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Discover America’s high-flying traditions and natural wonders.
You can’t help but gaze in awe as you watch hundreds of balloons fill with hot air and float gracefully upward, covering the sky with color. You’ll have the same reaction again and again on this inspiring tour, as you marvel at the Grand Canyon, see the famed Old Faithful, and stand in the shadow of the Grand Tetons. Each day displays a new destination—and with it new landscapes and adventures.
Your tour package includes
11 nights in handpicked hotels
11 breakfasts
4 dinners with beer or wine
9 sightseeing tours
Expert Tour Director & local guides
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Included highlights
Albuquerque Balloon Festival
Mesa Verde National Park
Monument Valley
Grand Canyon
Zion National Park
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Start planning today
An expert specializing in tours of this region is here to help.
Welcome to New Mexico! Meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers at this evening’s welcome dinner.
Day 2: Albuquerque Balloon festival
Included meal: Breakfast
Wake up early to start your day at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, the largest hot air balloon festival in the world.
Watch hundreds of balloons take to the sky en masse during the “mass ascension”
Enjoy access to a hospitality tent stocked with hot drinks and light snacks
See the sky light up during the festival’s AfterGlow Fireworks Show this evening
Please note: Travelers looking to take a hot air balloon ride must book this independently and far in advance through Rainbow Ryders.
Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado1 night
Day 3: Mesa Verde via Durango
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Cross into Colorado, stopping in the Old West mining town of Durango en route to Mesa Verde.
Sit down for an included dinner this evening.
Kayenta, Arizona1 night
Day 4: Mesa Verde National Park & transfer to Kayenta
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Take a guided tour of Mesa Verde National Park.
View fascinating 800-year-old cliff dwellings that honeycomb the walls of the canyon
Enjoy free time to visit either the gift shop or Spruce Tree House and Museum
Pass by Monument Valley’s iconic “Mexican Hat,” a sombrero-shaped rock formation, as you travel to Kayenta, Arizona. Sit down for an included dinner this evening.
Grand Canyon, Arizona2 nights
Day 5: Grand Canyon via Tuba City
Included meal: Breakfast
Learn about the culture and history of the Navajo tribe during a stop at the Explore Navajo Interactive Museum. Meet with Navajo leader Peter MacDonald and learn about the World War II Code Talkers.
Please note: Meeting Peter MacDonald is not guaranteed.
Then, pay a visit to the Cameron Trading Post before arriving at the Grand Canyon. Upon arrival, take a scenic walk along the South Rim with your Tour Director.
Marvel at the rocky formations that reflect millions of years of geological evolution
View the Colorado River running one mile below
Day 6: Free day at the Grand Canyon
Included meal: Breakfast
Enjoy a free day at the Grand Canyon or add an excursion.
Grand Canyon Helicopter Ride
From $309 per person
Zion National Park, Utah1 night
Day 7: Transfer to Zion National Park
Included meal: Breakfast
Pass by the beautiful Vermilion Cliffs National Monument before arriving in Zion National Park.
Discover why 19th-century Mormon settlers named the park after their heavenly city
View the yellow-and orange-hued dramatically eroded sedimentary rocks
Take in magnificent vistas on an open-air tram ride with guided commentary
Salt Lake City, Utah1 night
Day 8: Salt Lake City via Bryce Canyon National Park
Included meal: Breakfast
En route to Utah’s capital city, stop to visit Bryce Canyon National Park.
Tour the park by bus and on foot
Take in up-close views of its distinctive pink limestone and sandstone formations, including awe-inspiring arches, spires, and bridges
View colorful rock pinnacles known as hoodoos
Then, continue on to Salt Lake City.
Jackson, Wyoming3 nights
Day 9: Transfer to Jackson & Grand Teton National Park
Included meal: Breakfast
Cross into Wyoming on a scenic drive to the resort town of Jackson. Then, set out to explore Grand Teton National Park, home to the youngest mountain range in the Rockies.
Drive through stunning Logan Canyon and past turquoise Bear Lake
Tour Grand Teton National Park by bus and on foot
Try and spot elk, coyotes, black bears, wolves, and the elusive mountain lion
Please note: The visit to Grand Teton National Park may take place on day 10 depending on seasonality and weather.
