AMERICA’S WEST BY RAIL Tuesday 11 - Friday 27 September 2018 16 nights TRAVEL & LEARN TOUR OVERVIEW Railroads are an iconic part of American history, opening up the 'wild west' and enabling commerce, development and mobility in the young United States of America. Now living in the shadow of freeways and overflown by countless commercial aircraft every day, railways are the route back to a golden age in America. They remain the gateway to some of the most spectacular scenery the country has to offer. Start your tour in the Golden City of San Francisco, one of the USA's most vibrant and enjoyable cities. Then board the 'California Zephyr' for the country's most scenic and historic mainline rail journey — through the (in) famous Donner Pass in the Sierra Nevada mountains, across the vast Nevada desert, and past the spectacular mesas and buttes in Utah. Finally journey through canyons and alongside the Colorado River before climbing through the Rocky Mountains and descending to Denver. Part of the journey is on the first trans-continental line across the USA, completed in 1869. And, yes, you have to change your watch as you move between time zones. From Denver, the 'Mile High City', begin to explore the Rockies on some of the most distinctive and scenic rail journeys you will ever experience. The Georgetown Loop Railroad is a narrow-gauge route built through difficult country to connect mining towns. The Pikes Peak cog railway is the highest cog (rack and pinion) railway in the world, easily surpassing those in the European Alps. Smell the smoke as you travel on the steam-powered Durango and Silvertown narrow-gauge railroad to a ghost town left over from a mining boom. Dip into New Mexico to catch the longest narrow-gauge railway in North America, the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad, through the heart of the San Juan Mountains. Finish your exploration of Colorado's heritage rail journeys with trips on the Rio Grande Scenic Railroad and the Royal Gorge Route Railroad. Then board another famous mainline train, the Southwest Chief, passing through New Mexico and Arizona to reach Williams. The last town on Route 66 to be bypassed by a freeway, Williams revels in its Wild West and Route 66 heritage. It is the base for a legendary journey — the Grand Canyon Railway—to an extraordinary place. This historic train takes you to one of the most spectacular sites on the planet. Peering into the 1.6-km deep scar in the face of the earth is a definite bucket-list experience. Your tour concludes in Phoenix where you will fly to Los Angeles for an onward connection to Auckland. Or, you can take the optional tour extension and spend 3 further nights based in Tucson exploring Arizona's history and deserts. TOUR HIGHLIGHTS Watch some of America's most spectacular scenery glide past your train window Explore the mighty Rocky Mountains Travel on Colorado's top six train adventures See the incomparable Grand Canyon Experience the last town remaining on historic Route 66 before the freeways took over Ride the highest cog railway in the world Enjoy the Golden City, San Francisco Top to Boom - California Zephyr, Royal Gorge Railway
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AMERICA’S WEST BY RAIL Tuesday 11 - Friday 27 September 2018
16 nights
TRAVEL & LEARN
TOUR OVERVIEW Railroads are an iconic part of American history, opening up the 'wild west' and enabling commerce,
development and mobility in the young United States of America. Now living in the shadow of freeways and
overflown by countless commercial aircraft every day, railways are the route back to a golden age in America.
They remain the gateway to some of the most spectacular scenery the country has to offer.
Start your tour in the Golden City of San Francisco, one of the USA's most vibrant and enjoyable cities. Then
board the 'California Zephyr' for the country's most scenic and historic mainline rail journey — through the (in)
famous Donner Pass in the Sierra Nevada mountains, across the vast Nevada desert, and past the spectacular
mesas and buttes in Utah. Finally journey through canyons and alongside the Colorado River before climbing
through the Rocky Mountains and descending to Denver. Part of the journey is on the first trans-continental line
across the USA, completed in 1869. And, yes, you have to change your watch as you move between time
zones.
From Denver, the 'Mile High City', begin to explore the Rockies on some of the most distinctive and scenic rail
journeys you will ever experience. The Georgetown Loop Railroad is a narrow-gauge route built through difficult
country to connect mining towns. The Pikes Peak cog railway is the highest cog (rack and pinion) railway in the
world, easily surpassing those in the European Alps. Smell the smoke as you travel on the steam-powered
Durango and Silvertown narrow-gauge railroad to a ghost town left over from a mining boom. Dip into New
Mexico to catch the longest narrow-gauge railway in North America, the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad,
through the heart of the San Juan Mountains. Finish your exploration of Colorado's heritage rail journeys with
trips on the Rio Grande Scenic Railroad and the Royal Gorge Route Railroad.
Then board another famous mainline train, the Southwest Chief, passing through New Mexico and Arizona to
reach Williams. The last town on Route 66 to be bypassed by a freeway, Williams revels in its Wild West and
Route 66 heritage. It is the base for a legendary journey — the Grand Canyon Railway—to an extraordinary
place. This historic train takes you to one of the most spectacular sites on the planet. Peering into the 1.6-km
deep scar in the face of the earth is a definite bucket-list experience.
Your tour concludes in Phoenix where you will fly to Los Angeles for an onward connection to Auckland. Or, you
can take the optional tour extension and spend 3 further nights based in Tucson exploring Arizona's history and
deserts.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Watch some of America's most spectacular scenery
glide past your train window
Explore the mighty Rocky Mountains
Travel on Colorado's top six train adventures
See the incomparable Grand Canyon
Experience the last town remaining on historic Route
66 before the freeways took over
Ride the highest cog railway in the world
Enjoy the Golden City, San Francisco
Top to Bottom - California Zephyr, Royal Gorge Railway
TOUR INCLUSIONS
The services of a Calder & Lawson tour manager
Economy class airfares
2 nights in San Francisco
1 nights accommodation on California Zephyr in
coach class
10 nights accommodation
Meals as specified in the itinerary
All group transfers
Admissions as detailed in the itinerary
All tips for local guides and drivers
Pre-tour material
TOUR PRICE Ex Auckland
Share twin per person NZD$11,899
Single supplement (limited availability) NZD$ 1,939
Please contact Calder & Lawson Tours if you are interested in a single occupancy place.
UPGRADE The cost to upgrade on the Californian Zephyr is NZD$487 per person share twin for a roomette and
NZD$860 per person for a bedroom. Prices are approximate and bookings can not be made until closer to the
departure date.
GROUP SIZE Minimum 10, maximum 14
VARIATIONS IN TRAVEL We can make arrangements for any travel you would like to do before or after this tour, or
TOUR EXCLUSIONS
Airline taxes
Personal expenses
Travel insurance
Meals not specified in the itinerary
Beverages during included meals, unless
specified
Hotel porterage
IS THIS TOUR FOR ME? This tour is obviously attractive to rail enthusiasts, as it
features six of the best known train adventures in the
American West as well as travel on famous mainline
trains. But you don't have to be a train-spotter or
railway junkie to enjoy this trip.
If you want to see America's grandeur from the
comfort of a carriage window, and explore some of
the most spectacular scenery in the Rockies and the
west of the USA, you'll love this tour.
DAILY ITINERARY
Tuesday 11 September. Auckland – San Francisco.
An evening departure from Auckland sees you arrive in San Francisco in the early afternoon of the same day.
Transfer to the hotel that is your base for two nights. (Meals in flight)
Wednesday 12. San Francisco.
Enjoy a half day city tour, with the balance of the day free to explore or relax. Enjoy a welcome dinner this
evening. (B/D)
Thursday 13 and Friday 14. San Francisco to Denver, Colorado.
Cross the 13-km Bay Bridge to Emeryville to begin your rail adventure on the California Zephyr. On reaching the
'Mile High City' of Denver, transfer to your hotel for one night.