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Bucketlist Bri

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The Ultimate 2 Week Southwest Road Trip Itinerary (From Las Vegas to Denver)

Last Updated: February 13, 2023 · Southwest, USA

If you’re hoping to plan out an epic 2 week Southwest road trip itinerary, then you’ve come to the right place! The American Southwest is home to SO many iconic landscapes.

There’s the Grand Canyon in Arizona, all of Utah’s incredible national parks, Sedona’s mystical red rocks and vortexes, and Monument Valley’s famous Forrest Gump Point (plus more!).

Basically, adventure awaits you in the Southwest! We spent 2 weeks road-tripping from Nevada across Arizona, Utah, and a bit of Colorado. I am so happy we got to check a ton of sights off our USA bucket list!

In short, here’s what we got to see and do in two weeks:

  • Vegas and the Valley of Fire (Nevada);
  • Zion, Bryce, Arches, and Canyonlands National Parks plus Monument Valley and some small towns (Utah);
  • Grand Canyon North and South Rims, Horseshoe Bend, and Sedona (Arizona);
  • Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and Denver (Colorado).
Utah Welcome Sign | 2 Week Southwest Road Trip Itinerary

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links that may earn me a small commission should you decide to click through and make a valid purchase (at no extra cost to you). Thanks so much for your support!

All in two weeks. It was nothing short of amazing. So what can you expect from this road trip? Only but epicness, I promise!

Unlike some other itineraries that take you on a loop, this 2 week Southwest road trip itinerary will have you flying into Vegas and flying out of Denver.

Get ready to adventure through off-beat desert towns and go on a few thrilling hikes in some of the most beautiful national parks in the Southwest. We only missed out on 1 of Utah’s national parks (Capitol Reef), but we got to see all the rest. If that sounds like your kind of adventure then…

Here’s the ultimate 2 week Southwest road trip itinerary!

P.S. Don’t forget your America The Beautiful Pass National Park Pass! This Southwest road trip itinerary takes you across several state and regional parks plus 5 incredible National Parks. Each park has an entry fee of up to $30/vehicle or more, so if you get a park pass it will only be half the cost. Plus, it’s valid for one whole year!

usa national park pass
Table of Contents show
Road Tripping 2 Weeks in the American Southwest (Vegas to Denver)
Southwest Road Trip Map
Day 1: Arriving in Las Vegas
Day 2: Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada
Days 3-4: Zion National Park, Utah
Day 5: Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
Kanab
Day 6: Grand Canyon North Rim + Horseshoe Bend (AZ)
Horseshoe Bend (Page, AZ)
Day 7: Grand Canyon South Rim + Williams (AZ)
Williams, AZ
Days 8-10: Sedona, Arizona
Day 10: Monument Valley, Utah
Days 11-12: Moab, Utah (Arches & Canyonlands)
Days 13-15: Black Canyon of the Gunnison + Denver, Colorado
Last Travel Tips for a 2-Week Southwest Road Trip Itinerary

Road Tripping 2 Weeks in the American Southwest (Vegas to Denver)

Southwest Road Trip Map

map and directions of southwest road trip

To see the above directions in Google Maps in detail, just click this link to open it in a new tab. (Note: Directions are split into two before/after Sedona, or Days 1-7 and Days 8-15).

Day 1: Arriving in Las Vegas

The easiest way we found to debut our Southwest road trip was by flying into Las Vegas (McCarran International Airport).

From there, rent a car and head to your hotel for the night! For this one-way road trip, we picked up our rental car in Vegas and dropped it off at the airport in Denver.

As you may know, getting such a deal without extremely pricey drop-off fees is rare but we managed to do it! We rented with Enterprise and couldn’t have been happier.

The rate with taxes included came to about $33/day. We had the car for exactly 14 days so we ended up paying less than $450 for the whole two weeks. We went with the cheapest rate and still got a free upgrade to a little Nissan Kicks which was perfect for our adventures! I highly recommend searching for car rental deals in advance and renting with Enterprise for this trip.

Depending on when your flight lands in Vegas (ours landed at night), you may or may not have enough time to go explore.

