Cities of the Ancients Tour 5 Days 4 Nights Learn History's Mysteries!

Cities of the Ancients

An Exhilerating Learning Adventure!

The four corners region of the American Southwest was the home of thousands of Native American inhabitants between 800 and 1300 A.D. Although their disappearance was mysterious, their architecture and craftsmanship is clearly visible in the sprawling mazes of roomblocks and towers that exist today. Take this opportunity to follow in the silent footprints along the pathways of these secluded ancient cities and experience the legacy of the ancestral peoples of the Southwest.

Day 1 - With an early am departure from Phoenix, we quickly gain 6000 feet of elevation and observe a startling change of scenery that moves from prickly cactus to massive ponderosa pines. Walnut Canyon National Monument is nestled in a sheltered, lush, green canyon just outside Flagstaff. Here you will discover dozens of cliff dwellings that line this deep and twisting canyon system. Later today we will visit the Hubble Trading Post, the oldest on the 25,000 square mile Navajo Nation. In the early days of the Hubble, families who came for supplies arrived and stayed for days. Shopping was a chance to visit distant friends and became an event in itself. This trading post is still a key part of the local population's daily lifestyle. Dinner and overnight are in Chinle.

Day 2 - We will be treated to a rim view of Canyon de Chelly National Monument, where you can look down upon spectacular formations like Spider Rock. Navajo guides then take us on a jeep tour to the heart of Canyon de Chelly and offer an up close look at some of the numerous cliff dwellings. Navajo entertainers and a traditional Navajo lunch in the canyon may feel like the highlight of your visit! Navajos still occupy their ancestral lands and maintain herds of sheep and fields of corn. We then depart Canyon de Chelly for Colorado's Mesa Verde National Park and dinner and an overnight stay in the Farview Lodge.

Day 3 - Mesa Verde National Park shelters over 600 documented archaeological sites. These represent the largest collection of ruins and cliff dwellings of the ancestral puebloans in the United States. A recent fire has revealed dozens of new sites and more are expected to be found. Intricate mini-city ruins like Spruce Tree House and the adventurous descent to Balcony House will deliver you into the heart of this ancient city where you will discover how it might have felt to live as the ancients did. Lunch is served in Mesa Verde National Park and we have an early afternoon departure for Durango, Colorado in time for a little exploring before dinner. Overnight stay is in Durango with it's lively, western-feeling downtown area.

Day 4 - his morning we will travel into New Mexico for a brief exploration of Aztec National Monument. Aztec offers one of the region's best preserved and reconstructed kivas. These kivas were the primary ceremonial structure. Lunch will be at Chaco Canyon National Monument. The builders of Chaco Culture National Historic Park chose a flat terrain for the site of their city that is altogether different from the canyons and mesas of our previous locations. The ruins are immense, they tower to 6 stories of rock and mortar. Dinner and overnight stay are in Winslow Arizona's hidden jewel, the enchanting and historic La Posada Hotel, designed by Mary Colter, the legendary and prolific architect/designer.

Day 5 - We depart Winslow for a scenic drive through Arizona's green, mountainous rim country that forms the southern border of the massive Colorado plateau. We have an early afternoon Phoenix arrival.

©2006 Detours

Includes:

• Lodging
• Park Entry Fees

Additional Costs:

• Meals
• Side Tours (i.e. jeep, horseback, train, boat or helicopter tours)

Detours - Cities of the Ancients 5 Days 4 Nights Multi Day Tour
7:30 AM Estimated
August 3rd, September 7th and October 19th 2008

Departure Dates and Times:
Early Morning Departure

August 3rd, September 7th and October 19th 2008 

Departure Point:
Upon request you will be picked up at your Phoenix or Scottsdale hotel!

Return Details:

Tour concludes at the original departure point (your hotel).

Discounts for Children and Seniors:

No Discounts are available for this activity.

Payment:

Your credit card will be charged the total amount of products and services selected at time of booking. We accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover Card.

Confirmation & Travel Voucher

For every confirmed booking you will receive an e-mail with a link to your E-Ticket Voucher. Print vouchers on your home/ office printer. Please present this E-Ticket voucher at the Box Office. Only one voucher will be created per tour or activity for all travelers.

For TourCorp terms, conditions and F.A.Q. please follow this link

©2006 Detours

This tour must be booked at least 24 hours in advance of your travel date. Your confirmation for this product will be received within 12- 24 hours subject to availability.

Cancellation and No Show Policy

Cancellations within 24 hours of the tour are charged in full. Cancellations prior to 24 hours are charged a minimum $10.00 per person administration fee. We charge for NO SHOWS. No Shows on tour dates are charged 100%. Some specific tours and activities have a higher cancellation fee due to the limited space available.

Recommended for all tours in Phoenix: Comfortable shoes, sunscreen, hats, visors and sunglasses.

Weather: Tour route or activity may be changed depending on local weather conditions.

Gratuities and Souvenirs are NOT included.

Detours and TourCorp Inc. assume no responsibility for delays caused by accidents, breakdown, bad conditions of roads, trails, bays, ocean, harbors, and any other conditions beyond control, in addition to insufficient numbers of passengers. Not responsible for loss or damage to property.

On some tours and activities the size of the vehicle depends on the number of passengers booked for that particular day. Tour companies reserve the right to change the size of the vehicle.

All company policies can be found at http://www.tourcorp.com and are part of this tour or activity purchase.