Why I’d Take Globus’ Canyon Country Adventure Again
I have recommended many tours over the years, but Globus’ Canyon Country Adventure is one I can talk about from personal experience.
I took this tour myself, thoroughly enjoyed it, and would take it again.
That is not something I say lightly.
This Globus tour travels from the Phoenix/Scottsdale area to Las Vegas, with time in Sedona, the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Lake Powell, Antelope Canyon, Bryce Canyon, and Zion National Park. It covers a lot of ground, but that is exactly why I liked doing it with Globus.
I have been to the Grand Canyon multiple times on my own, and independent travel can work beautifully there. But for this full Southwest route, with so many stops and so many logistics, I would not want to piece it together myself.
The distances are longer than they look on paper. The planning is more involved than people expect. And some of the best parts of the trip are places you might easily miss, skip, or only see from a distance if you were driving yourself.
This is also one of those trips where photos and videos only go so far. They can show the red rocks and canyon walls, but they cannot capture the size, the quiet, or the way the light changes across the landscape.
You really do have to stand there yourself.
My Advice for the Grand Canyon
One thing I especially liked about this itinerary is that you spend two nights at the Grand Canyon.
There are optional excursions available, and some travelers may enjoy adding one. Personally, I was very happy keeping that day simple.
I took the free shuttle bus along the South Rim and made a day of stopping at the overlooks. That was exactly right for me.
Each stop gives you a slightly different view of the canyon. The colors change, the shadows move, and the depth looks different depending on where you are standing. The Grand Canyon is not a place I think you need to over-schedule.
You are already there. Give yourself time to look at it.
For me, that was more rewarding than filling the day with another excursion.
Antelope Canyon and Monument Valley
Antelope Canyon was one of the places that made me especially glad I was on the Globus tour.
If I had been doing this trip on my own, I honestly might have driven right past it. Or I might have known about it, but not wanted to deal with the advance planning, timing, and guided access.
With Globus, it was included — and I am so glad it was.
Antelope Canyon is not something you understand from the outside. You have to go in and walk through the narrow sandstone walls as the light comes through from above. The photos are beautiful, but they still do not capture what it feels like to be inside that canyon.
Monument Valley was another example.
Many people see it from the main highway, take a few pictures of the famous buttes, and keep going. That is still beautiful, but it is not the same as going deeper into the valley.
With Globus, the included excursion gave us a much better sense of the size, space, and stillness of Monument Valley. That is something I would not have wanted to miss.
Lake Powell, Bryce, and Zion
One of my favorite memories from the tour was dinner at the Rainbow Room at Lake Powell.
That dinner was included with the Globus tour, and the setting was beautiful. The view over Lake Powell was lovely, and when we were there, the sunset was extraordinary. The light over the water and surrounding rock changed by the minute.
On your own, you might find a perfectly nice place for dinner. But would you know to be there, at that time, with that view?
Maybe. Maybe not.
At Bryce Canyon, many people in our group did the hike down into the canyon. From what I could see, it looked very scenic, and several travelers really enjoyed it.
One nice thing about being on a Globus tour was that the hikers did not have to return to the original starting point. Globus picked them up at a different location, which made it much easier.
Personally, I did not have the energy for that hike that day, so I skipped it — and I was glad to have that flexibility.
I did, however, thoroughly enjoy the walk I took in Zion. Zion felt completely different from Bryce. Bryce is delicate and almost otherworldly, while Zion feels taller and more enclosed, with canyon walls rising around you.
Walking near the river through the canyon was amazingly beautiful. The sound of the water, the height of the rock walls, and the peacefulness of that walk made it one of the parts of the trip I remember most clearly.
My Honest Recommendation
I would take Globus’ Canyon Country Adventure again.
I loved that Antelope Canyon was included. I loved that Monument Valley was more than just a drive-by. I loved having two nights at the Grand Canyon. I loved the dinner at Lake Powell, especially with that sunset view. And I loved seeing Bryce and Zion in the same trip, because they feel so different from each other.
This is not a vacation where you unpack once and stay in one place. You are covering ground. But for this particular route, I think Globus makes the trip much easier and much more enjoyable than trying to arrange each piece yourself.
If the American Southwest is on your list, I would be very comfortable recommending this tour.
I have taken it myself. I thoroughly enjoyed it. And yes — I would do it again.
Curlew Travel can help you compare Globus departure dates, review what is included, and decide whether this tour is the right fit for the way you like to travel.