Adventure USA: Guided Family Adventure FIXED DEPARTURE - GER-FAM

Transcription

1 Adventure USA: Guided Family Adventure FIXED DEPARTURE - GER-FAM Languages: English (other languages as indicated) Duration: 14 nights, 15 days Start city: Las Vegas, NV End city: Las Vegas, NV Group size: 5-13 Summary: Family Adventure The South West is famous for its astounding array of national parks. Here, on the famous Colorado Plateau, we find a string of national parks in very close proximity, yet each park is profoundly different from the next. On this guided family adventure, we will explore 7 of the most famous National Parks of the South West: Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches, Canyonlands, Mesa Verde, Lake Powell, and Grand Canyon. The itinerary is planned to allow plenty of time in each park to take in the highlights as well as have fun with the kids. We can choose from rafting, tubing, horse back riding, jeeping, walking, heli rides and many more activities. Highlights of this 2 week small group tour include a family friendly overnight rafting trip on the Colorado River (class 2), a night in Monument Valley visiting with the Navajo Indians, and a night at a rustic ranch to experience a part of the old West cowboy lifestyle. Our hotels are centrally located, mostly very near the national park entrances, and of a very high standard. All of them offer pools for swimming and have large rooms and public areas ideal for children. The USA is a perfect destination for family travel, because children staying in the room with parents often stay for free or greatly reduced rates. While on tour our local expert guide will point out the best activities for the season and help customize daily activities. Even though this is an action packed trip, driving times are kept short on purpose to allow for more time in the parks and with the children. There are several 2 night stays and mulit- day adventures mixed in with touring, allowing for relaxation time for the kids as well as sight seeing time for the parents.

2 Compared to most other family trips on the European market this trip offers the most inclusions in terms of excursions, meals, and activities, as well as a very high accommodation standard. It could be considered a luxury trip. - half board - 11 Nights in mid-and upper-mid-class hotels, 1 night at a rustic ranch, and 2 nights camping (all equipment provided except sleeping bags, those can be bought locally for about $30-40) 13 Picnic Lunches in the parks 14 Breakfasts 3 dinners 2 days fully outfitted, easy rafting on the Colorado River! Camping in the wild. Four prepared camp meals 1 overnight in Monument Valley - camp with Navajos in Monument Valley, Navajo campfire dinner 1 night at an authentic ranch 7 national parks and Monument Valley all walks guided by our local expert guide many optional activities such as horse back riding, tubing, jeeping, boat tours, canyon scrambles organized by our local guide centrally located hotels of a high standard (3*), large rooms Short drive times lots of time for adventures and walks within the parks Small group, maximum 13 pax, allowing for lots of flexibilty

3 Day 1 Arrival Las Vegas Arrival in Las Vegas, transfer to our group hotel near the strip. The hotel is a quiet hotel with a large pool, in walking distance to many excellent restaurants and the strip. ~ La Quinta Las Vegas or similar, 1x Day 2 to Zion NP, B,L Meet your tour director at 8 am in the lobby of the hotel for your introductory meeting. Drive to nearby Zion National Park with arrival around noon. Our hotel is centrally located in historic Springdale, with good shopping and restaurants, and a large pool area. In the afternoon we survey Zion by tram, and drive through the famous canyon. Short walks bring us to different sights like The Narrows and Weeping Rock. Hotel Majestic View Lodge, Best Western Zion Park Inn or similar 3*, 2 x drive time ~150 miles/ 250 km, 2.5 hrs We recommend a cowboy guided horse back ride over the range (optional). In the afternoon we are on to Moab, the adventure capitol of the South West. La Quinta Moab 3*, or similar2 x drive time ~ 230 mls/370 kms, or 4 hr drive Day 6 Arches & Canyonlands NP, B,L We have all day to explore 2 very famous national parks. In the morning we head to Canyonlands NP, where we can peer into the gorges of the Green and Colorado River 700m below us. In the afternoon short hikes lead us to some of the most famous arches in Arches National Park. We highly recommend you join us on an evening walk to Delicate Arch for sunset. Day 3 Adventures in Zion NP, B,L Zion NP is a deep gorge cut into red sandstone by the Virgin River. There is fantastic walking here. If the water level is high enough, we recommend a fun filled tubing adventure on the river. We suggest a walk in the morning, possibly to Emerald Pools, or fun filled wading in the Narrows, followed by tubing. Day 4 Bryce Canyon NP & rustic ranch, B,L,D We are on to Bryce Canyon NP, a favorite among many. Here soft multi colored sedimentary rock was eroded into many delicately formed stone towers. This is a fun park for walking and photography. We take you into the formations on the Navajo Trail and play hide and seek in the formations. We then continue to our ranch nearby for a haywagon ride and dinner. Rockin R Ranch, Zion Ponderosa Ranch or similar, 1x. Day 7 rafting the Colorado River! B, L, D Today is one of the highlights of the trip - we embark on our sturdy rafts into the wilderness of the Colorado River. Expert guides steer the boat while we float through pristine canyon scenery and enjoy a few small rapids. At night we camp on a secluded beach under the stars while the river guides serve a hearty meal. drive time ~ 120 miles/ 200km, 2.5 hrs Day 5 Through the desert to Moab, B,L

