Sedona, Verde Valley & Sycamore Grand Canyon

The best of the colorful rock country
(Week-long; all-inclusive; open booking; departs every Sunday from March through November; off season open booking, group or custom tour also available.)

The reasonable all-inclusive price of this tour is $1,850.00 (single occupancy) and $1,625.00 (double occupancy). The price of this tour is subject to change and will be confirmed at time of booking.
However, we are reasonably sure our MD tour prices are set for the season. For all other general information about MD tours, company, and tour policy, refer to the main (MD) page on our Web site. Lots of good information is posted there which covers most of the FAQ's, besides. Thanks.

Please note: This tour is only available for special tour group booking only; otherwis, it will be an open tour listing for the 2008 season. The minimum number of guests for this tour is 8 and the maximum is 50.

Archeological rules of the road

When booking this (or any other tour) we will always advise you what to bring with you so that your tour will be more comfortable, as well as to help cut down on your luggage.
Keep in mind our MD all-inclusive tours include the following: choice accommodations; lunch and dinner (with the evening meal starting on the first full day of your tour) (*), but alcoholic beverages are not included in the price of the tour and may be purchased separately when dining out; snacks and refreshments; transportation (from our meeting place and a return to same); all National Park/Monument entry fees and special admissions; all your camping gear (if the tour warrants); all host and special guest speaker fees (if the tour warrants); and all side excursion tours, such as rafting, jeep tours, horseback riding, etc.

(*) A continental breakfast is usually included in most of the hotels we use on all of our tours, but breakfast is otherwise on your own when not available in the hotels we use along the way in any of our SD or MD tours. Please inquire at time of booking.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:
This preferential tour is for those of you who want to see and visit the best of what the regional setting is all about - all in one tour of diverse scenery, delight and things to see and do. There's Indian ruins; an old mining town turned artist's haven; a train ride into a world famous canyon where legendary Western movies were made; an exhilarating Jeep ride that will get you hooting and hollering with sheer joy; and of course the great Grand Canyon. That, and much more, is on this adventure and get set for a grand adventure of a lifetime.

Here is a day-by-day account of what we have in store for you on this nearly full week's adventure. . .

DAY 01/SUNDAY:
If you're traveling by air, we think Phoenix is the best place to fly into, and then you'll have to either rent a car, or else take a shuttle to Sedona, which is where this tour begins. Once there, you'll spend the night in a high quality resort hotel (pool, spa, HBO, restaurant, etc.). We are happy to arrange a limousine or shuttle transfer for you, both to and from Sedona. Evening is at your leisure and dinner is on your own once you get there. If you're flying into Las Vegas instead, we suggest booking a flight to Phoenix as this EZ CIRKLE tour begins and ends in this region. We recommend flying (or driving) in early so that you can take in some of the great sights the Phoenix region has to offer. And if you are driving to meet us, when you leave in the morning your vehicle will be perfectly safe to leave in the parking lot of the hotel.

DAY 02/MONDAY:
Your host for the upcoming tour will meet you in the lobby of your hotel at 8:30 a.m. Following introductions, you depart for SEDONA - the town practically everyone wants to live in. This visually alluring red rock country is a haven for tourists from all over the world. It is also a frequent backdrop for major motion picture and television productions. You never know just who you're going to meet on Sedona's streets and walkways.
After your morning's tour of the region, you'll have a mid-morning refreshment break, and then off you go to nearby Clarkdale, where you'll board the afternoon train and RIDE THE RAILS (*) into the rugged beauty of the Sycamore Canyon Wilderness - the other "Grand Canyon". Accessible only by rail, Verde Canyon features flora and fauna; high-desert rock faces; crimson colored cliffs of towering heights; sweeping panoramic views; ancient Indian ruins along the way; old-fashioned trestles; a 680-foot man-made tunnel; and a geologic setting that rivals anything anywhere. Eagles, hawks, falcons and blue herons are common sightings from the eagle-decorated cars pulled along by a vintage engine.
The 4-hour round trip takes you to deserted Perkinsville Ranch and back, riding close to the upper Verde River and its lush riparian habitat. First class seating has been arranged for you, with a complimentary beverage of your choice and a superb buffet. A guide on board the train will fill you in on the geology and natural and human history you are passing through.
By late in the day you will be back in Clarkdale and then on your way back to Sedona where you will spend the night in luxurious accommodations, preceded by a great dinner as a way to welcome you to this land of ooohs and ahhhs - it's that special here.

(*) If for some reason the train is not running on the day of the tour, a special Jeep tour of Sedona will be arranged. Both are great opportunities to see the exquisite red rock country that is so common here (in an uncommon way).

