travel under the Visa Waiver Program, nationals must travel on a valid passport, for holiday, transit or business purposes only and for a stay not exceeding 90 days. (e) Passengers must have the full address and ZIP code of where they are staying in the USA to be able to fully complete the I-94W form. Note: Airlines are also required to collect passenger details, including the address of their first night's accommodation in the USA, before they board the aircraft. (f) 2. Holders of UK passports with the endorsement British Subject, British Dependent Territories Citizen, British Protected Person, British Overseas Citizen or British National (Overseas) Citizen do not qualify for the Visa Waiver Program. A passport which states holder has right of abode or indefinite leave to remain in the UK does not qualify for visa free travel. (g) A visa does not expire with the expiry of the holder’s passport. An unexpired, endorsed visa in an expired passport may be presented for entry into the USA, as long as the visa itself has not been cancelled, is undamaged, is less than 10 years old and is presented with a valid non-expired passport, provided that both passports are for the same nationality. (h) Nationals of countries not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements (see Contact Addresses).
Types of Visa and Cost
Tourist, Business, Transit and Student: US$131.
Validity
Visas may be used for travel to the USA until the date it expires. Some visas are valid for multiple entries. The length of stay in the USA is determined by US immigration officials at the time of entry but is generally six months; there is, however, no set time.
Applications to:
Embassy or consulate (see Contact Addresses).
Working Days Required
Usually five after interview. Some cases may take up to 12 weeks – check with embassy/consulate.