Itinerary

Land in the mile-high cultural epicentre of the Rocky Mountain region, Denver and get settled in to your hotel. You’ll be situated right in downtown Denver within easy walking distance of all there is to see.

Start with a stroll along the nearby 16th Street Mall, a mile-long pedestrian zone in the heart of the city to get your bearings. Denver has plenty to do and see, so take a Denver City Highlights Tour or use a City Pass to see up to three attractions during your two days in the city. You’ll get access to an impressive number of places, including the renowned Denver Art Museum, Denver Botanic Gardens, History Colorado Centre and Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum. If you’re a sports fan and fancy catching a professional baseball, basketball or hockey game while you’re in town, you’ll also be happy to know you’re just minutes away from both Coors Field and Mile High Stadium.

Choose a neighbourhood to explore or take one of our sightseeing suggestions from the previous day. Storied with history, Denver has numerous landmarks that are worth passing by, from the impressive Capitol Building (whose 13th step sits at the same elevation as the city) to the iconic historic blocks of Larimer Square and the Lower Downton (LoDo) District. It’s the diversity of Denver’s neighbourhoods that makes the city so special. Visit the nearby River North (RiNo) District which specialises in art – both in galleries on along the streets – or head over to Five Points which offers the finest jazz outside of New York and New Orleans. Highland is hip with chic cafés, breweries and boutiques, and Cherry Creek offers the best shopping between California and the Midwest.

No matter what you choose, you’ll be in for a treat, and don’t forget to try one of Denver’s many farm-to-table restaurants or local breweries before you continue your journey.

After breakfast pick up your rental car and drive 1.5 hours to the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park: Estes Park. This small town is the closest you can get to the American Rockies and boasts majestic mountain views in every direction. Arrive in this

classic Colorado mountain town at the Alpine Trail Ridge Inn, just minutes from the entrance and get settled in to the hotel’s rustic comforts.

Start with a ride on the Estes Park Aerial Tramway, which connects the town to the summit of Prospect Mountain for incredible views over the valley or get your hiking boots on and head into Rocky Mountain National Park. Encompassing the classic beauty of this world-famous region, Rocky Mountain National Park features towering peaks of more than 14,000 feet, over 350 miles of hiking trails, terrains ranging from high alpine tundra to low grassy valleys and an abundance of untouched wildlife across its 415-square-mile expanse. A haven for nature lovers, this park is a great introduction to the entire range that stretches across the United States into Canada – not to mention a great opportunity to see the area’s amazing wildlife. A reservation can be made in advance for you to enter the park.

Come evening, ask staff at your Inn for dinner recommendations – they know the best places in town to have a good meal.

Leave first thing in the morning for Aspen, a year-round destination for outdoor recreation and a world-renowned ski resort town. The drive will be about 4 hours long, but the highway promises incredible panoramic views of Colorado’s many mountains and meadows.

You’ll be arriving in downtown Aspen at the Limelight, perfect for getting around town on foot. Aspen boasts stunning mountain scenery, beautiful landscapes and numerous opportunities for hiking, mountain biking and skiing. The town is also known for its art galleries and fine dining, so you’ll have plenty to enjoy during your stay.

Head over to the former Wild West outpost and mountain resort town of Glenwood Springs at your leisure – the drive is just an hour long. You’ll be arriving at the historic Hotel Colorado, whose beautiful property dates back to the late 1800s. Offering historic charm in the heart of the Rockies, Glenwood Springs gives a true taste of Colorado with its scenic setting, famous hot springs and boundless opportunities for outdoor adventure.

Start your stay with a visit to one of the towns famous thermal springs. There’s Glenwood Hot Springs Pool, the largest mineral pool in the world, as well as Iron Mountain Hot Springs, a collection of 16 smaller natural spring pools and the Yampah Spa and Vapor Caves which are naturally occurring mineral-steam baths – all offering a one-of-a-kind swimming and bathing experience.

Once the sun sets, enjoy the city’s dynamic dining scene. You’ll get to choose between farm-to-table eateries and award-winning local breweries.

Geothermal activities aside, there’s plenty more to get up to in this scenic town so spend the day exploring. Hike to Hanging Lake and see the turquoise waters of this otherworldly idyll – some of the most beautiful hikes in Colorado can be found here. Tour underground caves at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park and try your hand at fly-fishing in pristine Gold Medal waters. You can even go white-water rafting on the Colorado River – just ask your hotel to help you book.

Excellent boutique shopping and scenic golf courses also await, as well as multiple opportunities to immerse yourself in the town’s wild frontier past, should you be interested.

After breakfast make the hour-long drive over to western Colorado’s largest city, Grand Junction. Filled with some of the state’s most impressive natural wonders, Grand Junction sits at the confluence of the Colorado River and the Gunnison River and is home to the breath-taking Colorado National Monument, the Grand Mesa and Rattlesnake Arches.

Get settled in to your downtown accommodation, a stylish historic boutique hotel, and head back out to explore. You’ll find yourself minutes away from riverfront trails and world-class hiking at the National Monument.

Come evening you’ll find popular restaurants and bars in which to unwind all within walking distance of your hotel.

