Day one – Wed. Oct 6th – Flight to Albuquerque – Roswell, NM
An amazing tour begins as we depart LAX for Albuquerque. Upon arrival, you’ll
meet your tour director and board our coach as we continue our route to Roswell, NM. You’ll have time to unwind from your flight and enjoy the scenery as we travel east towards the valley of the Pecos. Upon arrival in Roswell, you’ll have a chance
to visit the incredibly quirky International U.F.O. and Research Center (U.F.O. Museum). Afterwards, enjoy welcome dinner together with your fellow Yamato travelers! (D)

 

Day two – Thur, Oct 7th – Carlsbad Caverns - Mescalero
Rise and Shine! This morning we depart early for Carlsbad Caverns.  As you pass through the Chihuahuan Desert and Guadalupe Mountains of southeastern New Mexico filled with prickly pear, chollas, sotols and agaves you might never guess there are more than 300 known caves beneath the surface.
Carlsbad Cavern National Park contains 113 of these caves, formed when sulfuric
acid dissolved the surrounding limestone, creating some of the largest caves in
North America. You’ll have plenty of time to visit the world famous Carlsbad
Caverns, including the amazing 8.2 acre Big Room, one of the largest known
caverns in the world. This afternoon, we travel from the desert into  the
mountains to the Mescalero Apache Indian Reserve to the Inn of the Mountain
Gods Resort and Casino where a fine dinner awaits! (B,D)

 

Day three – Fri, Oct 8th – White Sands National Monument
Another wonderful day of spectacular sightseeing begins as we travel to the
White Sands National Monument. Rising from the heart of the Tularosa Basin is
one of the world's great natural wonders, the glistening white sands of New Mexico. Here,  great wave-like dunes of gypsum sand have engulfed 275 square miles of
desert and created the world's largest gypsum dune field.  After visiting White Sands we will continue our route to Albuquerque, our home for the next two nights! (B,D)

 

Day four – Sat,Oct 9th – Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta
Unforgettable memories are guaranteed as we experience the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta’s early morning Mass Ascension—a launch of all the participating balloons which has been a feature of Balloon Fiesta since its earliest days and is the most spectacular display of sound and color in all of aviation. During mass ascensions, balloons launch in two waves. Launch directors, also known as “zebras” because of their black and white striped outfits, serve as “traffic cops,” coordinating the launch so balloons leave the field in  a safe and coordinated manner. Weather permitting, balloons begin to launch at about 7:15am on mass ascension days, led by a balloon flying the American flag to the strains of “The Star Spangled Banner.”   Later in the day, you will have the opportunity (optional) of flying in a balloon. We will also
take  in a city tour of Albuquerque including cable car to Sandia Peak where you
will enjoy breathtaking views of the region. Later this evening, we will take in the Balloon Glow,  a gorgeous nighttime ascension of hot air balloons. (B)

 

Day five – Sun, Oct 10th – Santa Fe – Taos – Durango, Colorado
Today we depart Albuquerque for the charming and historic State Capital, Santa Fe—which, is one of the most fascinating places in the United States! The unique architecture and history of this slightly off the beaten path town give it a unique charm. Local food is fantastic. Speaking of which, you will have plenty of time to indulge in lunch, and maybe a bit of shopping after our city tour. Later in the day
we continue on to Taos where we will enjoy a brief stop, then on to Durango, CO. Enroute we will stop to view the breathtaking Rio Grande Gorge.  (B,D)

 

Day six – Mon, Oct 11th – Durango – Silverton Narrow Gauge Rail
Another wonderful day of sightseeing begins as we travel to Silverton Colorado
on the Narrow Gauge Rail. A rustic lunch is included in Silverton at a typical local restaurant. Our motor-coach will meet us in Silverton and yet more fine scenery awaits us on our early evening return to Durango! This evening is free for you to
rest and relax in Durango. (B, L)

 

Day seven – Tue, Oct 12th – Mesa Verde National Park - Gallup
Amazing sightseeing today as we continue to Mesa Verde National Park to view
cliff dwellings of the Pueblo Indians.  Mesa Verde, Spanish for green table, offers
a spectacular look into the lives of the Ancestral Pueblo people who made  it their
home for over 700 years, from 600 A.D. to 1300 A.D.  Today,the park protects
over 4,000 known archeological sites, including 600 cliff dwellings. These sites
are some of the most notable and best preserved in the United States.
Enjoy a farewell dinner tonight in Gallup! (B,D)

 

Day eight – Wed, Oct 13th – Albuquerque and return flight home
Time to bid good-bye to this amazing region of the world. A short drive this morning, leads us to Albuquerque for our return flight to Los Angeles. Please note: prior to leaving Gallup, NM—we will be stopping briefly to visit the Hiroshi "Hershey" Miyamura commemorative memorial in the center of Gallup. Hiroshi Miyamura,
a Japanese-American, was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1953 and
is one of the pre-eminemt citizens of New Mexico. (B)

 

Rate includes:
- all your hotel accommodations (3 & 4* hotels)
- all land (and rail) transportation
- 7 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 5 dinners
- entrance fees to all of the activities in the itinerary / and much more!
   Call us for details!
- kindly note that these rates are “land only” and do not include airfare

 

Land Cost: $2,525 (share twin basis)/$360.00 single supplement for single room occupancy.

 

AIR ARRANGEMENTS will be handled separately.  Current airfare is $311.59
per person, from Los Angeles to Albuquerque, roundtrip.  Current fare includes
taxes and service fees and are subject to change without notice.  Fares are not guaranteed until tickets are issued.