9-Nights Colorful Colorado: Peaks, Parks, And Panoramas from $4,599

Itinerary Details

Colorful Colorado: Peaks, Parks, And Panoramas

Day 1: ARRIVE IN DENVERWelcome to Denver! At 6 pm, meet with your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome drink.

ENHANCED FREE TIME
EXPLORE MORE The sky’s the limit with Rocky Mountain ways to explore the Mile High City of Denver. Discover one of the city’s great museums, stroll the pedestrian mall at 16th Street or visit a local brewery on the Denver Beer Trail! Your Tour Director has suggestions to make the most of your free time. Tap your GlobusGO mobile app for maps, tips, and more.



Day 2: DENVER–MORRISON–BOULDER–ESTES PARK Red Rocks and Mountain Tops Take an orientation tour of Denver, including the Colorado State Capitol, modeled after the Capitol Building in Washington DC. Visit legendary Red Rocks Amphitheater, a geological wonder of battle-ship-sized red rocks surrounding terraced seats amid musical acoustic perfection since 1941. Continue to Boulder for Flatiron views and an orientation tour. Enjoy lunch and free time to explore Pearl Street, a pedestrian walkway in the heart of downtown. Depart Boulder for Estes Park, the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park. (B)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE Recognized as the “Happiest City in the US,” Boulder boasts more than 300 days of sunshine. Home to University of Colorado Boulder, a tier-one research university also known for its Buffaloes football program, famed college bar, The Sink, and the jagged flatirons rock formations jutting high above it all.



Day 3: ESTES PARK–ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK–GRAND LAKE–VAILRocky Mountain Highs Visit the Alpine Visitor Center and explore Rocky Mountain National Park. Continue to Grand Lake, Colorado’s largest natural lake, framed by magnificent mountain peaks and forests. Travel to Vail, a charming mountain town nestled in the Colorado Rockies, for dinner at a local restaurant and a two-night stay. (B,D)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
ROCKY MOUNTAIN SIGHS Rocky Mountain National Park awakens the senses with alpine lakes, majestic mountain peaks, and miles of meadows—home to its resident elk population, as well as big horn sheep, marmots, and black bear to name a few. From the Estes Park side of the park, climb to more than 12,000 feet for sweeping views of the alpine tundra along Trail Ridge Road (the highest continuous paved road in North America). Cross the Continental Divide and descend to the western side of RMNP. Keep an eye out for moose and other fascinating wildlife en route to historic and charming town of Grand Lake.



Day 4: VAILBavarian Beauty Visit the [LF] Vail Nature Center and enjoy a light guided hike to explore the wildflowers, active beaver lodges, and local ecosystem. Continue to the Colorado Snowsports Museum & Hall of Fame and learn about the rich history of skiing and snowboarding in Colorado. The rest of the day is at leisure to explore the Bavarian-style village on your own. Consider strolling through the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens, try goat yoga, or enjoy an exhilarating ride on the Copper Mountain gondola and alpine slide. (B)

LOCAL FAVORITE
WILDFLOWER WALKS Discover the woods, birds, and meadows at the Vail Nature Center. Walk along the Gore Creek and connect with nature while exploring the unique ecology, wildflowers, and wildlife in the heart of Vail.

ENHANCED FREE TIME
EXPLORE MORE in Vail! Wander and wonder in the charming alpine village—a popular playground for year-round activities—from hiking to biking to skiing. Explore charming Lionshead & Vail Villages to enjoy art galleries, restaurants, and shops. Tap your GlobusGO mobile app for maps and suggestions on where to dine and what to see!



Day 5: VAIL–GRAND JUNCTION–COLORADO NATIONAL MONUMENT–PALISADEPeaches and Vines Depart Vail for Grand Junction and the Colorado National Monument where red rock canyons and desert landscapes loom high on the Colorado Plateau. Here, the Rockies meet the American Southwest. Continue to Palisade and visit a family-owned peach orchard. The unique climate, altitude, and rich volcanic soil in the Palisade area are the perfect combination for growing peaches and grapes. Discover creative peach concoctions with a tour and tasting at [LF] Peach Street Distillers, a creative spirits distillery. Enjoy an overnight stay at the Wine Country Inn for an authentic, local wine experience. (B)

LOCAL FAVORITE
COLORADO PROUD Enjoy the fruits of Palisade peach growers’ labors where a small-batch artisanal distillery uses Colorado grain and local fruit to create a variety of delicious spirits. Tour the production facility and explore the process and barrel aging techniques used to produce the award-winning spirits.



Day 6: PALISADE–BLACK CANYON OF THE GUNNISON NATIONAL PARK–SILVERTON–DURANGO All Aboard! Depart Palisade for Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Enjoy views in the quiet park of the gorge carved by the powerful Gunnison River. Continue to Silverton for a memorable ride on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad to Durango for a 2-night stay. Tonight, spend free time browsing the shops on Main Avenue or enjoy regional specialties at a local restaurant. (B)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
EPIC RIDE Board the legendary Durango & Silverton Narrow-Gauge Railroad steam train as it hugs steep canyon walls to wind its way through Rio de las Animas Canyon. Arrive in Durango, a town born in the Gold Rush and silver-mining era.



Day 7: DURANGO. MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARKAncient Mystery Today, visit Mesa Verde National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Continue to the Southern Ute Cultural Center and Museum and discover the culture and history of the Núuchi (Ute People). This afternoon, visit Ska Brewing Company in Durango for a tasting and discover their sustainability initiatives. As one of the first craft breweries in the country to package beer in infinitely recyclable aluminum cans, they are committed to reducing waste and continue to create sustainability programs. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant in downtown Durango. (B,D)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
ANCIENT DWELLINGS See Spruce Tree House, one of Mesa Verde’s best-preserved cliff dwellings. Visit the museum that tells the story of the people who once thrived on this 8,000-foot ancient plateau (now Mesa Verde National Park). Stop at a great vantage point for pictures of Cliff Palace (one of the largest of the 700-year-old Anasazi dwellings).



Day 8: DURANGO–GREAT SAND DUNES NATIONAL PARK–COLORADO SPRINGSPeak Perfection Depart Durango for Alamosa and visit Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. Reaching 750 feet high across 30 square miles, the Great Sand Dunes of Southern Colorado amaze as the tallest sand dunes in North America. Surrounded by a backdrop of forests, mountains, and wild grassland, this natural wonder creates a visual masterpiece of natural beauty. Continue to Colorado Springs for a 2-night resort stay. (B)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
ACCOMMODATION HIGHLIGHT Discover Rocky Mountain serenity at Cheyenne Mountain Resort, located in the foothills of the Rockies, for the ultimate mountain experience. Relax onsite with resort amenities including walking trails, indoor and outdoor pools, a private lake with watersports, golf, spa, and even pickleball courts!



Day 9: COLORADO SPRINGSSpend your day your way in Colorado Springs Explore more of Colorado Springs with your choice of included Globus Choice excursions.

GOING FOR GOLD

Experience an immersive look into the training of the greatest athletes in America and rich Olympic history with a visit to the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum. Discover interactive exhibits, innovative displays and an impressive artifact collection on Team USA.

AMERICA'S MOUNTAIN

Take a ride on the Manitou & Pikes Peak Cog Railway for a memorable experience on the oldest cog railway in the world. Travel from Manitou Springs to the summit that inspired the song, America the Beautiful, for panoramic views of rich forests, canyons, and snow-capped mountains.