Travel has changed. After years of staying put, we’re not just looking for an escape. We’re looking for meaning. If the idea of a cookie-cutter all-inclusive makes you cringe, then it’s time to look for something different. Enter awe-inclusive travel: the kind that makes you feel small (in a good way), connected, and completely alive. I found all of that and more on Intrepid Travel’s Western USA National Parks Loop, a six-day guided tour through Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon, Lake Powell, Monument Valley, and the Grand Canyon. It’s one jaw-dropping moment after another and it will stick with you long after your suitcase is unpacked. (Updated June 2026.)
Awe-Inclusive Travel Is the New All-Inclusive
After a life shake-up a few years ago, I went back to school and stumbled across something that stuck with me: knowledge emotions. Surprise, interest, awe. The ones that push us to grow. Awe quickly became my favourite. It makes you feel small and expansive at the same time, and that feeling? It’s addictive.
Science backs it up too. Awe can spark happiness, generosity, even better critical thinking. Which is why, when the opportunity to join Intrepid Travel’s Western USA National Parks tour came up, I jumped. Five days of jaw-dropping landscapes, heart-opening moments, and deep belly laughs with strangers-turned-friends? Yes please.
The tour officially goes by Western USA National Parks Loop. I called it the 5-Day Awestruck Adventure. It covers Zion, Bryce Canyon, Monument Valley, Lake Powell, and the Grand Canyon, and every single stop delivers. I’m breaking it down day by day.
Heads up: there will be goosebumps.
Zion National Park: Awe in Every Direction
We toss the word oasis around a lot. Backyard oasis, spa day oasis. Most of the time it’s just marketing. Zion National Park, however, is the real thing. Tucked in the middle of desert landscape, Zion feels like a place that shouldn’t exist. It’s no wonder the Mormon pioneers gave it a name with reverence. It truly is sacred land.
On day one of the Western USA National Parks tour with Intrepid Travel, we rolled into Zion and jaws dropped. Rock formations dating back 270 million years, a canyon carved 2,000 feet deep, and landscapes that shift with the light. This is the kind of beauty that stops you mid-sentence. You’ll have about six hours to explore, so bring your walking shoes and a wide-angle lens because you won’t want to miss a thing.
Trails in Zion range from mellow walks to serious scrambles. Our Intrepid guide gave us the inside scoop on which hikes would suit our abilities, and the park maps and signage made it easy to navigate. I started at the Temple of Sinawava with a few in our group, then split off with another traveller to hike the Emerald Pools Trail while others tackled Angel’s Landing. By dinner, we were all trading stories and photos. Every trail delivered awe in its own way.
And yes, the shuttle system runs like a dream, with buses every 7 to 15 minutes. Zion might be wild, but it’s wonderfully accessible.
Bryce Canyon: Otherworldly and Unforgettable
If you forced me to pick a favourite stop on the Western USA National Parks tour, I’d probably say Bryce Canyon. And no, it’s technically not a canyon—it’s an amphitheatre—but let’s not get bogged down in semantics when your brain is trying to process something that looks more like Mars than Utah.
The red sandstone, the eerie hoodoos rising like sculptures, and the fine, rust-coloured dust underfoot all add up to a surreal, cinematic experience. Science explains it, of course, but sometimes it’s better to just shut up and be amazed. That’s exactly what I did while hiking from Sunset Point to Sunrise Point—camera in hand, jaw on the ground.
Towering Ponderosa pines stretch over 150 feet high here, reaching straight for the sun. And yes, you could dig into why they grow like that, or you can let the wonder take over. I chose the latter.
You’re welcome to roam solo in Bryce Canyon, but I highly recommend leaning on your Intrepid guide’s expertise. Ours, Treviso, was all-in on making sure we had the best experience possible. He knew which trails would offer the best views, the best light, and maybe even the best moments of silence.
It’s not just stunning—it’s transportive.
Lake Powell & Horseshoe Bend: Awe with a Side of Reality
Standing at Lake Powell, I felt two things at once: impressed and worried.
The waterline tells the story. You can see exactly where the water used to be, high up on those canyon walls, and where it is now. When we visited, Lake Powell was sitting at just 22% capacity. As the second-largest man-made reservoir in the U.S., it’s an engineering feat worth marvelling at. But standing there watching it disappear? That I wasn’t prepared for.
This stop on Intrepid Travel’s Western USA National Parks tour changed how I travel. Since that day, I’ve thought about the looming water crisis nearly every time I turn on a tap, no matter where I am.
