With over 300 days of sunshine a year and a staggering mix of breathtaking scenery, Arizona is primed for outdoor adventures. This 13-day self-drive itinerary combines the best of the state with a three-night stay in glamorous Las Vegas in neighbouring Nevada. Stare in awe at the Grand Canyon, marvel at the giant Saguaro cacti of the Sonoran Desert, and feed your taste for adventure with boundless opportunities for rafting, riding, hiking, biking, hot air ballooning and private jeep safaris.
Las Vegas dazzles with its neon skyline, world-class shows and extraordinary experiences found only on the legendary Strip.
The Grand Canyon inspires awe at every turn, whether viewed on a scenic hike, a rafting trip or a thrilling helicopter ride.
Sedona’s fiery sandstone buttes create a dramatic backdrop for outdoor adventures and its celebrated arts and shopping village.
Scottsdale combines desert beauty with vibrant culture, from art galleries and theatres to sunrise hot air ballooning.
Majestic Saguaro cacti tower over Arizona’s Sonoran Desert, a timeless landscape rich in history, heritage and outdoor pursuits.
Upon arrival in Las Vegas, a private transfer will take you The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, one of the most luxurious hotels on the city’s famous Strip. Rising from the desert like a neon oasis, Las Vegas is home to the world’s largest casinos, most flamboyant floor shows, and such eclectic attractions as the High Roller observation wheel and a permanent exhibition of Lady Gaga’s wardrobe. Take it all in during a three-night stay.
Collect your hire car and make the scenic drive to El Tovar Hotel, an historic lodge perched dramatically on the south rim of the Grand Canyon. There are numerous ways to take in the splendour of perhaps nature’s greatest wonder. Hike to the bottom of the canyon floor, book a rafting trip on the Colorado River, or soar above it all on a helicopter tour.
Drive to Sedona and check into the Enchantment Resort for a two-night stay. Famous for its huge sandstone rock formations, which blaze red and orange in the fiery desert sun, Sedona is a mecca for outdoor activities, with everything on offer from horseback tours and private jeep safaris to mountain biking, hiking and three championship golf courses. For souvenirs, we recommend a visit to Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village, styled after a traditional Mexican village.
Continue south to Scottsdale for two nights at The Phoenician, a Spanish colonial style hotel set against the backdrop of Camelback Mountain. With such favourable weather, hot air balloon rides are especially popular here, with guests treated when they land to a champagne breakfast in the Sonoran Desert. Scottsdale itself offers theatres, museums, art galleries and Arizona’s largest shopping centre, Scottsdale Fashion Square.
A three-night stay at The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain near the high desert city of Tucson affords time to explore one of Arizona’s greatest natural attractions, Saguaro National Park, home to an iconic emblem of south-west America, the giant Saguaro cacti, which can grow up to 50 feet tall. Other highlights in the area include daily re-enactments at the site of the Gunfight at the OK Corral, the San Xavier del Bac Mission, a well-known pilgrimage site founded in 1692, and visits to the Pima Air & Space Museum, one of the largest museums of its kind in the world.
Enjoy a final spot of shopping or sightseeing in Tucson before returning your hire car at the airport in Phoenix in time for your flight home.