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.

Saturday 15. Denver – Georgetown Loop Railroad – Colorado Springs.

Travel to Georgetown via the spectacular Clear Creek Canyon. Enjoy lunch followed by a journey on the narrow-

gauge Georgetown Loop Railroad. The train’s route connected the mining towns of Georgetown and Silver

Plume, and was designed as a corkscrew so includes horseshoe curves and four bridges across Clear Creek. After

this picturesque rail journey, embark on a scenic drive south along the Front Range to Colorado Springs, where

you will stay for two nights. (B/L/D)

Sunday 16. Pikes Peak Cog Railway.

Travel on Pikes Peak Cog Railway, the world’s highest cog railway and the highest railway in North America.

Ascend the 4,300 metre summit of Pikes Peak, which inspired the lyrics to the patriotic song ‘America the

Beautiful’. With large windows on both sides of the train offering spectacular scenery, this railway offers a unique

way to view Ruxton Creek, ‘Hells Gate’ and Pikes Peak. Later, return to Colorado Springs, where your afternoon

and evening are free. (B)

Monday 17. Colorado Springs – Durango.

Drive west over the Rocky Mountains towards Durango. Cross Ute, Trout Creek, Poncha and Wolf Creek Passes

en route to the glorious San Juan Mountains. As you travel, watch out for wildlife as well as taking in the views of

the parks and mountains of central Colorado. Arrive in Durango at the base of the Sawatch Range, where you

will stay for two nights. (B)

Tuesday 18. Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad.

Today you will embark on the grandest of all Colorado rail journeys – the steam-powered Durango and Silverton

Narrow Gauge Railroad ascent of the Animas River Canyon to the ghost town of Silverton. The climb begins in

the valley of the Animas River before the canyon narrows, all roads vanish and for 48 kilometres there exists only

the railroad, the glacial green waters of the Animas and the 4,000 metre and higher peaks of the San Juan

Mountains. (B)

Wednesday 19. The Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad.

Drive to Chama, New Mexico, where you’ll board the longest narrow-gauge stream railway in North America –

The Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad. The train’s route follows the former Denver and Rio Grande San Juan

Extension for 103 kilometres, over the 3,058 metre Cumbres Pass and through the heart of the San Juan

Mountains. Once past the divide, the train enters the deep canyon of the Rio de Los Pinos (River of Pines) and for

80 kilometres no paved road crosses the tracks. Stop for lunch in Osier, then continue on with a steep descent

past Toltec Gorge. Your day concludes in Alamosa where you will stay for two nights. (B/L/D)

Thursday 20. Rio Grande Scenic Railroad.

Travel along Colorado’s standard-gauge Rio Grande Scenic Railroad from Alamosa to La Veta. This line restores

the passenger service to the wildly beautiful La Veta Pass, a summit last crossed by regularly scheduled

passenger trains over 50 years ago. Enjoy your lunch today on board the train. Continue on by coach to Great

Sand Dunes National Park, where the endless easterly wind across the San Luis Valley has created towering sand

dunes rising over 200 metres above the valley floor against the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. (B/L)

Friday 21. Royal Gorge Route Railroad – Denver.

Enjoy the view from a first-class vistadome car on the restored Royal Gorge Route Railroad as you explore the

Royal Gorge canyon’s depths. A highlight of your journey will be the stop at ‘Hanging Bridge’, the narrowest

point in the chasm. The journey ends with a visit to the soaring suspension bridge and the inclined railway from

the rim to the river’s edge. Drive back to Denver. (B/L/D)

Saturday 22. Denver – Trinidad, Colorado.

Enjoy a guided tour of the Forney Museum of Transportation in Colorado's capital city, before driving south on the

freeway to Trinidad, Colorado, where you will overnight. (B)

ITINERARY Sunday 23. Trinidad, Colorado – Williams, Arizona.

Catch Amtrak's 'Southwest Chief' mainline train service for the 7.5 hour journey through New Mexico to Arizona,

arguably the two states with the most expansive scenery in the USA. Cross the Rio Grande before passing over

the continental divide, which separates the Pacific and Atlantic watersheds. Arrive at Williams Arizona, your base

for two nights. (B)

Monday 24. Grand Canyon.

Ride on the lovingly-restored Grand Canyon Railroad to the Grand Canyon. On the 110-km trip you will see a

variety of stunningly different landscapes: from the Ponderosa pine forest surrounding Williams, to a gentle drop in

elevation down to the wide-open prairie before climbing back up to the Pinion pine forests as the train

approaches Grand Canyon National Park. You will have ample time to explore the south rim of the Grand

Canyon and (weather permitting) enjoy one of the most awe-inspiring views in the world. Free park shuttle buses

will take you to different lookouts, before you rejoin the train for the journey back to Williams. Enjoy your farewell

dinner this evening. (B/D)

Tuesday 25. Williams, Arizona – Phoenix.

Transfer by coach to Phonenix. Stop to admire the scenery en route before travelling on to Phoenix Airport. Your

flight will leave in the afternoon and go via Los Angeles with a connecting flight on to Auckland to arrive early in

the morning Thursday 27 September. Alternatively you will travel from Phoenix to Tucson for your 3 night

extension. (B/Meals in flight)

HOW TO SECURE YOUR PLACE ON THIS TOUR A deposit of $1,000 is required to secure your place on the tour. When minimum numbers are reached, the tour

will become a ‘confirmed departure’. At that point we will advise when the full tour payment will be due.

Click here to complete the online registration form, pay the $1000 deposit and your spot in this tour is

secured.

Or you can complete a paper registration form. You can down load one from the website

www.calderandlawsontours.co.nz or give us a call and we will email or post one to you.

TERMS & CONDITIONS Can be found on the website www.calderandlawsontours.co.nz, on the back of the paper registration form or on

the summary page when you complete an online registration.

VARIATIONS: This itinerary is Version 3, dated 12/10/2017 and is subject to change.

Exchange rate fluctuations may result in a change to the tour price.

Cumbres & Toltec Railroad, Great Sand Dunes National Park

TOUR EXTENSION Exploring Arizona

At the end of the tour you have the option of extending your stay in America's west by exploring the desert lands

of Arizona. Based in Tucson for 3 nights, discover Arizona's rich history of Indian nations, Spanish missionaries and

the Wild West, and appreciate the unique environment of the mighty Sonora Desert. Contact us for details.