5-Day Moab Adventure
Highlights
There’s more than meets the trail in Moab’s mystifying landscape. Go where the Colorado continues to carve the canyons 6,000 feet beneath you and where magnificent sandstone formations tower over you. You won’t believe your eyes as a palette of reds, oranges and browns turns brilliant shades of violet as the sun sets over this all-encompassing desert dreamscape.
Hike to the best views of this plateau in paradise on an unforgettable tour powered by Intrepid. See the sunrise over Arches National Park—home to over 2,000 arches. Get swept away in the grand views of Utah’s largest national park: Canyonlands. And after days of desert hiking, unwind at the local winery and swap tales of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, who used the canyons to hide from the law in the late 1800s. The charming town of Moab is the gateway to some of the west’s most spectacular scenery and colorful history and it’s yours to discover.
The Basics
Start and Finish: Salt Lake City, Utah
Minimum Age: 15
Group Size: Minimum 1, Maximum 12
Experience
Immerse yourself in the 360-degree natural beauty of Moab's wide-open spaces.
- Explore the famous towering red rocks of Utah on two feet with a hike to the panoramic plateaus of stunning Canyonlands National Park.
- Enjoy a sunset picnic overlooking the Colorado River in the high desert of Dead Horse Point State Park, where ancient hunters and Wild West cowboys once roamed.
- Indulge with a stay in a ranch perched along the shores of the mighty Colorado River and framed by majestic, 2,000-foot red cliffs.
- Support local industry with a visit to a 40-year-old winery that started as a university agricultural project and today specializes in single-vineyard estate-bottled wines.
Itinerary
Welcome to Utah! You’ll need to make sure you arrive in Salt Lake City bright and early (or perhaps the night before), so you can meet your leader at 8 am to kick off your tour. Once everyone has gathered, sit back, relax and enjoy the scenic drive of approximately 4 hours to Moab, home to some of the most striking red rock formations in the world. Once you arrive, you’ll have time to freshen up at the hotel before heading to Dead Horse Point State Park, located high above the Colorado River. You’ll enjoy a sunset picnic overlooking the majestic cliffs of Canyonlands National Park—what a way to start your Utah adventure! In the evening, you’re free to explore the local nightlife in the town of Moab.
Accommodation
- Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
- Moab - Dead Horse Point Sunset picnic
Meals Included
- Dinner
Special Information
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance and emergency contact details at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.
It’s an early morning with a wake-up before dawn and a trip to Arches National Park, home to more than 2,000 natural stone arches, rock formations and giant, balancing rocks. A rugged, half-day hike takes you through this famous US landmark, along a trail marked by cairns. Eventually, you’ll wind your way around a rock wall to view a magnificent natural arch just as the sun is rising. After you come down from the viewpoint, you’ll work your feet a bit more with some additional hiking throughout this stunning area. The hike is a 2-mile loop that enables you to see different arches, including the largest rock arch on the planet, Landscape Arch. There are also shorter options if you prefer to take a slower pace. Back in Moab, the afternoon is yours to enjoy. You can take a swim in the pool, walk around this artsy town or book an optional evening tour.
Accommodation
- Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
- Arches National Park - Sunrise hike
- Arches National Park - Hiking
Optional Activities
- Moab - Slickrock Hummer tour - USD100
- Moab - Mountain Biking - USD50
- Colorado River Rafting PM Half Day Moab - USD65
- Sunset Safari Hummer tour - USD101
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Special Information
Distance covered is 4 miles with an elevation gain of 500 feet. It's estimated to take 3-4 hours for the group to complete the walk.
Today, you’ll enjoy a full day of exploring the wonder of Canyonlands National Park. Start with an easy trail to discover one of the finest panoramic overlooks anywhere in the Southwest USA. At the southern tip of this breathtaking plateau known as Island in the Sky, you can see the confluence of the Green and Colorado rivers, as well as vast areas of red rock cliffs and the incredible Maze District. After lunch, we’ll head to our accommodation with enough time to enjoy the late afternoon weather and watch the sunset from our lodge on the shores of the Colorado River. Perched on the river and framed by majestic, 2,000-foot red cliffs, the Ranch puts the unmatched natural beauty of Utah at your feet.
Accommodation
- Ranch (1 night)
Included Activities
- Canyonlands National Park - Hiking
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Lunch
This morning you'll enjoy a leisurely drive to a local winery that specializes in single-vineyard estate-bottled wines. The vineyard dates back to 1979 as a Utah State University agricultural project to determine what industries could replace the waning uranium mining industry. After a tour and tasting, head back to the Ranch for a free afternoon. Perhaps take a swim in the pool or book one of the optional activities the lodge has to offer.
