8 DAYS • 12 MEALS

Day One – Arrive in Denver
Welcome to Denver, Colorado, the “Mile High City.” Meet your fellow travelers at 6:00 p.m. for a get-acquainted dinner hosted by your Tour Manager. Dinner

Day Two – Denver
Following breakfast we have a city tour of Denver, the Capital of Colorado, including the State Capitol Building, Civic Center and much more. This afternoon we travel to Vail, known for its legendary skiing as well as upscale social scene. We continue on to our home for the night, Grand Junction, where we gather for dinner. Breakfast and dinner

Day Three – Colorado National Monument
and Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad
Enjoy Colorado’s spectacular beauty preserved in her national treasure, Colorado National Monument. Then it’s “full steam ahead” today as we board the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. Voted one of the “Top Ten Most Exciting Train Journeys in the World” by the Society of American Travel Writers, this route winds through the spectacular and breathtaking canyons in the remote wilderness of the two-million acre San Juan National Forest. The locomotives used today remain 100% coal-fired, steam-operated and are maintained in their original condition. Breakfast

Day Four – Mesa Verde National Park
Today we visit the land of the ancient Pueblo Indians in Mesa Verde National Park. The fascinating cliff dwellings and culture of these people provide us with a look into a society that existed approximately 1400 years ago. Building elaborate stone communities, the Pueblos developed their own society that existed for some 700 years, before disappearing. Archeologists called them Anasazi, from a Navajo word sometimes translating as ‘the ancient ones’. Breakfast

Day Five – Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad
Our day begins as we board our motorcoach to ride the original Rio Grande Line, the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad. This is America’s most spectacular narrow gauge steam railroad. Enjoy lunch onboard as you explore 50 miles of wild and rugged territory between Chama and Antonito, the highest point on the railroad. Over dinner this evening, we share our days’ adventures. Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day Six – Royal Gorge Scenic Railway
Today we enjoy another journey by train aboard the Royal Gorge Railway. The 12-mile route follows the most famous portion of the old Denver and Rio Grande Western train line. We ride through the “Grand Canyon of the Arkansas” on an unforgettable journey over the famous Hanging Bridge, which clings precariously to the steep granite walls of Royal Gorge. Breakfast

Day Seven – Colorado Springs
This morning we travel aboard our motorcoach to the U.S. Air Force Academy and its famous Cadet Chapel (when available). Next, it’s on to the stunning Garden of the Gods, a 1300 acre park where flora and fauna reflect the rich diversity of the terrain, and red sandstone formations tell a unique geological story. The Garden lies at the base of Pikes Peak, which is our next adventure. “Ride to the Clouds!” aboard the Pikes Peak Cog Railway, the highest cog railroad in the U.S. which stretches nine miles long as it vertically climbs to almost 8,000 feet. This evening we assemble for a farewell dinner, sharing memories of this unforgettable rail journey.
Breakfast and dinner

Day Eight – Denver and Home
Following breakfast we say goodbye to Colorado with fond memories of our western railroads adventure with a group transfer to the Denver International Airport for flights home after 12:00 p.m. Breakfast