WESTERN USA NATIONAL PARKS – SUMMER 2025 – 10 DAYS

Meeting at the airport and flight to Las Vegas. The dazzling metropolis, the spectacular Las Vegas, the "Sin City", the "Mecca" of gambling and shows is the largest city in the state of Nevada. It is a city-phenomenon, not only because for Americans and foreign visitors it is the ultimate "playground", but also because its statistics are very impressive: at the beginning of the 20th century it did not even exist until 1931 - when the first casino opened there. At the beginning of the 21st century it was already "home" to a million people. Today it is the most spectacular city in the world, the world capital of gambling. Luxurious hotels, gambling and amazing super-spectacles are the triptych that defines this unique city that at night sparkles blindingly and promises all kinds of entertainment! Las Vegas is perhaps the only city in the world that prioritizes the needs of tourists-visitors above those of its residents, since it was built almost exclusively for tourists. When we reach the famous Strip, that is, the part of Las Vegas Boulevard where the gigantic hotels are crowded, you enter a world of virtual reality. The city welcomes you with the now legendary sign “Welcome To Fabulous Las Vegas”. Thousands of people gather at intervals in front of the hotels to watch some Hollywood-inspired spectacle with light, fire and water. Your brain is forced to redefine what is beautiful and what is kitsch, what is big and what is colossal, what is useful and what is wasteful. In and around them you will see the gondoliers next to the Venetia, you will enjoy the Eiffel Tower, the pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx and the huge pirate ships parked on a sidewalk. The special lighting and temperature conditions that prevail inside the halls of hotels and casinos ensure that you will quickly lose the sense of space and time. The new trends of Vegas, however, are not only related to the shift towards luxury or offers, but also to the complete surrender to a modern empire of the senses. For these people, some of the greatest chefs on the planet rush to Vegas, such as Hubert Keller, who prepares his own Kobe Hamburger with truffle and foie gras for $ 5,000 a plate. Arrival and check-in at our hotel, which also has a casino.

Getting to know the city that never sleeps. We will walk with our tour guide along the famous Strip and visit the most important attractions from the hotel-casinos, each of which organizes impressive thematic shows to attract and entertain its audience. At Caesars's Palace, the Atlantis show is presented. The flamingos steal the show in front of the homonymous hotel. At Bellagio, the spectacle with the fountains that "dance" to music. At the Venetian, the gondolas are reminiscent of the homonymous Italian city. The Sphinx and the pyramid outside the Luxor bring an Egyptian atmosphere. Similarly, you will be impressed by Paris Las Vegas with the Eiffel Tower, New York with "Lady Liberty", Excalibur, etc. Another option in this amazing city of gambling and entertainment is ... an Express wedding!!!

Morning drive to Zion National Park, a national park in southwestern Utah, near Springdale, United States. A prominent feature of the park is Zion Canyon, which is 15 miles (24 km) long and up to 2,600 feet (800 m) deep. The rocks surrounding the canyon are reddish-brown sandstone, part of the Navajo Sandstones. The park is located at the junction of the Colorado Plateau, the Mojave Desert, and the Great Basin, resulting in an unusual diversity of plants and animals. Many species of plants, along with 289 species of birds, 75 species of mammals, and 32 species of reptiles, live in the park's four zones: desert, riparian zone, open forest, and coniferous forest. The park features mountains, canyons, steep hills, trapezoidal mountains, monoliths, rivers, and natural arches. Human settlement in the area began about 8,000 years ago by small groups of Native Americans. The semi-nomadic Anasazi are descended from one of these groups. A different group, the Parowan Fremont, also lived in the area. Both groups left the area around 1300 and were replaced by the Parrusits ​​and various other southern subclans. The canyon was discovered by the Mormons in 1858, and the same group settled in the canyon in the early 1860s. In 1909, U.S. President William Howard Taft declared the area a national monument to protect the canyon, naming it Mukuntuweap National Monument. In 1918, however, the acting director of the newly formed National Park Service changed the name of the park to Zion because its original name was not locally popular. Zion is one of the names for Jerusalem in ancient Hebrew. The United States Congress designated the monument as a National Park on November 19, 1919. The Kolob section was designated as a separate Zion National Monument in 1937, but was incorporated into the park in 1956. Transfer to our hotel and overnight stay

