2021 & 2022 Globus Guided Tours - Globus® Vacation Packages

Western Rails & Canyons with Canyon Spirit Rail Journey (AG)

9-day tour from Denver to Denver

2026 Tour Details View 2025 Tour Details »

All aboard for a spectacular 9-day adventure through the American Southwest! Your tour through Colorado and Utah begins with an overnight stay in the ‘Mile High City’ of Denver—5,280 feet above sea level. In Colorado Springs, board the Pikes Peak cog railway to reach the summit that inspired ‘America the Beautiful.’ Explore the stunning desert landscapes of Canyonlands and Arches National Parks, and the ancient indigenous dwellings of Mesa Verde National Park. Embark on a two-day scenic rail journey aboard the Canyon Spirit train from the outdoor mecca of Moab through Colorado Canyons National Conservation Area and over the Continental Divide to return to Denver. You’ll also explore the natural treasures of Great Sand Dunes National Park and the scenic Durango & Silverton Narrow-Gauge Railroad.

We’ve packed everything you need for the perfect tour—from hand-selected hotels and dining to the friendly expertise of Globus Tour Directors and Local Guides, to seamless transportation between destinations and VIP access to the world’s most iconic sites! Touring by private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach with free Wi-Fi (where available). Enhance your free time with your GlobusGO mobile app!

And that’s not all! Canyon Spirit features Signature experience train service with a single-level dome coach and panoramic oversized windows with reclining, comfortable, spacious seats; snacks, meals, and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages; elevated service, access to an outdoor viewing area, and storytelling from Onboard Hosts. The Premier experience upgrade is available with luxury reminiscent of a bygone era, including extra attendants, additional outdoor space, and regional cuisine in an exclusive dining car.

Western Rails & Canyons with Canyon Spirit Rail Journey map

 Photo Highlights

 Meals

 Meals & Itinerary

Breakfast daily, 1 lunch, 3 dinners


Notes:

Visiting and participating in activities in this region may be subject to favorable weather conditions.

The trail to the Escalante Pueblo is a ½-mile-long, paved, uphill, wheelchair-accessible trail.

Glenwood Springs’ properties are considered moderate 3-star hotels or better. Your chosen hotel is determined by Canyon Spirit; however, you can rest assured that it satisfies our high standards of cleanliness and comfort.

Canyon Spirit is operated by Rocky Mountaineer/Armstrong Collective.

 Itinerary

Day 1 ARRIVE IN DENVER, COLORADO

Welcome to Colorado! At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions for a welcome drink.

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Day 2 DENVER–COLORADO SPRINGS

The Mile-High City See Denver’s historic Union Station, Mile High Stadium, and more on an orientation tour en route to Colorado Springs. Explore Garden of the Gods Park, featuring 300-foot towering sandstone rock formations against a backdrop of snowcapped Pikes Peak and brilliant blue skies. Take a thrilling ride on the Broadmoor Manitou & Pikes Peak Cog Railway. Travel up to the summit of 14,115-foot Pikes Peak, the place that inspired Katharine Lee Bates to write America the Beautiful. Tonight, a Globus Local FavoriteGlobus Local Favorite home-cooked BBQ dinner with western music under the stars at the historic Flying W Ranch (weather permitting).

LOCAL FAVORITE
LOCAL TASTES Enjoy Rocky Mountain home cooking under the stars with a BBQ at Flying W Ranch. Feel free to don your western garb and tap along to western music to get you in the spirit at this working cattle ranch in the Colorado foothills!


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Breakfast Breakfast
DinnerDinner

Day 3 COLORADO SPRINGS–GREAT SAND DUNES NATIONAL PARK–DURANGO

Peak Perfection A scenic drive travels along the Highway of Legends Scenic and Historic Byway, with views of the Sangre de Cristo Range, home to ten 14,000-foot peaks, and through meandering ranchlands to Great Sand Dunes National Park. Later, continue deeper into the Colorado wilderness passing through the San Juan National Forest to Durango. Tonight is free to explore Durango to visit the saloons, speakeasy, and more on historic Main Street.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
NATURAL WONDERS A sandbox of epic proportions, the entire dune field encompasses 30 square miles, with the tallest dune towering 750 feet high. With the highest dunes in North America, Great Sand Dunes National Park is a diverse landscape of grasslands, wetlands, forests, and soaring peaks. Enjoy free time here to explore the dunefield trails.


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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 4 DURANGO. RAIL JOURNEY TO SILVERTON

Rocky Mountain Highs This morning, board the Globus Local FavoriteGlobus Local Favorite Durango & Silverton Narrow-Gauge Railroad for a scenic ride through San Juan National Forest. Return to Durango for a free evening.

LOCAL FAVORITE
EPIC RIDE The legendary Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad train hugs steep canyon walls as it winds its way through Rio de las Animas Canyon to Silverton, a National Historic Landmark. Silverton, once a major mining town, owes its name to an early miner’s claim, “We have no gold, but silver by the ton!” Spend time visiting the breweries, boutiques, and saloons that dot the thriving Greene Street.


