Arizona/New Mexico
Ancestral Homelands: Hopi, Navajo and Chaco Canyon
Program No. 4541RJ
Immerse yourself in the culture and mystery of America’s Southwest as you explore ancient cliff dwellings, attend a Indigenous arts demonstration and visit world-renowned Chaco Canyon.
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Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date.
Read More.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
7 days
6 nights
What's Included
17 meals (
6B, 5L, 6D
)
3 expert-led lectures
10 expert-led field trips
1 hands-on experience
An experienced Group Leader
6 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
Day
1
Check-in, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Location:
Flagstaff, AZ
Meals:
D
Stay:
La Quinta Inn & Suites Flagstaff
Activity Note
Hotel check-in from 3:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously).
Afternoon:
Program Registration: 4:30-5:15 p.m. After your room assignment, come to the Road Scholar table in the hotel meeting room to register with the program staff and get your welcome packet containing the up-to-date schedule that reflects any changes or other vital information and confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please ask for your packet when you check-in. Orientation. The head Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, and emergency procedures, and answer questions. We will learn from our Group Leaders and local experts, who will give lectures and lead field trips. Transportation throughout the program will be provided primarily by 10-passenger vans. If you plan to drive to Gallup from Flagstaff in your vehicle due to future travel plans, inform the leader at registration so that he/she can make group travel arrangements. In this case, you will follow the program vans while we transfer from hotels on Days Three and Five, but otherwise, you will ride in the vans during all field trips. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. We will alert you as quickly as possible in the event of changes. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner:
At a restaurant nearby.
Evening:
After returning to the hotel, the remainder of the evening will be at leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Day
2
Walnut Canyon National Monument, Museum of Northern Arizona
Location:
Flagstaff, AZ
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
La Quinta Inn & Suites Flagstaff
Activity Note
Getting in/out of vans; driving about 15 miles, approximately 1/2 hour riding time. Walking about 1 mile on Island Trail at Walnut Canyon, approximately 1 hour with stops; paved trail; descending and ascending 185 feet via 240 steps. Walking about 1 mile on Rim Trail; approximately 1 hour; paved and level. Elevation at 6,700 ft.
Breakfast:
At the Hotel.
Morning:
We will travel to Walnut Canyon to the Sinagua Ruins, the visitor center, and the Walnut Canyon National Monument museum. Upon arrival, we’ll set out on a hike led by our Group Leader down into Walnut Canyon, which will bring us face-to-face with ancient cliff dwellings. Walnut Canyon is a spectacular scenic attraction in its own right and contains diverse plant and animal communities to be enjoyed from all vantage points with interpretive signs to supplement viewing. For those that choose not to go into the canyon, a lovely rim walk led by one of the Group Leaders also offers excellent views and access to Sinagua Ruins.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
To facilitate a better understanding of the pre-historic cultural development of the Southwest - we will enjoy an insightful and informative docent-led field trip at the Museum of Northern Arizona (MNA) after arriving by van. The MNA has evolved into a regional center of learning with collections, exhibits, educational programs, publications, and research projects. Museum of Northern Arizona is the premier museum dedicated to the cultural and natural history of the Colorado Plateau. Afterwards, we’ll take some time for independent exploration in the museum.
Dinner:
At a festive local Greek restaurant.
Evening:
In the hotel conference room, our Group Leader will discuss the logistics of tomorrow's travel day and provide an introduction to the Hopi Reservation and Canyon de Chelly. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Day
3
Hopi Cultural Center Demo, Walpi Village
Location:
Chinle, AZ
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Holiday Inn Canyon De Chelly (Chinle)
Activity Note
Minimal walking throughout the day during group activities; periods of standing and strolling up to approximately 1 hour during Hopi Village walking tour (Note: this activity is dependent on access due to Covid). Driving approximately 190 miles total; about 4 hours, with stops for field trips. Drive to Hopi Cultural Center is about 100 miles; approx. 2 hours. Afternoon drive to Canyon de Chelly is about 90 miles; approx. 1.5 hours. Loss of 1 hour due to time zone change in the afternoon.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
After checking out of the hotel, we’ll board our vans and begin our transfer from Flagstaff to the Hopi mesas and the Hopi Cultural Center. The Hopi trace their history in the Southwest to long before the Spanish arrived in 1540 and many villages have been occupied since the 1100s CE. Upon arrival at the Cultural Center, we will explore the Hopi homeland to gain insights into the rich cultural history and practices that connect the modern-day Hopi people to their ancient Puebloan ancestors. Note: A walking exploration of the village of Walpi or Old Oraibi will be planned for this morning.