Today we depart for the Antelope Canyon which is a hidden wonder, a special type of canyon-slit. It is not the classic canyon where it was opened by the rivers that constantly cross it but was formed by storms and strong floods. The sun's rays -depending on its position- when they fall on the rocks, color them in various shades of orange and red. So it is understandable that mainly in the summer months, especially at noon, the rock formations offer an impressive spectacle because the sun's rays also fall vertically. The rocks of the canyon are in a state of constant flow and in collaboration with nature will always change, almost on a daily basis. The pattern of the canyon is to be cut deep where it can, by the water and the wind which in combination with the large sand dunes give us the twisted shapes in the rocks. Antelope Canyon is located in the land of the legendary Navajo Indians. There are two versions of its name. The first is that it got its name because it is a place where water runs through the rocks like an antelope. The Navajo are native to the Southwestern United States. They are the second largest federally recognized tribe in the United States and hold the largest territory in the country. Their land includes the Four Corners region, which covers approximately 27,000 square miles of land, in Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico. The latter two also have the largest Navajo populations with approximately 140,000 and 108,000 respectively. We continue to Horseshoe Bend, which is an excellent example of an indented meander. Six million years ago, the area around Horseshoe Bend was much closer to sea level and the Colorado River was a meandering river with a nearly flat floodplain. Between six and five million years ago, the area began to uplift. This trapped the Colorado River in its bed and the river quickly descended to create Horseshoe Bend as we see it today. Overnight in the town of Page.

Day Trip to Monument Valley. Monument Valley, on the border of Arizona and Utah, is a timeless symbol of the American frontier, immortalized in countless films, photographs, and works of art. Its towering sandstone cliffs, mountains, and spires rise dramatically from the desert terrain, creating a landscape that is both majestic and surreal. As the sun sets over the valley, the sandstone formations are bathed in a warm, golden light, casting long shadows across the barren landscape. We will explore the park’s scenic drive, which offers stunning views of some of its most iconic landmarks, including Mittens, Merrick Butte, and Elephant Butte. Tours provide insight into the region's rich cultural history, and offer the opportunity to experience the traditional way of life of the Navajo, the region's indigenous people. Whether watching the sunrise paint the valley in vibrant hues or simply admiring the timeless beauty of the landscape, a visit to Monument Valley is an experience that will remain unforgettable long after you leave its wild terrain behind.

Transfer to Las Vegas. Arrival at our hotel and check-in. In the evening visit #The Sphere in Las Vegas# The interior of the venue features a unique circular 16K resolution LED screen, which is 15,000 square meters in size, meaning that those inside the venue will enjoy a view of the screen from every angle. The Sphere also features 164,000 speakers scattered throughout, designed to offer attendees the same level of sound quality wherever they are. There are also opportunities for 4D experiences with tactile seats that vibrate and machines that can create air or temperature as well as scent effects. Whatever anyone says about the challenges of construction or the cost of building The Sphere (the original cost was supposedly $1.2 billion), there's no doubt it's an engineering marvel and will likely be a huge attraction. (Pre-booking required)

Today we have a road trip to the Grand Canyon. Its duration is about 12 hours. The Grand Canyon National Park is one of the first national parks in the USA and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is 446 kilometers long, between 6.5 and 29 kilometers wide and its depth reaches 1.83 kilometers. Since the end of the Cretaceous period, the Colorado River and its tributaries have excavated one by one the levels of the Colorado Plateau, which are up to 2 billion years old, forming the Grand Canyon. Recent research has shown that the Colorado River took its current form 17 million years ago. The lack of moisture and consequently vegetation and periods of rapid erosion, followed by periods of widening of the canyon, as well as the existence of layers with different resistance to erosion, gave the Grand Canyon its current shape. Before the colonization of America by Europeans, this area was inhabited by Native American tribes, mainly the "Pueblos" who from 1,200 BC considered the canyon sacred and built their homes in its caves. The descendants of these ancient tribes are the Navajo Indians. The first European to see the Grand Canyon was the Spaniard García López de Cárdenas (American Spanish) or García López de Cárdenas (Castilian Spanish) in 1540. What does it feel like to walk in the void? To be so close to the sky that you think you can touch it? That's how we feel on the Grand Canyon Skywalk. A horseshoe-shaped bridge, located at an altitude of 1,450 meters on the western edge of the Grand Canyon in the state of Arizona, United States of America. "The walk on the Grand Canyon Skywalk bridge and a meal with refreshments are included." Alternatively, this excursion can be done by helicopter (ask for the difference in cost when registering and require a reservation).

Today we recommend relaxation and walks. All day at your disposal for Walks - Pools In your free time you can visit one of the two Outlets - discount villages, while in the evening you will want to watch some performance by famous artists parading in the huge - as befits the whole extravaganza - music scenes of the city. Ask your Guide to go to the Fremont Street Experience in downtown Las Vegas is a dazzling pedestrian street that condenses the lively spirit and historical charm of the city. This iconic attraction is known for its impressive light and sound shows, with over 12 million LED lights on the Viva Vision canopy, the largest video screen in the world. Every night, the canopy comes alive with impressive screens synchronized with music, which creates an immersive spectacle that enchants visitors. For a trip to America, the Fremont Street Experience is a must-visit for its unique blend of old-school Vegas glamour and modern entertainment.

Transfer to Las Vegas airport and flight to Athens. Arrival the next day