2012 |

 

COLORADO'S NATIONAL PARKS AND TRAINS

Tour Code - 8130

9 days Denver to Denver Denver, Colorado Springs, Alamosa, Durango, Moab, Vail/Beaver Creek

All inclusive prices starting at: $1969

Experience Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah on a nine-day roundtrip from Denver. Visit the Colorado Railroad Museum and Garden of the Gods. Next, ride the rails, including Pike's Peak Cog Railway, Royal Gorge Route Railroad, Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, and Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, before taking in Mesa Verde National Park, Arches National Park, and Rocky Mountain National Park

Meals

  • Breakfast - 4
  • Lunch - 1
  • Dinner - 0

Standard Features

Sightseeing: Colorado Railroad Museum, Pikes Peak Cog Railway, Royal Gorge Bridge, Royal Gorge Railroad, Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, Durango & Silverton Narrow-Gauge Train. Inside visits as shown in UPPERCASE in the tour description, including admission charges where applicable.
Scenic Highlights: Garden of the Gods, Durango, Silverton, Mesa Verde National Park, Arches National Park, Glenwood Canyon, Grand Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park.
Guides: Services of a professional Tour Director.
Transportation: Four scenic train journeys; private, deluxe air conditioned motorcoach while touring.
Hotels: Twin-bedded rooms with private bath or shower, hotel taxes, service charges, and tips for baggage handling.
Meals: 4 continental breakfasts (CB), 1 lunch (L)
Optionals: Customise your vacation experience with a range of convenient optional excursions.

COLORADO'S NATIONAL PARKS AND TRAINS

Day by Day

DayDescription
1

DENVER.

Enjoy time at leisure to relax or to do some independent exploring. Your Tour Director is on hand this evening to answer any questions.

2

DENVER-PIKES PEAK COG RAILWAY-COLORADO SPRINGS.

Begin the day with a visit to the COLORADO RAILROAD MUSEUM. This "must-see" site for rail fans features more than 70 historic narrow- and standard-gauge locomotives and cars. Then, travel south to the town of Colorado Springs, located on the plains at the foot of Pikes Peak. The natural beauty of Colorado Springs is legendary. The view from the top of nearby Pikes Peak inspired Katharine Lee Bates to compose America the Beautiful more than 100 years ago. Visit the GARDEN OF THE GODS, a city park that is a garden of towering red rock formations. Next is a fabulous train ride on the PIKE'S PEAK COG RAILWAY, the world's highest cog railroad. Travel along Ruxton Creek in Englemann Canyon, then over Four Mile Switch for your first glimpse of Pikes Peak. At about the 5-mile (8km) point, the grade gets steep as you climb above the timberline and reach the 14,110-foot (4,301 metres) summit of Pikes Peak.(CB)

3

COLORADO SPRINGS-CANON ROYAL GORGE ROUTE RAILWAY-ALAMOSA.

This morning, all aboard the ROYAL GORGE ROUTE RAILROAD. Travel on a diesel locomotive for 12 miles (19 km) following the most spectacular section of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad through the gorge on tracks laid more than 120 years ago. Riders often spot wildlife such as eagles and Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep. The views are breathtaking, so bring your camera. Afterward, visit the ROYAL GORGE BRIDGE & PARK. Spanning a quarter-mile (402 m) across is the world's highest suspension bridge at 1,053 feet (321 m) high. The panoramic vistas of the gorge are as mesmerising as the Grand Canyon. See spectacular views of the Arkansas River and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains on the Aerial Tram ride. Overnight in Alamosa, surrounded by the Sangre de Cristo range to the east and the San Juan Mountains to the west.(CB)

4

ALAMOSA-CUMBRES & TOLTEC RAILROAD-DURANGO.

Today you travel on the CUMBRES & TOLTEC SCENIC RAILROAD, America's most authentic steam railroad, built more than 120 years ago. Jointly owned by the states of Colorado and New Mexico, the 64-mile (103 km) line connects Antonito, Colorado, and Chama, New Mexico, via 10,015-foot (3,053 m) Cumbres Pass. It is an archetypal remnant of the Denver & Rio Grande narrow-gauge railroad system that once stretched hundreds of miles throughout the Rocky Mountains. Travel through the beautiful San Juan Mountains on tracks that tamed the West. You'll cross the Colorado-New Mexico border 11 times. The train stops in Osier, Colorado, for lunch. Disembark the train at Cumbres Pass and continue by motorcoach to Chama. Later, arrive in Durango, a town born in the Gold Rush and silver mining eras and at times run by gunslingers.(L)

5

DURANGO. EXCURSION ON THE DURANGO & SILVERTON NARROW-GAUGE RAILROAD.

Board the NARROW-GAUGE DURANGO-SILVERTON TRAIN this morning for a scenic ride through San Juan National Forest. Experience the adventure of traveling by a coalfired, steam-powered locomotive on the same tracks that miners, cowboys, and settlers of the Old West took more than a century ago. The locomotives used to pull today's train are 1923-1925 vintage. This historic train has been in continuous operation for more than 125 years. The train hugs steep canyon walls as it winds its way through the Rio de las Animas Canyon with vistas of snowcapped peaks. Free time in Silverton, once a major mining town, which owes its name to the bragging statement by an early miner, "We have no gold, but silver by the ton!"

