SOUTHERN SUN
21 days from
- Trek Code:
- SL
- Destination:
- Cross Country
- Departs:
- Mar-Oct
- Accommodation:
- Camping
- Age Range:
- 18-38
- > Party in Jazz central in Bourbon Street, New Orleans
- > Watch a stunning sunrise over the Grand Canyon
- > See Vegas in style in an included limousine ride
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!
- > Evening illumination visit to Washington DC monuments
- > Limousine tour of Las Vegas Strip
- > 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, Glen Canyon/Lake Powell, Grand Canyon and Zion
- > Visit the Alamo
- > Services of a TrekAmerica tour leader
- > All transportation by private adventure vehicle
- > 16 nights camping & equipment (except sleeping bag)
You can now check your email and update Facebook, Twitter and TrekAmerica Live while on the road with our wi-fi enabled vehicles. (Maximum 5 users at a time. Fair usage restrictions may apply. Only available in USA & Alaska).
- > Whitewater rafting US$35-$120
- > Great National Park hikes US$FREE
- > New Orleans jazz clubs US$10-$20
- > Mississippi riverboat cruise US$40-$80
- > Smithsonian National Museums US$FREE
- > Grand Canyon helicopter flight US$220-$280
- > Navajo Indian guided backroads tour US$50-$95
- > Western horseback riding US$45-$95
- > IMAX theater US$12
- > Las Vegas casino shows US$20+
- > Swamp tour US$20-$40
Our range of 3 - 4 day Mini Adventures are just the ticket for extending your tour and experiencing North America's most incredible 'must see' highlights. Check out the following adventures relevant to this tour.
- NEW YORK TO NIAGARA FALLS MINI
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> Scenic Drive through the Delaware Water Gap/Poconos
> Finger Lakes hiking & swimming
> Niagara Falls and the Maid of the Mist scenic boat cruise
> College town of Ithaca, NY
> Woodbury Common Outlet Mall - > View Mini Adventure
If you are spending extra time in our gateway cities, you can now plan in advance by pre-booking unique city sightseeing day tours in addition to your TrekAmerica trip.
- LOS ANGELES & NEW YORK
- All city day tours are operated by local experts who are dedicated to take you behind the scenes so you know it like a local! When booking your TrekAmerica trip, simply select your chosen city tour from the Tour Extras section on the online booking form.
- > View City Tours
Why not arrange your own TrekAmerica departure? For groups of 8 or more, we can offer private departures on any of our published itineraries enabling friends, families or organizations to enjoy our classic "Trek" style of travel at special rates. Although tours will run as per our standard itinerary shown here, slight modifications may be considered and dates can be chosen to suit your needs. (Subject to seasonal/operational restrictions). So contact us today and start planning your own adventure.
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 night stops and highlights to give a truly unique experience!
As this tour departs at 0730 we recommend that you book pre-tour accommodation. Please request hotel details at the time of booking.
This tour also departs from New York area
Local Payments - Food Kitty: US$10 per day. En-route Hotels: Approx US$40 x 4 nights
Important:
You will need adequate travel insurance to join this trip. Download our
insurance tips pdf
for more information.
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Day 1-2: Los Angeles & Las Vegas
We head out of LA on day one to 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 and neon signs as the glitzy hotels try to out do each other with spectacular attractions. 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. Oh, and there's a saying here: what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.
Accommodation: 2 en-route hotel nights paid locally
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Day 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 on a full 360-degree display of this magnificent national park. Swim the deep blue waters of Lake Powell, formerly the great Glenn Canyon, 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
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Day 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 one of the Earth's natural wonders. 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. As you watch the sinking sun paint it amber, maroon and red, its breathtaking immensity blow you away.
Accommodation: Camping included
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Day 7: Monument Valley
Venturing further into the desert southwest, we hit iconic Monument Valley, used in countless Hollywood scenes from Westerns to 2001: A Space Odyssey. Get 4x4-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
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Day 8: Arizona/Roswell, New Mexico
A little alien spotting in Roswell could be on the cards today, but with the vast desert stretching out before us, we'll go wherever the mood takes us! If you choose Santa Fe for the night, its sure to work its charm on you with its artsy vibe and the best Mexican food in the USA.
Accommodation: Camping included
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Day 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", so spicy fajitas and tacos are on the menu tonight.
Accommodation: Camping included
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Day 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, cafes and boutiques.
Accommodation: Camping included
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Day 13: West Texas/Louisiana
We say farewell to the biggest state of continental USA, and goodbye to the home of 'Tex-Mex' cuisine and a big hello to Louisiana, the home of gumbo stews and all that jazz.
Accommodation: Camping included
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Day 14-15: New Orleans
We hit Louisiana, look for gators on our optional swamp tour through the mysterious bayous of Cajun country (a must do!). Then on to the home of the Big Easy & Bourbon Street, New Orleans. 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 trumpets and smooth sax. New Orleans has more than just food, drink and music to offer, so after sampling a Hurricane at Pat O'Brien's, do the Huckleberry Finn thing and chug along the Mississippi River.
Accommodation: 2 nights en-route hotel paid locally
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Day 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', and the radio pumps out a hatful of country tunes to back this up.
Accommodation: Camping included
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Day 17-18: Tennessee & Virginia
In Tennessee, choose to don a lifejacket, grip a paddle and bounce along a churning stretch of white water on an optional rafting trip - pure adrenalin! You'll need no second invitation to appreciate the grand views of the rolling green slopes of the Appalachian Mountains in Virginia.
Accommodation: Camping included
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Day 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 Museum to the Lincoln Memorial on a 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
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Day 21: New York Area
Leaving the capital behind we head north through Pennsylvania to the New York Area and the end of our cross country adventure. This tour is not scheduled to spend any time in New York City so make sure you book extra hotel nights and explore the sights and sounds of the Big Apple 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.
This tour ends at approximately 17:00 hrs. We can book you post-tour accommodation at our gateway hotel if required. If you are planning to fly tonight, please do not book a flight that departs before 21:00 hrs.
This tour also departs from New York area
Book Your Trip Online
You can easily book your trek online using our secure booking engine. You only need to pay a 10% deposit or (whichever is greatest) with full payment due 8 weeks before departure. We are members of ABTA (Association of British Travel Agents) and are fully financially bonded so your money is 100% safe and protected at all times whether you pay by debit, bank or credit card. If you prefer to book by telephone, please contact our sales office and speak to one our friendly travel consultants.
If your chosen date is not available, this tour also departs from New York area
Status Key
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Contact Us: Seats may be available. Please contact us.
How to Book Online
1. Pick your chosen available departure date.
2. Select the number of passengers to book.
3. Click on the book button to be taken to our secure online booking engine.
4. Complete all personal details and payment information.
5. Your tour will be confirmed immediately by e-mail.
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