Itinerary Details
MT Sobek: Arizona Sedona & Grand Canyon Hiking
Day 1 Meet in Las Vegas, Hike Bell Rock Pathway Trail & Journey to Sedona
4.5-hour private van transfer
3 hours/1-3 mile hiking with 488' elevation gain and loss
Meet your MT Sobek guides and group in Las Vegas, then set out on a scenic drive into Arizona's high desert. Travel toward Sedona with stops along the way, pausing near Oak Creek and Slide Rock State Park for a picnic lunch and time to stretch your legs. This afternoon, lace up your boots for a loop hike around some of the region's most recognizable rock formations. Follow the Bell Rock Pathway through chaparral and pinyon pine, with massive Courthouse Butte and aptly named Bell Rock rising from the red rock landscape. Soak in rich red and golden hues, rugged sandstone formations, and sage-toned desert vegetation on this immersive introduction to the ecology and geology of the region. This evening, settle into your Sedona hotel and enjoy a welcome dinner with the group.
Accommodation: Sky Rock Sedona
(L, D)
Day 2 Explore Red Rock Trails, Ancient Pueblo Paths & Historic Jerome
1.5-hour private van transfer
3.5 hours/4.4 miles hiking with 377' elevation gain
Start your day with breakfast before setting out on a scenic morning hike along the Long Canyon, Deadman's Pass, and Mescal Loop, a 4.4-mile trail network known for panoramic red rock views, slickrock hiking, and relatively gentle terrain. Next, travel back 1,000 years at Tuzigoot National Monument, where a hilltop pueblo preserves the stone walls of a once-thriving Sinagua community. Explore the monument's original WPA-era museum, home to delicate pottery, shell jewelry, and other artifacts that reveal the region's deep human history. Continue to Jerome, a former 19th-century copper-mining town perched on a steep mountainside. Once literally sliding downhill, this colorful historic town has been revived by artists and is now home to galleries, tasting rooms, shops, and atmospheric old buildings. Enjoy time to explore Jerome on your own before gathering for dinner at a local restaurant and returning to Sedona.
Accommodation: Sky Rock Sedona
(B, L, D)
Day 3 Hike the Yavapai-Slim Shady Trails & See Iconic Cathedral Rock
1-hour private van transfer
5 hours/7.4 miles hiking with 1,099' elevation gain and 1,443' loss
Begin the day with more spectacular red rock scenery and a chance to watch for high-desert wildlife, from javelina and cottontail rabbits to hummingbirds and, with luck, elusive bobcats. This morning's point-to-point hike follows the Yavapai-Slim Shady Trail, a classic route that winds around the base of Cathedral Rock and its sandstone spires, revealing ever-changing views of rust-colored buttes and open desert plateau. After lunch with the group, set out on a high-mesa hike around Airport Loop, where 360-degree panoramas take in some of Sedona's most recognizable landmarks. Later this afternoon, enjoy time to explore Sedona's historic downtown or relax at your own pace before gathering for dinner with the group.
(B, L, D)
Day 4 Discover Red Rock State Park & the Montezuma Castle Cliff Dwellings
3-hour private van transfer
2 hours/3.7 miles of hiking with 483' elevation gain and 470' loss
After breakfast you'll depart Sedona and head for Red Rock State Park, a 286-acre nature preserve and hidden gem known for its lush, riparian habitats and diverse wildlife. The burbling waters of Oak Creek flow freely through the park, attracting mule deer, coyotes, and herons to its shady banks. Hike through the park's ever-changing ecosystem, traversing from among mesquite and manzanita trees onto desert plateau vistas. Along the way, your expert guides will share the special significance of this habitat in shaping the geology of the region. This afternoon visit Montezuma Castle National Monument and its soaring prehistoric cliff-dwellings before enjoying a final night's dinner in Sedona.
(B, L, D)
Day 5 Scenic Drive to the Grand Canyon and Explore Wupatki Pueblo & Desert View Watchtower
3.5 hour private van transfer
2 hours/3 miles of hiking with 100' elevation gain and loss
Your day begins with a scenic drive to Grand Canyon National Park, traveling among the exquisite hues of the Sonoran Desert and passing into the stark terrain of Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument, with its darkened lava fields and towering 1,000-foot cinder cone. Marvel at Wupatki National Monument, where ancient stone pueblos, a ceremonial ball court, and a natural blowhole reveal the region's layered human and geologic history. As air moves through the earth, the blowhole creates a mesmerizing, breath-like effect. Enjoy lunch before continuing our scenic drive with your first glimpse of the Grand Canyon, from Desert View Watchtower. The view is unforgettable and allows an up-close understanding of how geology created such a fascinating spectacle. Tonight, check into your rim-side lodge, and meet up for dinner to discuss the adventure ahead.
Accommodation: Thunderbird Lodge
(B, L, D)
Day 6 Hike the Bright Angel Trail into the Grand Canyon
6 miles/4-5 hours hiking with 2,102' elevation gain and loss; an optional 2-4 miles/1-2 hours hiking with 500' elevation gain and loss
After breakfast, lace up your boots and get ready to hike the legendary Bright Angel Trail. Teddy Roosevelt once traversed this famous route, which follows a natural fault line and descends 2,100 feet in just 3 miles. Follow steep switchbacks halfway into the canyon, marveling at layers of rock that are millions of years old. Refuel with a picnic lunch at the ancient Redwall Limestone, an enormous geologic formation brimming with interesting fossils. Then, begin the challenging trek back to the rim. The afternoon is yours to do as you like. Visit the park's historic Shrine of Ages, take the West Rim to Hopi Point for exquisite canyon views, or join your MT Sobek guide along the Trail of Time, learning how powerful natural elements created this staggering gorge. Cap off the day with some stargazing in this certified International Dark Sky Park.
Accommodation: Thunderbird Lodge
(B, L, D)
Day 7 Hike the South Kaibab Trail
1.5-hour park shuttle transfer
6 miles/4-5 hours hiking with 2,060' elevation gain and loss
Prepare to experience some of the most scenic miles the Grand Canyon has to offer. Today's hike takes you along the South Kaibab Trail, a steep and exposed ridgeline trail that offers a spectacular, nearly 360-degree view of the canyon's widest section. Snap keepsake pics at the aptly named Ooh-Aah Point, then continue down a set of stone steps to Cedar Ridge en route to Skeleton Point. Here, you'll get your first glimpse of the Colorado River. Stand in awe at this powerful force that carved the canyon and serves as a life-giving artery of the southwestern US. After returning to the rim, take some time to experience the canyon in your own way. Shop for souvenirs, enjoy a trek along the East Rim Trail, or simply bask in the canyon's sheer beauty. Tonight, join your group for a celebratory dinner at a local restaurant.
(B, L, D)
Day 8 Canyon Rim Hiking & Hermit’s Rest
4.5-hour private van transfer
8 miles/4 hours hiking with 496' elevation gain
Following a quick breakfast, board a scenic shuttle to the less-traveled Hermit's Rest. Pioneering architect Mary Colter designed this uniquely constructed gem, built to resemble an old miner's cabin, in 1914. From here, enjoy a captivating hike along the canyon's Rim Trail back toward the heart of the village, pausing at numerous en route viewpoints to drink in the endless vistas. This afternoon, it's time to say farewell (for now!) to the canyon and journey south via private transfer, returning to Las Vegas in the early evening for your departure flight.
(B, L)
