Stunning Scenery - Zion, Bryce & Capitol Reef Tour

Come with us as we guide you through a week long tour of the beauty and grandeur of slick rock country and gently hike through its unparalleled beauty, majesty and nearly mystical grandeur.

Three of the West's most extraordinary national parks are found in southern Utah, Zion Canyon, Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef, and they provide some of the most stunning colors of rock and landscapes in nature for you to explore.

Zion represents one of the deepest sandstone canyons anywhere in the world, while Bryce is a maze of brilliant orange and red cliffs, and Capitol Reef is stunning in its own right with its layered kaleidoscope of mesas and buttes.

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
• 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
Meet at the motel in St. George, Utah where the tour starts (specified on your E-Ticket). By flying directly into this desert city you avoid the hours of travel from Las Vegas that others must endure. Sunday evening, meet and have dinner, and get oriented for the week of adventure ahead.

Day 2
We will leave early and travel to the North Unit of Zion National Park to see some of the cooler and less traveled sites of this incomparable park. We will then drive to Springdale, Utah - the entrance point for the main part of the park - and have lunch. We will settle into our very comfortable and quiet motel, and have an opportunity to see some of this small but bustling community before dinner. There are many views from the village of the steep white and red cliffs and many shops and other sites to entertain and entice you to talk a hike or stroll around this small town.

Day 3
We will start early and travel by park shuttle into Zion Canyon, stopping at several points for breathtaking views of this 2,000' deep canyon and its picturesque Virgin River. We will go to the end of the line and walk about a mile on a trail to the beginning of the Narrows and have an opportunity to get our feet wet. Back to the Zion Lodge for a late lunch, and then out to Springdale for an hour or two of relaxing and swimming. Dinner is a la carte with numerous restaurants and bistros to choose from.

Day 4
We leave Springdale and head east through the high elevations of the park, stopping at Checkerboard Mesa and other overlooks that afford beautiful views of this incredible sandstone bastion. We leave the park and head north to Bryce Canyon, arriving at lunchtime for a quick bite to eat. We will be at nearly 8,000' here, and will be going to 9,000' so a little acclimation is usually in order. After lunch, a trip to the park itself and a walk along the rim to view the incredible orange-white-mauve-red Hoo-Doos that make this park famous. Back in time for dinner at our lodgings in Tropic, UT.

Day 5
We travel back into Bryce Canyon for a view of Sunrise Point early in the day, and then head south, gradually making our way to Rainbow Point and a view of some of the oldest living species of plants, Bristlecone pines. We will return back to the Bryce Canyon Lodge area for lunch, and then decide who wants to go for a hike into the canyon along Navajo Trail. We will take those who wish to spend a leisurely afternoon back to their rooms, and then head back into the park for a 2-3 hour hike into the Hoo-Doos!

Day 6
This day starts with a day trip through the heart of slickrock country to Capitol Reef National Park, about 2 hours away. We will see some of the most interesting rock formations the Southwest has to offer along the way, and then the cliffs and mesas of Capitol Reef will come into view. This afternoon you will be treated to extraordinarily colorful buttes and mesas in this desert land, and will find yourself looking up at them instead of into a canyon from the rim. Capitol Reef is one of the least visited parks in the region, but offers some of the most stunning scenery. We will eat on the fly and return to our very comfortable lodgings in Tropic, just below Bryce Canyon.

Day 7
Our return to St. George will take us through the beautiful Utah valley region of farms and cattle ranches, back through Zion Park and the villages along the Virgin River. We will be back in St. George to drop you off either at the airport for afternoon flights or for a ground shuttle back to Las Vegas - and you'll have a camera full of stunning pictures!

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 888-888-7501.