Colorado Rocky Mountain High!
Self-Drive Tour
Discover the rich diversity of history, culture and spectacular scenery during our 14-night/15-day self-drive tour of the great Rocky Mountain state of Colorado! Daily departures between 20 May and 20 September.
Start with a couple of nights in the mile-high city of Denver where you can enjoy the fine restaurants, superb shopping and innovative museums as you ease into your holiday. Then its time to head west with overnight stays in Aspen - playground of the rich and famous; Grand Junction - where a wide range of exciting outdoor activities awaits; Telluride - where Butch Cassidy robbed his first bank; Mesa Verde where the early Native Americans built their homes into the towering rock walls of the canyon; Durango - a former wild-west town and starting point for the famous Durango-Silverton Railroad; Gunnison - explore the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park; Colorado Springs - visit the 'Garden of the Gods' and Pikes Peak before heading back to Denver.
Day 1. Arrive Denver.
Upon arrival at Denver International Airport we recommend that you take at taxi (not included) to your downtown hotel and enjoy the remainder of the evening exploring Denver. Overnight: Comfort Inn Downtown (Standard) or The Curtis Hotel (Superior).
Day 2. Denver. A free day to explore the attractions and shopping of Denver. The 'Mile High' city has a lot to offer with excellent downtown shopping, restaurants, sporting and cultural attractions. Overnight: Comfort Inn Downtown (Standard) or The Curtis Hotel (Superior).
Day 3. Denver to Glenwood Springs (Standard) or Aspen (Superior) (approx.160 miles). Collect your rental car this morning and head west into the Rocky Mountains, through the town of Leadville (America's highest town) to the world-famous playground of the rich and famous - Aspen! The drive today takes you over some of the highest passes in the Colorado Rockies with spectacular scenery and an opportunity to linger at some of the small towns and historical sites en route. The afternoon is free for you to enjoy Glenwood Spring/Aspen. Overnight: Best Western Antlers Motel, Glenwood Springs (Standard) or Hotel Aspen/Limelight Lodge (Superior).
Day 4. Explore Aspen. With a wide choice of outdoor activities including rafting, jeep tours, biking, horse-riding, hot-air balooning and hiking you have ample opportunity to explore the beautiful countryside surrounding Aspen. There is a wide choice of dining, shopping and cultural activities too, so prepare yourself for a busy and enjoyable stay in this fabulous resort town. Overnight: Best Western Antlers Motel, Glenwood Springs (Standard) or Hotel Aspen/Limelight Lodge (Superior).
Day 5. Aspen to Grand Junction (approx.135 miles). Continue west through the Rockies via Glenwood Springs - home of the world's largest natural hot springs pool - to Grand Junction. Overnight: Grand Vista Hotel (Standard) or Hawthorne Suites Downtown (Superior).
Day 6 & 7. Grand Junction. Grand Junction is the gateway town for the Colorado National Monument and the ideal base for touring Colorado's Wine Country. There is a wide choice of outdoor activities including rafting, jeep tours, biking, hiking, horse-riding and wine tasting. Colorado National Monument is 23,000 acres of rock formations, arched windows, canyons and exposed layers of earth; dramatic scenery and excellent hiking. In the evenings there is wide choice of fine restaurants and even a chuckwagon supper! Overnight: Grand Vista Hotel (Standard) or Hawthorne Suites Downtown (Superior).
Day 8. Grand Junction to Telluride (approx.125 miles). Dubbed the new Aspen as the movie stars move in, in s
earch of skiing and high society. The historic main street is is hemmed in by the sides of a canyon and a year-round gondola glides up to the plateau and Mountain Village offering stunning views of the surrounding area. It was in Telluride that Butch Cassidy robbed his first bank, and the town has maintained much of it's wild west atmosphere. Overnight: Ice House Hotel (Standard & Superior).
Day 9. Telluride to Mesa Verde National Park (approx.100 miles). From Telluride the short drive today quickly brings you to Mesa Verde National Park - home of some of the southwest's most impressive native American cliff-dwellings. Spend the afternoon exploring the 1,000-year old homesites and villages scattered across the deep canyons and mesas and wonder at the ingenuity of the ancient peoples who occupied this area for hundreds of years before mysteriously vanishing in the 1300's. Your accommodation tonight is in the national park allowing you time to enjoy the fabulous scenery and peaceful atmosphere of this very special place. Overnight: Far View Lodge (Standard & Superior).
Day 10. Mesa Verde National Park to Durango (approx.60 miles). Spend time this morning exploring Mesa Verde's fascinating cliff dwellings and museum before continuing your tour to Durango. Overnight: Holiday Inn (Standard) or Strater Hotel (Superior).
Day 11. Explore Durango. The old wild west town of Durango is a great base from which to enjoy the many activities, scenic beauty and of course the famous Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. It is essential to pre-book the train and Just America will be pleased to assist you. Other activities in the town and immediate area include horse-riding, rafting, hiking, jeep tours and golfing. Overnight: Holiday Inn (Standard) or Strater Hotel (Superior).
Day 12. Durango to Gunnison (approx.175 miles). Shortly after leaving Durango this morning you arrive in Silverton, so if you didn't visit the town on the train, you have the opportunity this morning to explore this historic old town. Shortly after leaving Montrose you suddenly come across a slash in the landscape up to 2,900 feet deep and in placesless than 1,500 feet across. This is the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Spend some time admiring the views and perhaps hiking to the bottom of the canyon before continuing on to the cattle town of Gunnison. Take some time this evening and visit Crested Butte - ski heaven in winter, Colorado's wildflower capital in summer! Overnight: Quality Inn (Standard & Superior).
Day 13. Gunnison to Colorado Springs (approx.170 miles) East from Gunnison on Route 50 you cross the 11,000ft Monarch Pass where Monarch ski resort's cable car can lift you higher for spectacular views over the surrounding Rocky Mountains. After passing through the town of Salida you cross the Royal Gorge Bridge which gracefully spans the Arkansas River - and at 1,000 high is the world's tallest suspension bridge. Enjoy the evening in Colorado Springs. Overnight: Quality Inn Garden of the Gods (Standard) or Cheyenne Mountain Resort (Superior).
Day 14. Explore Colorado Springs. Enjoy a day at leisure visiting some of Colorado Springs' famous attractions. Not to be missed is the Garden of the Gods where visitors can view the dramatic red sandstone formations in the 1,300 acre 'garden'. From the charming artist's colony and spa town of Manitou Springs ride the Pikes Peak cog railway - the highest in the USA - to the top of the 14,000ft mountain; visit the spectacular Cadet Chapel of the U.S. Air Force Academy - one of America's architectural masterpieces; and relax in the airy resort town of Colorado Springs. Overnight: Quality Inn Garden of the Gods (Standard) or Cheyenne Mountain Resort (Superior).
Day 15. Colorado Springs to Denver (approx.70 miles). A short drive up the freeway today will return you to Denver. You may choose to linger in Colorado Springs, or to head for the shopping malls of Denver before returning your rental car and checking in for your return overnight flight to the UK.
At the beginning and end of the season (May/early June & Mid-September) it may be necessary to alter the route to avoid some of the high mountain passes - for example on day 3 we would suggest following the main highway - Interstate 70 from Denver and approaching Aspen from Glenwood Springs.
We can provide details, prices and make reservations for some of the optional sightseeing excursions mentioned in the itinerary.
All mileages are approximate. Hotels/Lodges are subject to availability at the time of booking.
