Hotels

Hotel accommodation will be in clean three-star hotels or lodges with private bathroom facilities, chosen for their friendly atmosphere and proximity to the highlights of the region. You will be roomed with a fellow passenger of the same sex on a twin-share basis (two people per room) unless you are travelling as a couple. In the event you cannot be matched with another passenger, there will not be a single supplement charge.

Two breakfasts and one dinner are included on this trip.

On this tour, we usually eat in local restaurants. To help you budget for these meals, average costs are:

Hotel breakfasts: US$12-US$17
Lunches: US$15-US$20
Dinners: US$20-US$35, not including alcoholic beverages

Drinks cost on average:

Wine: US$7-10 per glass
Beer: US$5-8 per bottle

A tip of approximately 17%-20% is added to group meals in North American restaurants. Applicable taxes will also be added to all listed menu prices.

Your tour leader may offer your group the option to operate a ‘lunch only’ food kitty; this has proven a popular alternative to three daily restaurant meals. Leaders will explain this option while on your tour, and the whole group will have to agree for this system to run.

Vegetarians and vegans can be well catered for on this adventure – please inform us before departure of any special dietary requests so our local team can be well prepared. We do all we can to accommodate other dietary requirements but in certain parts of North America certain food types can be limited.

Dress tends to be informal. It is advised you take a practical selection of clothes for both warm and cool climates to suit the season. You may encounter a wide variety of temperatures due to altitude and unforeseen weather conditions, so it’s best to be prepared.

Besides your essential clothing, you should take:

— Small daypack
— Waterproof jacket
— Warm sweater/fleece
— Casual ‘evening out’ clothes
— Hiking shoes/boots
— Thick walking socks
— Blister packs and plasters (band-aids)
— Hiking poles
— Comfortable day shoes
— Sandals or flip-flops
— Warm hat/gloves
— Swimwear
— Sun hat/sunglasses
— Camera/binoculars
— SD memory card/spare camera batteries
— Small torch (flashlight)/head torch (headlamp)
— Sunscreen
— Insect repellent (20 percent DEET)
— Travel power adaptor
— Toiletries/personal medicine

Help reduce plastic waste

— Reusable water bottle (to reduce single-use plastic bottles we have water for refills in our vehicle)
— Reusable travel cutlery with case (to reduce single-use plastic cutlery at hotels and on the go)
— Reusable lunch box (to avoid the use of ziplock bags)

Please note, airlines have various rules on what can be carried in your luggage – if in doubt check with your airline before travelling.

Footwear
We recommend walking shoes/boots, as comfortable shoes with good ankle support will make all walking more enjoyable. If you do not own a pair, then sports trainers (sneakers) will suffice, although this is a personal choice. If you intend to do some walking, it is recommended to bring thick walking socks for comfort.

Washing clothes
You have the opportunity to wash clothes on tour, and this can often be done at the campsite or in town. Ask your tour leader for local information.

Luggage allowance
One suitcase, soft holdall or rucksack (50lb/23kg maximum) per person. A small daypack and camera can also be carried in the van. Before you travel, please check the baggage allowance with the airline you’re flying with as this may be less than 50lb (23kg). We are unable to offer luggage storage facilities; however, some of our pre- and post-tour hotels will provide this service although there may be a charge. Please contact the hotels directly for further information.

Your tour leader will take care of all the planning and organisation throughout your tour, they will drive the van taking you from A to B and make sure everything runs smoothly. Your tour leader is there to make sure you get the most out of your tour; organising activities, providing information and answering any questions you may have as well as sorting any queries or problems you may encounter. If you have any particular interests or things you would like to do, please let your leader know at the beginning of the tour and they will do their best to help. We also use specialist tour guides in certain locations to provide in-depth information.

The maximum group size is 13. Passengers come from across the world (average of four nationalities per group) and many will be solo travellers. You will find you have many things in common, including a passion for discovery and a strong interest in exploring the national parks.

Our tours are a unique experience and much of your enjoyment will come from the team spirit of your group and the fun you’ll have together, as well as from the setting. We cannot stress strongly enough the importance of bringing a positive attitude with you; a guarantee to enjoying each moment, even in the adversity of the odd rainstorm.