4 Mesa Verde NP is a UNESCO World Heritage Site years ago the Anasazi Indians lived here in cliff dwellings overlooking desert canyons. A ranger will lead us through one of the cliff dwellings in this amazing archeological park. We then head back to the desert to famous Monument Valley. We board the jeeps of the local Indians and head into the valley past the amazing stone towers of Monument Valley to our remote campsite. Around a campfire we enjoy a typical Navajo meal, before we nestle into our tents. Camp 1x. drive time ~ 100 miles/ 160 km, 2.5 hrs Day 8 rafting and to the Rocky Mountains, B,L We pack our camp and continue our rafting trip. After lunch we say good bye to our friendly guides and head out of the canyon. We leave for the high country of nearby Colorado Rockies. Here, hidden from most tourists, lies a beautiful mountain valley with ghost towns, steep peaks, and hot springs. Ridgeway Lodge and Suites or similar 3*, 2x. drive time ~ 140 miles/ 230 km, 3 hrs Day 9 exploring Colorado s Rockies, B, L The San Juan Mountains of Colorado are considered to be the most stunning mountains in the West. You have all day to enjoy your day here: go to a nearby hot spring (small fee), or take an amazing jeep tour over 4000m passes, past ghost towns, to the gold mining town-turned famous ski resort of Telluride. Day 10 Durango-Silverton Train ride! B, L The Silverton- Durango Narrow Gage Steam Train is world famous and considered by many to be one of the top 10 train rides in the world. You ride through a narrow canyon connecting the two famous gold rush towns Silverton to Durango. At night we stay in the park lodge of nearby Mesa Verde NP. Far View Lodge or similar 3*, 1x. drive time ~ 140 miles/ 230 km, 2.5 hrs Day 12 Lake Powell, B, L We awake to a beautiful sunrise (weather permitting). After a simple breakfast, we head to back to our jeeps. Our tour concludes with a jeep tour through the valley. A short drive takes us to Page, Lake Powell. In the afternoon we have time for boat tours, swimming in the lake, or a self guided kayak tour. Quality Inn Page or similar 3*, 1x. 140 mls/230 kms, or 2.5 hr drive Day 11 Mesa Verde NP&Monument Valley, B, L, D Day 13 Grand Canyon NP, B, L Today we recommend a tour to Antelope Canyon, a sinuous slot canyon carved in red stone. Antelope is famous among photographers. Or we can decide to scramble through the lower canyon. There is also time to visit the mighty Glen Canyon Dam. We then continue through the Painted Desert to Grand Canyon National Park, the final highlight of the journey. We arrive in early afternoon. There is time

5 for a walk along the rim to enjoy the sunset colors. Canyon Plaza Resort or similar 3*, 1x. drive time ~ 140 miles/ 230 km, 2.5 hrs Day 14 Las Vegas, B, L We have time for another sunrise walk, or to a helicopter over the Grand Canyon (optional). Then we are on - via Route 66 and Hoover Dam to Las Vegas, where your tour concludes by mid afternoon. La Quinta or similar 1x. 270 mls/450 kms, or 4.5 hr drive Important Facts This small group tour visits many of the famous national parks. The driving distances between the destinations and parks of this tour are very short. The rafting tour is ideally suited for families; it is fully guided, including cooking staff. The participants are expected to erect their own tents while rafting or while camping in Monument Valley. Expect to get a little wet while rafting. Tents are included in the service, but not sleeping bags. The tour director will offer and organize the best activities for the age of the group. Please note the hot summer temperatures in the Western USA. Most hotels have swimming pools, and there will always be time to decompress and enjoy the amenities of the hotels we are staying at. 15. Departure, B take the free airport shuttle to catch your flight.