We were able to drive the length of the famous Strip, walk through the colorful and hypnotic Fremont Street Experience, and eat some delicious slices at Evel Pie (an Evel Knieval-themed pizza bar).

As for where to stay in Vegas for the night, you probably know the city’s iconic hotels like the Bellagio and Caesar’s Palace better than I do!

We didn’t stay on the strip because of how busy it was (and expensive), so instead we stayed on the outskirts near Fremont in a quaint place called the Downtowner Boutique Hotel (near North Las Vegas).

With its location, it allowed us to take off straight in the morning, avoiding traffic, to head to our first non-city destination — the Valley of Fire State Park, located between Vegas and Zion.

Day 2: Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada

Fire Wave in the Valley of Fire State Park
  • Drive Time from Vegas: 1 hour
  • Distance: 50 miles
  • Park Hours: Open year-round from dawn to dusk

Instead of driving straight from Vegas to Zion National Park, take a detour through the Valley of Fire State Park.

This park is a local state park in Nevada, but it feels worthy of a national park title! Here, you can go on incredible hikes (i.e. to the Fire Wave), see ancient petroglyphs and wildlife, and learn about the incredible history of the valley at the visitor’s center.

Also Read: 12 Epic Things to Do in the Valley of Fire, Nevada

Getting to the Valley of Fire is easy, just follow I-15 for about an hour.

As for how long to stay here, it depends on what you want to do and see. I recommend taking 1 short hike in the early hours of the morning to beat the heat. There are also several vistas and scenic driving routes.

The park isn’t that big, but there’s an incredible amount of things to do here nonetheless.

fire canyon - valley of fire state park
fire wave in the valley of fire state park

The Valley of Fire was our first introduction to the fiery red rock landscapes iconic of the American Southwest.

We saw several Bighorn Sheep, lizards, birds, and other desert critters while learning about the rich history and geology of the valley and the native tribes that once inhabited these lands.

A half-day in the VOF is a perfect amount of time to get a good feel of the place, hike a bit, and take some pictures.

Tip: There is no phone service in the VOF so download your map, trail info, and other valuable information before arriving. If you hike here, please be careful and take lots of water! It was 110 degrees Farenheit by 9:30 AM on our Fire Wave hike.

When you’re ready to leave and continue onward to Zion National Park, head out the east entrance/exit. It’s about a 2.5-hour drive from VOF to Zion (Springdale).

Don’t forget you will also jump ahead 1 hour due to the time change between Nevada and Utah.

Days 3-4: Zion National Park, Utah

Zion National Park winding road
the Narrows canyon walls in Zion, Utah
  • Drive Time: 2.5 hours + time change (1 hour forward)
  • Distance: 130 miles
  • Park Hours: Open year-round | Shuttles run from 7 AM – 7 PM

Zion National Park was the first big national park that we got to see during our 2 week Southwest road trip!

It is not the easiest park to visit, however, because you’re not allowed to take private vehicles into the Zion Canyon (due to current closures and seasons. UPDATE: You can now travel more freely inside ZNP.

The most popular stops are far up the canyon, at Temple of Sinawava (stop 9) for the Narrows hike, and at the Grotto (stop 6) for Angel’s Landing.

🎫 You will need a valid America The Beautiful Park Pass to visit Zion National Park.

Hiking in The Narrows in Zion National Park

We planned an awesome 2 day Zion itinerary which was jam-packed with adventure.

Due to the pandemic, there were several trail closures, but we were able to see some incredible viewpoints, do a jeep tour at sunset, go horseback riding in the Ponderosa pine trees, and of course, wade in the Virgin River on the world-famous Narrows hike!

Where to stay: Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort (east entrance of the park) and the Zion Lodge (inside the park along the shuttle-only canyon road) are awesome homebases to enjoy your adventure in Zion.

Day 5: Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

Navajo Loop Trail
bryce canyon national park
  • Drive Time from Zion: 1.5 hours
  • Distance: 75 miles
  • Park Hours: Open year-round | Visitor’s Center hours 8 AM – 8 PM (summer)

You can’t go to Zion without traveling 1.5 hours northeast to visit the incredible Bryce Canyon National Park! Bryce was arguably my favorite of all the parks we got to see.