Enjoy a free evening in Jackson.
Day 10: Yellowstone National Park
Included meal: Breakfast
Venture out for a full day of sightseeing in Yellowstone National Park, designated as the world’s first national park in 1872.
Drive through the park with stops for photos
See cascading waterfalls, bubbling mud pots and the famous geyser, Old Faithful
Keep an eye out for the bison, mountain goats, moose, and grey wolves that call the park home
Day 11: Free day in Jackson
Included meals: Breakfast, Farewell dinner
Enjoy a free day in Jackson.
Then, head to a local restaurant to celebrate your trip at a farewell dinner this evening.
Flight Home
Day 12: Departure
Included meal: Breakfast (excluding early morning departures)
What a marvelous trip. We had a great time. Our group melted into a very cohesive group. We were able to see the most amazing places and scenery! The tour guide was knowledgeable, friendly,and took care of any glitches without making a big deal out of it. She made the trip even more enjoyable. ...
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5.0 star rating
Albuquerque and National Parks
9/30/22 by 1st-time traveler Lindy
Fabulous trip! Enjoyed every stop. Balloon Fiesta, Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce, Mesa Verde, Yellowstone, Jackson Hole and more. Absolutely the best tour director ReAnn. Fun and so helpful. Always looked for ways to find extra interesting information and sites to visit. Larry our bus driver was so com...
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2.0 star rating
Blah Tour Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta
10/3/22 by 2nd-time traveler Jeffrey
While we saw most of the sights promised it was not well organized. The convenience of the tour guide took precedence over the group. We didn’t see the Balloon Fiesta fireworks as touted in tour descriptions because we left the site hours ahead of them. At the Grand Canyon 25 of us sat at the hot...
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EF Go Ahead Tours replied on 1/10/23
Hi Jeffrey. Thank you so much for your review and ...
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Hotels, flights & FAQ
Here's the nitty-gritty—where you’ll stay, how you’ll get there, and what to know about your destination before you go.
Hotels
We handpick every hotel to strike the balance of comfort, location, and local charm. Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date, but these are frequently used hotels for this tour and we're confident you'll be satisfied.
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Albuquerque
This freshly renovated hotel is located in the heart of downtown Albuquerque, NM. Guests enjoy the outdoor pool, panoramic views of the Sandia Mountai...
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Far View Lodge
This newly renovated hotel is located outside Mesa Verde National Park. Guests enjoy traditional Western décor and delicious dining. Outside, you’ll b...
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Hampton Inn Kayenta
This cozy hotel is located in Monument Valley on the Navajo Reservation. Guests enjoy a fitness center, pool, and laundry service. Nearby, you’ll find...
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Holiday Inn Express & Suites Grand Canyon
This comfortable hotel is located just 15 minutes from the Grand Canyon National Park entrance. Guests enjoy the indoor swimming pool, a full breakfas...
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Holiday Inn Express Springdale - Zion
This rustic, lodge-style hotel is located in Springdale, Utah next to Zion National Park. Guests enjoy a fitness center, pool, and laundry facilities....
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Holiday Inn Express Salt Lake City Downtown
This new hotel is located in the heart of Salt Lake City. Guests enjoy the indoor pool, fitness center, and spa. Nearby you’ll find the Pioneer Memori...
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Elk Country Inn
This western hotel is located in the Historic neighborhood. Guests enjoy a fitness room, a free ski shuttle, and a picnic area. Nearby, you’ll find Gr...
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Flights
Round-trip flights are one more thing we handle to make your journey as smooth as possible. Our team of travel experts will find the best flight itinerary for you at a competitive rate, thanks to our partnerships with top airlines.
Add our airfare package and you'll get:
Round-trip flight for your tour
Airport transfers at your destination
A great price locked in today
24/7 support from our dedicated service team
Options for arriving early, staying longer, or requesting an upgrade
Flexible rebooking options if your tour itinerary changes
U.S. citizens need valid government-issued identification for air travel within the United States. If you plan to use a state-issued ID or driver's license on or after May 7, 2025, it will need to meet Real ID requirements. Real ID compliant versions of these IDs will have either a yellow or black star, white star inside a yellow or black circle, or a white star inside a bear in the top righthand corner. Please visit dhs.gov for more information.