Lunch:
At the Hopi Cultural Center, we’ll enjoy a traditional Hopi meal.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we’ll enjoy a fascinating native arts demonstration (pottery making, Kachina carving, or other) presented by a Hopi tribal member and artisan. Mid-afternoon we will travel through the Hopi and Navajo Nations to the town of Chinle—the gateway to Canyon de Chelly National Monument. Upon arrival at the hotel, we’ll check-in and take some time to freshen up before dinner.
Dinner:
At the hotel restaurant.
Evening:
At the hotel conference room led by a local tribal member, we will learn more about Navajo/Diné people during a cultural presentation.
Day
4
Canyon de Chelly Activity Choices, 4-Wheel Drive Canyon
Location:
Chinle, AZ
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Holiday Inn Canyon De Chelly (Chinle)
Activity Note
Getting in/out of vans. Driving about 24 miles roundtrip, approx. 2 hours riding time; paved road, frequent stops. Minimal walking at overlooks. Getting in/out of 4WD vehicles; driving about 18 miles, approx. 3 hours of riding time: dirt roads, bumpy sections, sandy washes; many short stops for exploration and/or bathroom.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We’ll ride the vans to the White House Ruin Overlook at Canyon de Chelly National Monument. Before returning to our hotel, we will explore the Canyon de Chelly National Monument Visitor Center independently.
Lunch:
We’ll enjoy a traditional Navajo meal at a local residence.
Afternoon:
After boarding 4-wheel drive vehicles at the hotel, we’ll embark on a scenic field trip into Canyon de Chelly with certified Navajo/Diné leaders. En route, we will stop at cliff dwellings, homesteads and petroglyph sites for pictures and shared stories of the “Ancient Ones” as presented by our knowledgeable Navajo/Diné leaders. We will return to the hotel in late afternoon with time to relax before dinner.
Dinner:
at the hotel.
Evening:
After dinner, we will gather in the hotel meeting room where our Group Leaders will provide an overview of the following day’s activities. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.
Day
5
Hubbell Trading Post, Window Rock, Navajo Museum
Location:
Gallup, NM
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Comfort Suites Gallup East
Activity Note
Walking up to 1 mile total throughout the day; paved sidewalks. Getting in/out of vans; driving about 93 miles throughout the day, approximately 2 hours total riding time.
Breakfast:
at the hotel.
Morning:
After checking out of the hotel we’ll load the vans and begin traveling to Gallup, New Mexico. Our first stop en route will be at the Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site where we will step back in time to recount the important and influential trading post era on the Navajo reservation. While here, we’ll enjoy an informative Park Ranger - guided field trip of the Lorenzo Hubbell House. Afterwards, we'll take some time to independently explore the still active historic trading post. Continuing our transfer, we’ll arrive at Window Rock, the capital of the Navajo Nation and the Window Rock Veterans Memorial Park. Morning highlights will include visits to the Window Rock geologic formation and the touching memorial tribute to the World War II Navajo Code Talkers, during which program staff will provide commentary. For fans of Tony Hillerman mystery novels, Window Rock is the heart of "Hillerman Country."
Lunch:
At the Window Rock Quality Inn Restaurant – a favorite meeting place of the local population made famous by the characters Jim Chee and Joe Leaphorn from Tony Hillerman novels – we’ll enjoy a traditional lunch. Alcohol is prohibited on the Navajo Reservation.
Afternoon:
Then, we’ll walk to the Navajo Nation Museum for a self-led visit through its excellent exhibits on Navajo arts, culture, and history. Once we complete our transfer to Gallup in the mid-afternoon, we’ll check into the hotel and enjoy some time relaxing before dinner.