With its crimson hoodoos amphitheater, steep canyon walls, and dizzying switchbacks, Bryce is an adventure of the senses.

You only really need 1 day in Bryce Canyon as this park is smaller and its popular hikes (Queen’s Garden and Navajo Loop) can be completed in the morning.

After you visit Bryce, instead of heading back to Zion, you will continue driving towards Kanab, Utah for the afternoon/evening. It is a 1.5-hour, 76-mile drive (so fairly short).

Bryce Canyon National Park | Southwest road trip itinerary

Kanab

Kanab is a sweet and totally underrated desert town in Utah.

Travelers fly through here on their way to visit the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, but I think Kanab deserves special attention.

In Kanab, you can visit the amazing Wind Caves and explore the slot canyons, stop by the nation’s largest no-kill animal shelter (Best Friend’s Animal Sanctuary), have a gourmet meal with a glass of wine at Rocking V Cafe, visit the Coral Pink Sand Dunes, observe ancient petroglyphs, and much more!

Where to stay in Kanab: Rodeway Inn ($), Best Friends Roadhouse (pet-friendly)

Day 6: Grand Canyon North Rim + Horseshoe Bend (AZ)

nature trail bright angels point
grand canyon north rim
  • Drive Time from Kanab: 1.5 hours
  • Distance: 80 miles
  • Park Hours: Open May 15 – Oct 15 | Visitor’s Center 8 AM – 5 PM

Rise early in Kanab to drive the remaining 1.5 hours it takes to reach the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. The route there is quiet and long, passing over wide valley roads and through forests. If you are lucky, you might get to see bison on your way there!

The Grand Canyon North Rim is completely different than the popular, more crowded South Rim. In my opinion, it’s definitely worth it! The North Rim is remote, wilder, more secluded, and offers awesome hiking opportunities.

Also Read: Grand Canyon North Rim vs South Rim – Which Should You Visit?

Once you’re there, park and get ready to go on your first mini adventure to the Bright Angel’s Point. It’s here, at the main overlook that you will get to see the beautiful crevices and sweeping views of the Grand Canyon. The trail is a 0.5-mile short, paved path.

If you want extra views, there are dozens of more trails to enjoy.

Cape Royal Point (0.6 mi), Transept Trail (3 mi), and the Bridle Trail (1.2 mi + pet and bike-friendly) are popular additional hikes to do in the morning.

Come brunchtime, head into the Grand Canyon Lodge for some refreshments.

The Lodge is a beautiful complex and although it was mostly closed when we went (due to the pandemic), there was still to-go food and drink service for guests and visitors.

Can’t choose? Read more about the Grand Canyon North Rim vs the South Rim.

After a refreshing morning in the wild and solitude of the North Rim, head back out the way you came.

Horseshoe Bend (Page, AZ)

Horseshoe Bend Hike and Visitor's Guide

The next stop for the day is Horseshoe Bend, in Page, Arizona. It’s a 2.5-hour, 123-mile drive to Page from the North Rim, so you’ll get there in the early afternoon.

The perfect time to see the sun illuminate the canyon walls of Horseshoe Bend. Beware, this iconic “Instagram spot” gets very crowded, so your visit will likely be with other people.

There is a $10 fee to park (P.S. your national park pass won’t cover it because this is run by the city of Page).

To reach the Horseshoe Bend overlook from the parking lot there is a 15-20 minute hike one-way.

Since it’s in the blazing heat of the day, be well-prepared with water and proper walking shoes.

Don’t go if you aren’t feeling well. And if you plan to take pictures near the edge, please be careful! There have been dangerous falls in the past. If you go with children, keep them close.

Horseshoe Bend Overlook
Horseshoe Bend Instagram

If you want to spend more time in Page, you could also visit Antelope Canyon, Lake Powell, and the Glen Canyon Dam.