— Discover five breath-taking national parks
— Enjoy a Navajo tour in Monument Valley
— Marvel at the Grand Canyon
— Take the Narrows slot canyon walk

Key information
Start hotel: Stanford Court San Francisco, 905 California Street, Nob Hill, San Francisco, CA 94108
Phone: +1 415-989-3500
Recommended arrival time: You can arrive at any time today. The welcome briefing usually takes place in the morning of Day 2
Getting to the start hotel
The start hotel is approximately 25 minutes' drive from the airport. Your options for this journey are:

Take an Exodus transfer

Exodus provides one group arrival transfer from the airport, which is timed to coincide with the arrival of a chosen flight from London, UK. You may join this transfer at no extra cost, provided you can be at the airport before the transfer leaves.

Make your own way

You are free to arrive any time on Day 1. Due to the late arrival time of the group flight from London, UK, it is likely that the welcome meeting will take place on the morning of Day 2. Details on the time and specific location of your meeting will be available by midday on Day 1. During the welcome meeting, you will meet your tour guide and fellow travellers and spend a few minutes filling out necessary paperwork, so please bring your insurance documents, passport and tour documentation to the meeting.

If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative.

Arrival complications

Sometimes the unexpected can happen; your plane may be delayed or you may even miss it. If you have missed your tour departure, first call the hotel to see if your tour leader has left you a message. If not, call the relevant emergency number and speak to our staff who will be happy to help you catch up with the group. Please note that you are responsible for any extra travelling expenses incurred due to missing your tour’s departure.
Catching your return flight
There’s a group departure transfer to Las Vegas International Airport for customers who Exodus have booked onto a chosen flight to London, UK. If you have booked your own flights, you may still join this transfer at no extra cost – please speak to your sales representative if you wish to join. If the group departure transfer does not suit your flight time, speak to your sales representative to arrange an alternative transfer.

— Travel insurance
— Single accommodation (available on request)
— Visas or vaccinations
— Optional activities

Dress tends to be informal. It is advised you take a practical selection of clothes for both warm and cool climates to suit the season. You may encounter a wide variety of temperatures due to altitude and unforeseen weather conditions, so it’s best to be prepared.

Besides your essential clothing, you should take:

— Small daypack
— Waterproof jacket
— Warm sweater/fleece
— Casual ‘evening out’ clothes
— Hiking shoes/boots
— Thick walking socks
— Blister packs and plasters (band-aids)
— Hiking poles
— Comfortable day shoes
— Sandals or flip-flops
— Warm hat/gloves
— Swimwear
— Sun hat/sunglasses
— Camera/binoculars
— SD memory card/spare camera batteries
— Small torch (flashlight)/head torch (headlamp)
— Sunscreen
— Insect repellent (20 percent DEET)
— Travel power adaptor
— Toiletries/personal medicine

Help reduce plastic waste

— Reusable water bottle (to reduce single-use plastic bottles we have water for refills in our vehicle)
— Reusable travel cutlery with case (to reduce single-use plastic cutlery at hotels and on the go)
— Reusable lunch box (to avoid the use of ziplock bags)

Please note, airlines have various rules on what can be carried in your luggage – if in doubt check with your airline before travelling.

Footwear
We recommend walking shoes/boots, as comfortable shoes with good ankle support will make all walking more enjoyable. If you do not own a pair, then sports trainers (sneakers) will suffice, although this is a personal choice. If you intend to do some walking, it is recommended to bring thick walking socks for comfort.

Washing clothes
You have the opportunity to wash clothes on tour, and this can often be done at the campsite or in town. Ask your tour leader for local information.

Luggage allowance
One suitcase, soft holdall or rucksack (50lb/23kg maximum) per person. A small daypack and camera can also be carried in the van. Before you travel, please check the baggage allowance with the airline you’re flying with as this may be less than 50lb (23kg). We are unable to offer luggage storage facilities; however, some of our pre- and post-tour hotels will provide this service although there may be a charge. Please contact the hotels directly for further information.

— Accommodation: 1 Superior night (hotel), 9 Classic nights (5 hotel, 4 lodge)
— Travel by private minibus
— Variety of day walks to suit all abilities
— Some long journeys
— Group normally 5 to 13, plus leader. Minimum age: 16
— Citizen Science departures available on this trip

We recommend you take at least US$50 per day for meals not included in the tour, drinks, snacks and other incidentals. You should also budget for expected tipping, as well as for the optional activities you would like to do. We suggest you bring US$150 with you in cash for the beginning of your trip.