Dinner:
at a local restaurant.
Evening:
At the hotel conference room, we will gather for an overview of relevant, current concepts and research associated with the Chaco Canyon "phenomenon". Your Group Leaders will also discuss anticipated highlights and travel logistics in preparation for our field trip to Chaco Culture National Historic Park in the morning.
Day
6
Chaco Canyon, Pueblo Bonito, Casa Rinconada
Location:
Gallup, NM
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Comfort Suites Gallup East
Activity Note
Getting in/out of vans; driving about 21 miles each way to/from Chaco Canyon, approximately 1 hour riding time on bumpy dirt road. The Road to Chaco Canyon becomes impassable during heavy rain. In this rare instance, we will substitute Chaco Canyon with another interesting destination. Walking up to 2 miles total throughout the day; periods of standing; gravel paths with minor elevation changes to Great House ruins. Be sure to bring sun protection; wear comfortable walking shoes.
Breakfast:
at the hotel.
Morning:
After an early breakfast, we’ll set out on a full-day field trip to Chaco Canyon within Chaco Culture National Historical Park, which preserves one of America's most significant and fascinating cultural and historic areas. As it was a major center of ancestral Puebloan culture between 850 and 1150 C.E., it functioned as a central hub for ceremony, trade, and administration for the prehistoric Four Corners area – unlike anything before or since. While here, our knowledgeable local expert will lead us on a walking field trip to Pueblo Bonito and Chetro Ketl, two of the park’s “Great Houses.” First, we’ll see Pueblo Bonito which represents the zenith of Ancestral Puebloan culture as it is the largest and most famous ruin in Chaco Canyon. At 5 stories in height with as many as 700 rooms, Pueblo Bonito was the largest standing structure in North America until the 1800s. Program Note: Snow and/or heavy rains render the clay-based dirt road to Chaco impassible. Suppose weather conditions do not allow us to visit Chaco Canyon safely. In that case, our Group Leader will arrange for us to venture to an accessible alternative destination of historical and cultural significance.
Lunch:
On the grounds of the Visitor Center, we’ll enjoy a sack lunch. Bathrooms and drinking water are available.
Afternoon:
Next, we’ll continue on foot and visit the 500 room Chetro Ketl Great House. Chetro Ketl contains an abundance of unique and stylish architectural features that belies its sophisticated design and its connections to Meso-American cultures to the south. An elegant great kiva, a tower kiva, 900-year-old interior plastered and painted walls, colonnade archways, T shaped doorways and a 500-foot-long back wall are just a few of the features that makes this “old house” an engineering marvel. Our local expert will provide commentary while exploring the site, highlighting these impressive features. Then, stopping at Casa Rinconada, we will see the largest “Great Kiva” in the southwest! Casa Rinconada is considered an impressive venue for the ceremonial activities of old. Once having a look at Casa Rinconada, we’ll independently check out the park’s visitor center museum and various exhibits. We’ll then return to the hotel in the late afternoon with some time to freshen up before dinner.
Dinner:
At a local Mexican restaurant and favorite among locals, we’ll enjoy delicious plated meals for our farewell dinner together. Share some of your favorite experiences from the program with new Road Scholar friends.
Evening:
We’ll gather at the hotel for a program wrap-up, impressions from the week, and final reflections. The remainder of the evening will be at leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Day
7
Transfer to Flagstaff, Program Concludes
Location:
Flagstaff, AZ
Meals:
B
Activity Note
Hotel check-out by 7:45 a.m. Getting in/out of vans; driving about 185 miles to Flagstaff; approximately 3.5 hours riding time. Expected arrival by approximately 10:30 a.m. local time; we will gain an hour upon leaving the Navajo Nation mid-drive, as the state of Arizona does not observe Daylight Savings Time.
Breakfast:
At Hotel.
Morning:
Once checked out of the hotel, we’ll load the vans and depart for Flagstaff. Upon arrival, we’ll make drop-offs at the Flagstaff La Quinta and Flagstaff Pulliam Field Airport by 10:30 AM. This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Best wishes on your journey!
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