USA Southwest Explorer / SWA

Grand Canyon :: Museum of Space :: Petrified Forest N. M.

Tepee-Motel an der Route 661

Eindrücke vom USA Südwesten2

Tombstone, der alte Wilde Westen

	15 days
	9-12 Persons
	2.935,00 $

Description

The Southwest of America is largely covered by the Sonoran Desert, home of a rare variety of cacti, some as tall as trees, protected at Saguaro and Organ Pipe Cactus National Parks. The Southwest has been called home by many native peoples including the ancient Hohokam, the Pueblo Indians, Apaches, Navajos and Hopis. They have shaped the unique Southwestern culture with Mexican influence which can be found everywhere in art, food and architecture. The rich history of New Mexico reaches back to1589 when the first Spanish and Mexican colonists entered New Mexico on the El Camino Real. This historic trail from Mexico City to Santa Fe was used for centuries for trade between the South and North. The Southwestern region in Arizona boasts natural wonders such as the incomparable Grand Canyon and the Petrified Forest National Park with its largest display of colorful fossilized tree trunks. You also find here new interesting attractions including the Biosphere-2 environmental research center, the White Sands Missile Range, where the first atomic bomb has been developed and the Museum of Space History.
On this small group tour you experience first hand incredible natural wonders, many of-the-beaten-tracks, and learn about modern and historic culture of the American Southwest in states of Arizona and New Mexico.

Top Attractions:

Explore National Parks and Monuments of the Southwest: Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest, Saguaro, Organ Pipe Cactus, Chiricahua, Casa Grande.

Spend a day at Grand Canyon and enjoy magnificent views while walking and driving along the rim. Optional helicopter tour.

Discover desert life in the Sonoran Desert offering the most biodiversity of all North American deserts while walking and hiking among giant cactus and rare desert plants

Experience the Wild West in the town of Tombstone, historical location of the OK Corral, in historic mining town Silver City, visit Pioneer Arizona Living History Museum

Learn about Native American culture and history in Arizona and New Mexico at Casa Grande N.M., Amerind Foundation, a native American research center, touring the Acoma Sky City pueblo, overnight at a Navajo Trading Post, and exploring Chiricahua N.M. Wonderland of Rocks.

Marvel at the natural beauty of White Sands National Monument while walking through giant white gypsum sand dunes and visit nearby interesting sites including the White Sands Missile Range and the Museum of Space History museums.

Wander through the world’s largest treasure of colorful petrified wood at Petrified Forest National Monument.

Visit two capitol cities: Phoenix, capitol city of Arizona in the “Valley of the Sun” and Santa Fe, capitol city of New Mexico, art centre of the West.

Rates and Dates:
15 days / 14 nights

Sat, 03-31 - Sat, 04-14, 2012
Sat, 05-06 - Sat, 05-20, 2012
Sat, 05-20 - Sat, 06-03, 2012

Prices
Per Person, Double Room $2,935.00
Per Person, Single Room $3,455.00
Children (up to 12 years) contact us for special prices

Route

	Day 1: Phoenix, Arizona - Desert Botanical Garden: Meet at the base hotel in Phoenix, Arizona and meet your tour guides and participants. Visit fantastic Desert Botanical Garden with its many acres of rare desert plants. Get to know each other at dinner, appetizer and drinks offered by Travel Dream West.
	Day 2: Pioneer Arizona Living History Museum - Casa Grande Ruins National Monument - Ajo: Depart for Pioneer Arizona Living History Museum with its many historic buildings (weather permitting). Next, visit Casa Grande Ruins National Monument.
	Day 3: Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument - Mission San Xavier del Bac - Tucson: Today’s highlight is the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. Drive on to Mission San Xavier del Bac near Tucson. Day 4: Biosphere-2 - Arizona Sonora Desert Museum - Saguaro National Park - Tucson: Visit Biosphere 2, a scientific research center studying climate change among other projects. Later, explore the desert fauna and flora at famous Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Lastly, walk in the unique landscape at Saguaro National Park West.
	Day 5: Tombstone - Chiricahua National Monument- Willcox: Leaving big City Tucson experience rural Western life at historic Tombstone, original site of the O.K. Corral fight. Take a scenic drive and hike amongst unique rock formations.
	Day 6: Amerind Foundation - Silver City - City of Rocks State Park - Old Mesilla - Las Cruces, New Mexico: Visit Amerind Foundation, an informative research facility dedicated to the preservation of Native American cultures. . Drive to Silver City, New Mexico, once home of notorious Billy the Kid. Day 7: White Sands Missile Range Museum - New Mexico. Museum of Space History - White Sands National Monument - Las Cruces: Explore modern technology at White Sands Missile Range museum and the New Mexico Museum of Space History. In the afternoon, spend time picnicking and hiking in the fantastic white sand dunes at White Sands National Monument.
	Day 8: Las Cruces - Truth or Consequences Drive to Truth or Consequences (T or C), formerly the town of Hot Springs, a mineral hot spring area known for many decades. It is sits on the Rio Grande and is near the largest Lake of New Mexico, the Elephant Butte Lake.
	Day 9: TorC - Fort Craig - Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Preserve - El Camino Real National Heritage Center - Sandia Peak, Albuquerque - Santa Fe: Stop at the ruins of Fort Craig, see Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Preserve and its wildlife re-introduction program. Ride the world's longest tramway to Sandia Peak and enjoy the view over thousands of lights down in the city of Albuquerque. Day 10: Santa Fe: Explore Santa Fe, the beautiful capitol city of New Mexico.
	Day 11: Tent Rocks National Monument - Acoma Sky City Pueblo - Route 66 - Holbrook, Arizona: Explore on a hike the attractive rock formation and strangely formed hodoos at Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument. Take part at a native lead tour to the Acoma Sky City Pueblo.
	Day 12: Petrified Forest National Park - Flagstaff - Sunset Crater Volcano N.M. - Cameron, Arizona : World's largest concentration of colorful petrified wood at the Petrified Forest National Park. Explore on a one-mile loop trail the nearby Sunset Crater Volcano N.M. Day 13: Grand Canyon National Park, South Rim - Cameron: We drive along Desert View Drive. We visit the visitor center. Optional helicopter ride is available at Tusayan.
	Day 14: Oak Creek Canyon - Sedona - Phoenix : Drive down through scenic Oak Creek Canyon to Sedona. In the afternoon, we drive back to Phoenix. Day 15: End of tour. Fly home or extend your stay.