Vancouver to Arizona/New Mexico 15 Day Luxury Bus Tour  April 07, 2009 $1,499dlb. occ  Price Includes:   all travel, hotels & applicable taxes Booking deadline is January 30, 2009 unless Tour is full earlier. Day-1  Vancouver to LaGrande or Baker City, Oregon Bus departs Vancouver at Pacific Central Station (Via Rail Station) at Terminal and Main, loading in front at Station Street as well as pick-ups at the Eldorado Hotel at Kingsway and Nanaimo, the Airport Travel Lodge in Richmond, and the Aston Pacific Hotel parking lot in White Rock. Today we will travel south-eastwards through scenic Washington and Oregon with convenient breakfast and lunch stops before finally arriving in Pendleton, La Grande or Baker City, Oregon for your first overnight stay . Day-2     Oregon to West Wendover, Nevada. We have a beautiful drive today through Oregon, Idaho and finally to our destination of Wendover, Nevada for a nights, staying at the Nugget Hotel Casino with upgraded Deluxe rooms. You will recieve one free, all you can eat, buffet as well as $7 USD in free slot play for your nights stay at the Nugget. The Nugget alone has nearly 1,000 slots as well as 49 table games, Starbucks and gift shop etc. Minutes before we enter Wendover, you will see the great salt lake which is mostly famous for the numerous land speed records which have been set there. The vast and mysterious salt flats are a delight to behold. You will have plenty of time to try your luck at the slots and table games that this casino has to offer. Day-3      Salt Lake City to Zion National Park area. We depart Salt Lake City and take a scenic ride to our two night destination of the very scenic town of Springdale, Utah, just minutes from the gates of Zion National Park. Springdale is a fun little town and is ideally situated for our next days tour of Zion and Bryce National Parks. Lots of gift stores and photo opportunities in Springdale just steps from your lodging. Day-4     Day Tour of Bryce and Zion National Parks This morning starts the fun with tour highlights just beginning with the first drive to Bryce Canyon National Park which is 90 very scenic miles from Springdale, going through Mount Carmel, Orderville, Long Valley Junction and Hatch before arriving at the gates of Bryce National Park. Bryce Canyon is famous for its unique geology, consisting of a series of horseshoe-shaped amphitheaters carved from the eastern edge of the Paunsaugunt Plateau in southern Utah. ..cont it is the uniqueness of the rocks that caused Bryce Canyon to be designated as a national park. These famous spires, called "hoodoos," are formed when ice and rainwater wear away the weak limestone that makes up the Claron Formation. Bryce Canyon National Park has an arid climate, colorful geology, and is a study in contrasts. The contrasts are a story of climate change. The wildlife and flowers living here now are very different from those whose fossils are exposed in the colorful layers of rock. ..cont after Bryce Canyon, we head back to Zion National Park and enter the gates for another majestic tour of Zion's geographical highlights. Massive canyon walls ascend toward the sky at Zion. These unique sandstone cliffs range in color from cream, to pink, to red. They could be described as sand castles crowning desert canyons and park gate is only minutes from your lodging in Springdale. Day-5     Zion National Park to Sedona, Arizona We move onto Sedona, Arizona today for a 3 night stay in this famous little town with absolutely spectacular red rock surroundings.  Sedona's main attraction is its stunning array of red sandstone formations, the Red Rocks of Sedona. The formations appear to glow in brilliant orange and red when illuminated by the rising or setting sun. The Red Rocks form a breathtaking backdrop for everything from spiritual pursuits to the hundreds of hiking and mountain biking trails. .......many have called Sedona the most beautiful place in America. ...  we stop at Grand Canyon for 5 hours too Before we arrive in Sedona, we will make a 5 hour stop at Grand Canyon National Park at the South Rim. South Rim is 3.5 hours drive from Springdale, Utah and gazing at the beautiful views of the canyon from the various vista points is the number one activity for most people. Nearly five million people see Grand Canyon each year. Most of them see it from their car at overlooks along the South Rim (this includes Grand Canyon Village, Hermits Rest, and Desert View). ...cont. Just a short distance from the South Entrance is Grand Canyon Village and is also the center of the most popular viewpoints. Grand Canyon Village contains numerous landmark buildings and is itself a National Historic Landmark District, designated for its outstanding implementation of town design.  Sedona is only 2 hours south of Grand Canyon. Day-6     Free day in Sedona, Arizona Many of Hollywood's classic westerns were filmed in or near Sedona. The red rock mountains and desert landscape provided a striking setting for these films. Most notably is 1950’s Broken Arrow, starring James Stewart. A number of its shooting locations can still be visited via off-road trails. An intricate chase scene in the Robert DeNiro and Charles Grodin comedy Midnight Run was filmed on the trails surrounding Sedona. Now is the time to take a relaxed nature trail walk right behind your lodging or visit the many Art Galleries, Gift/Craft stores and restaurants that Sedona has to offer. Day-7     Side tour of Sedona and surrounding area At 9:00am we have a free and optional side tour planned today highlighting the surrounding areas of Sedona which also includes a visit to the town of Jerome, Red Rock Crossing, the most photographed area around Sedona and Montezuma's Castle, a prehistoric Indian ruin nestled into a towering limestone cliff.  