After our visit to Horseshoe Bend, we drove the remaining distance to reach the town of Williams, AZ (gateway to the Grand Canyon South Rim) which is a 2-hour 45-minute drive south.

We slept in Williams for the night and got up early to visit the South Rim just after sunrise.

Day 7: Grand Canyon South Rim + Williams (AZ)

Grand Canyon North Rim vs South Rim
  • Drive Time from Page: 1.5 hours
  • Distance: 80 miles
  • Park Hours: Open May 15 – Oct 15 | Visitor’s Center 8 AM – 5 PM

This 2-week Southwest itinerary also includes a visit to Grand Canyon’s South Rim! That way, you get to see both sides (which offer very different experiences).

To get to the South Rim, spend the night in Williams. Instead of adding to the business of Day 6 to reach the South Rim for sunset, instead, enjoy Williams by night and get up early to drive to the South Rim for Day 7.

If you make it to the South Rim in time for sunrise, you’ll be especially rewarded with no crowds, fresh air, and amazing golden light.

When at the South Rim, I recommend starting with the Mather Point overlook, just off the parking lots (about a 5-minute walk). From here, skirt the canyon’s edge along the paved Rim Trail. By 9-10 AM, the path and overlooks will start filling up with people.

The Yavapai Geology Museum is worth stepping into (during COVID times, only the shop portion is open, not the gallery).

Beyond this point, there is the Trail of Time which illustrates the geological timeline of the Grand Canyon’s formation.

🥾 One of the best hikes to do at the South Rim is the South Kaibab Trail (4-6 hours) which takes you down into the canyon.

Williams, AZ

Williams is a cute old town on the historic Route 66. The town’s glory days are over, but much of the memorabilia, old sights, retro diners, and vintage hotels are still intact.

You will fall in love with how cute Williams is! We headed back to town for lunch at one of the cute diners on the corner called the Cruiser’s Route 66 Cafe.

A former Route 66 gas station, this restaurant has converted itself into a timeless restaurant whipping up smoked burgers, ribs, brisket, and more. If you are vegan/vegetarian, they also served the Beyond Burger (super good!).

After shopping and dining in Williams, we headed further south to start our adventure in Sedona, Arizona.

Where to stay near the Grand Canyon South Rim: Canyon Country Inn (historic budget B&B in Williams)

Days 8-10: Sedona, Arizona

Sedona red rock buttes and vortexes
  • Drive time from Williams: 1 hour 15 mins
  • Distance: 60 miles

No Southwest road trip is complete without a visit to the stunning red rock landscapes of Sedona, Arizona! Sedona is a curated desert town about 1 hour south of Flagstaff.

We spent 3 days in Sedona discovering the best hikes, buttes, spires, vortexes, cafes, galleries, and nearby towns and vineyards.

We ended up spending one extra day in Sedona because it’s hard not to want to stay longer here.

If you love the outdoors, you will love exploring Sedona on your 2-week Southwest road trip!

One of my favorite memories from here was our sunrise hike to Cathedral Rock which is known to be one of Sedona’s famous vortexes.

Depending on how much you want to hike, there are also the Devil’s Bridge, Bell Rock, Soldier Trail, Boynton Canyon, and Airport Mesa hikes that are awesome and worth including in your itinerary.

seven sacred pools sedona
cathedral rock cradle

Uptown Sedona | 3 day itinerary

Apart from hiking, take time to wander the curated Uptown and shop for treasures at the Tlaquepaque Shopping Village inspired by the real Tlaquepaque near Guadalajara, Mexico.

To cool off from the Sedona heat, seek out the Grasshopper Point swimming hole just north of the town. Off-roading, jeeping, kayaking, meditating, wine-sipping…

There’s so much to do in Sedona on a Southwest road trip!

Where to stay in Sedona: With its increasing popularity, Sedona has become quite the expensive place to stay. The Sky Ranch Lodge and Enchantment Resort both offer stunning panoramic views of the red rock buttes in Sedona.

