Escape to the heart of Arizona with our unforgettable 11-day tour, blending the rugged beauty of iconic national parks with the authentic charm of a ranch stay. Explore the awe-inspiring Grand Canyon, the mystical landscapes of Antelope Canyon, and the towering saguaro cacti in Saguaro National Park. Enjoy guided adventures, a Navajo jeep tour in Monument Valley, and the unique experience of staying on a working ranch near Tucson. This holiday promises a perfect balance of exploration, relaxation, and the timeless allure of the Wild West.
On arrival in Phoenix, we will be greeted and transferred to our hotel in the suburb of Scottsdale. We’ll enjoy dinner together as a group this evening to celebrate the start of our desert adventure.
Known as a spiritual haven for centuries, Sedona’s striking red sandstone cliffs and towering rock formations have drawn Native Americans for sacred ceremonies and spiritual awakenings. The landscape is dotted with majestic buttes, mesas, and pinnacles rising high above the valley floor. Enjoy the morning wandering this quaint town at leisure before continuing onwards to the Grand Canyon for the next two nights.
Today we visit the mighty Grand Canyon, a superb geological phenomenon. This will most certainly be one of the highlights of our Arizona adventure. We’ll walk along the South Rim to see one of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring wonders of the world, with the Colorado River flowing over a mile below us.
Drive along the picturesque Desert View Drive and visit the Desert View Watchtower, where if time allows, we can climb the stairs for a spectacular view of the Canyon. En route to Page, we stop at the historic Cameron Trading Post before touring through Antelope Canyon’s narrow, winding passages, illuminated by stunning beams of sunlight. We continue onto Page, making stops at Lake Powell and Glen Canyon Dam.
After breakfast, we embark on a day trip to Monument Valley, a dramatic landscape of dark red hills and towering sandstone monoliths that have featured prominently in many western films. Explore this expansive desert plain, stretching 25 miles long and 16 miles wide, and enjoy a lunch of Navajo specialities before taking a jeep tour guided by Navajo locals. We then return to Page this afternoon.
This morning, we embark on an easy 2.4 km roundtrip hike to Horseshoe Bend, a stunning geological formation shaped by the Colorado River’s persistent erosion around a sandstone escarpment. Witness this 270° bend created as the river navigated the immovable rock. Following this, we visit Meteor Crater – a spectacular impact site formed about 50,000 years ago when an asteroid travelling at 26,000 miles per hour collided with Earth.
Today we visit Petrified Forest National Park, designated a national monument in 1906 to safeguard its scientifically valuable petrified wood. The park is renowned for its representation of the Late Triassic paleo-ecosystem, rich human history, delicate grasslands, and pristine landscapes with ongoing scientific research revealing new fossils each year.
We travel on to Tucson and check-in for our four-night stay at White Stallion Ranch.
Today is devoted to exploring Saguaro National Park, renowned for housing the largest cacti in the country. The giant saguaro, a quintessential symbol of the American West, is found exclusively in a limited protected area of the United States. Experience these towering cacti set against the stunning backdrop of the desert landscape.
Spend today at leisure at White Stallion Ranch, known for its authentic Western experience. Here we have access to a number of activities including horseback riding, hiking, and roping lessons, all set against the backdrop of the picturesque Sonoran Desert.
Enjoy more time at leisure with the gang at White Stallion Ranch – try your hand at archery or shooting, or opt to relax by the pool.
Spend our last morning enjoying the offerings at White Stallion Ranch, before transferring to Tucson airport for flights back to the UK.
Spa services, heated pool, sports court, fitness centre, bar, gift shop, movie theatre, petting zoo, hot tub, tennis court & recreation room.
All meals and snacks are included. Breakfast is cooked to order alongside an extensive continental buffet. Enjoy the daily lunch buffet inside, or on the patio. Dinner is also often a buffet with the main entrees grilled outdoors with a choice of two entrees and an ever-changing variety of side dishes. Delicious dessert options vary nightly.
Snacks are always available, including fresh fruit and the White Stallion Ranch famous homemade trail mix. Coffee, cappuccino, hot chocolate, hot and cold teas and lemonade are available all day.
Rock climbing, horse riding, hiking, shooting range, biking, archery alongside a weekly ranch rodeo and evening entertainment.
We’ll also be staying at the following 3* hotels on this trip (or similar):
Hyatt House Oldtown, Scottsdale
Holiday Inn Express, Grand Canyon
Courtyard by Marriott, Page
La Quinta Inn & Suites, Holbrook
Frequently Asked Questions
The transfer time from Phoenix International Airport to Scottsdale is approximately two hours.
The transfer time from White Stallion Ranch to Tucson Airport is approximately 35 minutes
September is a great month to visit Arizona but days can still be hot. Light, breathable clothing – like cotton or linen – is highly recommended. Comfortable shoes are a must for exploring rugged terrain.
For our ranch stay, why not embrace the cowboy style and don some cowboy boots! Yee-haw!
There is often confusion on the question of gratuities, since it frequently depends on the type of holiday, location and, of course, your attitude towards tipping, as to what is normally expected. To give you a rough idea, we have given appropriate guidance below.
The Tour Leader will be on hand to offer advice or suggestions if required but gratuities are offered entirely at the sole discretion of the individual. We suggest a group collection at the beginning of your holiday to cover drivers, guides, porters and hotel staff of approximately £60. Your Tour Leader will collect this on your behalf and distribute it accordingly, thus relieving you of the burden of who, when and how much to tip.
Passport Validity
To enter the US, your passport must be valid for the length of your planned stay.
Visa Requirements
To enter or transit through the US, you must have either an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) visa waiver or a visa.
Apply for an ESTA visa waiver through US Customs and Border Protection.
You cannot apply for an ESTA visa waiver if you travelled to or were in Cuba on or after 12 January 2021. If you are not eligible for an ESTA, you must instead apply for a US visa.
The US State Department has more information on visas.
Compulsory Vaccinations: None
Please remember to pack any prescribed medication, as they can often be expensive and may not be readily available. Any important medicines should be packed in your hand luggage.
US Dollar
The tour through Antelope Canyon includes narrow, under ground passages.
“I’m sure you will enjoy it, I have been on three solos holidays to date and the people I’ve met have been great.”
“I’ve been travelling with Solos for nearly 20 years, on and off. The reason is for exactly what you want – you meet like minded people… and have loads of fun!”
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“The feeling you have once you go away on your own is worth all the nerves before! I was so very anxious the first time but now having done it 4 times, I love it!”
