Navajo Cross-Cultural Tour 2010
(11 Days)

DESCRIPTION:

DATES:
Friday, May 21st – Monday, May 31st 2010
Friday, August 6th - Monday, August 16th 2010
Thursday, September 9th to Sunday, September 19th 2010

PRICES:
$3,700 USD – Double Occupancy (10 Night Hotel Stays)
$4,290 USD – Single Occupancy (10 Night Hotel Stays)

The tour's goal is to provide an introduction to Native American life ways and customs through a Dineh (Navajo) guide, and to encourage cultural exploration in a responsible manner. Duration of 11 days.

Program: Activities involve responsible visitation to sacred sites and other out-of-doors activities; hiking, horse riding, lectures, discussions, and story-telling.

What to Expect: Escape the confinements of convenience and enter the realm of everyday living out in nature. We will be in sync with natural time, weather, and places in accordance to Native American philosophy of living. Commit to 11 days of personal journey that will help to re-examine one's life and gain insight into the distinctive worldview and wisdom of an Indigenous culture.

Not only will participants delve into the beauty of the culture and vast landscape of the American southwest, you will gain an up-close and personal education on some of the challenges that Native Americans face today and the importance of cross-cultural sharing for improving the quality of life for the people of all walks of life as well as for the natural environment. If so inclined, there will be opportunities to contribute to socio-economic depressed Native communities with a volunteer agenda. All is not well in the present state of affairs with "America's" original inhabitants.

Weather and Clothing Wear: Summers are hot in the 90's Fahrenheit (32's Celsius), however evenings can be cool. Be prepared with proper clothing befitting seasonal weather changes. Good hiking shoes, hat, sun block, and rain gear advised.

Health: Obtain health clearance. Disclaimer is available for any activities assumed by participants. Tour route will take place between the altitudes of 5,280 feet - 1,524 m (Albuquerque, New Mexico) and 7,000 feet - 2,133 m (Grand Canyon & Taos, New Mexico). Physical activities will be minimal, and will take in account tour participants' physical reaction to altitude and terrain.

Culture: Be prepared for any preconceived notions about what has been romanticized about Native American culture. We are like any other, but with greater challenges as Indigenous people. As an Eco-Tour business, Navajo Trails continues to educate both natives and non-natives alike for concerns for our future with respect to being open to the preservation of Indigenous Culture and their Environment. Have an open mind and heart.

Included:
- Navajo Guide.
- All ground transportation.
- All fees to national and tribal parks and museums.
- Farewell dinner at Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
- 10 Night Hotel Stays.
- Meals: 10 Motel Breakfasts; 2 Picnic Lunches; 2 Dinners.
- All taxes are included.

Not Included:
- On-Own Meals (at tour participant's expense): 8 Lunches; 8 Dinners.
- Tips & gratuities.
- Alcohol.
- The flights to and from Albuquerque.

Note: Navajo Trails plans to use the hotel accommodations mentioned in the tour itinerary. At times, hotel rooms are not available at time of reservation. If this happens, Navajo Trails will make reservations at another hotel with similar value and facilities.

ITINERARY DAY BY DAY:

DAY 1:
Pickup - Albuquerque, International Airport.

Participants will be greeted at Albuquerque International Airport and shuttled to pre-arranged hotel for overnight stay.

Hotel accommodations: Sandia Courtyard Hotel - Albuquerque, New Mexico. Meals: Lunch and Dinner on your own.

DAY 2:
Albuquerque, NM -> Petroglyph National Monument -> Cibola National Forest & Turquoise Mountain (Tsoodzíl - Mt. Taylor)

We will have a leisurely morning, breakfast at the hotel, and then have an orientation regarding the tour. Next, we will take a short hike into the nearby Petroglyph National Monument. On Albuquerque's west mesa, carved into the volcanic escarpment, are 15,000 rock engravings. These images relate the history of past native and immigrant cultures and are the centerpiece of this national monument. Native populations continue to visit the historical and ceremonial areas of the petroglyphs in continuation of traditions and religion. The concentration of prehistoric rock art is unique in its proximity to a major city.

We then drive westward across New Mexico to Cibola National Forest where we will do some short hikes in and around the sacred Turquoise Mountain (Mt. Taylor) or Tsoodzíl in the Navajo Language, one of the foremost Mountains in the Dine' cosmology. We will have a picnic lunch there, and spend the afternoon exploring the land and sharing some Dine' knowledge and cosmology.

Hotel accommodations: Holiday Inn Express - Grants, New Mexico.
Includes: Hotel Breakfast and Picnic Lunch; Dinner on your own.

