Cultures & canyons of western USA self-drive tour

Enjoy a day in Santa Fe, home to a number of magnificent 16th- and 17th-century Spanish buildings. We'll organize a guided walking tour through the city this morning, which will allow you to visit the Palace of the Governors and the Central Plaza. In the afternoon, you may also wish to take one of the many hiking trails into the Santa Fe Forest to take in the natural beauty of New Mexico.

A second full day in Santa Fe is yours to enjoy at your leisure. We highly recommend walking down the main street and visiting one of the various art galleries that dot the plazas, or spending the afternoon escaping the heat at one of the city's many art museums. Walking through Santa Fe, you'll see buildings primarily in the Pueblo Revival style, and the historic Plaza area features structures from the Spanish Colonial era from the 17th and 18th centuries.

Depart Santa Fe today and head north to Taos, nestled in the New Mexico high desert and surrounded by the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Taos is known for historic adobe buildings such as Taos Pueblo and its galleries and museums that showcase regional artwork, like the Harwood Museum of Art and the Taos Art Museum.

Spend your day exploring the fascinating history of Taos. This morning, visit Taos Pueblo, which is the only living Native American community designated both a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and a National Historic Landmark. The multi-storied adobe dwellings of Taos Pueblo have been continuously inhabited for over 1,000 years. In the afternoon, take a walk through downtown Taos, marvelling at the many art galleries, restaurants, shops and historic homes.

Today, your four-hour drive takes you through the heart of New Mexico and into southern Colorado and the magnificent scenery of Durango. You pass hills covered in Ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, Engelmann spruce and juniper trees along the way. Leaving the town of Tierra Amarilla, you enter the San Juan National Forest area, with its lush tree-covered mountains and 'yellow bark' Ponderosa pine. Pagosa Springs is a good place to stop for refreshments before you continue along the forest edge to the town of Durango.

Today, you'll take the train from Durango to Silverton on the Narrow Gauge Railroad, which will take you on a journey through Colorado's dramatic San Juan Mountains on a steam locomotive dating back to the 1880s. During the day, you'll witness spectacular scenery, including rushing rivers, steep canyon walls, and alpine forests that unfold along this historic mining route.

Depart Durango this morning to drive to Mesa Verde National Park on the way to Moab. At Mesa Verde National Park, you'll see remarkably preserved cliff dwellings built by Ancestral Puebloan people dating between 600-1300 CE. The most accessible sites on a short visit include the Chapin Mesa Museum and overlooks of Cliff Palace and Spruce Tree House. From scenic viewpoints along the park road, you'll enjoy sweeping views of the distinctive flat-topped mesas with deep canyons. Continue to Moab after your visit to Mesa Verde.

Today is all about exploring the rugged scenery of southern Utah. Head into Arches National Park with your experienced guide and learn all about the natural formation of the arches, the unique geology, and the native wildlife of the park. As today's adventure is privately run for just your group, it can be tailored to your interests and fitness levels.

Spend another day in Moab, where there is plenty for you to see and do. We'd highly recommend a drive through nearby Canyonlands National Park today to look over the Islands in the Sky formation and visit Dead Horse State Park for sunset, where Thelma and Louise took their final plunge. If you'd prefer pre-arranged activities, there are 4x4 tours, guided hikes and white-water rafting in the area.

Drive for two and a half hours to Torrey, which is adjacent to Capitol Reef National Park. The drive is picturesque, through southern Utah and takes you up into the red rocky mountains of the region. Spend a few hours exploring Capitol Reef National Park before you drive onward to your accommodation in Bryce Canyon National Park.

Bryce Canyon National Park features a series of distinctive rock formations called hoodoos. These tall, thin spires were formed through frost weathering and erosion of the sedimentary rocks along the eastern edge of the plateau. Today you'll spend the day exploring the hoodoos and the rest of the national park on a small group guided hike with your knowledgeable guide, who will not only guide you on your adventure but will also be able to tell you more about the flora, fauna and geology of the area.

The final big drive of your trip takes you three hours from the peaceful beauty of Bryce Canyon National Park to the impressive skyline of Salt Lake City. When you arrive in the afternoon, explore Temple Square, which is the home of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints.

Today, you may have time to do some last-minute shopping or sightseeing before dropping your car off at the depot and heading to the airport in time for your flight home.