A Colorful Encounter with the Arizona High Desert, including the Petrified Forest
Carved by wind, rain and 5 million years of the Colorado River’s erosive force, the Grand Canyon is immense—a mile deep and 277 miles long, its walls etched in layers of ochre, cream, gold and vermillion. To the south lies the red rock wonderland of Sedona, where the desert palette adds rust, rose and maroon to the imposing sandstone buttes, accented with green chaparral and junipers in the valleys and arroyos below. 
More colors lie to the east, where the Painted Desert’s sculpted formations rise in stacks of orange, blue and lavender, among fallen fossilized trees. Delve into these enchanting landscapes on an itinerary that weaves together the most scenic settings of Arizona’s high desert—including a classic train journey to the Grand Canyon’s South Rim through the largest Ponderosa pine forest in the world.
Trip Highlights
A Small Group Foray with Expert Naturalist Guides
Explore geology, archaeology, paleontology and more on this compact yet in-depth journey into northern Arizona's most dramatic natural and cultural settings
Luxury Dome Service on the Grand Canyon Railway
Aboard this famous vintage train, enjoy deluxe treatment and panoramic views from our glass dome car as we ride to the Grand Canyon, then stay on the South Rim
Explore Painted Desert & Ancient Puebloan Sites
Wander trails through the Painted Desert in Petrified Forest National Park, and examine Ancestral Puebloan dwellings at a national monument in the Verde Valley
WWF In Action
A More Meaningful Way to Experience Arizona's Desert Wonders
Most visitors keen to see the Grand Canyon and other famous sights of the American Southwest find themselves relegated to bus tours or navigating crowded park roads in their own vehicles, along with heavily traveled trails and the almost impossible challenge of trying to secure coveted accommodations that often fill a year in advance. We offer a different—and better!—alternative.
- Experience All the Wonder & None of the Hassle
The Grand Canyon and Sedona are some of the most popular destinations in the Southwest. Most visitors end up fighting to see the sights with hundreds of others, trying to plot routes while juggling maps and guidebooks. With Nat Hab, you'll worry about none of that: You get a stress-free trip with outstanding interpretation and access to quieter corners of this region others often miss, via our “insider” knowledge. - A Small Group Led by Two Expedition Leaders
Our trips are limited to 13 travelers. Each is guided by two Expedition Leaders, for the utmost in personal attention, flexibility and quieter nature encounters. We divide into even smaller groups, traveling in two vehicles that can access places larger tours can’t reach, with opportunities to pursue different activities to suit varying physical ability levels. - Our Guides Know the Grand Canyon and Arizona High Desert Like None Other
With decades of collective experience, our naturalist guides know where to find the “paths less traveled." They have secret spots where we avoid the swarms of tourists that besiege the most crowded locations, and they'll inform you about every aspect of the region's geology, wildlife, natural history, archaeology and Indigenous cultures. With lots of surprises up their sleeves, our Expedition Leaders share a side of these enchanting landscapes that most visitors miss. See Expedition Leader bios with traveler comments regarding the quality of our leaders. - Ride the Grand Canyon Railway—and Leave the Reservations to Us
Not only will you get to enjoy the 360° view from a luxury dome car aboard the historic train from Williams to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, you won't have to battle to get scarce reservations—we've taken care of that! - Stay on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon and Watch the Sunrise
It's next to impossible to get reservations for coveted national park lodging on the Grand Canyon's South Rim. But we've done it for you. After our train ride to the canyon, disembark to spend a peaceful night at a classic park lodge under the stars. And since we are situated right here, we wake before dawn the next morning to witness the sunrise over the canyon from Yavapai Point—a life highlight! - Exclusive Custom Nat Hab Vehicles Enhance Viewing
Our customized Sprinter vans are exceptionally comfortable and equipped with captain's chairs, device-charging outlets, and a hatch top roof that lifts to allow for unimpeded sightseeing. - Our Quality–Value Guarantee Ensures Your Superlative Experience
With Nat Hab, you receive our exclusive guarantee that clearly states that we will meet the high expectations we set forth in our promotional materials. To our knowledge, this is the most ambitious guarantee made by any adventure travel company. Read our important promise. - Feel Good About Your Carbon-Neutral Journey
We care deeply about our planet, as we know you do. When you travel with us, the carbon emissions from your trip are 100% offset—including your round-trip flights from home. Natural Habitat Adventures has been the world’s first carbon-neutral travel company since 2007. - Natural Habitat Adventures Is World Wildlife Fund’s Travel Partner
Because of our commitment to environmentally friendly travel, as well as the exceptional quality of our small-group nature adventures, World Wildlife Fund, the world’s leading environmental conservation organization, has named Natural Habitat Adventures its worldwide travel partner—a designation that makes us exceedingly proud!
