Compare Bryce Canyon National Park Quick Escape by MT Sobek (Mountain Travel Sobek) vs Hawaii: Ocean and Islands Adventure by Discover Corps

Day 1: Pick Up In Las Vegas And Transfer To Bryce National Park

Meals: Dinner

Accommodation: Bryce Canyon Lodge

Depart from Las Vegas and climb out of the stark Mojave Desert onto the western reaches of the Colorado Plateau, a great geologic formation that houses the most iconic sights of the Southwest. Bryce Canyon sits on one of the highest reaches of the plateau, and we arrive to the rim just in time to see the sunset illuminating the fiery orange pinnacles, or “hoodoos,” that fill the void below. We settle into our lodge, just minutes away from the rim, and enjoy the fine dining of Bryce Lodge before getting a good night’s rest in anticipation of adventures to come.

Day 2: Full Day Of Hiking At Bryce National Park

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Bryce Canyon Lodge

After a hearty breakfast, we depart straight from our lodge to hike the Fairyland Loop. We wind our way into Bryce Amphitheater among the towering hoodoos, approaching the delicate Tower Bridge and dominating Sinking Ship. Our guides set up a picnic lunch in the shade of bristlecone pines before we head back to the rim. Later today, we drive out to Bryce Point for a panoramic overlook of the park and the Grand Staircase beyond. Shuttle back or stretch your legs along the Rim Trail 2.5 miles back to our hotel, where we’ll enjoy a savory dinner.

Day 3: Explore The Canyons Of Escalante National Monument

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Bryce Canyon Lodge

Today we take advantage of the incredible natural diversity of Southern Utah, traveling a mere hour from Bryce to an entirely different environment in Escalante National Monument. First we enter Willis Creek, a slot canyon carved through Navajo Sandstone. Over millions of years, wind and water have delved deep into what was once the largest sand dune desert on the planet. Later, we enjoy lunch under the pinnacles of Kodachrome State park and hike up a shady riverside trail at Calf Creek, where we leave the arid desert for a lush waterfall-fed amphitheater

Day 4: Sunrise Hike And Transfer To Las Vegas

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

We save the best for last, beginning our morning hike with a glorious sunrise at the rim of Bryce. As we descend Wall Street, the tallest hoodoos we’ve encountered yet light up in waves of orange and magenta. We climb back to the rim through the mystical twists and turns of Queen’s Garden. After we depart our lodge, we recall the weekend’s adventures over lunch at the quaint Bryce Pines restaurant before heading back to Las Vegas.

Day 1: Arrive in Honolulu and Meet the Group

Meals: Dinner

Upon arrival in Hawaii’s capital, Honolulu, you’ll be be met at the airport and taken to your hotel just steps from the world famous Waikiki beaches. After a relaxing welcome dinner together, we’ll get to know one another and discuss the schedule for the week ahead.

Day 2: Journey to Oahu’s North Shore & Experience the Aloha Spirit

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

After breakfast, we’ll set out for Hawaii’s iconic North Shore, famous for its big waves and stunning landscapes. Spend the morning in the historic Waimea Valley with a local organization helping to preserve the valley’s cultural heritage and rainforests. Assist with a reforestation initiative, swim in waterfalls, and see why the ancient Hawaiians deemed the valley sacred centuries ago. In the afternoon, we’ll continue to Na Mea Kupono, an eco-farm that is home to Hawaii’s staple crop, taro. We’ll be hosted by this local family for a Hawaiin-style paina, or gathering, for our dinner as we learn more about their role in farming on the island.

Day 3: Climb Diamond Head & Sail out to Sea on a Catamaran

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Hawaii’s South Shore is crowned by the now extinct Diamond Head volcano. We’ll take a hike this morning to the top of the rim to get a panoramic view of Waikiki from above. For those who opt not to hike, we’ll have the option to visit the Bishop Museum, home of the royal Kamehameha family and now housing an array of artifacts covering Hawaii’s vast Polynesian heritage. After lunch in Waikiki, we’ll hit the sea on a catamaran ride over the turquoise Pacific waters.

Day 4: Fly to Maui & Explore the Tropical‘Iao Valley State Park

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Enjoy a free morning to explore Waikiki. Head to the beach for a surf lesson with the Waikiki beach boys, check out the area’s cafes and shops or simply relax on white sand beaches only steps from your hotel. We’ll take a short mid-day flight across the Hawaiian archipelago to the Valley Isle of Maui. After landing, we’ll head over to the towering emerald peaks of the ‘Iao Valley on Central Maui for a guided hike of the state park. A location revered by the ancient Hawaiians, the valley also served as the site of one of Hawaii’s most important battles as King Kamehameha I tried to unite the islands in the 1700’s. Later in the evening, unwind at our Kaanapali beachfront hotel.

Day 5: Snorkel off Lana’i & Lend a Hand Protecting Sea Turtles

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

We’ll have an early breakfast before cruising to the scenic coastline of Lana'i island with the Pacific Whale Foundation. Spend the morning with breakfast on the boat (expect large boat with other travelers) and then 1.5 hours of snorkeling. Scout for wild dolphins, including acrobatic spinner dolphins, friendly bottlenose dolphins, and curious spotted dolphins. Conservationists from the Foundation will narrate your journey and take about everything from whale migration to plastics in the ocean to reef health.

We’ll return to Maui and, after lunch, spend our first afternoon volunteering alongside the Maui Ocean Center Marine Institute. Home to one of Hawaii’s largest sea turtle rescues and land based coral nurseries, we’ll join their staff on beach and marine debris cleanu , specifically collecting coral fragments. Take these pieces of coral back to the research center and aid in cutting them into smaller pieces to be grown at the center for a period of 8 months - something that would take the reef 20 years to regenerate! This coral is eventually placed back into the reef to bring back areas that are dead or dying.

Day 6: Maui Ocean Center Volunteering & Farewell Luau

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

After breakfast, we’ll spend another morning helping the conservation team at the Maui Ocean Center Marine Institute. On Maui and other Hawaiian islands, sea turtles are being threatened as their habitat is increasingly depleted. Green turtle populations are being impacted by events such as the 2018 hurricane that washed out the most important nesting beach for this species in the entire archipelago. We’ll continue to lend a hand on our projects while learning about some of the initiatives in place to preserve the fragile ecosystem both on land and underwater, including going out with the team to find turtles and tag them for research purposes.

Later in the afternoon, we’ll head back to the hotel where you’ll have some free time to enjoy the beach, swim in the ocean or venture into the coastal town of Lahaina. Tonight, we’ll enjoy a special farewell dinner together along with a traditional island luau.

Day 7: Depart Maui or Continue on for the Post-Trip Extension

Meals: Breakfast

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and check-out of your rooms. The rest of the day is free to relax at the beach or explore nearby Lahaina until your flight home, or continue on to our optional post-trip extension along the gorgeous road to Hana.