Southwest Tours
Events, ServicesThe Ancient Trails Tour
Traditionally, the astonishing canyon, mesas and desert country of the American Southwest is a sacred land. Tours encompass visiting the heart of ancient places and prehistoric sites. Seeing petroglyphs (carved inscriptions) and pictographs (rock paintings), as well as understanding traditional and contemporary lifestyles of Native culture rounds out the personal rewards this journey back in time promises. |
March-November. 8 nights. Self-Guided Tour.
DAY 1. Salt Lake City, UT.
Arrival in Salt Lake City; car rental; hotel check in.
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DAY 2. Wellington, UT. B.
Tour of downtown Salt Lake City with a focus on Temple Square and the role of Mormons and how their presence in the West affected Native American culture. After lunch, stops at several unique sites in the area: Provo - famous for the nearby Sundance resort owned by Robert Redford; Heber and its three scenic byways (Alpine Loop, Mirror Lake and Provo Canyon); Price; Castle Gate Mines – a name made legendary by the life of Butch Cassidy; a prehistoric museum and many historic buildings. Then on to the Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry, one of the most famous dinosaur excavation sites in the world; and finally arrival at the ranch around sunset for 2 overnights.
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DAY 3. Wellington, UT. B.
The entire day in Nine Mile Canyon, accompanied by an experienced guide (Reservations will be made at trip booking upon request), to interpret the millenary memories carved in the rock by the Fremont civilization.
Nine-Mile Canyon is also known as the longest art gallery in the world.
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DAY 4. Torrey, UT. School House B&B. B.
Another wonderful day among bizarre geological formations and landscapes. Some of these places can be viewed by driving, while others require a bit of hiking. San Rafael Swell, Goblin Valley,
and venturing into slot canyons (i.e., deeper than wide), including Little White Horse Canyon. These lands were once inhabited by the Fremont, Paiute and Ute people, whose presence you can still feel when you view the unique petroglyphs each tribe inscribed on sandstone walls. In the evening, arrival at Grand Staircase Escalante. Apart from a few local villages - Torrey, Boulder, and Escalante – you can visit the Anasazi Village State Park (an archeological site). The desert scenery and colors of the rocks in this region is mesmerizing.
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DAY 5. Moab, UT. B.
On the way to Moab, and before exiting the park, visit Capitol Reef and the picturesque village of Fruita. Visit a productive fruit orchard cultivated by Mormon farmers and nestled in the middle of a rocky landscape. Here you can also visit a few historic Mormon dwellings, and, if in season, pick some fruit from the trees.
Among the many trails, the Burr Trail is one of the least strenuous and most beautiful, for hiking.
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DAY 6. Moab, UT. B.
This entire area is a paradise of incredible rock formations and colors, but also a major source of information on the history and geology of the Southwest. You will explore the area with a local guide and delve deeply into parts otherwise hard to find; places that are rich in beauty and famous for their rock art. (Reservations will be made at trip booking upon request). Then to Arches National Park and Canyonlands National Park, with a brief stop at Castle Valley – a striking mesa country close to Moab.
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DAY 7. Cortez, CO. B.
On the way to Cortez, a brief visit to the Museum of Blanding and its millenary artifacts left behind by the ancient inhabitants of the region. Then off to Hovenweep National Monument's six prehistoric, Puebloan-era villages spread over a 20-mile expanse of mesa tops and canyons skirting the Utah-Colorado border.
Afterward, in Dolores, Colorado, a stop at the Anasazi Heritage Center before taking a tour of Canyon of the Ancients, which boasts some 6,000 archeological ruins spread out over 164,000 acres (663 km²).
Following this, you visit the Lowry Pueblo National Historic Landmark and spend the rest of your time gazing through a window of time dating back over a thousand years old. In the evening, for about 2 hours, a Navajo and Ute couple will talk about their respective cultures and perform dances wearing traditional clothing (Reservations will be made at trip booking upon request) at your Bed&Breakfast located in the center of Anasazi country. The husband was chosen for the opening ceremony at Salt Lake City's Olympics.
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Day 8. Pagosa Springs, CO.
Today you visit Chimney Rock Archaeological Area, home to the ancestors of the modern Pueblo Indians 1,000 years ago and of great spiritual significance to the Ute Indians tribes.
Back to Pagosa Springs for a relaxing soak in the resort’s mineral hot springs.
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Day 9. Denver, CO.
In just over 5 hours you will be in Denver where you can take your flight back home.
Price. $730 per person, in double room.
Single Supplement: $500.Price includes: accommodation; 6 breakfasts; a detailed itinerary, tax.
Book this tour here
$200 deposit per person is due at booking, payable by check or using the PayPal link on this website. 60% of deposit is refundable if cancellation is made by written notice 40 days prior to departure. Deposits are applied to payment of the program price. Check payable to: Seven Directions LLC. 1027B Canyon Road. Santa Fe, NM 87501. USA.
Balance due upon invoicing, 30 days prior to departure.B=breakfast included.
Some minor itinerary changes may be made. Due to fluctuations in oil prices and State tax increases, a surcharge may be added to your tour fee. Details and costs will be advised before departure.
Travel and Life & Health insurances are recommended. An “Indemnification and Hold Harmless” agreement has to be signed by each participant before starting the trip.
Please read our Mission & Values Statement here
For information please contact us:
Tel.877.992.6128 – 505.820.3305
e-mail: info@sevendirections.net
From Our Clients:
"We so enjoyed meeting you, you made our trip very special. Your commentaries added so much insight to every place we visited."
-Kay J. St.Louis, MO