American Orient Express'
National Parks of the West tour
8 Days, 7 Nights
October 4-11, 2001
Itinerary at a glance
Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Zion National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, Salt Lake City and PhoenixDay 1 - Arrive in Phoenix, Arizona
After independent arrivals at the hotel, we meet for our private welcome dinner. We take this opportunity to introduce the train staff and other guests who will be joining us on our journey. This evening we overnight at the Hilton Mesa Pavilion. (D)Day 2 - Phoenix / Board the American Orient Express
After breakfast in the hotel, we board motorcoaches and tour the city before continuing to the train station, where we board the train and gather for lunch. This evening begins with a welcome aboard cocktail reception. Dinner is served in the dining cars before our first overnight en route to our next destination, Williams. (B,L,D)
Day 3 - Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
The true majesty of the Grand Canyon can be appreciated only through first-hand experience. With its unfathomable dimensions - 277 miles long and 18 miles wide - this geologic wonder is perhaps the nation's most spectacular. We spend the morning at the South Rim, where the constant play of light and shadow profoundly changes the colors of the plateaus and mesas within the chasm. Nearly a mile below, the Colorado River continues its slow work, deepening the canyon a fraction of an inch every year. Back on board the train, we traverse the moonlit deserts of Arizona, California and Nevada en route to our next national park adventure. (B,L,D)
Day 4 - Zion National Park
After a leisurely morning relaxing on board, we transfer by motorcoach to Zion National Park. Millions of years of unrelenting erosion have formed this primeval wonderland of red sandstone buttes, dome, and sheer canyon walls. The "heavenly city of God," or Zion, was named by early settlers, and park visitors still find the label appropriate. We explore the park on a scenic drive following a winding river, with frequent stops along the way. In the evening, we transfer to a hotel near Zion National Park for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)
Day 5 - Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
This morning we enjoy breakfast in the hotel and then board motorcoaches for Bryce Canyon National Park. Paiute Indians described this jagged strip along the edge of the Paunsaugunt Plateau as "red rocks standing like men in a bowl-shaped canyon." Eons of rain and wind sculpted this sandstone environment into a maze of spires and arches. Layered in red, rose, orange and lavender, the stone landscape is elemental and alien - almost Gothic in its drama. We tour Bryce Canyon by coach, stopping for short hikes and stunning views. In the evening, we return to the American Orient Express for dinner and overnight as our train heads to Yellowstone. (B,L,D)
Day 6 - Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
This morning we set out for the astounding sights of Yellowstone National Park, which protects more than two-million acres of wilderness - a glimpse of the West from centuries past. We spend the day exploring the park. Miles below the park's surface, water and molten rock converge, creating over 10,000 boiling springs, mud pots and geysers. This evening we gather for dinner and overnight in a hotel near the park. (B,L,D)Day 7 - Grand Teton National Park
After breakfast in the hotel, we board motorcoaches and set out to the Teton Mountain Range perhaps the most abrupt and breathtaking in America, with Grand Teton Mountain rising to 13,770 feet. Today an estimated 10,000 elk still roam the high country, as well as countless moose and black bear. Perhaps we will catch a glimpse of these animals as we explore the park. This evening, we transfer back to the train to enjoy a special farewell dinner before our last overnight on board en route to our final destination of Salt Lake City. (B,L,D)Day 8- Salt Lake City, Utah
Our American Orient Express journey ends here after breakfast on board. We are free to explore the city or make arrangements to transfer to the airport for flights home. (B)This tour includes:
·VIP hotel check-in
·Private welcome dinner
·Deluxe hotel accomodations
·Fine dining daily (breakfast, lunch & dinner)
·Complimentary wine with dinner
·Expert lectures
·Fully inclusive touring program
·Expert guides
·Live entertainment nightly
·Courteous service
·Porterage
·Farewell reception2001 Tour Price
Description
Vintage Pullman
Single Sleeper
Parlor Suite
Double Bedroom
Presidential SuiteEarly Booking*
$3,190
$4,790
$5,190
$5,190
$5,490Retail
$3,490
$5,090
$5,490
$5,490
$5,790Prices per person, double occupancy.
*SAVE $300 BY BOOKING SIX MONTHS PRIOR TO YOUR DEPARTURE DATE!Itinerary, hotels and prices subject to change.
Other dates may be available. Please call for details.Description of Accommodations
Vintage Pullman: Upper and lower berths, full-size couch, private sink and water closet
Single Sleeper: Lower berth, single sofa seat, private sink and water closet. For singles only.
Parlor Suite: Two lower berths, one upper berth, full couch, single sofa seat, private sink and water closet.
Double Bedroom: Two lower berths, two single sofa seats, private sink, water closet and shower.
Presidential Suite: Two lower berths, two single sofa seats, private sink, water closet and shower.Please call (800) IRT-4881 for more information.
About the American Orient Express
Voted by the editors of The International Railway Traveler as one of the
top twenty trains in the world.The 1940's and '50s represented an era of romance and glamour. It was a time when passengers boarded the great streamliner trains bound for points across North America. Today, after $15 million in renovations, these beautiful cars once again ride the rails, glistening with polished mahogany and brass and designed to reflect the style of the golden age of travel - when traveling was meant to be relaxed and savored - not rushed.
The fifteen vintage carriages, painted in their signature blue and gold, carry approximately 100 passengers, who are attended to by a highly trained, professional staff and crew. Their sole purpose is not just to meet, but to surpass your expectations of the quality and service befitting the honored tradition of the great luxury streamliners.
Please call us with questions, bookings:
800-IRT-4881
www.irtsociety.com
Send us e-mail with comments or questions