6 2011 Dates & Prices $2050 pp net, $2665 rack, double occupancy $640 net/rack, single supplement 3 rd and 4 th person staying in a room in existing bedding pays $1400 each net/rack (a triple occupancy room in the USA does NOT have 3 beds, but 2 double beds sleeping up to 4 pax comfortably) Minimum group size: 5 Pax Minimum Age: 8 years Maximum group size: 13 Pax Tour Code Dates Start city End city Languages GER-FAM-11-1 Sat June 11 - Sat June 25 LAS LAS German/English GER-FAM Sat July 23 - Sat Aug 6 LAS LAS German/English GER-FAM Sat Aug 27 - Sat Sept 10 LAS LAS German/English GER-FAM Sat Oct 8 - Sat Oct 22 LAS LAS German/English Inclusions Highly trained local driver-guides that also conduct all hikes Languages: English, German, French, Spanish. Tours are conducted in one, two or three languages. Please check the web site, for details. Transport in 15 passenger vans with or without trailer depending on group size, or any other vehicle depending on group size Entrance fees to National Parks and Monument Valley 11 nights hotel accommodations in 3* hotels with private facilities 1 night ranch stay 2 days rafting on Colorado River fully outfitted, with 1 night camping 1 overnight with Navajo Indians in Monument Valley 14 breakfasts mostly continental (cold) breakfasts and some hot breakfasts 13 self made picnic lunches (breads, cold cuts, cheeses, trail mix, snacks, fruit) while traveling in the parks 3 dinners Exclusions All other meals Airport transfers Tips of $50-80 per person for the tour manager depending on his/her performance Alcoholic beverages All meals not listed Optional excursions Single supplement if single room is desired Porterage Sleeping bag purchase one locally for about $30-40 FIT Extensions Hotel La Quinta Las Vegas $94 s/d Optional excursions (based on 2010 prices) Zion IMAX ca $10 Zion Canyon Tubing $16 Rockin R horse back riding, 1.5 hrs $40 Arena activities (barrel racing, roping clinic) $30 Inner tubing $30 ATW rentals $30/hour Rocky Mountain Jeep tour ca. $120 Hot springs in San Juan mountains ca $15 Durango-Silverton Railroad ca $50 Lake Powell Antelope Canyon Boat Tour ca $35

7 Lake Powell Kayak rental $20 for 2 hours Antelope Canyon scrambling ca. $30 Grand Canyon IMAX ca $10 Helicopter Fights 25 min. ca $180 FIT extensions / Hotel at start and end of tour: La Quinta Convention Center 3970 South Paradise Road Las Vegas, NV Ph Fax This hotel has a free airport shuttle. At the exit from the baggage claim there is a courtesy phone. When arriving pick up the phone and ask to be connected to the La Quinta Convention Center. Ask the hotel to pick you up. Sometimes you must wait 20 minutes for the hotel van. Please give the driver a tip ($2-5). A Taxi costs app. $15, the general hotel shuttle app. $8 per person. Temperature: The weather in this region is extremely stable, but hot in the summer months. Sunshine prevails. Coupled with very low humidity it makes this region ideal for an active summer adventure. In summer (June to mid-september) temperatures during daytime are very pleasant at Bryce, the ranch, and Colorado s San Juan Mountains, Mesa Verde and Grand Canyon (75-80 F) due to the altitude of their mountain locales ( ft). In the deserts of Utah daytime temperatures of F are typical in summer. Be prepared for occasional afternoon thunderstorms in the desert, especially in the month of August. October has some potentially colder temperatures in the San Juan Mountains, but October is generally dry and sunny in Colorado. Meeting Place: Please be at the appointed hotel no later than 8 A.M. for the orientation meeting on the first day of the tour. Please bring a copy of your travel insurance to this meeting. Be aware that all participants must sign a Liability Waiver. In case your flight has been delayed and you are unable to make it to the Orientation Meeting, it is essential that you contact us immediately at our toll-free number: Our office is not staffed on the weekends, but the toll-free number will get you our current weekend emergency number. At the emergency number please leave details of your revised travel plans and the telephone number, at which we can reach you to coordinate an alternative meeting with the tour. In the event that you are delayed more than a few hours the group can unfortunately not wait. If you neither appear at the orientation meeting nor contact us, we will be forced to conclude that you have canceled your plan to be with the tour. You should dress in layers, so that it is easy to add and remove clothing when temperature changes. It can be very chilly in the morning, but the warm-up is rapid. If you are doing slide photography, bring all your film supplies with you. It is namely almost impossible in the U.S. to find slide film outside of big cities. There will also be little or no access to currency exchange, so convert all the cash you need for the tour to US $ before you join us. We recommend a combination of cash, travelers checks (American Express or Thomas Cook) and, most preferably, VISA or Mastercard. You will have access to ATM cash machines, so bring your credit card(s) along together with your PIN Nummer, but note that American cash machines usually will not accept Eurocard. Otherwise, credit cards are accepted everywhere in the U.S. Small fees are sometimes charged for using them. Diners Club and American Express are not accepted as universally as Visa or Mastercard. Baggage Limit: Due to limited space on the tour vans each traveler can bring only two items of luggage on the tour. During the tour there are washing machines and dryers, where you can do your laundry for a small charge. Additional Expenses: Each traveler will need app. $5-10/day for postcards, beverages, tips, etc. Be prepared to tip the tour leader between $42 and $70 per participant, depending on his/her performance. In the U.S. it is the norm to tip for most every kind of service. Food: The U.S. generally has a large selection of freshly prepared foods and fresh vegetables. In the country, however, the variety is more limited. Breakfast is sometimes included with the hotel lodging, other times it must be