DAY 03/TUESDAY:
Before you leave this gorgeous area, and just after breakfast, we want to take you back to Clarkdale again, but this time to visit one of our favorite, though smaller, Indian Ruins, Tuzigoot (pronounced, "two-see-goot" meaning "Crooked water"). Built between 1125 and 1400, Tuzigoot is one of the great Indian ruins of this, the Verde Valley, and was once a thriving home to the Sinagua (pronounced, "seen-awa" meaning "without water") culture. Much of this former dwelling has been destroyed by earlier mining claims, mostly buried in mounds of slag.
Like nearby Montezuma Castle National Monument (also occupied by the same people who lived in Tuzigoot), the archeological ruins of these ancient people still provides a great window into the past. The original pueblo was two stories high in places and had 77 ground-floor rooms. There were few exterior doors; entry was by way of ladders through openings in the roofs. The easy walk around the ruins as well as a tour of the museum will transport you back to the time when these people lived and thrived here.
The view of Verde Valley from the 120 crest of Tuzigoot is captivating from this high advantage, with the next stop, JEROME, clearly visible to the northwest. By mid-morning you will be driving up the many switchbacks to that former mining capitol, Jerome, one of Arizona's notorious (and most colorful) ghost towns. Literally hanging on the side of Cleopatra Hill on Mingus Mountain, Jerome was once the jackpot for gold, silver, and copper. That's all changed now, but the ambience of this famous (or infamous) town still lingers.
You'll have lunch, followed by some time set aside for shopping, in this nouveau artist and shopping mecca. Just after lunch you'll head back down the steep roadway and drive toward Sedona, but this time you'll be driving up one of the most famous roads in all of Arizona, OAK CREEK CANYON. This sinuous roadway is another of Arizona's "must see" attractions.
Once at the top of the canyon you will be on the threshold of Flagstaff, where you will spend the night in yet another luxurious setting. There will be plenty of time to freshen up before you go out to dinner. Like Sedona, the only problem we find with Flagstaff is there are too many good choices when it comes to fine dining. But we have our special places in store for you.

DAY 04/WEDNESDAY:
Soon after breakfast, you will drive just east of Flagstaff to a unique and fascinating place called WALNUT CANYON. This ancient Indian ruin once was the center of the Sinagua (pronounced, "seen-awa" meaning "Without water") Indian culture, and if you're up to it, we highly recommend walking the 45 minute or so loop tour through this canyon village with its ancient apartment-style housing development. It's strenuous in parts, so take it easy on the steep stairs that lead into and out of this protected fortress.
After your tour of Walnut Canyon, and just before you leave Flagstaff, we want to take you to one of our favorite haunts for a sumptuous lunch. Afterwards, and weather permitting, you'll drive the "high road" over to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon - it's enthralling. This 2 hour jaunt through the high forests will take you past the San Francisco Peaks, Arizona's tallest mountains. Besides the tall strato volcano that has formed the San Francisco Peaks, there is a smaller series of volcanoes along the way. At one time this entire region was filled with the sound and fury of their pyrotechnical dynamics.
By late in the afternoon you will be in Tusayan (pronounced "too-see-ann") Village, which is just outside the park's south entrance. Here you will spend the night in comfort at the newest and most luxurious hotel.
After you have had a chance to freshen up, and just before we take you to an elegant evening meal, we want to treat you to a show at the IMAX theater, where a towering 7-story high movie screen will practically make you feel as though the Grand Canyon is sitting on your lap.

DAY 05/THURSDAY:
The world's greatest canyon and natural wonder awaits you just inside the National Park's gates. Today we have set aside nearly an entire day of sightseeing, walking, and of course, shopping. Your host even knows some of the rare places along the rim that are far from the typical maddening crowds that visit the canyon.
Lunch, today, is in the South Rim's most popular hotel and restaurant - an architectural delight to see and even better to enjoy a fine meal.
After lunch you will drive out toward the eastern gate of the park and make one final stop at Desert View. Here the great chasm looks quite different than what it does further west. Your host will explain why.
After you have seen most of what we consider a full day's view of this great natural wonder of the world, by late in the day you will drive down to the far distant desert floor, then head back up the gradual incline that leads back to Flagstaff.
Once in Flagstaff you will enjoy yet another fine lunch. Or maybe we'll have a picnic if the temperature's right for it. Afterwards, it's another hour's drive or so back to your hotel where you first started. Dinner's still on us and so is the room, so we have another great evening in store for you, promise.

DAY 06/FRIDAY:
After breakfast, you'll take off on a backcountry Jeep journey of a lifetime (safe as it is a hoot to experience). Then you'll really get to see the red rock country of Sedona's majestic setting. After lunch your host will take you on a hike and explain more of Sedona's natural history and geology. While the night's lodging is still on us, dinner will be on your own and your host will bid you adios when he/she takes you back to your hotel later in the afternoon. Bus/limo or cab service is available and there are decent to fine restaurants within walking distance if you prefer to eat away from the hotel.
And here's a thought to bear in mind. In the morning before you leave Sedona we encourage you to stay and explore awhile longer, because Sedona has so much to offer, especially if you take a hike and enjoy the natural serenity and beauty this exhilarating red rock country has to offer. So, why not call the boss, family, and friends and tell them you "went Sedona" and checked out of reality for awhile. Then you'll be refreshed and able to endure the usual kind of stress and zaniness when you finally return to your native home. It's just an idea and a tip from us, of course.

HAPPY TRAILS from all of us here at ECOSOUTHWEST.COM and we hope to see your smiling face on this exciting adventure. Contact us (preferably by e-mail) and let us know if you need more information. We're good for it and a whole lot more.

FYI: The following (average) mileage between the major scenic points is what highlights this particular tour:

Phoenix	Sedona	116 m.
Sedona	Clarkdale	25 m.
Sedona	Jerome	28 m.
Sedona	Flagstaff	30 m.
Flagstaff	South Rim	82 m.
South Rim	Cameron	59 m.
Cameron	Flagstaff	51 m.
Flagstaff	Sedona	35 m.

Note: Van shuttle transportation is available to/from Phoenix to Sedona.

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