Accommodation
- Ranch (1 night)
Included Activities
- Moab - Winery visit
Meals Included
- Breakfast
After breakfast, make your way back to Salt Lake City. But before your tour comes to an end, your leader will take you on a tour of Lake City, where you will learn about the Mormon Pioneer history. Enjoy the magnificent Salt Lake Mormon Temple and see the State Capital Building and founder Brigham Young’s Territorial Governor’s Mansion. The tour wraps up by 5 pm and you are free to depart any time after that.
Included Activities
- Salt Lake City - Leader Led walking tour
Meals Included
- Breakfast
ITINERARY CHANGES
Our itineraries are updated regularly throughout the year based on customer feedback and to reflect the current situation in each destination. The information included in this Essential Trip Information may therefore differ from when you first booked your trip. It is important that you review this information prior to travel so that you have the latest updates. Due to weather, local conditions, transport schedules, public holidays, or other factors, further changes may be necessary to your itinerary once in-country. The order and timing of included activities in each location may also vary seasonally to ensure our travelers have the best experience. Your tour leader will keep you up to date with any such changes once on tour.
OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES
A selection of optional activities that have been popular with past travelers are listed in the day-to-day itinerary. This isn't an exhaustive list and should be used as a guide only for some of what might be available. Prices are approximate, are for entrance only, and don’t include transport to and from the sites or local guides unless indicated. All activities are subject to availability, and maybe on a join-in basis. It may not be possible to do all the activities listed in the time available at each destination, so some pre-planning for what you are most interested in is advised. When it's recommended that travelers pre-book these activities, look for a note in the Special Information section of the day-to-day itinerary. For most, they can either be organized independently on the day, or let your leader know you are interested in the Group Meeting and they can assist.
Where activities are considered medium or high risk, we work with operators whose safety and credentials we have sighted and assessed. Although it is possible that you may find the same activity cheaper with another operator on the ground, we cannot vouch for the safety or quality of that operator. Medium and high-risk activities not listed above have not been assessed by us and as such our staff and leaders are unable to assist you with organizing these activities. Activities that contravene our Responsible Travel policies are also not listed. Please remember that the decision to partake in any activity not listed is at your own discretion and risk.
FAQ
- Airfare
- Airport transfers, taxes and excess baggage charges
- Travel insurance (mandatory and must be taken out at the time of booking)
- Optional activities and all personal expenses
All travelers need to be in good physical health in order to participate fully on this trip. When selecting your trip please make sure you have read through the itinerary carefully and assess your ability to manage and enjoy this style of travel. Please note that if in the opinion of your group leader or local guide any traveler is unable to complete the itinerary without undue risk to themselves and/or the rest of the group, they reserve the right to exclude them from all or part of a trip without refund.
You should consult your doctor for up-to-date medical travel information or for any necessary vaccinations before departure. They recommend that you carry a first aid kit as well as any personal medical requirements as they may not be easily obtained while traveling.
We will not require a negative COVID-19 test before joining a trip unless it is a requirement of entry for the country. If you are unwell prior to traveling, please stay at home and contact Intrepid to make alternative arrangements. At the group meeting, you will be asked to complete a self-screening health form and report any COVID-19 symptoms as well as any close contact with someone who has suspected or confirmed COVID-19. If you are displaying any symptoms or have any health concerns at this time, Intrepid will follow the advice of local health authorities to determine whether medical assistance, isolation or further action is required. They ask all travelers to continue to monitor their health throughout their travels and report any relevant symptoms to their tour leader.
If you're happy with the service you receive, providing a tip—though not compulsory—is appropriate. While it may not be customary to you, it's of great significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels. It also inspires excellent service and is an entrenched feature of the tourism industry across many Intrepid destinations. Please note, they recommend that any tips are given directly to the intended recipient by a member of your group as their group leaders are prohibited from collecting cash for tips.
The following amounts are based on local considerations and feedback from their past travelers:
Restaurants: They suggest 18% to 22% of your bill.
Bars: Recommended US$1 for each drink ordered to ensure you are served again.
Local guides: Throughout your trip, you may at times have a local guide in addition to your leader. They suggest US$5-20 per day for local guides. Ask your leader for suggestions as to what is appropriate for a given activity.
Your Group Leader: You should also consider tipping your leader for outstanding service throughout your trip. Your leader works long and hard for you. He or she may well become your friend during the trip but they do need to pay their bills. If the leader's performance meets or exceeds your expectation they will gladly accept a tip from you. The amount is entirely a personal preference; however, you should plan to tip your leader US$7-10 per person per day.
While traveling with Intrepid, you'll experience the vast array of wonderful food available in the world. Your group leader will be able to suggest restaurants to try during your trip. To give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat, generally not all meals are included in the trip price. This also gives you more budgeting flexibility. As a rule, their groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other's company.