8 acquired in a restaurant. In either case breakfast is included in our tour price. Hotel "continental breakfasts" are usually very basic: coffee, tea, toast, jam, cereal, though they sometimes include waffles, fruit, muesli and yogurt. Lunch provisions are provided by your tour leader. You fix your own lunch in advance, so that it can be eaten on the day's outing. Bread, sausage, cheese, fruit and snacks are provided for this purpose. Beverages are not included. Dinner is taken in the hotel or in nearby restaurants. Your tour leader will make restaurant recommendations. Dinners typically cost $20-35 per person, sometimes less, excluding the cost of beverages. A glass of wine costs $5-15 depending on the quality, and beer runs $3-5/glass. Equipment list (mandatory): Comfortable shoes with cleated sole for walking Small day pack for your rain jacket, food and other personal items Rain jacket Sun hat Dark sun glasses sunscreen lipstick with uv protection insect repellent personal first aid supplies shorts T shirts or shirts for hiking Fleece sweater or jacket Personal medications Recommended: Flashlight Sleeping bag (if you do not bring your own, please advise the tour leader so you can buy one for about $30-40) Dry bag for camera Wading shoes for walking in Narrows and while river rafting Booking/ Cancellations BOOKING Please use our booking form found on our web site to book your passengers. Indicate if your passenger wants a single room, a double, or is a single wanting to share. We may or may not have singles sharing. In the case of a single wanting to share being in a single room, some tours offer a reduced single supplement. We will confirm the booking within 1 day (longer over the weekend), issuing a booking number. Current booking conditions can be found on our extra net at Wholesalers can request log in and password information for our extranet site. Bookings are updated daily at noon. Tours are either open - we accept bookings, guaranteed - we have enough bookings to operate the tours, on request - a tour is almost full, full - a tour is sold out, or cancelled. However what you find on our web site may be outdated if we receive a lot of requests. Bookings are accepted as received and confirmations must be sent by our office before you can confirm the booking with your client. LANGUAGES Certain tours have language selections pre-set. For other tours the language is determined 2-4 months out depending on which languages have booked. Once ATW assigns a guide, it is difficult to change the language selection, even if more people of a certain language book. Short term language changes are very difficult for us to accommodate. Before promising a certain language to one of your clients we recommend you ask us which tour your client is booked on and which languages will be offered. FIT EXTENSION RATES FIT extension rates are pre-negotiated but if a client reserves their extension with less than 90 day notice we may not be able to guarantee the rates due to the heavy convention schedule in Las Vegas and San Francisco. In either case extension rates are not guaranteed until confirmed and accepted by the hotel. CONFIRMATION OF TOURS We will confirm the departure of a tour no later than 45 days prior to departure. At that point we will require a nonrefundable deposit of $400 per passenger.

9 Full payment is due 30 days prior to departure. Once payment is received we will issue a voucher that has to be presented to our tour director at the start of the tour. CANCELLATIONS There will be no refunds for cancellations under 30 days, there will be no refunds for no shows or interrupted travel. We accept name substitution up to 15 days prior to arrival without a fee. Starting 15 days before arrival name changes are considered cancellations. If you pay with credit card you should add 3% to the above prices to cover any extra costs. Once full payment is received a voucher will be issued by our office. DISRUPTIVE PASSENGERS We reserve the right to remove a passenger from tour if he/she is not fit enough to keep up, a disturbance to the group, disruptive or sick. We will try to make any possible arrangement to keep passengers from having to leave the group but if a group member cannot keep up with the schedule they may be asked to stay behind in the hotel. LATE BOOKINGS We can accept late bookings up to 1 week prior to arrival. However with late bookings we do require that we receive full payment before arrival of the client. HOTEL SUBSTITUTIONS ATW reserves the right to change hotels when needed. Hotel substitutions are generally of equal or higher value, however in some instances a lower class hotel is selected if no better alternative is available. COMPLAINTS All complaints must be brought to the guide s attention during the tour. ATW must be given the opportunity to remedy the situation before any recourse is possible. The complaint therefore should be made in writing to the guide.