Day 10: Monument Valley, Utah

Forrest Gump Point
Monument Valley Forrest Gump Point Instagram

Welcome to Utah sign
Mexican Hat Monument Valley
  • Drive time from Sedona: 3 hours 45 mins
  • Distance: 207 miles

For this 2-week itinerary, a visit to Monument Valley in Utah is a must!

For our road trip, we planned to cross Monument Valley at noon to take photos at Forrest Gump Point when the red rock buttes are in full sun. We planned it this way because it’s a 3-hour 45-minute drive from Sedona and another 2-hour 45-minute drive to reach Moab, where we planned to stay for the night.

Most of Monument Valley is closed in order to reduce the number of infections spreading across the Navajo Nation. The road through Monument Valley remains open, but it is encouraged to drive straight through.

We drove out to Forrest Gump Point via Hwy 163 for pictures and then carried on to Moab. The Mittens and Four Corners Monument are closed through Jan 2021, but services such as lodging, gas, etc., remain open. Check here for updates.

P.S. As you leave Arizona and enter Utah to head toward Monument Valley, look out for the iconic Utah state sign to snap a photo!

Days 11-12: Moab, Utah (Arches & Canyonlands)

Shafer Trail, Canyonlands National Park
  • Drive time from Monument Valley: 2 hours 45 mins
  • Distance: 152 miles

For your last stop in Utah, head north to Moab where not one, but TWO national parks await you – Arches and Canyonlands.

We personally spent 2 days in Moab – one day for each park and I recommend you to do the same. There is simply too much to see and do in each park that splitting both in one day would be too much.

Arches National Park has over 2,000 natural arches that you can see up and close with an awesome hike. Delicate Arch is by far the most popular of all the arches and hikes, but don’t overlook the Landscape Arch (longest arch) or Double Arch.

I recommend hiking up the 3-mile slope to reach Delicate Arch for sunset (get there 30 minutes to an hour before the sun actually sets). It’s not only a fun hike, but the view is breathtaking. Beware there will be a lot of other travelers and photographers there for sunset.

✨ You will definitely want to go prepared with an America the Beautiful Pass if you plan on visiting more than two national parks during your Southwest USA road trip.

Delicate Arch instagram bucketlist bri
Delicate Arch at sunset

Canyonlands National Park is Utah’s largest park consisting of three distinct sections: the Island in the Sky, the Needle, and the Maze. All three are gigantic and spread far apart.

The section that you’ll visit is the Island in the Sky which offers dozens of panoramic vistas from atop a 1,000 ft plateau.

Mesa Arch is one of the most famous types of arches here and is best visited at sunrise when the sun rays peak perfectly through the archway.

Drive the 20-something-mile scenic route and make sure to stop and marvel at the switchbacks of the Shafer Trail and get out to marvel at the expansive Green River Overlook.

Beyond the parks, Moab is an awesome little desert town.

Eat at one of the delicious food trucks (I recommend Quesadilla Mobilla) and shop in the curated stores downtown. You can also rent a 4×4 and go off-roading or take a fun rafting or kayaking trip on the Colorado River.

Where to stay in Moab: Inca Inn – where we stayed ($$), Red Cliffs Lodge ($$$), Sunflower Hill Inn ($$$), Aarchway Inn ($$+)

Moab is your last stop in Utah on this 2-week Southwest road trip itinerary before you cross state lines and briefly visit Colorado.

Days 13-15: Black Canyon of the Gunnison + Denver, Colorado

Black Canyon of the Gunnison
  • Drive time from Moab: 3.5 hours via Hwy CO-90E
  • Distance: 177 miles

For the last stretch of this 2-week road trip itinerary, you can either follow our route through smaller highways in southwest Colorado to visit yet another beautiful park – Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park – or make a bee-line to Denver via I-70.

I personally can recommend taking the scenic route through Colorado.

We not only ended up driving over gorgeous lands but also stayed overnight in a quaint town (Montrose), ate at a little cafe in the middle of seemingly nowhere, and overall enjoyed the road trip views.

We got to see the Black Canyon of the Gunnison for sunset (which was amazing) and leisurely drove through the cute outdoorsy town of Buena Vista the following day on our way to Denver.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison at sunset

Black Canyon of the Gunnison – can you spot Paul? 

