Southwest Tours
Events, ServicesFootprints from the Past, in the American Southwest
|
Day 1.
Saturday 9/11. | Santa Fe, NM. The LodgeParticipants arrive at Albuquerque International Airport to take the shuttle to Santa Fe, which runs almost every hour from morning to late night (schedule will be provided) and check-in at the hotel. At 6 pm (mountain daylight saving time) there will be a reception to meet your guide, David Grant Noble, and your travel companions.
------------------------------
Day 2.
Sunday 9/12. | Santa Fe, NM B.Between 9 and 10am David will give an introductory overview of the Southwest and Santa Fe, which is celebrating its 400th anniversary.
A writer, photographer, editor, and archaeological guide (His books include The Mesa Verde World: Explorations in Ancestral Pueblo Archaeology; 101 Questions About Ancient Indians of the Southwest; Ancient Ruins of the Southwest: An Archaeological Guide), David Noble is a longtime student of Southwestern archaeology and history who moved to Santa Fe in 1971. He served on the staff of the School for Advanced Research for 17 years and is an active member and former board member of the Friends of Archaeology, a group that supports the work of the Museum of New Mexico’s Office of Archaeological Studies.
We will begin our visit in Santa Fe with a walking tour of the historic Plaza and downtown area with David, followed by a visit to the New Mexico History Museum, guided by a docent.
Lunch on your own in the Plaza area
We will then tour the collections of the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture, on Museum Hill.
In the early evening we will walk the historic Canyon Road, renowned for its shops and art galleries located in historic adobe buildings.
------------------------------
Day 3.
Monday 9/13. | Santa Fe, NM BDeparture for Puye’ Cliffs, on the Santa Clara pueblo land. We will tour the cliff dwellings and ruins of an ancestral Santa Clara village, which is perched atop the mesa.
At Bandelier National Monument we will have a box lunch near a lovely creek to then visit a pueblo ruin and associated cave dwellings.
Meet with famous San Ildefonso Pueblo potter, Dora Tse Pe, in her home where she will speak about her life and work and demonstrate traditional Pueblo pottery making. A tour of the pueblo follows.A stop at El Santuario de Chimayó to see this famous early 1800’ church from the outside and have dinner at Rancho de Chimayo, an historic restaurant featuring traditional New Mexican cuisine.
------------------------------
Day 4.
Tuesday 9/14. | Pagosa Springs, CO. The Springs Resort & SPA B.
Depart for Colorado in the early morning, with a stop at Tierra Wools, a traditional Hispanic weaving co-op in Los Ojos, NM. After lunch in Pagosa Springs we will continue to 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.
------------------------------
Day 5.
Wednesday 9/15. | Mesa Verde, CO. Far View Lodge B.
Departure to Mesa Verde National Park, a World Heritage Site.
We will visit Spruce Tree House and the museum and, after lunch, Cliff Palace. Then we will drive to scenic overlooks and stop at an early pit-house and the Sun Temple.
------------------------------
Day 6.
Thursday 9/16. | Bluff, UT. Desert Rose Inn B.
Today we will travel in the vicinity of Cortez, Colorado to visit the Anasazi Heritage Center, Escalante ruins, and Yucca House where a local archaeologist will be our guide. After lunch we will visit Hovenweep National Monument. Overnight in Bluff, Utah.
Dinner at a local Trading Post.
------------------------------
Day 7.
Friday 9/17. | Monument Valley, AZ. Goulding Lodge B, L.
After viewing the extensive Sand Island Petroglyph Site, we will enjoy an all-day float trip on the San Juan River, stopping to see petroglyphs, ruins and geological features.
Then another floating through the Upper Canyon of the San Juan and we will disembark at Mexican Hat and continue to the historic Goulding’s Lodge in time for sunset at Monument Valley overlook.------------------------------
Day 8.
Saturday 9/18. | Farmington, NM. Comfort Inn B.Starting at sunrise a guided 4 hour tour of Monument Valley with a Navajo guide, off the beaten path.
Lunch at the new hotel “The View”, near the park’s entrance.
Departure for Farmington, New Mexico
Check-in at hotel and dinner.
------------------------------
Day 9.
Sunday 9/19. | Chaco Culture National Historical Park, NM. | Equipped camping with comfortable tents B, L, D.
Departure for Aztec Ruins. After the visit we will continue to Chaco Culture National Historical Park and a short walk to Una Vida ruins & nearby petroglyphs. After a box lunch we will tour some inner canyon ruins: Hungo Pavi, Pueblo Bonito, and Casa Rinconada.
We get to our campsite in the late afternoon. Our outfitter will prepare dinner.
------------------------------
Day 10.
Monday 9/20. | Chaco Culture National Historical Park, NM. B, L, D.After an early breakfast, we will depart for a 4 hour (4.8 miles) hike on the loop trail to see the ruin of Kin Kletso and Pueblo Alto, a prehistoric staircase going up the face of a cliff, and dramatic views over Chaco Canyon.
Lunch will be served back at camp. After a siesta, David will guide us through the huge ruin known as Chetro Ketl and past a series of petroglyphs.
Dinner at the campsite.
------------------------------
Day 11.
Tuesday 9/21. | Albuquerque, NM. Hotel Albuquerque Old Town | B, L, D.After breakfast, we will take another scenic hike, this time three miles, to Tsin Kletzin ruins, which offers a striking view over the Chacoan landscape.
We will relax for lunch in camp and depart in the early afternoon for Albuquerque, arriving in time for a rest before our Farewell Dinner.
------------------------------
Day12.
Wednesday 9/22.| DepartureTransfer to Albuquerque Sunport International Airport for departure.
------------------------------
Price. $2,934 per person based on a 16 people group, in double room.
Single Supplement: $690.Price includes: accommodation as in the program or similar, including 2 nights in the tent camp; gratuities and tax; guide for the whole tour and experts; all breakfasts; a total of 7 meals-including 4 at Chaco, and 1 during the river trip; private transportation with driver; entrance fees to pueblos, museums, parks; a full day river trip from Bluff to Mexican Hat; 4 hour private jeep tour in Monument Valley.
Registration deadline: August 8, 2010.Book this tour here
$500 deposit per person is due at booking, payable by check or using the PayPal link on this website. 70% of deposit is refundable if cancellation is made by written notice 40 days prior to departure (Aug.3). Deposits are applied to payment of the program price. Full refund for cancellations made by Seven Directions Tours.
Check payable to: Seven Directions LLC. 1027B Canyon Road. Santa Fe, NM 87501. USA.
Balance due upon invoicing, on Aug.8, 2010.
Space is reserved upon receipt of reservation request.
If you are traveling alone and wish to share a room, we will do our best to find someone on the tour. If a roommate cannot be found, the single supplement will be charged.
Daily meals included: B=breakfast included; L=lunch included; D=dinner 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.
Reading list:
"Puebloan Ruins of the Southwest," by Arthur H. Rohn and William M Ferguson
"Ancient Peoples of the American Southwest," by Stephen Plog
"The Mesa Verde World: Explorations in Ancestral Pueblo Archaeology," by David Grant NoblePlease 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