Your group leader will endeavor to cater to specific dietary requirements where possible, and vegetarianism and gluten intolerance will be catered to in most instances. There may be some meals and activities that are fixed in advance and therefore cannot be modified to suit dietary requirements. Please notify your group leader of any dietary requirements in your group meeting at the start of the trip.
For those who suffer from particular food allergies, your group leader will endeavor to disclose to their fullest knowledge the main ingredients in dishes being consumed. It is, however, your personal responsibility to ensure that you do not ingest any foods to which you are allergic.
Besides your essential clothes, here’s a checklist of other items you should take:
- Waterproof jacket
- Warm sweater/fleece
- Casual ‘evening out’ clothes
- Hiking shoes/boots
- Comfortable day shoes
- Sandals or flip-flops
- Warm hat/gloves
- Swimwear
- Sun hat/sunglasses
- Camera/binoculars
- Small flashlight/torch
- Sunscreen/insect repellent (20% DEET)
- Travel power adaptor (optional)
- Toiletries/personal medicine
LUGGAGE RESTRICTIONS:
All luggage is carried in trailers or inside the vehicle so please don't bring more than one medium-sized bag, backpack or suitcase (20kg maximum) per person, plus a sleeping bag where required on your trip. Your suitcase/rucksack may get some rough handling, so make sure it's a tough one. A small daypack and camera may also be carried inside the vehicle.
CLIMATE & CLOTHING:
Keep in mind that everyone's dress tends to be informal. Take a practical selection of clothes for both warm and cool climates to suit the season. You may encounter a wide variety of temperatures en route due to altitude and unforeseen weather conditions—so be prepared! Make sure to pack a warm fleece and a waterproof jacket as well as comfortable walking shoes.
CLOSED-IN SHOES:
If your trip includes camping and/or national parks, they highly recommend that you take a pair of comfortable, closed-in walking shoes. Closed-in shoes will help to protect your feet from cuts and scratches when walking through bush/grass-lands, and will also act as a barrier protection in rare cases against bites or stings from dangerous animals in the environment.
WATER BOTTLE:
Please bring your own water bottle to refill along the way. The sale of bottled water contributes to an enormous environmental problem around the world. In addition to the water in bottles, the production of a 1-liter plastic bottle takes 2 liters of water and 200ml of oil. A large proportion ends up in limited landfills or discarded in waterways and natural environments.
LAUNDRY:
You will have the opportunity to wash your clothes while on tour. This can often be done at the hotel or in another place in town. Ask your tour leader for local information.
Terms
This trip is provided by Intrepid Travel. Minimum age requirement is 15 years old. Minimum of four people total must book this trip for it to happen. Maximum 12 people allowed on the trip in total.
Deposit:
Lock in your trip with a deposit and then pay the rest in installments whenever you like, with no interest or fees. Just make sure you've paid in full by 21 days before your trip is scheduled to depart. If you cancel your trip up to 21 days before departure, you can transfer your deposit to another available trip or hold your deposit on file indefinitely.
Insurance:
Travel insurance is compulsory on all our trips for those traveling internationally. We require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation. If you are traveling within your home country or region please confirm before travel that you are entitled to access the public medical system easily should an accident occur. We strongly recommend all travelers have a policy that also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage or personal effects. For international trips, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance and the insurance company's 24-hour emergency contact number has been sighted by your leader. If you have credit card insurance your group leader will require details of the participating insurer/underwriter, the level of coverage, policy number, and emergency contact number rather than the bank's name and your credit card details. Please contact your bank for these details prior to arriving in-country.
Authority on Tour:
Trips are run by a group leader. The decision of the group leader is final on all matters likely to affect the safety or well-being of any traveler or staff member participating in the trip. If you fail to comply with a decision made by a group leader, or interfere with the well-being or mobility of the group, the group leader may direct you to leave the trip immediately, with no right of refund. We may also elect not to carry you on any future trips booked. You must at all times comply with the laws, customs, foreign exchange and drug regulations of all countries visited
Health:
All travelers need to be in good physical health in order to participate fully on this trip. When selecting your trip please make sure you have read through the itinerary carefully and assess your ability to manage and enjoy our style of travel. Please note that if in the opinion of our group leader or local guide any traveler is unable to complete the itinerary without undue risk to themselves and/or the rest of the group, we reserve the right to exclude them from all or part of a trip without refund. You should consult your doctor for up-to-date medical travel information or for any necessary vaccinations before departure. We recommend that you carry a first aid kit as well as any personal medical requirements as they may not easily be obtained while traveling.
Any form of violence (verbal or physical) or sexual harassment, either between customers or involving our leaders, partners or local people, will not be tolerated. Use or possession of illegal drugs will not be tolerated. If you choose to consume alcohol while traveling, drink responsibly and abide by the local laws regarding alcohol consumption.
Single Supplement:
A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights on your trip and is subject to availability.