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Utah Vacations & Adventure Tours

Utah Explorer Trip

Get ready to be transported to a land of geologic wonder on our Utah hiking and adventure tours.

With landscapes of river-carved canyons, towering hoodoos, multicolored mesas, natural amphitheaters, and sparkling waterfalls, Utah is an incredible vacation destination for families, friends, groups, and adventure seekers. Adventure activities like hiking, biking, white water rafting, kayaking, and more await you on a vacation of a lifetime! Our guided Utah vacations offer you the opportunity to be active, outdoors, make new friends, a create lasting memories. With small group sizes, endless personal touches from start to finish, and expertly trained guides our all-inclusive departures will surprise and inspire any age!

All Utah Vacations

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Utah Vacations for Families

North America

Bryce Canyon & Zion Family Vacation

  • Duration 6 days
  • Activity Level Level 2 
    • Activity Level 2

      On the Move

      Sure, I own some hiking boots, they're even worn in, but they don't go on long trips. I like my creature comforts and I like to give a range of activities a go.

    Read more about the Active Range

 FAMILY VACATION

Explore the iconic desert canyons and windswept rock terrain of Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks on this family-friendly adventure. The action-packed days and star-studded nights are sure to impress every member of the family.

Trip Start: St. George, Utah Trip End: St. George, Utah

Utah Vacations for Adults

North America

Bryce Canyon & Zion Adventure

4.13

  • Duration 6 days
  • Activity Level Level 3 
    • Activity Level 3

      Earn Your Lunch

      I stay active on vacation and love the feeling of relaxing after a busy day on the go. I season my trips with a little fresh exercise.

    Read more about the Active Range

 ADULT ONLY

This trip is a geologist dream! Over 6-days of exploring Bryce Canyon & Zion National Parks, you’ll hike through the Zion Canyon, bike under towering red sandstone cliffs and black lava rock, take a stroll around the magical Queens Garden trails and bask under the clear night skies showcasing the Milky Way.

Trip Start: St. George, Utah Trip End: St. George, Utah

North America

Mighty Five Adventure

4.78

  • Duration 9 days
  • Activity Level Level 3 
    • Activity Level 3

      Earn Your Lunch

      I stay active on vacation and love the feeling of relaxing after a busy day on the go. I season my trips with a little fresh exercise.

    Read more about the Active Range

 ADULT ONLY

Explore the best of Utah’s National Parks; including Canyonlands, Arches, Capitol Reef, Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks. You’ll be blown away by the countless canyons, soaring pinnacles, rimson-coloured hoodoos and the many cascading waterfalls.

Trip Start: Grand Junction, Colorado Trip End: St. George, Utah

North America

Arches & Canyonlands Adventure

  • Duration 6 days
  • Activity Level Level 3 
    • Activity Level 3

      Earn Your Lunch

      I stay active on vacation and love the feeling of relaxing after a busy day on the go. I season my trips with a little fresh exercise.

    Read more about the Active Range

 ADULT ONLY

Utah’s finest geologic wonders and world-renowned beauty await your discovery on our Arches & Canyonlands National Parks tour. 

Trip Start: Grand Junction, Colorado Trip End: Grand Junction, Colorado

What Guests are Saying about their Utah Vacations

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Bryce Canyon & Zion Adventure - June 2021

Bobcat trip - highly recommend

"Active Adventures continues to provide excellent adventures. This was my 3rd and it was a… read more

"Active Adventures continues to provide excellent adventures. This was my 3rd and it was a grand slam! The guides were wonderful, the food excellent and the best part - the parks. Bryce and Zion were breathtaking. I think all people should be required to see them. The beauty was amazing! I can't wait for my next adventure. read less

5 Stars (8 reviews)

Rhonda, United States

Bryce Canyon & Zion Adventure - May 2021

Awesome Active Adventure

"From start to finish the trip was awesome. We went to Snow Canyon, saw the… read more

"From start to finish the trip was awesome. We went to Snow Canyon, saw the erosion and the limestone structures, then to Red Rock. We went to see the hoodoos at Bryce Canyon and we hiked amongst them seeing the Majesty of what mother nature can do. We hiked up Wall Street which really challenged my hiking skills, then we went to Zion, which was spectacular with the rugged cliffs and mountains all around you. Hiking up to the top of Angel's Landing with a spectacular view was awesome. We hiked The Narrows through the Virgin River which was a beautiful experience. I'm looking to book my next trip through Active Adventures. The guides were awesome, they couldn't be more professional, they took care of every little detail from meals to water on the hikes to making sure everyone was comfortable, to the accommodations. How the guides kept such a great attitude all the time I have no clue, but they sure do! read less

5 Stars (8 reviews)

Dave, United States

utah vacations

When Is the Best Time to Visit Utah?

