Tour Talk: A Peek at Our Peaks

Adventures by Disney offers a new tour in Montana.
Adventures by Disney offers a new tour in Montana.

This trio of tours offer a bird’s-eye view of the U.S.’s varied terrain.

Montana, the Disney Way
Glamping, horseback riding, fly-fishing and white-water rafting…sounds like the making of a grand outdoor adventure, and it’s all part of the journey on Adventures by Disney’s (adventuresbydisney.com) new 7-day Montana trip. The trip includes a stagecoach adventure in Yellowstone National Park, a stay at a dude ranch, stargazing by the campfire, hiking the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone and visiting Old Faithful, as well as ziplining at Big Sky Resort. One of the highlights of the trip is hiking the Ousel Falls Park Trail in Big Sky; participants climb up and down the small canyon, and when they reach the top they have an awe-inspiring view of the Falls.

“Now is a wonderful time to explore the United States,” said Ken Potrock, senior v.p. of Adventures by Disney, in a press release statement. “Adventures by Disney is proud to showcase the majestic landscapes…available throughout America.”

Departures run through August, and start up again in May 2017; rates for the remainder of this year start at $3,919 for adults, and $3,729 for children.

Rails & Trails
Mayflower Tours’ 7-day West Virginia Mountain Rails & Trails (mayflowertours.com) offers a different vantage point of the country’s mountainous terrain. It includes a ride on the Cass Scenic Railroad, which takes passengers up the mountain to Whittaker Station, offering breathtaking views of the surroundings; a trip on the Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad, which journeys along the picturesque South Branch of the Potomac River; and the chance to climb aboard the steam-powered Durbin Rocket for a ride along the Greenbrier River with mountain views of the Monongahela National Forest.

All of this rail travel is complemented by Appalachian cuisine and culture, as well as a visit underground in an authentic mining car at the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine. Departures this year run July through October, and rates start at $1,969 pp twin.

Biking the Canyons
If simply taking in the country’s magnificent vistas is not adrenaline-pumping enough for your clients, throw in one of DuVine’s (duvine.com) tours on two wheels, the 4-day Zion National Bike Tour, which also includes plenty of hiking. There are rides along the Valley Floor Road, embraced by majestic cliffs, hikes up the Virgin River, and vistas that will take your client’s breath away. One day clients will be at Scout Lookout looking over the canyon, and the next they’ll be hiking through the narrowest part of the canyon, where sheer cliff faces soar hundreds of feet above them.

The tour is part of the company’s Private Collection, and can be customized to your clients’ specifications. Rates start at $2,995.