Southern Sun

TOUR OVERVIEW

Experience the fast paced East, the slow moving South and the laidback West with exciting activities such as whitewater rafting, horseback riding and hiking on offer - don't forget about the nightlife of New Orleans and Las Vegas!


INCLUDED HIGHLIGHTS

• Night time illumination tour of Washington D.C monuments
• Limousines in Las Vegas
• New Orleans' Bourbon Street
• Grand Canyon sunrise or sunset
• San Antonio's Riverwalk
• Alien spotting in Roswell
• Scenic walks and hikes
• National parks and monuments - Carlsbad Caverns, Monument Valley, Grand Canyon, Lake Powell and Zion
• Services of a TrekAmerica tour leader
• All transportation by private adventure vehicle
• 16 nights camping fees & equipment (except sleeping bag)

FLEXIBLE ITINERARY

Our routes have been carefully chosen to include the best night stops and highlights. However, as local conditions and passenger requests vary, no two trips will ever be the same. With the guidance of your Trek Leader you may modify certain nightstops and highlights to give a truly unique experience!


Days: 1-2 Los Angeles & Las Vegas

We start our adventure with a sudden burst of neon - Vegas is right in your face - the greatest show on earth. Watch out though, some dub this place 'Lost Wages'! Why not cruise "The Strip" in a super-stretch limo, indulge in an all-you-can eat buffet, take in a show or just watch the amazing crowds, neon signs and attractions that many hotel casinos have to offer. And if that's not enough, take a helicopter flight back down The Strip or just gamble the night away in one of the world class casinos.
Accommodation: 2 en-route hotel nights paid locally


Days: 3-4 Zion National Park & Lake Powell

Journey further east to Zion National Park. Explore the hidden canyons or maybe hike to Angels Landing. Okay, so getting up there can be devilish at times, but the famous trail puts Zion on a 360-degree display of this magnificent national park. Swim the deep blue waters of Lake Powell, formerly the great Glenn Canyon, ride a waverunner or just sit back on the shore and soak up the powerful rays of this beautiful and surreal man-made desert oasis.
Accommodation: Camping included


Days: 5-6 Grand Canyon National Park

No trip west is complete without a stop at the Grand Canyon and we have a full day tomorrow to experience the grandeur of Earth's natural wonder. Pack your best boots and don't forget your camera for a sunrise/sunset hike along the rim. For the more ambitious take the long hike down Bright Angel Trail to Plateau Point, or choose the "bird's eye" view on a scenic flight. Watching the sinking sun paint it amber, maroon and red, its breathtaking immensity still blows you away.
Accommodation: Camping included


Days: 7 Monument Valley

Venturing further into the desert southwest, we hit the iconic Monument Valley used in Hollywood scenes from Westerns to 2001: A Space Odyssey and everything in between. Get jeep-bound and flit between towering buttes and massive mesas. This is sacred Navajo land; take home their secrets, legends and the odd handcrafted keepsake. Tonight, experience a stunning sunset overlooking the valley.
Accommodation: Camping included


Days: 8 Arizona / Roswell, New Mexico

After a visit to the famous Roswell's UFO Museum, pitch your tents together and chew the fat long into the night. What are those lights in the sky?
Accommodation: Camping included


Days: 9-10 Carlsbad Caverns National Park & Texas

Do you know your stalactite from your stalagmite? Carlsbad Caverns boasts over 100 limestone caves sporting glinting minerals and telling names like the Hall of the White Giant and Green Lake Room. The Lone Star then bids you a big-hearted welcome for four nights in the mighty Texas. The biggest state of the continental USA is also home to plenty of Mexican-American cuisine, "Tex-Mex", including spicy fajitas and tacos could be on the menu tonight.
Accommodation: Camping included


Days: 11-12 San Antonio

Don your Davy Crockett hat and check out the Alamo, symbol of Texan pride and independence from Mexico. Or stroll the Paseo del Rio. If your Spanish is shaky, that's the cobbled 'river walk', bursting with greenery, cafés and boutiques.
Accommodation: Camping included


Days: 13 Texas/Louisiana

We say farewell to Texas and head into Louisiana. Look for gators on our optional swamp tour through the mysterious bayous of Cajun country (a must do!).
Accommodation: Camping included


Days: 14-15 New Orleans

Beyond Mississippi we hit Louisiana, home of the Big Easy & Bourbon Street. Now we're talking all that jazz! We head into the enchanting French Quarter of New Orleans and hear the real deal at Preservation Hall, echoing with chirpy trumpet and smooth sax. Sample a Hurricane at Pat O'Brien's! New Orleans has more than just food, drink and music to offer. Do the Huckleberry Finn thing as you chug along the Mississippi River.
Accommodation: 2 nights en-route hotel paid locally


Days: 16 Mississippi/Alabama

Next, travel into the 'Deep South' to Mississippi and Alabama for a taste of true southern hospitality. License plates proclaim you're in the 'Heart of Dixie', as the radio pumps out a
hatful of country tunes to back this up.
Accommodation: Camping included


Days: 17-18 Tennessee & Virginia

You'll need no second invitation to appreciate the grand views of the rolling green slopes of the Appalachian mountains in Virginia. In Tennessee, choose to don a lifejacket, grip a paddle and bounce along a churning stretch of white water an optional rafting trip. Pure adrenalin!
Accommodation: Camping included


Days: 19-20 Washington D.C

Washington DC, is the social, cultural and political hub of the United States. Explore the best of America's Capitol - from the Smithsonian to the Lincoln Memorial on the guided tour. During the day the city is awash with greenery so once you're done with sightseeing, go people watching in the parks. Why not take advantage of the great nightlife in Georgetown!
Accommodation: Camping included


Days: 21 New York Area

Make sure to stay on an extra day or two to explore the sights and sounds of New York City on your own. Splurge along Fifth Ave, hit the top of the Empire State Building, or soak up the trendy, laidback vibe of Greenwich Village before
heading home.

Tour ends at approx 17:00 hrs in New York Area on day 21.