Xanterra Travel Collection

Xanterra Travel Collection

Xanterra Travel Collection operates accommodation and experiences in some of America’s most iconic national parks and destinations. With a portfolio that spans lodges, historic hotels, restaurants, tours and other visitor experiences, Xanterra has built its reputation on connecting travellers with the landscapes, wildlife and heritage that make these places so special. 

Grand Canyon National Park Lodges

The Grand Canyon is one of the world’s great natural wonders. It stretches 277 miles and drops more than a mile deep, and it’s every bit as breathtaking as the photographs suggest. Staying inside Grand Canyon National Park on the South Rim means you’re steps from the edge. You can catch sunrise and sunset over the canyon without the crowds arriving from outside the park. 

The lodges offer a choice of styles, from the historic El Tovar Hotel, which opened in 1905 and sits right on the rim, to more relaxed, family-friendly options nearby. Walk the Rim Trail between viewpoints, hop on the free shuttle buses to Hopi Point and Mather Point, or ride a mule or hike below the rim for a different perspective. Two nights is ideal to see the canyon at different times of day. 

The South Rim is around a five-hour drive from Las Vegas, so it fits easily into a fly-drive across the American Southwest, alongside Monument Valley, Sedona and Zion. 

The Oasis at Death Valley

Death Valley is a place of extremes. It’s the lowest, driest and hottest national park in the USA, with Badwater Basin sitting 282 feet below sea level. It’s also a surprisingly beautiful landscape of salt flats, golden dunes and colourful canyons, and winter and spring are the perfect seasons to explore it. 

The Oasis at Death Valley sits at Furnace Creek, in the heart of the park. The historic Inn at Death Valley, which dates back to 1927, brings a touch of old-world elegance, while the more casual Ranch at Death Valley is a good base for families. Both put you within easy reach of Zabriskie Point, Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes and Artists Palette. After dark, the park is an International Dark Sky Park, with some of the clearest stargazing in the country. 

Death Valley is only about two hours from Las Vegas, which makes it an easy add-on to a Vegas holiday, or a stop on a longer California and Southwest road trip with Yosemite or Los Angeles.