We ended up spending two nights in Denver on a weekend.

I recommend you rent a scooter and visit the artsy districts and take a mini road trip to see Golden.

We also got to see the historic Red Rocks Amphitheater concert venue which is set outdoors and is known to host many famous artists. There’s no shortage of things to do in and around Denver before you jet off back home or to another destination.

All I can say is that we ended our road trip across the Southwest with a bang! We got up early (like 5 AM) on our departure day and easily dropped off our rental car before boarding our flight back to Tennessee.

Where to stay: Hotels in Denver

Below are a few final travel tips for traveling across the Southwest that you might find useful.

Last Travel Tips for a 2-Week Southwest Road Trip Itinerary

southwest road trip with our Nissan Kicks
Monument Valley rearview mirror

Park Pass:

Since you will visit at least 5+ national parks and numerous landmarks during your 2-week Southwest road trip itinerary, it’s wise to invest in an America The Beautiful National Park Pass which gives you free access to all national parks across the USA (plus it is valid for one whole year).

BLM Campgrounds:

To save some money on accommodation, you might consider wild camping out the back of your SUV or van for a few nights. There are also the BLM campgrounds that exist on a first-come-first-serve basis and are affordable at around $20/per site.

Gear / What to Pack: 

Don’t overpack! Bring ample hiking clothes like moisture-wicking shirts and pants, breathable linens, and comfortable hiking boots plus walking sandals for non-hiking days.

You will want to bring at least 2 reusable water bottles to refill, or a water bag to fit in your backpack. A hiking/day bag is advisable as is a multi-day backpack (here is my REI recycled backpack I use).

And with that concludes our incredible Southwest road trip itinerary! Thank you for reading and I hope this guide helps plan your trip!! Feel free to drop me an email or comment with questions.

Be sure to pin this 2 week Southwest road trip itinerary to Pinterest for safe-keeping! 

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By: Bri · In: Southwest, USA · Tagged: Adventure, Road Trips

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Comments

  1. threadsBay says

    August 22, 2023 at 7:00 pm

    This is a great itinerary! I’m looking forward to following it!

    Reply
  2. Quelli Watson says

    January 27, 2023 at 3:57 pm

    Hi,
    This itinerary sounds amazing. We are planning a road trip for October. If you could extend this to a 21 day road trip any suggestions of other places to visit along the way/ extend the road trip a little? 🙂

    Reply
    • Bri says

      January 27, 2023 at 6:09 pm

      Hey Quelli! You’re going to have a blast! In hindsight, and with 21 days, I would definitely tack on Capitol Reef National Park (to complete Utah’s Mighty 5) and I’d add on a couple of extra days in Moab to really explore Arches and Canyonlands better/do more activities/go on more hikes (two days weren’t enough!). Then I would probably include Bentonite Hills (look it up, it’s so cool) and maybe the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. I hope that helps! Have a wonderful and safe road trip in the Southwest! x

      Reply
      • quelli says

        January 31, 2023 at 11:23 am

        Thank you so much for your reply! I’ll definitely check them them out 🙂

        Reply
  3. Larry says

    April 8, 2022 at 10:25 am

    Hi Bri. Found your blog. It is Great!! We are leaving for a 56 night roadtrip on May 1st. Going from South Florida thru Biloxi, Lafayette, Houston, San Antonio, Del Rio, Beg Bend, Las Cruces, Tucson, Scottsdale, Sedona, Vegas, Zion, Flagstaff, Amarillo, Oklahoma City, Dallas, Little Rock, Tupelo, Montgomery, Talahasse, and then back home. Is your 2 week roadtrip printable? Also, Do you have any suggestions? Thanks, Larry

    Reply
    • Bri says

      April 21, 2022 at 9:07 am

      Hey Larry!! Thanks for reading my blog! That itinerary sounds nothing less than epic! I can surely send you the pdf of this Southwest itinerary, if you’d like, and more of my suggestions by email.

