All guests who join us on America’s Canyonlands and Tauck Bridges Red Rocks & Painted Canyons will enjoy a choice of flightseeing adventures over the awe-inspiring geologic wonderland that surrounds Lake Powell. Guests on both tours will also have the option of choosing a flightseeing adventure to Monument Valley for an additional cost, instead of the Tauck-included flight.
Tauck-included scenic flight to Rainbow Bridge.
Guests who take the Tauck-included flightseeing excursion will board a flight from Page, Arizona, that soars over Lake Powell and the surrounding area. It is highlighted by a bird’s-eye view of the famous Rainbow Bridge. The flight aboard a small plane lasts approximately 30 to 40 minutes before guests land back at the airport.
President William Howard Taft declared Utah’s Rainbow Bridge a national monument in 1910 as a site of geological and cultural importance. A naturally sculpted sandstone arch standing 290 feet tall and 270 feet wide on the edge of Lake Powell, Rainbow Bridge is revered as a sacred place by the tribal people who live in the region, inspiring origin stories, ceremonial rites and pilgrimages dating back thousands of years and still relevant today. Its name is said to have originated from the Puebloan people’s name for it, Nonnezoshe, which translates to “rainbow turned to stone.” As the locals will tell you, the true significance of Rainbow Bridge extends beyond the obvious, standing as a bridge between cultures.
Monument Valley Flightseeing excursion; additional cost applies.
Guests opting for the Monument Valley experience will board a small flightseeing plane that departs after the included Rainbow Bridge flight. The flight offers the same stunning views as the included Tauck flight, including Rainbow Bridge, but continues on to Monument Valley for guided discoveries of the Navajo Tribal Park. The plane lands near the valley within the Navajo Indian Reservation, where a Navajo guide introduces guests to a close-up view of the incredible monoliths rising from the valley floor and a look at Navajo culture. The additional cost for this excursion is $399 per person.
Upon landing, guests will meet their Navajo guide, who will lead them to a traditional Navajo hogan (dwelling) to learn about life in a hogan and hear stories about Navajo cooking and weaving traditions. Next, guests will board an air-conditioned mini-coach for a guided tour through the breathtaking red rock formations of Monument Valley, such as “The Mittens” and “Elephant Butte.” Throughout the drive, the Navajo guide will share fascinating stories behind the names of these formations and their significance in modern-day films. A welcome stop at a scenic viewpoint offers guests the chance to take photos from one of the most iconic spots in Monument Valley. Afterward, they’ll return to the mini-coach and drive back to the plane. The entire experience, round trip, lasts about 4 hours.
Monument Valley, an iconic symbol of the American West and the sacred heart of the Navajo Nation. For the Navajo, Monument Valley is a significant cultural and spiritual location imbued with stories, traditions, and symbolic meaning passed down through generations. Geologically, the valley is home to towering sandstone rock formations that have been sculpted over time and soar 400 to 1,000 feet above the valley floor. Combined with the surrounding mesas, buttes and desert environment, it truly is one of the natural wonders of the world. It has also garnered acclaim as the scene-stealing backdrop for many famous movies, from classic John Ford and John Wayne westerns to Easy Rider, National Lampoon’s Vacation, Starman, Back to the Future Part III, Forest Gump and more.