It is customary in North America to tip local guides, waiters, bar staff, taxi drivers and anyone who provides a service for you. Service workers are paid a low wage and depend on tips for their livelihood. It can be embarrassing if you’re confronted by a local who is expecting a tip and you are not aware of how much to offer. For this reason, we have listed guideline prices below.

A 15-20% tip is standard in restaurants and you should also expect to tip $1 per drink in bars, $1-2 per bag for porters, $2-3 for hotel housekeeping as will 10% for taxi drivers. It’s also typical to tip around 10% for local guides who provide optional activities.

Your tour leader will work long and hard for you during your tour and we recommend a discretionary tip of US$12-$15 per passenger per day if your leader’s performance meets or exceeds your expectations.

You’ll travel in a private 15-seater vehicle which is driven by your tour leader. All luggage, equipment, and other necessities are stored in a specially designed trailer or storage area to maximise space and comfort in the vehicle. The size of our vehicles allows us to reach more remote destinations not accessible to larger vehicles. All our vehicles are equipped with air conditioning, Bluetooth-compatible stereo and USB charging ports throughout the vehicle.

This trip is graded Activity Level 2 (Easy & Moderate), but there is a range of walks available at each national park of varying length and difficulty you can choose between. For more information on our trip gradings please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.

There are opportunities for optional activities during your tour. Your tour leader will organise these on your behalf and you pay locally in cash. Walks, hikes and activities cater to everyone from beginner to expert, ranging from easy to strenuous. You’ll find the main optional activities listed under each itinerary day description, along with guideline prices. It may not be possible to do all optional activities listed on each tour.

The spectacular American West is home to an exciting mix of cultural and natural highlights. Experience them all on this active tour. Discover Yosemite, Zion, Bryce Canyon and Grand Canyon national parks and finish the tour in fabulous Las Vegas. This trip is suitable for those looking to experience national parks and American culture with a balance of outdoor discovery and comfortable accommodation.

Although each tour follows an itinerary, there is a certain amount of flexibility and your tour leader may suggest changes from time to time. This may be due to road conditions, weather or a visit to a special attraction/event that happens to be in progress. Flexibility is key and often a side diversion will be a tour highlight. Hikes and optional activities cannot be guaranteed and may vary depending on ability, group interest, weather and time of year.

Angels Landing hike in Zion National Park

During the itinerary, we have time in Zion National Park, where one of the more strenuous and popular hikes is Angels Landing. In response to concerns about congestion on the trail, the National Park Service announced that everyone who hikes Angels Landing needs a permit. Permits cannot be booked by a tour operator, so all guests who wish to attempt this hike are responsible for applying.

Permits are released via a lottery system; unfortunately, there is no guarantee of securing a permit.

The lottery system comes in two forms:

Seasonal Lottery: You can apply for a permit one to three months before your trekking date
Day-Before Lottery: You can apply for a permit the day before your planned hike

Zion is renowned for hiking and there are many excellent trails with wonderful views, such as the Watchman’s trail or the Narrows. Our group discovers these alternative trails. Anyone who is successful in securing their permit can hike Angels Landing while the group completes an alternative trail. For more on Angels Landing permits, such as application dates and prices, visit the National Park Service page here.

When we run this adventure, from June to November, this region of the US is normally very dry with blue, sunny skies. However, temperatures vary greatly depending on the elevation; generally, the higher the elevation, the cooler the temperature.

June to August: In summer, Yosemite, Bryce and the Grand Canyon have pleasant temperatures ideal for hiking whereas some of the deserts might experience hotter temperatures. On warmer days, the leader will opt for early morning and late afternoon walks, leaving time for a mid-day rest. The hottest time of day in the deserts is 3pm. Most nights will be mild to warm. Prepare for afternoon thunderstorms.

September to November: Expert perfect hiking days in the deserts and cooler days at higher elevations.

Please note: Death Valley can experience extremely high temperatures, particularly from May to September. Your tour leader is experienced in dealing with this, and will adjust the itinerary accordingly.