      Reply
  4. Go Wander Wild says

    November 17, 2021 at 2:52 am

    This Southwest road trip itinerary is incredibly helpful. You’ve really thought through everything you need to know before planning a trip. Thank you for this helpful resource. Saving this guide for later!

    Reply
    • Bri says

      November 17, 2021 at 9:04 am

      Thanks for saying so! 🙂

      Reply
  5. lizzy says

    July 20, 2021 at 10:45 pm

    hi!!! ever since i found this post, i’ve been VERY determined to make this my summer trip next year in honor of me graduating college!! i was just wondering how far ahead did you plan this trip in terms of flight and finding places to stay along the way? also do you have any tips of when to look for flights to vegas and which airline is best? (i’m from wheeling,wv for reference)!

    Reply
    • Bri says

      July 21, 2021 at 4:23 am

      Hi Lizzy! Thanks so much for writing. 💛 Your trip sounds so exciting & what a fun way to celebrate your graduation! 🙌 We didn’t plan very far in advance for this trip – probably 2 weeks at most! It was fairly last minute. I checked flights for you, and it looks like a lot of them departing from Wheeling stopover at CLT or DFW before transferring to LAS (with American Airlines). If I were you, I’d monitor a couple of select flights (in Google Flights, you can enable ‘Track Flights’ to receive email updates) so that you can see when prices drop for your trip and then you can snag them. Keep eyes on rental car prices as well – right now they’re through the roof bc of the situation so I’d wait to reserve until later. As for Airbnbs/Hotels, we reserved whatever was cheapest/available, except for Zion where we glamped. I’d recommend boondocking / tent camping if want to save $! Happy to help if you have any more questions! x

      Reply

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Traveling solo in Nepal has awakened in me a confi Traveling solo in Nepal has awakened in me a confidence & sense of self (at the risk of sounding cliché), of “my essence” and inner Knowing, and where my compassion and passions mingle and thrive. I was reading some of your comments on my recent Reel about solo travel and how I put myself at great risk/in danger. But as I was telling my Tibetan friend, Sonam, tonight (yes, the new one I made last week!), I inform my decisions mostly by 1. Asking myself, “Would this make a good story?” and 2. Listening to my body and emotions. Yes, it’s risky to travel solo, to be a female in a male-dominated culture, to go out after hours with people you just met, etc. But doing that — and all the magic that followed by “allowing” — reminded me exactly of who I am at my core: Curious and open to the world, willing to get uncomfortable for the sake of finding magic and serendipity. Some of you said, “I’m too scared to do this, how do you overcome that fear of personal safety?” And to this I say, I don’t! Fear accompanies me along the journey. Living life is one big risk. It’s uncomfortable to be open, vulnerable, and unsure. But once you accept that and once you begin to let compassion and curiosity guide you rather than your fear, the real magic starts to happen in all areas of life, not just travel. I find these moments most in travel though, when I’m confronted with contrast and am left vulnerable to the world and the kindness of my fellow humans. My Reels are not meant to romanticize or gloss over very real risks/threats in life, but rather to share a real account of what’s possible (adventure, connections, love, etc) when you worry less about societal norms and what’s “safe not safe” “right not right” and allow your over-active fears to take a backseat. 
This is your reminder to trust your inner compass to guide you in writing your epic life story. ✨✨

To sum it up: 

1. Choose a life of adventure 
2. Stay curious
3. Get comfortable with being uncomfortable (otherwise said, seek discomfort)
4. Let love and light flow in and out 
5. Change is the only constant 

#solotravel #nepaltravel #solofemaletraveler #soloadventure #localtravel #trekkingnepal #adventurethatislife
The strength of women 💛 These ladies were lau The strength of women 💛 

These ladies were laughing so sweetly while filling up their water jugs at the Manga Hiti fountain in Patan. I watched them for a while and then plucked up the courage to ask if I could take their photos, which only made them giggle more. 