There’s plenty to do in Grand Junction, so you can take your pick of things to do. Choose between spending the day in the James M. Robb Colorado River State Park which offers exceptional views and access to lakes, walking paths, biking trails and native wildlife; or split your day with a wine tasting at the local Whitewater Hill Vineyards and a visit to the fascinating Museum of the West which houses prehistoric pottery and 19^th century artefacts from the town’s inception.

Leave for Telluride right after breakfast. The drive is 2.5 hours but we recommend taking the 3.5 hour alternative route along the Unaweep-Tabeguache Scenic Byway for the spectacular mountain views, including Gateway Canyon.

Tucked in a box canyon surrounded by 13,000 and 14,000 foot high peaks, Telluride is one of the most beautiful towns in the Rocky Mountain high country. You’ll be arriving in the heart of the town at the Camel’s Garden Hotel, and once you drop off your bags, take the free gondola right next to your accommodation up to Mountain Village to see the exquisite surroundings.

Afterwards, go for a stroll around town. The entirety of Telluride is a designated National Historic Landmark District thanks to the significant role it played in the history of the American West, and at just eight blocks wide and twelve blocks long, you’ll be able to properly explore by evening. You’ll likely even find a place or two you’ll want to come back to for dinner or drinks.

Drive over to Durango this morning at your leisure – the trip is just 2 hours and chances are you’ll still want another glimpse at Telluride before you leave.

Once a frontier mining town and Wild West outpost, Durango is world-famous for its railroad history, specifically, the Durango and Silverton Narrow-Gauge Railroad. You’ll be arriving at one of the town’s most striking historic landmarks, Strater Hotel, so get settled in your unique accommodation before heading back out to explore.

From your downtown location you’ll be able to visit Durango’s interesting heritage museums as well as its multiple historic landmarks. But, as Durango is situated within the San Juan National Forest next to the San Juan Mountains (the largest range in the Rockies), we’d highly recommend spending the day in these stunning natural surroundings where you’ll find extensive hiking and biking trails, as well as opportunities for kayaking, horseback riding and fishing. Any activities can be booked in advance.

Durango’s railroad history has been so well preserved visitors can still ride the original trains through the town’s scenic surroundings – and you’d be remiss to not take this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

This open-air, 47-mile, 9-hour roundtrip journey to Silverton (which was once taken daily to haul precious metals back in the 1800s) takes visitors through beautiful mountains and forests, the Animas River Gorge and past abandoned mines to historic Silverton and back.

Cap off your stay with a visit to a local brewpub or saloon in the evening – you’ll find yourself revelling in Durango’s Wild West heritage.

Today, you’ll want to head right after breakfast for Mesa Verde National Park. The drive is just over an hour, but there’s so much to see, you’ll want to get there sooner rather than later.

Offering a fascinating look into the lives of the Ancestral Pueblo people who made this area their home for over 700 years, Mesa Verde National Park protects nearly 5,000 known archaeological sites, many of which are some of the best preserved in the whole of the United States.

This is one park worth visiting with a guide and we’d recommend the Mesa Verde 700 Years Tour for an in-depth visit. You’ll be staying overnight at a lodge in the park, guaranteeing spectacular views and comfortable furnishings.

This morning, make the 2 hour drive over to Pagosa Springs, home to the mineral-rich waters of the world’s deepest hot spring. Surrounded by the San Juan Mountains and vast areas of the San Juan National Forest, Pagosa Springs offers visitors a chance to relax in nature.

You’ll be staying at the charming Nightingale Motel right in the centre of town where you’ll be within easy walking distance of local eateries, the picturesque Pagosa Springs Town Park and various hot springs. Head out for a dip, visit the park or go for a leisurely stroll along the San Juan River Walk.

If you’re interested in seeing more ancient ruins, just half an hour outside of Pagosa Springs lies the Chimney Rock National Monument where you’ll find two easy hikes and even more Ancestral Puebloan dwellings.

Leave early for your final stop: Colorado Springs. The drive is 4 hours long and with so much to see and do in Colorado’s second largest city, you won’t want to miss anything.

You’ll be arriving at the luxurious Cheyenne Mountain Resort where you can get outdoors in a tranquil, scenic setting. But after all that driving, you’ll likely fancy stretching your legs, so head to the Garden of the Gods Park. The iconic red-sandstone formations and mountain views are otherworldly, and if you do one thing in Colorado Springs, make it this.

If you have time, you might also want to hike up to see the beauty of The Broadmoor Seven Falls.

Come evening, relax back at the resort or take your pick of one of the city’s delightfully diverse restaurants for dinner.

This morning, take the Pikes Peak Cog Railway past scenic landscapes up the 14,114 ft. summit of Pikes Peak, the second

most-visited mountain in the world after Mount Fuji in Japan. You’ll get to take in the area’s beautiful scenery and enjoy a ride on one of the West’s historic trains.

After this 3.5 hour round trip journey you’ll still have time to explore the city’s historic gold mines, many of which are still working today, like the Cripple and Victor Gold Mine or the Mollie Kathleen Mine.

Round off your stay with a gondola ride over the Royal Gorge at sunset.