America Gap Year Tours

Cross Country Trail – 16 Days

From the Great Lakes to the West Coast, this tour gives you a trip to remember through the heart of America.

Following the Pony express trail you will cross the Mississippi River and the beautiful national parks of Americas South West including the Grand Canyon. Finishing your tour with a stop in Las Vegas and a trip to the scenic and lush Yosemite National Park. Your journey will end with a drive across the Bay Bridge in the home of the 1849 Gold Rush - San Francisco.

Our first stop is at the Amana Colonies. This comprised of seven villages that demonstrate life as it was in early America. Here you can enjoy a hearty feast prepared in the old-world German style and explore the numerous furniture, craft and food stores. We leave the colonies and cross the "Mighty Mo" (Missouri River). Enjoy fantastic views from Council Bluffs, where Indians gathered and the Lewis and Clark Expedition camped. As we travel we meet the Platte River and pass the Platte River Road Archway Monument, which marks the original Pony Express trail.

Leaving Nebraska we continue through Colorado to the Mile High City of Denver. This city is set in the beautiful foothills of the Rockies and is a lovely stop. You can even opt to try some thrilling river rafting as we continue to the heart of the Colorado Rockies.

From Colorado we head into the Southwest and some of the best national parks in the country. First stop, Moab and Arches National Park where you can hike amongst thousands of awesome sandstone structures. Go Mountain biking through the brilliant red rock trails or follow the old logging roads that climb the Manti La Sal Mountains.

We continue our journey into Arizona for a visit to the Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Lands. Here we take in a jeep tour into the valley led by our own Native America guide. We have the opportunity to buy artifacts and jewellery on our way to our next destination - the Grand Canyon! Our two-day stop gives us plenty of time to hike the rim or into the canyon itself. For a bird’s eye view why not opt for a scenic flight to take in the full scale of this vast natural wonder.

From the beauty of the national parks we head straight for the oasis of glitz and glam - Las Vegas. The city is brimming with things to do, places to see and things to experience. Enjoy a buffet dinner and a night wandering the infamous Strip. Try your luck with the one armed bandits, take in a show or just have a look around. Following our day in Sin City we head back into nature by taking a scenic drive to Yosemite National Park. During our two days in the park take time to walk beneath the giant Sequoias or hike one of the many trails leading to spectacular vistas and waterfalls. We finish our trip across America’s heartland in San Francisco!

Included

Transportation
Services of a tour leader
All camping fees & equipment
Authentic German style dinner
Admission to all National Parks and Monuments

Not Included

International Flights
Travel Insuranc
Spending Money
Food (Kitty will be collected USD$9 per day)

Meals
You will contribute to a food kitty of $9 per day. This will provide for 3 meals a day usually; eating fresh food that we purchase as we travel to satisfy the international flavour of the group- a healthy way to travel at an unbeatable price. While on the tour you will take turns cooking meals.

Stops
Departs our Chicago hotel at 0730 hrs.

1. Amana Colonies
2. Platte River Valley
3. Lake McConaughy
4. Denver (H)
5. Colorado Rockies
6. Colorado Rockies
7. Arches National Park
8. Arches National Park
9. Monument Valley
10. Grand Canyon Nat'l Park
11. Grand Canyon Nat'l Park
12. Las Vegas (H)
13. Sierra Nevada
14. Yosemite National Park
15. Yosemite National Park
16. San Francisco

Optional Activities
Horseback riding
Mountain biking in Moab
Whitewater rafting
Grand Canyon scenic flight
I-Max Theater
Limos in Las Vegas
Monument Valley Jeep Tour
Excellent national park hikes

Dates & Prices
The Cross Country Trail USA tour price varies according to the time of year. Please contact us for exact dates and prices.