Zion National Park
Zion National Park is a truly awesome spectacle of soaring red and white cliffs in Zion Canyon, one of Utah’s most dramatic natural wonders. Amble along on one of many grand hikes to discover the 14,000ft ascent to Angels Landing. Less daring are walks where you can discover weeping rocks, impressive rock formations, hanging gardens and beautiful meadows of mesa-top wildflowers and lush vegetation. You can also take a scenic drive through Zion National Park, which is a lovely way to cover the park in less time, whilst still providing extraordinary vistas.
Bryce Canyon National Park
Spires of rock and hoodoos are awash with the wonderful rich reds and oranges that make up the incredible Bryce Canyon National Park. Visit the park at sunset when the rock formations are set ablaze with vibrant orange, providing a picture-perfect opportunity. A key highlight of the national park is Bryce Point – which juts out over the luscious forested canyon floor, 1,000ft below – offering the most extraordinary views as far as the eye can see. We suggest visiting the park during June and September for the best weather conditions.
Lake Powell
Following the construction of the huge Glen Canyon Dam in the 1960s, consequently flooding Glen Canyon, Lake Powell is now a superb recreational playground. Stretching more than 185 miles and surrounded by millions of acres of desert, Lake Powell incorporates many beaches along its secluded bays, its blue waters turning warm around early June and staying that way well into October, providing endless opportunities for boating, water-skiing, kayaking and fishing.
Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument
The sheer size of this 1.9-million-acre park is incredible. Nearly twice the size of Rhode Island, the Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument is the largest park in the southwest, offering some of the most undisturbed and spectacular scenery on the planet. The name derives from the 150-mile-long geographical strata that begins at the bottom of the Grand Canyon and climbs 3,500ft in stair steps to Bryce Canyon and Escalante River Canyon. The phenomenal rock formations is a sight to behold, the layers of rock reveal a story of 260 million years of history.
Beach Hopping at Amangiri
As well as being a natural playground, Utah offers amusement and water parks, zoos and a dinosaur museum. Spend the day exploring the canyons by water – jump aboard a high-speed motorboat and travel the turquoise waters of Lake Powell, (named in honour of John Wesley Powell, the civil war veteran and one-armed explorer who led the first successful scientific expedition down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon) admiring the stunning geological formations en route and stopping off at one of the river’s beautiful sandy beaches for a picnic lunch.
Flight Information
British Airways from London Heathrow to Phoenix and onward connecting flights with Great Lakes Aviation from Phoenix to Page.
Flight Time
From London Heathrow to Phoenix: 10 hours, 40 minutes.
Onward connecting flight from Pheonix to Page: 1 hour, 10 minutes.
Travelling With Children or Without an Adult
Children travelling without both parents should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country (for example, South Africa) or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country. Please contact the relevant Embassy for the county you are travelling to for further information.
Visa and Advance Passenger Information
All passengers must ensure they have a valid, acceptable passport, any required visa and any other documentation for both the final destination and any stop-off points en route. Please make sure that Advance Passenger Information is submitted in advance to travel for all destinations. Failure to hold correct documentation or submitting incorrect details with Advance Passenger Information or Visa applications may result in refusal of carriage or entry into a country. Please check with the relevant Embassy regarding visa requirements well in advance of your travel date. Charges may apply for some visas.
Travel Advice Update
The FCO travel advice for the USA has been updated with an amendment to the Entry requirements section - on 18 December 2015, the US Congress passed a Bill updating the requirements for the Visa Waiver Programme (VWP); under the new rules, with effect from 1 April 2016 all travellers wishing to enter the US under the VWP will need to hold a passport with an integrated chip.
The web-based Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) requires all passengers (including infants) travelling via or to the USA to apply for authority to travel a minimum of 72 hours prior to travel. You may be denied boarding or refused entry to the US if you have not registered and obtained authorisation. To apply visit the official website: https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/ A charge of UD$14 per person (subject to change) will apply and must be paid by either credit or debit card.
Customs and Border Protection programme Global Entry gets pre-approved travellers through border control faster at some US airports. If you’re a British citizen and a frequent visitor to the USA you can now register to get a UK background check on www.gov.uk/apply-faster-entry-usa. If you pass the background checks, you’ll be invited to apply for Global Entry.
Passengers not travelling on a British Passport are advised to contact their relevant Foreign & Commonwealth office for individual Visa requirements.
For up-to-date resort information, visit www.fco.gov.uk
Health facilities, hygiene and disease risks vary worldwide and you should take health advice about your specific needs from your general practitioner or a specialist clinic as early as possible before travel. Those planning to become pregnant should discuss their travel plans with their healthcare provider to assess their risk of infection with Zika. For information about Zika, other mosquito-borne diseases (such as Dengue fever and Chikungunya), Lyme Disease (caused by tick bites), and to receive advice on mosquito bite avoidance measures, please visit http://travelhealthpro.org.uk/insect-tick-bite-avoidance/
In addition, we highly recommend that you seek specialist advice from your doctor and, where recommended, obtain vaccinations or tablets for protection against, for example: Malaria, Hepatitis A, Polio and Typhoid. In some cases, treatments for Malaria should begin well in advance of travel. Travellers may also be required to show Yellow Fever Certificates on arrival in certain destinations ie, some African countries. Please note that you are strongly advised against scuba-diving for 24 hours before travelling by air. We would also like to draw your attention to the risk of DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) and recommend that you consult with your doctor before travelling.
Visit the FCO website and select your destination country for the very latest travel advice: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice.
Additional sources of information include: www.hpa.org.uk, http://nathnac.net,
www.fco.gov.uk, www.hpa.org.uk and www.nathnac.org, your General Practitioner or a specialised clinic.