6

DURANGO-MESA VERDE-MOAB.

Visit the ruins of Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings in MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. See Spruce Tree House, which dates from 1200 AD and is tucked under a sandstone cliff face. Spend time at the park's museum, depicting the story of these people who mysteriously disappeared almost 700 years ago. Continue on to Moab, a small town on the Colorado River surrounded by red sandstone formations.

7

MOAB-ARCHES NATIONAL PARK-GLENWOOD CANYON-VAIL/BEAVER CREEK AREA.

This morning, visit ARCHES NATIONAL PARK, where you will see the world-famous "Delicate Arch." Continue your journey through the massive 1,800-foot (549 m) walls of Glenwood Canyon and to the Vail Valley area, one of America's most popular mountain resorts. Stroll through the pedestrian village and experience the unique shopping opportunities, or let one of the world-class chefs prepare a meal to delight your tastebuds. Overnight in the Vail/Beaver Creek area.

8

VAIL/BEAVER CREEK AREA-ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK-DENVER.

Colorado's largest natural lake, Grand Lake Cross the Continental Divide and behold vistas of lush meadows, alpine glaciers, and thundering waterfalls. Take scenic Trail Ridge Road over magnificent mountain terrain, which attracted the likes of Kit Carson and his group of trappers to ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK. A break at 12,000 feet (3,658 m) provides fantastic alpine scenery. Next is a short stop in Estes Park before returning to Denver. Nestled in a high mountain valley at just above 7,500 feet (2,286 m) elevation, Estes Park features hundreds of unique shops, galleries, and restaurants for you to enjoy. Free time this evening to enjoy Denver, one of America's fastest-growing cities. A bustling area centered around a mile-long (1.6 km) pedestrian promenade is lined with outdoor cafes and flower baskets. Dinner at one of the 300 restaurants and a horse-drawn carriage ride could be the perfect ending to the day. Note: The drive through Rocky Mountain National Park is subject to favourable road and weather conditions.(CB)

9

DENVER.

The trip ends today with guests departing on individual schedules. Transfers to Denver International Airport are included. You can extend your vacation with extra nights and explore the "Mile High City" further with a variety of exciting optional activities.(CB)

COLORADO'S NATIONAL PARKS AND TRAINS

Dates/Prices

NB: All prices listed are per person

Jun 2012

Start DateEnd DateAvailabilityTwin ShareSingle
22 Jun 201230 Jun 2012On Request $1969 NZD $2582 NZD Hotel List

Jul 2012

Start DateEnd DateAvailabilityTwin ShareSingle
27 Jul 201204 Aug 2012Open $1969 NZD $2582 NZD Hotel List

Aug 2012

Start DateEnd DateAvailabilityTwin ShareSingle
31 Aug 201208 Sep 2012Open $1989 NZD $2602 NZD Hotel List

Sep 2012

Start DateEnd DateAvailabilityTwin ShareSingle
07 Sep 201215 Sep 2012Open $1989 NZD $2602 NZD Hotel List
14 Sep 201222 Sep 2012Open $1989 NZD $2602 NZD Hotel List

Accommodation Prices

Pre & Post TourCityStart DateEnd DateSingle PriceTwin PriceTriple Price
POSTDenver01 Jan 201231 Dec 2012 $139 NZD $76 NZD $59 NZD
PREDenver01 Jan 201231 Dec 2012 $139 NZD $76 NZD $59 NZD

Charges

TypeNamePrice
OPTIONALGratuity100 NZD

COLORADO'S NATIONAL PARKS AND TRAINS

Tour Code - 8130

9 days Denver to Denver Denver, Colorado Springs, Alamosa, Durango, Moab, Vail/Beaver Creek

See more information about the ships on this cruise:

COLORADO'S NATIONAL PARKS AND TRAINS

Tour Map

8130

COLORADO'S NATIONAL PARKS AND TRAINS

Optional Excursions

To help plan your leisure time, as well as your pre-tour budgeting, here is a list of optional excursions that may be offered on this tour. Availability is subject to sufficient participation, weather conditions, seasonal suitability, group interests, and general feasibility for your tour. Please note prices may be based on the previous year and are subject to change. Full terms and conditions are contained in the important travel documents.

PriceDetails
76  USD

Name: CANYONLANDS BY NIGHT
Location: MOAB
Description: After an hour of the Cowboy-style Dutch Oven Dinner, guests will load the flat bottomed boat and head up river with a knowledgeable guide at the front of the boat pointing out things of interest and igniting imaginations. Once dark, the formal part of the evening begins with 40,000 watts of natural light illuminating the canyon wall. Using lights, shadows, music and narration, stories about the formations, creation and history of the area based on the early settlers of the area. The Catholic Conquistadores, Native Americans and Mormon Pioneers come to life on the canyon walls. The old time Sound and Light Show is a unique experience and a great end to your day! (Approximately 2.5 hours).
 
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