Jerome is a bustling tourist magnet and artistic community with a population of about 450. It includes a unique blend of artists, craft people, musicians, writers, hermits, bed and breakfast owners, museum caretakers, gift shop proprietors and fallen-down-building landlords. Jerome sits above what was the largest copper mine in Arizona and produced an astonishing 3 million pounds of copper per month.  Today the mines are silent, and Jerome has become the largest ghost town in America. Day-8     Sedona, Arizona to Santa Fe, New Mexico We say farewell to lovely Sedona this morning and move North Eastwards towards our 3 night destination of Santa Fe, New Mexico.  Our lodging in Santa Fe is ideally located just minutes from the famed Santa Fe Plaza where there is a variety of activities, unique craft and gifts stores, restuarants and much more to entice your wandering spirit for discovery.  It is a 6 hour drive excluding food stops from Sedona to Santa Fe with unique and varied desert scenery to behold and enjoy. Day-9     Free day in Santa Fe. A free buffet breakfast awaits you this morning at your Hotel. Most likely you will spend all day at the Santa Fe Plaza, which is also a National Historic Landmark. The Plaza or "city-square" is the center gathering place in town, or as many know it "the heart of Santa Fe." The landmark has since grown into a playground for many tourists interested in Spanish, Indian, and Mexican cultures including music, design, jewelry, art and dance. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Plaza consists of a central park lined with grass, trees, and benches, which add to the cultural scenery, especially at Christmas time when the Plaza streets and buildings glow with farolitos and the trees with lights. Included in the park is an Indian War Memorial monument and a performing arts stage as well. Day-10     Albuquerque Casino and scenic tour For those of you who are interested, today we have a free and optional side trip planned to city of Albuquerque, New Mexico, just an hours drive from Santa Fe to the Sandia Resort Casino at the foothills of the majestic Sandia Mountains for some gaming fun and relaxation. This Mega Casino Resort Complex is unique and majestic and will be a fun addition for your tour. We will stay 2 hours at the Casino as well as have an Albuquerque and Santa Fe points of interest drive by. Day-11     Santa Fe to Laughlin. We depart Santa Fe for Laughlin today. You will be staying two nights in Laughlin at the River Palms Resort Casino on the Colorado River. From it's Bermuda Themed Resort to it's multiple entertainment venues, there's always something happening at the River Palms. Whether you're into water sports, sight-seeing, or just want to relax the day away at it's pool or Spa & Salon, the River Palms boasts something for every visitor. River Palms has a 72,000 sq. ft. casino, 300 seat Bingo Hall, Keno lounge, all your favourite table games, 1,200 slots, Video Poker and a 60 seat Poker room that grows to 300 seats during tournaments. Upon arrival, you will receive coupons for 1 more buffet. Day-12     .... free day in Laughlin. A free buffet is included in your stat today and now is the time to discover Laughlin at your leisure. Being right on the banks of the Colorado River, nothing is more relaxing than taking a stroll along Laughlins famous River Board Walk, adorned with Palm Trees and flowers, it is the life line that connects most of Laughlin's hotel/casinos to eachother. Don't forget to make your regular stops along the river to spot the many fish that always seem to show themselves along each and every stop. Day-13     Laughlin to Wendover. We say farewell to Laughlin today and journey back to Wendover for a nights stay at the Nugget Hotel Casino. You will be in upgraded Deluxe rooms in Wendover on this tour. Will make the usual breakfast and lunch stops along the way before arriving in Wendover. You will recieve a free all you can eat dinner buffet and $7 USD in free slot play in Wendover as well. Day-14     Wendover to Orgeon. This morning me make the scenic drive back to Oregon, passing through Idaho along the way for your last nights stay at either Baker City or La Grande. We also pass through the very scenic Snake River Canyon in Idaho. Day-15     Oregon to Vancouver Our last leg of the journey, we will travel back to BC with a 30 minute stop at Duty Free Store at the Border for all your last minute shopping needs. We hope you had the opportunity to strike many new and lasting friendships during your tour. Please book EARLY if you intend to go on this tour as hotels often sell out and halt further bookings.     Please call TOLL-FREE 1-866-835-7788 for details     Click HERE to go back to our Home Page (All details subject to change without notice:)     This page is © Copyright 2001-2008, Viking Tours Inc.