Tauck World Discovery: Salt Lake City to Denver by Rocky Mountaineer - EastboundDay 1 Salt Lake CityWelcome to Salt Lake City

Tour begins: 6:00 PM at the Grand America Hotel. A transfer is included from Salt Lake City International Airport to The Grand America Hotel in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City. Your opulent European-style hotel welcomes with impeccable service, lovely grounds and spacious guestrooms. Take in the views of the Wasatch Mountains and the capital city's urban skyline from the floor-to-ceiling windows in your guestroom, while enjoying a host of in-room comforts, including a well-appointed spa-style bathroom. Join us this evening for a welcome reception and dinner where you will meet your fellow travelers and learn more about your upcoming Rocky Mountains adventure.

Home to five national parks, a great salt lake, and the "greatest snow on Earth," Utah is paradise for nature lovers. Discover its urban allure on a guided sightseeing tour of its capital Salt Lake City, learning about its unique cultural history, its Mormon settlers and landmark sites, before seeing its namesake lake, the largest salt water lake in the Western Hemisphere. World-class ski resorts, like the ones that call nearby Park City home, are well-sited to take advantage of powder-perfect winter snowfalls. Visit Park City, best known for being the main location of the Sundance Film Festival as well as the home of the United States Ski Team. Return to Salt Lake City late this afternoon for leisure time as you wish.

Head south to Moab this morning, where some of the most breathtaking landscapes never fail to inspire awe. Moab is home to two national parks, Arches and Canyonlands, renowned for their unrivaled geologic wonders. Arrive at your hotel for dinner at your leisure.

The largest national park in Utah with 527 square miles of rugged landscapes, Canyonlands staggers the imagination. The sights you will see here, flat-topped mesas, towering rock pinnacles, arches, buttes and crevassed canyons, were formed by water, meticulously carved by Colorado River and its equally talented tributaries. View them by air this morning as you embark on an eye-opening flightseeing excursion that takes in its grand geologic diversity. Back on the ground in Moab, you have a choice of activities today including a jet boat excursion on the Colorado River or a 4x4 Hummer tour that excites with off-road discoveries in bumpy outdoor terrain. Later, discover Canyonlands National Park at eye level as you drive through the northern section of the park where the Island in the Sky mesa rests on sheer sandstone cliffs standing 1,000 feet high above the surrounding terrain.

This morning, explore Arches National Park. Pause along the way for short walks and up-close views of sandstone sculptures posed in time, from red-hued arches to giant balancing Rocks. There are some 2,000 natural stone arches in the park, along with soaring pinnacles, and massive fins! Early this afternoon, hop aboard the Rocky Mountaineer for a head-turning rail journey from Moab to Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Immerse in the geologic history of the landscapes you'll see as your luxury train weaves its way from the desert through the crimson-colored cliffs of Ruby Canyon, following the path of the Colorado River as it chisels its way into the grand valley of western Colorado to the hot springs mountain town where you will spend the night. Dinner onboard is a special treat and is brought right to your seat as you sit back and enjoy the views from the panoramic windows of your coach, recalling a bygone era of opulent train travel its pampering Silver Leaf Plus service. Disembark for an overnight stay at a historic hotel in Glenwood Springs, located in the heart of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. The site of the world's largest mineral hot springs pool, the thermal waters of this town have been enticing visitors since 1888.

A full day of scenic wonders best seen by rail awaits today as you board the Rocky Mountaineer bound for Denver. The Colorado River leads the way through Glenwood Canyon, flanked by tall trees and towering rocks, before traveling through diverse landscapes of colorful canyons and mountain tunnels. As the train approaches the Continental Divide, the train will go under the mountainous terrain through the legendary 6.2-mile-long Moffat Tunnel, reemerging on the outskirts of the Mile High City. A National Engineering Landmark built by the Moffat Railroad, it was the longest tunnel in the Western Hemisphere when it was completed in 1927. Your train travels into the heart of the city, not far from your landmark accommodations at the Four Seasons Hotel Denver. Spend the evening exploring the city as you wish; the boutiques and restaurants of historic Larimer Square are just a walk away.

Guided sightseeing in Colorado's Mile High City includes an expert overview of its more notable sites, dating back to the Old West era. See the 19th century buildings that line Larimer Square, the city's oldest block; pass by Denver Mint, the State Capitol and more, before taking a drive along the foothills to discover the legends and lifestyle that have made Denver one of the fastest growing cities in the US. Return to your hotel for time at leisure and join us for a farewell reception and dinner this evening.

Tour ends: Denver. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from the Four Seasons Hotel Denver to Denver International Airport. Allow two hours for flight check in at the airport.