Utah has some of the most varied terrain in the United States. The same can be said for Utah’s weather. Snowfall can top over 500 inches in the winter in certain mountain areas, while in the summer, parts of the state can top 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Spring and fall bring every type of weather imaginable. For us, our pick for the best time to visit Utah is the fall, when you can expect comfortable daytime temperatures and cool evenings.

Utah by the Seasons:

Spring (March-May)

This time of year tends to be the most unpredictable. Wet and windy one day, sunny and calm the next day. The desert areas will be the greenest during the spring. May is a great time to visit the national parks in the state as the average day time temperate is 82-86 degrees!

Summer (June – August)

Summer you will find the need for the most sunscreen! Temperatures range from daytime of upward 100 F in July/August and a low of 66 F in July/August in the evening so you will still need to plan to bring a light jacket.

Autumn (September – November)

Ah, the cooler temperatures start to return. Daytime highs are a comfortable 75-80 degrees during the day in September and October, but you should pack a jacket, hat, and gloves for the evening temperatures of 45-55 degrees. You can encounter light snowfall in the higher parks like Bryce Canyon National Park in late September during this time of year.

Winter (December – February)

Winter snowfall provides excellent skiing and adds a new beauty to the already gorgeous landscape. The average daily temperature will range around 34 degrees if you’re in the mountains or 55 degrees if you are hanging out in St George, Utah.

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How to Plan for Your Utah Vacation

When it comes to planning for your Utah vacation, it helps to prepare for the desert climate and a land of extremes. Here are a few of our tried-and-true tips of what to have on hand and how to plan for your Utah vacation:

1. Hydration and more hydration

In a desert environment, the summer months can be hot and dry with temperatures in July and August around 100 degrees F, so it is essential to drink plenty of water. Be sure to keep your water bottle handy and drink from it often. There are several filling stations located throughout the parks to ensure that your bottle stays full and of course, your adventure guide always has extra water on hand to ensure everyone is hydrated.

2. Layer and cover up

When you’re in Utah, plan to dress in layers. The elevation can change from 2,860 feet in St. George to 9,115 feet at Rainbow Point in Bryce Canyon National Park, which is only about a 2-hour drive north. We recommend conversion pants (pants that zip off into shorts when you need), and long sleeve outer layer with a short sleeve layer underneath. A hat with a brim is also an essential item to bring along or bandanna to cover your neck/head from the sun.

3. Apply and reapply sunscreen

Sunscreen is very important whenever you are enjoying the outdoors. Utah boasts upwards of 300 days of sunshine each year, and the ultraviolet rays from the sun will burn you easier at higher elevations, so you’ll want to stay extra protected. SPF 30 “broad-spectrum” sunscreen will provide protection from both ultraviolet A and B rays. Reapply approximately every two hours or as indicated on the label.

utah vacations 3

Tips for Your Utah Vacation & What to Expect

Having traveled to Utah for years, we’ve learned a few things along the way. We’re happy to share a few fun facts and interesting features of Utah with you:

1. State Nickname

Utah is called The Beehive State. The nickname comes from members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or Mormons, who first settled in the territory. “Deseret,” in The Book of Mormon is a honeybee. Early Mormon settlers have been described as having carried “swarms of bees” with them. This nickname commemorates the industry of the people of Utah.

2. Precipitation

Utah’s annual rainfall varies greatly from less than five inches in Utah’s arid Great Salt Lake Desert to more than 60 inches in the northern mountain ranges.

3. Bring your Camera

Utah is a landscape photographer’s paradise. You have sandstone arches, tall pillar hoodoos, spires, towers, slot canyons, river gorges, canyon walls and shadows, silky water moving through carved and rusted canyons, weeping rocks, green forest, etc. It truly is a photographer’s dream!

