Off the Beaten Path

This tour shows some of the best of Colorado in a great combination of adventure and relaxation with 3 national parks and 4 naturally hot mineral springs. This tour is great for travelers with a desire for big fun and serious relaxation. Our first day is spent rafting on the Arkansas River through Brown’s Canyon. After a day of travel and excitement, the evening winds down with a soak in hot mineral springs. Stay at an oasis in the San Luis Valley with natural mineral water to soak away the worries of the world and the aches in the muscles.

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After a great night’s sleep in the dark and quiet of the Valley, visit our first National Park. The Great Sand Dunes NP offers plenty of fun in the sand, including sand boarding and sand sledding on the dunes, hiking, ranger programs, photography and splashing in the creek. After a full day playing at the NP, the next stop is Pagosa Springs Resort for a relaxing soak and dinner.

An early departure gets us to Durango where we hop on the Silverton Durango Narrow Gauge Steam Train for a scenic ride through the wilderness to the historical mining town of Silverton. You will have 2 hours exploring Silverton before the return trip to Durango. Our accommodations are an historic hotel in Downtown Durango and dinner is at a highly rated local restaurant.

The next National Park is Mesa Verde. Known for the cliff dwellings of the ancient Anasazi, we spend the day exploring the Park and experiencing the cliff dwellings. The Park offers guided tours into the dwellings, and you may choose your level of activity with those tours.

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Leaving Durango, we cross over Red Mountain Pass, one of the most scenic mountain passes in Colorado. Iron ore created the beautiful hues of red, gold and orange that paint the mountainsides like watercolors throughout this pass. Our day is spent in exploring Telluride, the hidden mountain town of Hollywood elite. The evening is spent in Ouray, a beautiful town known for hot mineral springs, with dinner at a highly rated local restaurant.

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The Black Canyon of the Gunnison is one of the least visited National Parks in Colorado, but not because it is missing any beauty. It is the least traveled due to its location and least convenient for busloads of tourists. Explore the beauty without crowds of a serene canyon with painted walls and vista views. Our stay is a cabin near a river.

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The final day takes us over the Continental Divide by way of Cottonwood Pass. The colors are remarkable on this high mountain pass, peaking around 500’ above tree line. From the top, you’re afforded 360 degree views of two distinct water sheds. It’s especially spectacular each autumn for the fall foliage. In addition, it is the highest paved pass over the Continental Divide in the nation at 12,126’. At the bottom of Cottonwood Pass, there is a final hot mineral pool option. Return to Denver through South Park and Kenosha Pass.

This is great for photo enthusiasts. As always with a private tour, daytime activities may be adjusted to reflect our guests’ desires. Guests may choose their personal level of activity. This tour is available year-round and is encouraged for outside of the peak travel season and the heat of summer.

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This tour is all inclusive and includes all guiding and transportation, rafting. NP admissions, round trip Steam Train, hot spring admission, hotels, 6 breakfast, 6 dinners. Optional activities are not included.

 

Pricing:

2 guests $6000/each

3 guests $5500/each

4 guests $5000/each