We’ll travel north with a stop for lunch, on self, at Cameron Trading Post. A haven for travelers since 1916, this trading post boasts an expansive dining room with a huge stone fireplace and tall picture windows offering a view of the Little Colorado River Gorge. We’ll enjoy the ambience, along with a terrific menu that runs from burgers to salads and local favorites.
After lunch, we’ll explore the Grand Canyon via the East Entrance at Desert View, offering a unique opportunity to visit the world-famous Desert View Watchtower.
Later, we’ll travel to beautiful Monument Valley, check into our rooms at Goulding’s Lodge, and after a refresh, gather for a fabulous Welcome Dinner. Together, we’ll experience an extraordinary evening showcasing a traditional Navajo Storyteller while enjoying a delicious Navajo taco buffet, served with homemade frybread and all the fixins’ included.
Breakfast is included at the hotel.
Later, we’ll set off on a 2.5 hour Jeep tour covering more than 30 miles of secluded back-country, to discover the restricted areas of Monument Valley — a sacred homeland to the Navajo who are Keepers of Monument Valley. We’ll learn about the history of the Ancestral Puebloans, early Native American peoples, famously known for their petroglyphs, pictographs, and spectacular cliff dwellings. We’ll visit all of the famous monoliths of Monument Valley: The Mittens, John Ford’s Point, Three Sisters, North Window, Totem Pole, Yei Bi Cheis, and Artist’s Point. These are the real life backdrops for Hollywood Westerns such as Stagecoach, The Searchers, How the West was Won, and so many more.
Afterwards, we’ll enjoy lunch, on self, before boarding our Transits headed for Canyon de Chelly and the Thunderbird Lodge. Owned and operated by the Navajo Nation, the historic Thunderbird Lodge will be our cozy headquarters for the night. We’ll take some time for a refresh before setting out this evening for our own driving exploration of the South Rim of Canyon de Chelly.
Later, we’ll return to the hotel for dinner, on self. Thunderbird Lodge sits on the site of a trading post that was built in 1896. The restaurant, housed in the trading post’s original building, famously serves traditional Native dishes along with American favorites.
Breakfast is included at the hotel.
After breakfast, Jeeps will arrive to take us on a half-day tour of Canyon de Chelly. We’ll be led by our Navajo guides, who will explain the significance of man-made structures and symbols while also sharing the natural points of interest. Heavy-duty six-wheel-drive touring vehicles are equipped with padded seats to provide a good experience. The tours stop frequently for photo opportunities to visit ancient sites, Navajo farms, and rock art.
When the tour is over, we’ll head back to the hotel for a buffet-style lunch featuring American favorites.
After lunch, it’s back in the Transits and we’re headed for home with plenty of stops and great sightseeing along the way.