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Secure Your Spot Now, Pay the Rest Later

As members of the Active Adventures family, Austin Adventures offers booking assurance that allows you to secure your spot with a deposit now and pay the rest later. Plus, if your plans change or you can’t travel, you can transfer your booking or request a refund on any additional funds paid (less deposit) up to 90 days from your original trip start date.  

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Meet Your Utah Vacation Guides

FAQS About Utah Vacations

Do you recommend buying travel insurance?

As an Austin Adventures traveler, it’s highly recommended you take out travel insurance to cover the likes of travel delays, missed connections, medical expenses or injury, or lost baggage for your travel with us. Please head to our Travel Protection page for more in-depth information and our recommended insurance provider.

What's included on your North America trips?

Accommodation

We've spent years finding places to stay that are quaint, perfectly-located, and comfortable when we take you to the most amazing parts of North America. We offer a wide variety of accommodations on our trips ranging from locally run inns and first-class hotels to resorts, dude ranches and historic national park cabins. Accommodations are selected for their location, unique charm and history, and offer a true feel for the region. We strongly believe in the value of a good night's sleep and our accommodation reflects this. We also like to have somewhere comfortable to relax after the day's activities.

Transport

We're really focused on ensuring that we spend as little time as possible sitting in vehicles, and that we optimise your vacation for adventuring in the great outdoors. Our average driving time is just over two hours a day, and we make plenty of stops for bathroom breaks and sightseeing along the way. We use modern, comfortable 15-passenger vans for all of our transfers and a second van is added to most departures to provide more flexibility and more room to spread out while seeing the sights! Make no mistake - our trips are not typical bus tour vacation packages! Picture more of a road trip with family complete with good music, tasty snacks, and plenty of guide-supplied fun facts along the way to keep you entertained!

Meals

Just about all your meals are included when you travel with Austin Adventures in North America. We provide a wide variety of cuisine - breakfasts are typically eaten at your hotel on your own time in the morning before meeting up with the group. Lunches feature everything from elaborate picnics to roadside cafes to sandwiches trailside. Dinners are usually eaten at our hotel's dining room or a local restaurant with plenty of options to choose from. We easily cater to vegetarians, picky kids, and people with particular dietary needs. All our guides have food safety certificates and are well-practiced in the art of food prep and serving while on-the-move. You'll find the meals are a real highlight of your trip!

All Guiding Services

Each trip features two or three incredible guides and our average guest to guide ratio is 6:1. Our guests are often drawn to North America by the beautiful scenic landscapes, promise of wilderness and clean air - and there's no doubt you'll find all that, though what you may not be expecting is to forge real, genuine friendships with your fellow tripmates, including our wonderful guides. They're hands-down the BEST guides you'll ever come across.

Activities

Any activity described in our itinerary, such as hiking, rafting, horseback riding, kayaking and biking, are included in your trip cost. Our itineraries are pretty jam-packed to maximize our time spent exploring in these amazing places, and your guides will make it clear if there are additional activities available (at your expense).

How many people are there on each of our North America trips?

We get a real variety of people on our trips and they all seem to have one thing in common – a love of the outdoors! Our trips can accommodate up to 22 guests, depending on each departure. Our adult-only departures require a minimum age of 16 years and generally feature a mix of singles, couples and friends, and our family departures require a minimum age of 6 years to join (7 years on our Alaska Family Adventure) and are a great way to meet other like-minded families who like to get outside.
Please note child rates apply to children 12 years and under.

Do you charge a forced single supplement if I'm a solo traveller?

We regularly accommodate single guests on our group trips and there’s no forced single supplement if you don’t mind sharing a room (you might even get a room to yourself sometimes). If you prefer not to share a room at all, you can upgrade to a single room.
PLEASE NOTE: If you book within 90 days and you’re a Forced single, you’ll be required to pay for your own room.

If I book a trip with my children, will I be sharing a room with them?

Active Adventures & Austin Adventures family vacations are naturally about spending time with family and as such, most families opt to share rooms on our trips. At time of booking, families consisting of four guests with children aged 17 and under will be automatically assigned one shared room. However, the following alternative rooming allocations are available:

  • Families consisting of four guests with all children aged 13 and above are welcome to opt for additional rooms as per advertised double occupancy adult rates.
  • Families consisting of four guests with at least one child aged 12 and under are automatically assigned a shared room. However, families can opt to pay the adult rates for all guests in their family to have an additional room.
  • The same principles apply for families consisting of more than four guests.