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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 5 DURANGO–MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK–CANYONS OF THE ANCIENTS–MOAB, UTAH

Ancient Mystery Today is a step back to ancient times, lands, and people. Start with a visit to Mesa Verde National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, continuing to the Canyon of the Ancients Visitor Center and Museum. Continue to Moab for a free evening.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
HISTORY & TRADITION Learn about the Ancestral Puebloans and see their mysterious, centuries-old cliff dwellings. Also, visit the museum that depicts the story of the people who once thrived on this 8,000-foot plateau, and stop at a great vantage point for pictures of Cliff Palace (one of the largest of the 700-year-old Anasazi dwellings). Visit the Canyon of the Ancients Visitor Center and Museum en route to Moab. Learn of the Ancestral Puebloan, Native American, and historic cultures in the Four Corners region. Then, walk in the footsteps of these great people by visiting the Escalante and Dominquez Pueblos.


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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 6 MOAB. EXCURSION TO CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK & DEADHORSE STATE PARK

Crimson Canyons Visit magnificent Canyonlands National Park and Dead Horse Point State Park. Return to Moab for a free evening. Perhaps visit the quaint shops and restaurants on Main Street or stretch your legs on the Mill Creek Parkway Trail.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
NATURAL WONDERS Explore the magnificent views of Canyonlands National Park to see deep canyons stretching across the Colorado Plateau, an intricate canyon labyrinth with a million crimson hues. Then, on to Dead Horse Point State Park to see a vast mesa with an incredible view of the Colorado River as it twists through a gooseneck canyon 2,000 feet below.


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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 7 MOAB–ARCHES NATIONAL PARK–CANYON SPIRIT RAIL–GLENWOOD SPRINGS, COLORADO

Rockies by Rail Today, explore the incredible landscape of Arches National Park, containing more than 2,000 natural sandstone arches, including the world-famous Delicate Arch. Then embark on the Canyon Spirit for a scenic train ride in Signature Class. Travel east through the Colorado Canyons National Conservation Area. See Parachute Creek and Mount Logan while following the scenic Colorado River. Take in the beautiful red rock formations, desert cliffs of Ruby Canyon, and mountain vistas. Overnight stay in historic Glenwood Springs, Colorado.

NOTE:
Glenwood Springs properties are considered moderate 3-star hotels or better. Your chosen hotel is determined by Canyon Spirit; however, you can rest assured that it satisfies our high standards of cleanliness and comfort.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
TRAIN SPOTLIGHT The Canyon Spirit travels through spectacular scenery. Signature Service features a single-level glass dome coach offering reclining seats, meals served at your seat, an outdoor viewing area, and panoramic views from oversized windows. Enjoy an onboard culinary experience in regional cuisine and ingredients local to the Southwestern U.S.


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Breakfast Breakfast
DinnerDinner

Day 8 GLENWOOD SPRINGS–CANYON SPIRIT RAIL–DENVER

On Top of the World A full day aboard the Canyon Spirit through the Colorado high country. Arrive in Denver this evening for a farewell dinner hosted by your Tour Director tonight.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGHS From dense wooded forests and white-capped mountains of White River National Forest to the picturesque Byers and Gore Canyons and the tranquil mountain lakes of Arapahoe National Forest, you’ll experience the journey of a lifetime. Cross the high elevations of the Continental Divide with a sparkling wine toast while driving through the six-mile-long Moffatt Tunnel.

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Breakfast Breakfast
LunchLunch
DinnerDinner

Day 9 DENVER

Safe travels until we meet again! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. Want to explore more of Denver? Extra nights are available for purchase.

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Breakfast Breakfast

 Tour Director

With GLOBUS, there’s no better way to get to know your destination than through the eyes of a Tour Director. We’d like you to meet one of our Tour Directors, who average over a decade of experience and are representative of the type of expert that will be with you on your vacation.

LISA PERLA

Escorting tours for more than 15 years

It's my passion for travel that led me into the Travel Industry. Originally from New England, I love sharing the area's historical significance and quaint appeal, especially when the Fall colors are at their most brilliant. My heart especially lies in the West, though, with the overwhelming beauty of our parks and canyonlands. I truly enjoy sharing what this wondrous country has to offer, and my goal is for our guests to leave with once-in-a-lifetime memories.

Tour Director - LISA PERLA

 Accommodations

Denver
Colorado Springs
Durango
Moab

Denver

Hotel Indigo Denver Downtown
Hotel Indigo Denver Downtown

Hotel Indigo Denver Downtown

First-Class

Hotel Indigo Denver Downtown 1801 Wewatta Street, Denver, CO United States

1801 Wewatta Street
Denver, United States

Free Wifi

Free Wifi

Hotel Indigo Denver Downtown combines the charm of a boutique hotel with top-notch amenities just steps away from Union Station. The hotel features rustic-chic décor with mural-size golf-mining photos, plenty of natural light, sliding barn doors, and polished concrete ceilings.

Hotel Amenities

  • Restaurant On-Site
  • Laundry Available
  • Business Center
  • Fitness Room
  • Bar/Lounge
  • ATM
  • Luggage Storage
  • Free WiFi
  • Elevator

Room Amenities

  • Cable/Satellite
  • Complimentary Toiletries
  • Television
  • Internet Access
  • Air Conditioning
  • Desk
  • Climate Control
  • Iron/Ironing Board
  • Coffee Maker
  • Hair Dryer
  • Phone


The “Starting at” or listed price is based on the lowest price available to book. Price is per person based on twin occupancy and any applicable port charges, non-commissionable taxes and fees and intra-vacation flight are included in the price shown. Any included overnight stay in Canada, applicable GST/HST is also included in the price shown. International airfare, however, is not included. If price is crossed out, the new price shown includes a limited time promotional offer(s). Please review current promotions or deals for additional information.