10-Nights Tailor Made National Parks by Air - Luxury Tailor Made Travel — CALL

Abercrombie & Kent: Tailor Made National Parks by Air

Day 1 Fresno, California

Upon arrival in Fresno, you are met and privately transferred to your luxury accommodations, nestled in the rolling foothills at the gateway to Yosemite National Park in time for lunch. This afternoon, join your private driver-guide to explore the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias. Gaze upward at some of the more than 500 mature trees stretching majestically skyward, their trunks exceeding 100 feet or more in circumference; some of these trees are among the oldest living things on earth. Following your tour, return to your hotel.

Encompassing a deep valley set into the massive granite peaks of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range in Northern California, Yosemite National Park has a majesty that few other places on earth can rival. Cascading waterfalls, ancient giant redwoods and towering rock outcroppings are just a few of the natural features on display. Fresh mountain air, soaring forests, flowering meadows, flowing rivers, melting glaciers and a diversity of flora and fauna all help to make Yosemite an unforgettable experience. Meet your private guide for a full day of exploring the park, including Half Dome and the major waterfalls and rock formations of Yosemite Valley, as well as portions of the high country. Along the way, your guide points out little-known treasures, off-the-beaten-path trails and the sites that best fit your interests. Break for lunch at the Ahwahnee Hotel, and in the late afternoon, meet John Muir — or rather, an expert historical reenactor of the great naturalist and environmentalist, whose writings helped spur America to protect its natural treasures. Learn about Muir's deep love for the area and his incredible adventures while he lived there, and experience some of his fierce and eloquent advocacy that resulted in the protection of what is now Yosemite National Park.

This morning, meet your private driver-guide to explore Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. See some of the world’s largest trees, including the General Grant and the General Sherman as well as Auto Log, Morro Rock, Grizzly Falls and Roaring River Falls, the enchanted meadow and more. Venture off the beaten path to view little-known treasures pointed out by your guide and into Kings Canyon National Park, the deepest canyon in the United States. Follow the dramatic Kings River deep into the canyon, experiencing spectacular geological features and stopping to savor a delicious picnic lunch along the way.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your private charter flight to Grand Canyon National Park. With its staggering dimensions — 277 miles long, up to 18 miles wide and over a mile deep — Arizona’s Grand Canyon occupies a special place in the mythology of the American West. Carved out of layers of rock over untold millennia by the mighty Colorado River, the canyon welcomes millions annually who come to descend to its floor, fly over its vast expanse or simply stand on its rim and behold the view. Join your private guide for a hike around the canyon’s rim and then descend into the canyon itself on trails little used by other hikers. As you explore, your guide unlocks the history, geology, flora and fauna of this natural wonder, lending an added depth and perspective to everything you see. In the afternoon, stop at the historic lodges and buildings on the canyon rim, including the studio of photography pioneers Emery and Ellsworth Kolb, where you visit a floor of the studio not open to the public. Enjoy lunch at the historic El Tovar Lodge, located right on the edge of the South Rim. In the late afternoon, depart on your private charter flight to Page, where you transfer to Canyon Point and your hotel.

From twisting slot canyons to hanging gardens to lofty peaks and mesas, Lake Powell provides access to some of the most amazing scenery and geologic formations on the Colorado Plateau. Featuring partially submerged canyons, the contrast of the red rock and blue waters is stunning. Enjoy a private excursion in a high-speed powerboat with your private captain on Lake Powell today. With its 2,000 miles of shoreline, the lake offers unlimited opportunities to explore, and the day is yours to enjoy the sun and scenery. Your aquatic itinerary is completely customizable to your tastes: Exercise with a little kayaking on the lake or go ashore and hike to the most photographed geological wonder of the American West, Rainbow Bridge National Monument.

Meet your private guide for an excursion to secluded Secret Canyon, a slot canyon with high, undulating walls. Your visit includes a guided, private off-road drive through the desert, rolling hills and wash-beds, where you have the opportunity to search for coyotes, foxes, bobcats, owls, hawks and other desert wildlife. After visiting the canyon, enjoy a short walk to Horseshoe Bend Overlook. Take in the various angles and views of the Colorado River as it meanders around a rock promontory, creating the Horseshoe Bend loop beloved by visitors and photographers from around the world. Spend the afternoon at leisure enjoying the amenities and activities offered by your resort.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your private charter flight to Moab, Utah. Upon arrival, join your guide for a private tour of Arches National Park. Arches features the greatest concentration of natural stone arches in the world, offering spectacular displays of the natural forces of erosion at work. Hit the trails with your guide to discover unusual geologic formations, such as the 60-foot-tall, freestanding Delicate Arch; the Marching Men, seven towers lined in a row in the Klondike Bluffs area; and the Eye of the Whale, a fin-style natural arch that’s weathered into Entrada sandstone. After lunch in Arches, continue by air to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and drive to the National Museum of Wildlife Art, where a museum docent leads you on a private tour of the galleries and shares insight on the artists and exhibits. The museum collection holds over 5,000 pieces from more than 500 artists. In addition, the museum grounds overlook the National Elk Refuge and the Gros Ventre Range. Transfer to your nearby hotel, which is built into the landscape at an elevation of 7,000 feet and features jaw-dropping views of the Grand Tetons and Snake River range.

Early this morning, set out with your private naturalist guide to search for wildlife in Grand Teton National Park. For rugged, snow-capped peaks that jut upward into brilliant blue sky, and verdant, pristine valleys laced with rivers, forests, wildflowers and wildlife, few places in North America can rival Grand Teton National Park. Today, what was once the isolated province of fur trappers and homesteaders is a bountiful natural treasure set aside for all to enjoy. Animals are at their most active as you set out, providing good opportunities for finding the park’s iconic species, including bear, moose, antelope, bison and elk. Binoculars and spotting scopes are provided to allow for close views from a safe distance, and a gourmet picnic lunch is included. This afternoon, switch gears with a look at the local art scene on a visit to the National Museum of Wildlife Art, where a museum docent leads you on a private tour of the galleries and shares insight on the artists and exhibits. The museum collection holds over 5,000 pieces from more than 500 artists. In addition, the museum grounds overlook the National Elk Refuge and the Gros Ventre Range. Enjoy the rest of your evening at your leisure.

This morning, join your private guide for a full day of exploration in one of the world’s most amazing natural settings. The park’s more than 3,400 square miles of wide-open spaces offer a stunning and unique topography that includes lakes, canyons, rivers, mountains and a multitude of geothermal features, such as Grand Prismatic Spring, Mammoth Hot Springs and the famed Old Faithful Geyser. A haven for wildlife as well, Yellowstone boasts hundreds of species, among them moose, elk, wolves, grizzly bears and the nation’s largest public herd of bison. Your naturalist driver-guide tailors the experience to your interests and requests, with stops at many of the park's signature destinations, including iconic geysers, hot springs and wildlife viewing sites. As you explore together, your guide shares stories and history about the first national park in the world. Enjoy an al fresco picnic lunch and return to your hotel late in the afternoon.

Enjoy time at leisure, perhaps setting out with your driver-guide for some morning sightseeing in Jackson. This afternoon, step aboard a traditional wooden Mackenzie River dory for a private float trip down the Snake River. Afternoon is a wonderful time on the river, when most other river trips have finished and wildlife becomes more active.

After breakfast, meet your private driver for transfer to the Jackson Airport. Depart on your private charter flight home.