Hi Researchers,

I have a couple of friends in England who want to visit the US late
this year or early next.  They are in their fifties and very active,
having recently walked across Spain in six weeks.  They are interested
in visiting the Four Corners area; namely north western NM, north
eastern AZ, south western CO and south eastern UT.  Specific
highlights would probably include: Arches, Grand Canyon, Canyonlands,
Mesa Verde, Chaco Canyon nat'l parks, Durango and Silverton area,
Moab, Shiprock, NM, slot canyons and rock art in south eastern UT.  I
have travelled extensively in that area, but always under my own
steam, and they're looking for a tour guide who will allow them to
customise a tour to their interests, and take care of the driving,
carrying baggage etc.  I'm not interested as much in suggestions of
places to visit, but companies who will organise the travel for them,
when they know what they want to do.  They don't have flights booked
yet, so could fly into any gateway city: Salt Lake City, Denver,
Albuquerque, or Flagstaff (via Phoenix).  They will take care of the
air travel themselves, but would need transporting from one of those
cities to the Four Corners area.

Thanks!

Hello,

I hope your friends will enjoy their visit to the southwestern US.  It
is a beautiful area, as you well know.

The type of tour that you are looking for your friends is not that
common in the United States.  But, I have listed a few web pages for
tour groups that go into those areas.  I hope these will meet there
needs.

American Tours
http://www.affordablefarandwidetours.com/2003/north_america/united_states/index.htm

Durango Tour and Travel
http://www.durangotourandtravel.com/templates/template5.cfm?ID=188&C=9

Routes of the West
http://www.affordableglobustours.com/2003/north_america/routes_of_the_west.htm

Contrasts of the West
http://www.affordableglobustours.com/2003/north_america/panorama/contrasts_of_the_west.htm

Canyon Country
http://www.affordable-collette-tours.com/2003/usa/usa-west/canyon_country_2003.htm

Desert, Canyons & Casinos
http://www.affordable-collette-tours.com/2003/usa/usa-west/deserts_canyons_casinos_2003.htm

America’s National Parks
http://www.affordableglobustours.com/2003/north_america/usa_canada_west/america_national_parks.htm


Keywords Used: 
travel tour SW US
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=travel+tour+SW+US&btnG=Google+Search

travel tour u.s. 'four corners'
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=travel+tour+u.s.+%27four+corners%27&btnG=Google+Search

travel agent u.s. 'four corners'
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=travel+agent+u.s.+%27four+corners%27&btnG=Google+Search


I hope this helps.
PbA
Google Answers Researcher

Looks good - thanks.

Have your friends considered renting a comfortable recreational
vehicle (RV) and using it as a comfortable "base camp" for exploring
the wide-open spaces of the Four-Corners area?

RV travel has some huge advantages over traditional tours and
"fly-drive" vacations.  Traveling in a car and staying in hotels is
fine for a few days, but the packing-unpacking routine gets old very
quickly.  In an RV everything you need is always close at hand: a
stocked refrigerator, a clean restroom and shower, a place to sit or
lie down and have a rest, a warm refuge when it suddenly turns chilly,
a cool place when it's hot.  And the scenery is better, too.  They'll
spend their nights in some of the most scenic places in the world
rather than in a cookie-cutter hotel room on the busiest street
around.  The RV is a little home on wheels, and after a few days
they'll truly feel at home in it.

Since they are active hikers/walkers, they would often be able to camp
within steps of the trailhead, rather than needing to commute from the
nearest town, which, as you know, can be miles away.

If this concept sounds appealing, take a look at:
www.tracks-trails.com

We organize highly personalized, self-guided tours throughout the
American and Canadian West.  The Four Corners is a specialty (we live
in Grand Junction, CO).

Dan Wulfman
President
(800) 247-0970