Colorado's Historic Trains

Hotel Accommodations
Day 1: Crowne Plaza Hotel, Denver, Colorado
Day 2: Holiday Inn Summit County, Frisco, Colorado
Day 3: Hampton Inn or Quality Inn, Montrose, Colorado
Day 4 - 5: Sky Ute Casino Resort, Ignacio, Colorado
Day 6: Inn of the Rio Grande, Alamosa, Colorado
Day 7 - 8: Radisson Hotel, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Meals
8 breakfasts
2 lunches
3 dinners

Round trip airport transfers

$45 in Mayflower Money

Day 1 – Arrive in Denver
Welcome to Denver, Colorado, the “Mile High City.” Meet your fellow travelers at 5:00 p.m. for a get-acquainted dinner hosted by your Tour Manager.

Day 2 – Rocky Mountain National Park
Departing Denver we venture into Rocky Mountain National Park, a living showcase of the grandeur of the Rocky Mountains. With elevations ranging from 8,000 feet on the wet, grassy valleys to 14,259 feet at the weather-ravaged top of Longs Peak, the park is filled with breathtaking scenery and experiences. Following the Trail Ridge Road a stop at the Alpine Visitor Center offers an opportunity to learn more about this fascinating place.

Day 3 – Leadville Colorado & Southern Railroad
Today we travel to historic Leadville to board the Leadville Colorado & Southern Railroad. While onboard, learn about the fascinating history of the railroads, ghost stories and tales from the wild from your conductor while traveling north along the Arkansas River Valley. Rising up 1,000 feet from the valley floor you will be greeted by spectacular views of Freemont Pass and the two tallest peaks in Colorado, Mt. Massive and Mt. Elbert. Later, we travel through scenic Monarch Pass and Curecanti National Recreation Area while en route to Montrose.

Day 4 – Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad
This morning we visit the Black Canyon of Gunnison National Park, Then, it’s “full steam ahead” today as we board the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. Voted one of the “Top Ten Most Exciting Train Journeys in the World” by the Society of American Travel Writers, this route winds through the spectacular and breathtaking canyons in the remote wilderness of the two-million acre San Juan National Forest. The locomotives used today remain 100% coal-fired, steam-operated and are maintained in their original condition. Later, we check into the Sky Ute Casino Resort for the next two nights.

Day 5 – Mesa Verde National Park
Today we visit the land of the ancient Pueblo Indians in Mesa Verde National Park. The fascinating cliff dwellings and culture of these people provide us with a look into a society that existed approximately 1400 years ago. Building elaborate stone communities, the Pueblos developed their own society that existed for some 700 years, before disappearing. Archeologists called them Anasazi, from a Navajo word sometimes translating as “the ancient ones.”

Day 6 – Clumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad
Our day begins as we board our motorcoach and ride to the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, the original Rio Grande Line,. This is America’s most spectacular narrow gauge steam railroad. Enjoy lunch onboard as you explore 50 miles of wild and rugged territory between Chama, New Mexico and Antonito, Colorado the highest point on the railroad.

Day 7 – Royal Gorge Scenic Railway
Today we enjoy another journey by train aboard the Royal Gorge Railway. The 12-mile route follows the most famous portion of the old Denver and Rio Grande Western train line. We ride through the “Grand Canyon of the Arkansas” on an unforgettable journey over the famous Hanging Bridge, which clings precariously to the steep granite walls of Royal Gorge.

Day 8 – Colorado Springs
This morning we travel aboard our motorcoach to the U.S. Air Force Academy and its famous Cadet Chapel (when available). Next, it’s on to the stunning Garden of the Gods, a 1300 acre park where flora and fauna reflect the rich diversity of the terrain, and red sandstone formations tell a unique geological story. The Garden lies at the base of Pikes Peak, which is our next adventure. “Ride to the Clouds!” aboard the Pikes Peak Cog Railway, the highest cog railroad in the U.S. which stretches nine miles long as it vertically climbs to almost 14,000 feet. This evening we assemble for a farewell dinner, sharing memories of this unforgettable rail journey.

Day 9 – Denver and Home
Following breakfast we say goodbye to Colorado with fond memories of our western railroads adventure with a group transfer to the Denver International Airport for flights home after 12:00 p.m.

Touring Date	Land Only	Land + Air	Single (Land Only)	Single (Land + Air)
6/15/2012 - 6/23/2012	$1,939
7/20/2012 - 7/28/2012	$1,939
7/27/2012 - 8/4/2012	$1,939
8/3/2012 - 8/11/2012	$1,939
9/7/2012 - 9/15/2012	$1,939
9/14/2012 - 9/22/2012	$1,939
9/21/2012 - 9/29/2012	$1,939
Note: Departures appearing above in green are guaranteed to operate by the tour operator.
Airfare Disclaimer A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link. Documents TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.

Experience Five scenic rail excursions following historic routes of the Old West

Travel north along the Arkansas River Valley aboard the Leadville Colorado & Southern Railroad

Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, voted on of the “Top Ten Most Exciting Rail Journeys in the World”

Ride through the Rockies aboard the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad

Ride the Royal Gorge Scenic Railway across the famous Hanging Bridge

Climb 7,539 feet on the Pikes Peak Cog Railway

Visit the beautiful Rocky Mountain National Park, a living showcase of the grandeur of the Rocky Mountains

Tour Mesa Verde National Park with its amazing cliff dwellings, home to “the Ancient Ones,” the Anasazi Indians

Visit the Black Canyon of Gunnison National Park

Visit the U.S. Air Force Academy and Cadet Chapel (when available)

Drive through Garden of the Gods Park with its unique red sandstone formations

Prices Per Person
Single Room Add $679
Triple Room Deduct $16

Call for air rates and schedules from your city to and from Denver.

Rooms for the night before the tour are available. Cost for a room in Denver is $149, tax included.

Ratings & Reviews:

This tour has no reviews yet. Have you experienced this tour? Write a review.

Related Travel Articles

• Travel Improves Your Health
• Adventures by Disney Invites Families to Experience the World in 2010
• Ever wonder why glacier ice looks blue?
• Costa Rica and Panama Ecotourism
• Best Time to See Fall Foliage
• About Ireland Tours
• Places to Visit in Chile
• Fall Foliage Season Approaches
• Touring Australia and New Zealand
• Spectacular South America
• Caribbean Cruises
• Best National Parks to Visit in the Spring
• Ecotourism in Costa Rica and Panama
• Hawaii Travel Highlights
• Family Reunion Cruises
• Best National Parks to Visit in the Spring
• Spectacular South America
• Wildlife Viewing in Alaska
• First Time Around Cape Horn
• World's Greatest Rail Journeys
• New England for All Seasons
• Reflections on the Canadian Rockies
• Kenya Off the Beaten Path
• Family Travel: Exploring the World Together
• Recommended Day Tours in San Juan Puerto Rico
• Explore the Grand Canyon
• Experience the Beauty of Alaska
• Best Places to Travel in August
• Explore the Magic of Kenya
• Alaska Cruise or Land Tour?
• UNESO World Heritage Sites
• Where Can Globus Take you in 2012
• Best Places to See Lions in Africa
• East vs. West African Safaris