From Lake Powell, we headed to Horseshoe Bend. You’ve probably seen it on a million Instagram posts, and yet nothing compares to standing there in person. I took 100 photos, minimum. But the best part was when I finally put my camera down and just stood in it. No filters. No distractions. Just one of the most commanding views I’ve ever seen.
Awe can be quiet too. And sometimes, that’s the most powerful kind.
Monument Valley: Where the Land Tells Stories
You might not know the name, but you’ve definitely seen the view. Monument Valley is the backdrop of countless films, TV shows, and album covers—those towering buttes and sweeping red plains are burned into pop culture. But being there in person, surrounded by it all, was something else entirely.
What stayed with me wasn’t just the landscape (though yes, it’s spectacular). It was the people. Monument Valley is part of Navajo Nation, a sovereign territory that spans Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico. As part of our Western USA National Parks tour with Intrepid Travel, we had the privilege of touring with a Navajo guide who shared the stories, history, and traditions of their people.
As someone who runs a feminist media platform, I was especially fascinated by their matriarchal society—where women lead, land passes through the mother’s line, and strength is measured in community, not conquest. I could have listened for hours.
If I had one wish for this stop, it would be more time—more stories, more connection. But even in that short visit, the impact was deep. Monument Valley wasn’t just another photo op. It was grounding, humbling, and—yes—completely awe-inspiring.
Grand Canyon: The Grand Finale, Literally
Nothing prepares you for the Grand Canyon. You’ve seen the pictures, watched the documentaries—but until you’re standing there, watching the light shift across a 6-million-year-old masterpiece, you haven’t really seen it.
As the final stop on Intrepid Travel’s Western USA National Parks tour, it delivered the jaw-drop moment I expected. What I didn’t expect was the pizza.
Just days earlier, I’d hopped into a van with 11 strangers. Now, here we were, sharing a sunset and slices of pizza like old friends. It was a simple tradition our Intrepid guide, Treviso, brought to life—and one I’ll never forget. Because yes, the canyon is breathtaking. But what filled my soul that night wasn’t just the view. It was the connection.
Travel can be about ticking off sights. But the best kind? The kind that stays with you? It’s about people, shared awe, and the small moments in big places.
Highlights from the Western USA National Parks Tour
I didn’t come back from this trip with souvenirs. I came back with stories, goosebumps, and a deeper respect for the planet and the people on it. Intrepid Travel’s Western USA National Parks tour gave me more than epic views. It gave me pause, perspective, and a renewed appreciation for just how good people can be when they show up with open minds and decent hiking shoes.
Whether you’re in search of wide-open spaces, a good group laugh, or that hard-to-describe feeling that hits you when nature knocks the wind out of you—in a good way—this is the trip. Just don’t forget to pack a sense of wonder. You’ll be using it daily.
FAQ: Western USA National Parks Tour
This is a six-day loop tour that starts and ends in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon, Lake Powell, Monument Valley, and the Grand Canyon.
Yes. An experienced Intrepid guide leads the tour, offering insight, logistics help, and great company. You’ll travel in a small group of like-minded adventurers.
Absolutely. I joined solo and left with friends. Intrepid Travel makes it easy to feel part of the group right from day one.
Moderate. You’ll have the option to hike trails ranging from easy to challenging, with guidance from your tour leader based on your comfort level.
Late spring and fall are the sweet spots. I went in late spring and the timing was ideal: comfortable temperatures, manageable crowds, and the landscape at its most dramatic. Summer is doable but the heat in canyon country can be punishing. If you have flexibility, aim for May or September.
No visa required for Canadian citizens. You’ll need a valid passport for air travel, and that’s it. Worth noting: if you’re a Canadian permanent resident but not yet a citizen, your entry requirements depend on your country of citizenship, not your PR status, so check before you book.
Prices start from around CAD $3,470, though Intrepid regularly runs promotions so it’s worth checking their site for current deals. Park entrance fees are included in the Intrepid tour price, though non-residents may be subject to additional fees on-site. Check the inclusions section of your specific itinerary on the Intrepid Travel website before you go.
Maximum 12 people. That small group size is a big part of what makes the experience feel personal rather than like a bus tour. You’re not anonymous in a crowd of 40.
Disclosure: I was invited to join Intrepid Travel on their Western USA National Parks Loop trip. All opinions expressed here are my own. I am forever grateful for the opportunity to be witness to such incredible natural beauty in America’s southwest. I am awestruck.
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