Rooming preferences are subject to availability and must be communicated in writing at time of booking. Automatic assignments as per this policy will be applied in the absence of any specification provided by guests. Any request for additional rooms during trips will be at the guests’ own expense and subject to rates made available by the accommodation provider at the time. All minors (guests aged 17 and under) must be accompanied by at least one adult.

What if I need a special diet?

We’re accustomed to catering to the following special diets:

  • vegan (no meat or animal products)
  • vegetarian (no meat products)
  • pescatarian (vegetarian, and eat fish)
  • no red meat (eat chicken & fish)
  • no pork (eat chicken & fish)
  • gluten intolerant (no wheat, rye, barley or oats)
  • lactose intolerant (no dairy products)
  • picky kids (send us a list of what your child will eat and we'll make sure to have it!)
You will get the opportunity to specify your particular requirements when you fill in your travel wallet. If you have any other dietary requirements please let us know well in advance, via email or the online travel wallet.

 

How much luggage can I bring on the North America trips?

You'll need one piece of luggage, plus a daypack. Your main piece of luggage can be a soft sided duffel or a suitcase with wheels, and you'll need a good quality 18-24 liter daypack to carry with you throughout the days on the trails.

As far as extra luggage goes, if there's not too much (such as one small extra bag per person) then it shouldn't be a problem to fit it in our luggage trailer during the trip. If you've got more than that, then all major airports have luggage facilities available on a weekly basis, or if you are staying at a pre-trip hotel they may be able to store it for you until you return too.

How much spending money should I bring and where do I get cash?

You'll be able to find a reliable ATM once you arrive to start your trip, within the township or at the airport you land in, as national park ATM locations are sparse at best. Aside from tips for your guides, you could bring $200 and go home with change though some people like to bring some cash to cover a round of drinks, a few souvenirs, and dinner on "night on your own", although you could just as easily use a credit card for these purchases too.

What are your recommended guide gratuity guidelines?

You will have 2-3 guides on your Austin Adventure (depending on group size) and we recommend $15-25 per day, per guest, per guide. Typically, gratuities are offered by check or cash in local currency on the final morning of the trip and can either be given to each guide individually or to one guide to be equally distributed. Most of our guides these days also accept gratuities via Venmo (please note this app does not work in Canada). All dining, housekeeping and activity tips are included in your trip price.

Is there a number to call in an emergency? How can my family, friends or colleagues contact me

Please contact our office using the details below. If the office is unattended (outside of business hours), dial the extension for the emergency line. If no one immediately responds, please leave a message so we can pick it up and return your call as soon as we can.
Free phone 1 800 661 9073
Email: service@austinadventures.com

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Utah Adventure Blogs

Why travel with us

benefit group size

Just-right group sizes allow you to get off the beaten path

With an average of 12 guests per departure and an industry-leading 6:1 guest-to-guide ratio, you’ll enjoy a highly personalized experience with the perspective of an insider.

benefit guides

Award-winning guides lead the way

It’s so much easier to relax and enjoy your adventure when you have fun, caring guides who know the land, are experts in motivation, sweat all the details and whip up incredible meals, too!

benefit inclusive

You’ll never need to sweat the details

When we say all inclusive, we mean it! Meals and snacks, activities, lodging, transportation, guiding services and more. Every detail is handled; all you need to do is show up!

benefit safety

Enjoy freedom to push your boundaries – safely

Every aspect of your trip is thoroughly considered for your safety, from highly vetted vendors and well-maintained equipment to extensively trained guides and our seasoned operations team at headquarters.

benefit family

Decades of expertise mean you’ll experience only the best

Family travel and North American National Parks are our specialty. We’ve perfected our itineraries and sustained relationships for decades, ensuring you'll experience your destination to the fullest.

benefit wow

"Wow Moments” take your trip from enjoyable to extraordinary

For us, the extra mile is never extra, it’s part of the way! Count on special touches throughout your trip that will amplify your experience. If we’ve done our job, they’ll have you saying “wow!”