Moab: Canyonlands & Arches

This is a moderate trip with a couple of bigger days, and it's a great fit for women who are comfortable on their feet and ready to be challenged a little. Some of our hikes run over 5 miles, and you should be able to handle rocky terrain and at least 1,000 feet of elevation gain in a day. Don't let that scare you — we build in plenty of stops, snack breaks, and time to soak in the views. This is never a race. If you're hiking regularly and feel good on rocky trails, you're going to do great out here.

We'll hike a mix of short, scenic overlooks and a couple of longer, more rewarding routes. Expect classic Canyonlands terrain: slickrock, sandy washes, exposed rim trails, and a little bit of scrambling on our biggest days. Our longest hikes are the Bighorn Overlook at Dead Horse Point (8.2 miles, ~1,160 ft gain) and Chesler Park to Druid Arch in the Needles (8.3 miles, ~1,515 ft gain) — both long, both absolutely worth it. Shorter walks to Grand View Point, Mesa Arch, White Rim Overlook, and Delicate Arch give us that famous Moab scenery without the mileage.

Your first and last nights are spent at the same comfortable hotel near the Grand Junction airport, with your own bed and time to settle in and unwind. Your final night's stay is included in your trip.

For the heart of the trip, we glamp at Sun Outdoors Moab Downtown — and yes, this is glamping, not roughing it! You'll share a large, walk-in tent (two women per tent) outfitted with cots, sleeping mattresses, sleeping bags, pillows, a rug underfoot, and a shared nightstand with a lantern. Everyone always has their own bed. The campground has real bathhouses with showers and flushing toilets, and best of all, it's right in the heart of Moab — so on your free time you can walk into town to shop, grab a coffee, or browse the galleries. A limited number of single-supplement tents and rooms are available for an additional $1,000.

Fly into Grand Junction, Colorado, and hop the shuttle to our hotel. Settle in, then meet Michele in the lobby this evening — we'll all head to a welcome dinner at 6:30 PM to meet your fellow adventurers and talk through the week ahead. (Dinner included.)

After breakfast in the lobby, we'll load up the van and make the roughly two-hour drive toward Moab and our first stop. We'll stretch our legs on the White Rim Overlook (1.8 miles), a short walk out to a dramatic view over Monument Basin and the La Sals, then the quick stroll to Grand View Point for that endless Island in the Sky panorama. We'll break for lunch at the visitor center and poke around, then head over to the Shafer Canyon Overlook and walk out to the famous Mesa Arch. From there it's on to camp to get settled, have dinner, and gather around the campfire. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner included.)

Today's the first of our bigger days, and what a way to start. We'll head to Dead Horse Point State Park to hike the Bighorn Overlook via the East & West Rim — 8.2 miles with about 1,160 feet of gain, along slickrock rims with the Colorado River winding thousands of feet below. It's a long one, but the views are absolutely worth every step! We'll have lunch out on the trail. Back to camp to rest and refuel, then — if we've got the timing right — back out to watch the sunset over the valley from the rim. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner included.)

This is the day you'll be telling everyone about. Today we go canyoneering with expert guides through Medieval Chamber and Morning Glory — yes, we'll be rappelling down into the canyon! It's an adrenaline rush and a total blast, and you'll surprise yourself with what you can do. Afterward we'll roll back into Moab for pizza and drinks to celebrate a job well done. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner included; drinks on your own.)

Back into Canyonlands for another incredible hike, this time in the Needles district. We'll take on Chesler Park, Elephant Hill, and Druid Arch — 8.3 miles with about 1,515 feet of gain — winding through sandy washes and colorful sandstone spires to the towering, cathedral-like Druid Arch. This is one of the most spectacular hikes in all of Canyonlands. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner included.)

Today we make the drive down to Monument Valley for a guided jeep tour among the most famous and iconic buttes in the world — land the Navajo hold sacred. It's a long day in the vehicle, but it's one of the most breathtaking drives we'll ever take, and standing beneath those formations is something you'll never forget. (Breakfast, lunch, dinner included.)

We'll rise early on our final morning and hike up to catch the sunrise over Delicate Arch (3.1 miles), coffee and warm muffins in hand as first light hits Utah's most iconic landmark. After one last look at this incredible place, we'll head back to break camp, and I'll drive us to our hotel near the Grand Junction airport — the same one we started in — for your final, included night. (Breakfast and lunch included; dinner on your own tonight — go celebrate the week!)

Planning your flights home: Your final night's hotel is included, so most guests fly out on Saturday. If you'd rather head home Friday evening, no problem — just be sure to book your flight for after 5:00 PM so we have time to get back from the trail.