Epic Wonders of the National Parks

Your adventure begins in earnest today with a journey to Rapid City in South Dakota. On the way, we're going to stop at the former military and trading outpost of Fort Laramie. This is where Chief Red Cloud signed the treaty that gave the supposedly worthless Black Hills to the Sioux. Just six years later, Custer discovered gold in the Black Hills, prompting the Gold Rush and ultimately causing the Battle of Little Bighorn. There's a treat in store tonight as we head to Fort Hays Chuckwagon supper and cowboy music show located on the film set of 'Dances with Wolves'. Here we'll enjoy a hearty meal and some foot-stomping fun and entertainment.

Your day begins with a visit to Mount Rushmore National Memorial, famous for its majestic granite sculptures of Presidents Roosevelt, Lincoln, Washington and Jefferson. Carved between 1927 and 1941 by sculptor Gutzon Borglum and around 400 workers, each face is around 18 metres high. You're also going to see the Crazy Horse Memorial, another monument carved into the Black Hills. An immense masterpiece that's still being worked on, it honours the heroic 19th-century leader of the area's native people.

The highlights keep on coming as we embark on an afternoon tour of Badlands National Park. Here you'll discover an eerie world of geological wonders that was carved over millions of years by the forces of nature.

You're heading into 'Wild West' territory today with a drive through the Black Hills to Deadwood, a town created on the back of the Gold Rush. The entire city is a national historic landmark and there's time for you to have a good look around. Maybe you'll visit Adams Museum and learn about the history of the Black Hills, browse the shops for souvenirs or enjoy lunch in a bar or saloon. We'll then head to Sheridan for the night.

The highlight of your day is a visit to the historic site of the Battle of Little Bighorn, fought in June 1876 between the US Army and Native American warriors. A guided tour gives you the chance to relive Custer's Last Stand and get a fascinating insight into one of the most famous conflicts of the American Indian Wars. Afterwards, you'll have a chance to delve deeper into the history of the battle with free time at the visitor centre and museum.

There's an inviting selection of restaurants in Cody, so after arriving at the hotel why not venture out for dinner. Your Holiday Director can point you in the right direction if you need a recommendation.

After today, you'll be able to say that you have set foot in the world's first national park. Yellowstone is a wonderland of spouting geysers, hot springs, boiling pools and bubbling mud pots. On your tour you'll see the extraordinary Yellowstone Canyon with its waterfall twice the height of Niagara and, of course, 'Old Faithful', the famous geyser which erupts every 93 minutes or so. The park is also a wildlife sanctuary with bears, elk, moose and herds of bison all roaming freely, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled for sightings.

The next national park you'll tick off your list is Grand Teton. It's home to the Teton Range, a series of mountains that form part of the Rockies and stretch for 40 miles from Yellowstone National Park towards Jackson. The park is famed for its beautiful landscape of snow-capped peaks, lakes and glaciers and you can take in these exceptional sights today.

We'll head to Utah today for an overnight stay in the state capital, Salt Lake City. Founded by the Mormons, Salt Lake City is set on the shores of the Great Salt Lake and at the foot of spectacular mountains. When we arrive this afternoon, our first port of call will be the elegant Utah Capitol Building, which overlooks the city from a hilltop setting. Surrounded by manicured gardens planted with trees and shrubs, you can step inside to see the Supreme Court and House of Representatives with a tall rotunda in the centre. Be sure to look up and admire the painted ceiling of the rotunda, a celebration of the state bird, the seagull.

You'll then have some free time to explore downtown Salt Lake City. A good place to start is Temple Square, the area surrounding the Salt Lake Temple, a place of worship for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Here you'll discover a collection of museums, libraries and historic houses interspersed with gardens and monuments. As one of the world's largest genealogical libraries, the city's Family History Library is another interesting place to visit.

Today we make our way to Canyonlands National Park, an incredible rugged landscape of canyons carved by the Colorado River. The Islands in the Sky district of the park offers expansive views of the spectacular canyon wilderness stretching for miles below. We'll make several stops to take in the magnificent scenery, so be sure to have your camera at the ready. Later we'll arrive in Moab for an overnight stay where you can take an optional sunset jet boat ride on the Colorado River. This scenic trip gives you the chance to view the red rock cliffs from the water and is followed by a cowboy-style dinner.

Your next base is Cortez, which we reach via a visit to Arches National Park. This unfathomable red-rock landscape is home to more than 2,000 natural sandstone arches, giant rock formations and pinnacles. The story of this geological wonder dates back around 65 million years to when the sandstone sculptures began to form. Shaped by water and erosion the scenery evolved over time and is ever-changing to this day. We'll spend this morning exploring the park and you'll have the opportunity to get a closer view of one of the arches on a short walk.

Mesa Verde National Park is also within reach from Cortez, and it's where your tour takes you today. This archaeological masterpiece was once the home of the Ancestral Pueblo people and is famed for its well-preserved cliff dwellings. Centuries ago, thriving communities lived, worked and played in this rugged wilderness and we've arranged for a Local Guide to escort us on a tour of this fascinating site. One of the highlights is Cliff Palace, the largest cliff dwelling in North America with more than 150 individual rooms.

After our tour, we'll drive to Park Point, the highest peak of Mesa Verde National Park. On a clear day, the incredible view stretches for hundreds of miles over Arizona, Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico.

Today we are heading to Monument Valley, instantly recognisable as the setting for many western movies with its wide-open spaces dotted with incredible sandstone monoliths. The park sits within the Navajo Nation Reserve and is said to be one of the most photographed places on Earth, with sandstone rock formations towering up to 300 metres tall. An optional jeep tour with a Navajo guide is available if you'd like to find out more about this fascinating destination and the heritage of the Navajo people.

As highlights go, the Grand Canyon is hard to beat, and today is the day that you get to fully take in the magnificence of this spectacular sight. This mile-deep, steep-sided canyon, carved by the Colorado River is a breathtaking sight however viewed, but an optional helicopter flight gives you the thrilling chance to see it from the air.

There are just two more national parks to go now, and today you'll view the spires of rock, known as hoodoos, which form the unique geology of Bryce Canyon. The most iconic section of the park is a bowl-shaped area known as the Bryce Amphitheatre and we'll admire its beauty from a series of viewpoints.

A day of contrasts begins with a visit to Zion National Park, where you'll see mesmerising rock formations and sheer cliffs in shades of pink and cream. You've time to explore at your leisure and can use the park's free shuttle bus to discover highlights including the Temple of Sinawava, a natural amphitheatre carved by the Virgin River and surrounded by dramatic canyon walls. Equally as enthralling is your destination tonight, the man-made wonder that is Las Vegas. To appreciate the city in its neon-lit glory, why not join a sightseeing tour this evening.

Spend today exploring Las Vegas at your leisure. Marvel at the epic buildings lining the famous Strip and watch the incredible dancing fountains outside the Bellagio. Try your luck in one of the elegant casinos or shop till you drop; the opportunities are endless! Later, we'll meet up for the final time and travel to the airport for our flight home.

After an unforgettable holiday, you'll arrive back in the UK today.