I've always felt that not being able to communicate in the same language makes for even more interesting encounters. Without words, we have to touch each other's humanity with eyes and gestures, and most of the time it leads to unspoken mutual understanding, acceptance, and love. We three walked away with the biggest smiles on our faces. I yelled out "Dhayabad!" (Thank you!) as they hoisted their jugs up the stairs, laughing all the way. I won't forget this shared moment between us 🙏 

Check stories for the landscape orientation for some of these photos ✨ 

#nepal #nepalnow #nepalphotography #nepaliculture #nepalisbeautiful #natgeoyourshot #patan #kathmanduvalley #lifetimeexperiences #photonepal #nepaltravel
Did you feel it? Nepal’s ancient wisdom, its swi Did you feel it? Nepal’s ancient wisdom, its swirling spirituality, its raw humanity? ✨🇳🇵❤️

#nepal #visitnepal #nepalnow #travelstories #localtravel #mindfultravel #slowtravel #natgeotravel
When you say “yes” as a solo traveler and stay When you say “yes” as a solo traveler and stay open to the randomness of life and the kindness of strangers, really wonderful memories can be made. Thank you Lama family and my new Tibetan friends for such a fun and insightful sequence of experiences 🙏 💛

#solotravel #localtravel #nepaltravel #nepaldiaries #nepali #solofemaletravel #kathmandunepal #thamel #tibetanfood #solotraveldiaries
My first week back in the chaos of Kathmandu, 💛 My first week back in the chaos of Kathmandu, 💛 

Being back after 7 long years away has jolted my body, brain, and spirit. At first, I felt overwhelmed with the recurring thought of, "I don't know what to do with myself." It was only when acceptance knocked on my door, and I finally decided to let it in, that things began to shift and flow.
 
In Nepal, particularly Kathmandu, everything around me swarms like a hive. I have nowhere else to go but inside myself. I've discovered through years of slow traveling (and solo travel) that peace awaits me there -- a sense of independence, power, and knowing that is still, comforting, and safe. And I can tap into it whenever I need to.

Chaos and peace reside in all of us, and Nepal has a cosmic, ancient way of reminding you of just that. 

📍 Patan Durbar Square, Lalitpur

#nepaltravel #patan #durbarsquare #nepalphotography #slowtravel #nepal #solotravel #lalitpur
They ask, “Why?” I was 29 when I embarked on They ask, “Why?” 

I was 29 when I embarked on the plane on the 21st, and 30 when I disembarked on the 23rd. How fitting. I spent all of my 20s abroad (except for my two final semesters in undergrad), and moved to Nepal when I was 21. 

What better way to say goodbye to my twenties than by returning to the start? I felt the desperate urge to start my 30s this way—alone on a one-way ticket with no concrete plans. I have both feared and longed to come back all these years. You see, I had made a promise to one of my closest Nepali friends that I’d see her again, but the reality is that I no longer can. 

She, along with another dear friend, passed away from cancer a couple of years back. The thought of returning to my old life here without my friends made me, well, incredibly sad. I had thought that, upon landing in Kathmandu—or taking a bite of my first momo—after so long, I’d find myself bursting into tears of both grief and gratitude. But I didn’t. Instead, I found familiarity in the chaos and chaos in the strangeness. 

Just being here—and the decisions and actions it took to get here—has reminded me of the preciousness of this one very short life. And that, by choosing to celebrate mine—at the exciting turn of a decade no less—by coming back to Nepal on a solo trip that would force me into daring discomfort when I could instead retreat to the comforts of family or my partner, is how I want to live it.

Truth is, a couple of months ago the thought of Nepal felt out of reach. It felt risky, unattainable. But the idea itself pushed open, just a crack at first, a door that had been otherwise closed. I could have more easily ignored my “what if?” daydreams—calling them off as too hard, too uncomfortable, or too far-fetched to actually pursue—and kept it shut.
But sometime in mid-July, I decided to look at flights. And I found one (truly, just one) option that could work. And it just so happened that it would fall on my birthday, or rather bridge my birthday. The idea of getting on a plane at 29 and getting off it at 30—back in Nepal—sold me. I fell in love with the story, the adventure, the unknowingness of it all. 

So, yeah. That’s why. Or as I prefer, “Why not?”
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