America Gap Year Tours

Trailblazer-64 days

On this grand 64-day tour you will visit 29 US states and 2 Canadian provinces. You will visit quaint towns and large bustling cities. You will explore this continent's breathtaking National Parks and unspoilt scenery - on this once in a lifetime adventure.

This trek has been specially designed to run at a consistent but relaxed pace with plenty of free days built into the itinerary to allow each group to change the tour to suit their specific interests.
We begin our tour in America’s capital, Washington D.C. Learn the country's history by visiting museums, monuments, memorials and the Mall. Travel south to experience the charm of Charleston South Carolina before heading into the warmth of the Florida sun, sand and sea. Soak up the rays on the beach at St. Augustine, splash in the surf of the Florida Keys, wonder at the wildlife of the Everglades, and discover Disney world. The city of jazz is next, New Orleans situated on the Gulf Coast. You may never want to leave this eclectic city but 4 amazing days and nights in the great state of Texas await you.

The National Parks of New Mexico and Utah are next. You will roam through the mountains of Colorado and the Indian Lands of Arizona. Go on a jeep tour with the Navajo Indians in Monument Valley, before exploring the sheer splendour of Grand Canyon National Park.

Then cool off in the clear blue waters of Lake Powell, with time to rest and relax. Hiking and photo opportunities abound in the jaw dropping Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks of southern Utah.

Canyon dust gives way to desert glitz when we journey to Las Vegas. Catch a show, a limo or a casino and let the neon and nightlife dazzle you. Travel to mellow out in Southern California's playground, San Diego, Sea World Adventure Park, the world renowned Zoo and beaches beckon before heading up the coast to the City of Angels, Los Angeles.

Travel north along the Pacific Coast to Yosemite National Park where you have the opportunity to hike among the giant sequoias and enjoy the breathtaking views of the Sierra Nevadas. Then on to San Francisco - Fisherman's Wharf and the delights of Chinatown. Nightlife, baseball, cable cars and shops fill your visit. Next we travel onto Redwood National Park before hitting the streets of “the Emerald City” Seattle.

We now cross into Canada to the great city of Vancouver then head on the Yellowhead Highway and the fantastic scenery of Banff National Park and Lake Louise in the heart of the Canadian Rockies. Walk on the Columbia Icefields or canoe on a wilderness lake.

On to the beauty of Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks complete with a variety of wildlife and steaming and spouting geysers. We then journey to the rodeo town of Cody Wyoming and the cowboy town of Deadwood. See the presidents at the famous Mt. Rushmore National Monument and the Native Americans' tribute to their past, Crazy Horse Monument. Travelling East through the Black Hills and the Sioux Indian territory of Badlands National Park, we reach the "Windy City" of Chicago, famous for music, museums and Lake Shore Drive.

Around the Great Lakes to the thundering power of Niagara Falls, where you will embark on the Maid of the Mist cruise to get you up close and personal with this great natural wonder. We leave the Great Lakes and travel to the smaller but picturesque Finger Lakes, before winding back up to where it all began, New York City.

Included in tour

Services of the tour leader, camping fees / equipment and transportation
Admission to Disneyworld
Admission to Carlsbad Caverns
Admission to Monument Valley Tribal Lands
Crazy Horse Monument
Admission to Mount Rushmore National Memorial
Niagara Falls Maid of the Mist Cruise
Admission to all National Parks & Monuments

Not Included

International Flights
Hotel Accommodation on nights noted (H)
Travel Insurance
Spending Money
Food (Kitty will be collected USD$9 per day)

Accommodation & Meals
This is a camping tour. Camping or unpaid Hotel (H) when noted. You will contribute to a food kitty of $9 per day. This will provide for 3 meals a day usually. While on the tour you will take turns cooking meals. 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.

Stops
Depart New York at 0730 hrs

1 Washington DC
2 Washington DC
3 Carolinas
4 Charleston
5 St. Augustine
6 Florida Keys
7 Florida Keys
8 Everglades NP
9 Orlando
10 Orlando
11 Orlando
12 Panama Beach
13 New Orleans (H)
14 New Orleans (H)
15 Texas
16 San Antonio
17 San Antonio
18 Del Rio
19 Carlsbad Caverns NP
20 Santa Fe
21 Colorado Rockies
22 Colorado Rockies
23 Arches NP
24 Arches NP
25 Monument Valley
26 Grand Canyon NP
27 Grand Canyon NP
28 Lake Powell
29 Bryce Canyon NP
30 Zion NP
31 Las Vegas (H)
32 Las Vegas (H)
33 San Diego
34 San Diego
35 Los Angeles
36 Los Angeles (H)
37 Pacific Coast
38 Yosemite NP
39 Yosemite NP
40 San Francisco (H)
41 San Francisco (H)
42 Redwood NP
43 Redwood NP
44 Oregon
45 Seattle (H)
46 Vancouver
47 British Columbia
48 Banff NP
49 Banff NP
50 Lake Louise
51 Glacier NP
52 Montana
53 Yellowstone NP
54 Yellowstone NP
55 Cody, Wyoming
56 Black Hills
57 Badlands NP
58 Minnesota
59 Chicago (H)
60 Chicago (H)
61 Great lakes
62 Niagara
63 Finger Lakes
64 New York

This trek operates in either direction, with departures from New York and Los Angeles. Tours departing from Los Angeles spend one hotel night in New York City, which is not included in the price.

For Los Angeles departures, please read itinerary with day one starting on the "Pacific Coast", or in "Los Angeles" for the reverse direction.

Optional Extras

Universal Studios
Cable car ride
Blues clubs
Bicycle ride
Horse & buggy ride
Western rodeo (in season)
Chicago museums
Grand Canyon flight
Smithsonian National Museums
Sears Tower
Canoeing
Buffalo Bill Museum
Navajo guided jeep tour
San Diego Zoo
Excellent hiking opportunities
Indian arts & crafts

Wave runners
Sea World Adventure Park
Sunset Sailboat cruise
Wet n Wild water slides
Horseback riding
I-MAX theatre
New Orleans jazz clubs
Southern mansion tour
Epcot Center
Cable car ride
Whitewater rafting
Mississippi steamboat ride
Casino shows
Swamp tour
Baseball game
Chuck wagon dinner

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