In order to enter the United States, Canadian citizens need a valid passport with an expiration date extending at least six months beyond the date of reentry.
If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact your destination country’s consulate for your specific entry requirements.
You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to goaheadtours.com/entry-requirements and searching the code NPB.
You will walk for at least 2 hours daily across mostly flat terrain, including paved trails and dirt paths, with some hills. Some activities will take place at high altitudes.
Travelers should be healthy enough to participate in all included walks without assistance. Adding optional excursions may increase the total amount of walking on your tour.
You should feel comfortable managing your own baggage at times.
Go Ahead Tours and the Tour Director who accompanies your group are unable to provide special, individual mobility assistance to travelers on tour. The responsibility of the Tour Director is to ensure the group as a whole enjoys a relaxing and informative journey, and he or she cannot be relied upon to provide ongoing, individualized assistance to any one traveler.
If you have any mobility concerns or physical restrictions, please contact our Customer Experience Team.
Round-trip flights booked through Go Ahead Tours arrive in Albuquerque, New Mexico and depart from Jackson, Wyoming (or Kalispell, Montana on the tour extension). A representative from Go Ahead Tours will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. Please remain in the arrival lounge, as the representative might be escorting one of your fellow travelers to the bus at the time of your arrival.
Transfers to and from the airport at your destination are included for travelers who have purchased their flights through Go Ahead Tours. Travelers who purchase their own flights may request airport transfers with Go Ahead Tours for an additional cost.
All other included transportation on this tour is by private motor coach.
Please note that our travelers are limited to one checked bag and one carry-on bag per person due to storage limitations on motor coaches and other transfers, which may include train connections or flights.
Contact your airline(s) for baggage size and weight restrictions for your flights, which may include on-tour flights in addition to your round-trip flights to and from tour. Please note that your included on-tour flights may have more restrictive baggage limits.
Some airlines may impose additional charges if you choose to check any baggage or exceed baggage size and weight restrictions. Be advised that you are responsible for any baggage fees incurred on all flights.
Make sure you label your baggage and keep valuables, medication, and documents in your carry-on bag.
We recommend packing lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that can be easily layered to accommodate varying temperatures, as well as a light jacket or rainwear.
A sturdy pair of walking shoes or sneakers is recommended for sightseeing.
You may want to pack dressier attire if you plan to visit a high-end restaurant or attend a special performance.
At least 60 days prior to departure, check with your doctor or healthcare provider for the latest updates and entry requirements, or visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website at cdc.gov.
Please be aware that you will be traveling to altitudes as high as 6,000 feet above sea level. These high altitudes can sometimes cause breathing difficulties for travelers who have heart problems or respiratory ailments. If you suffer from any of these conditions, please speak to your doctor regarding any potential health risks.
During the summer months, take proper care with sun exposure and heat.
If you have medication that you take daily, be sure you have enough for each day of the tour as well as any possible delays encountered.
If you have dietary restrictions and/or food allergies please notify Go Ahead Tours at least 30 days prior to departure by logging in to your account and updating your traveler info. To update this information closer to your departure date, please call our Customer Experience Team.
You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to goaheadtours.com/entry-requirements and searching the code NPB.
The cuisine of the American southwest combines influences from Spanish colonial settlers, Mexican staples, and Native American traditions. Expect dishes spiced with chile peppers, like enchiladas, tacos, and chili con carne.
The western region of the United States is known for barbecue, especially in the plains and mountain states of Wyoming and Colorado, where the cowboy tradition lives on. Try a bison burger or a steak for a true local dining experience.
All destinations visited on this tour are on Mountain Time (MT), which is two hours behind Eastern Time (ET). Please note that Arizona does not observe daylight saving time and is on Pacific Time (PT) from March through October.
When it’s noon in New York City, it’s 10am on tour.
We strongly advise that you take debit/bank cards and credit cards, which can be used to withdraw cash at local banks as needed.
Inform your bank and credit card company of your travel plans so that they won’t confuse your purchases for fraudulent charges.
Many banks and businesses now primarily accept debit and credit cards that work with the EMV chip system. If you do not already have at least one debit or credit card with a chip in it, we strongly recommend requesting one from your bank prior to your tour.
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