Day 3:
Turquoise Mountain / Grants, New Mexico -> Window Rock -> Chuska Mountain -> Canyon de Chelly / Chinle, Arizona

We will rise early and travel to Window Rock, a red stone arch and mystical rock formation, an important part of the Dineh cosmology. We will also make a stopover at the Navajo Nation Museum, dedicated to preserving and interpreting the rich and unique culture of the Navajo People. Driving north through the scenic Chuska Mountains, we will slowly make a transition out of the familiar surrounding environment by a journey through "Beautiful Valley," a ride through pine-covered volcanic buttes, lush green meadows and lakes. It opens up to the geographical wonder Canyon de Chelly, "a mini Grand Canyon," known the world over.

Late afternoon will include a hike down to the White House Ruins, a prominent Anasazi cultural dwelling site built in the alcove of the canyon walls. From the canyon rim, we will view Spider Rock, the spectacular red sandstone monolith, the home of Spider Woman, an honored deity in the Dine' Cosmology. It was she who taught the Navajo the craft of weaving.











Hotel accommodations: Holiday Inn - Chinle, Arizona
Includes: Hotel Breakfast; Lunch on your own in Window Rock; Dinner on your own.

Day 4:
Canyon de Chelly / Chinle, Arizona

After breakfast at the hotel, the group will set out into Canyon de Chelly, once the stronghold of the Navajos during the Indian Wars and once harboring ancient Anasazi Pueblo culture. Beautiful canyons with sheer walls of several hundred feet rising from the canyon floor have been the subject of visitors from the world over. Canyon de Chelly encompasses three major canyons now preserved as an archeological sanctuary of 1,500 years of human occupancy, containing early cliff dwellings, pithouses, petroglyphs, and rock drawings of the pre-historic Anasazi and historic Navajo periods. The Navajo's enduring traditional lifestyle still abounds within the canyons as the people farm the fertile valleys, occupy traditional hogans, and caretake this sacred monument. A visit into the mystery and spirit of the canyon is to transcend time and ponder Indigenous culture from the Navajo perspective. It is within this canyon that the Holy Ones taught the Navajo how to live. For millennia the Navajo People have been coming to the canyon to receive the great strength and power that is found there.

The tour will include two options--a two-hour journey by horseback or jeep tour into the heart of the canyon to visit many of the ancient ruins, rock imagery and discover the canyon's unique geology with a Navajo guide giving interpretive history. Included will be a visit to the park ranger station for a short documentary film of local sites. Lunch will be at the historic Thunderbird Lodge. Late Afternoon, we will tour Dine College. Located in Tsaile, AZ, Dine College is the first tribally-controlled college in the United States, and serves the residents of the 26,000 square-mile Navajo Nation which is spread over Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.



Hotel accommodations: Holiday Inn - Chinle, AZ
Includes: Hotel Breakfast; Lunch & Dinner on your own.

DAY 5:
Chinle, Arizona -> Base Camp/Pinon Community -> Chinle, Arizona

After an early breakfast at hotel, we will then travel to Pinon, Arizona, the site of Navajo Trails community-based tour company. You will be introduced to the heart of the Navajo Nation where cultural norms are still intact. Our base camp is located here at the home of Navajo Trail's Owner-Operator, Paul Tohlakai. It is "back to mother earth" and transition to the "natural ways" that give us renewed appreciation for the convenience and amenities we so enjoy.

The day will start with a stroll to Sacred Mountains Sundance grounds for orientation and introduction to Navajo culture. The entire day is designed to enhance the self-growth and life of the participant by following natural life ways. Throughout the day, there will be a program filled with experiential educational activities. All senses will be employed in active projects to bring renewed awareness and appreciation of life.

Visitors will be encouraged to partake in Navajo Trails ongoing sustainable building and perma-cultural projects program designed for experiential learning by Navajo people in the area. Hours are minimal.

Additional activities could also include: landscape picture-taking discovery safari, herbal identification, storytelling, singing Dineh songs and drumming, as well as discussing future cross-cultural involvement.

In the evening, a traditional Dine' dinner will be served. After dinner, participants will be driven back to the hotel near Canyon de Chelly.

Hotel accommodations: Holiday Inn - Chinle, AZ
Includes: Hotel Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, included traditional Dine' Dinner in Pinon.

DAY 6:
Canyon de Chelly -> Navajo National Monument -> Monument Valley

Early morning start with driving the back roads of the interior of the Navajo Reservation. We will then head out to the Navajo National Monument to view Anasazi cliff dwellings from the rim of canyon. Group will continue on to Monument Valley.

Monument Valley is comprised of panoramic monoliths that rise out of the Colorado Plateau in colorful layers of sandstone, siltstone and shale. This awe-inspiring land of the Navajos continues to marvel all those who visit and has been the setting for many western movies of Hollywood. Join us as our Navajo Guide interprets as only they can of their history and spiritual connection to a timeless place of scenic wonder. We will tour the Monument Valley in the afternoon, when the colors of the monoliths are exceptionally highlighted by the late day sun.

Hotel accommodations: The View Hotel - Monument Valley
Includes: Hotel Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner on your own.

Day 7:
Monument Valley, Utah -> Tuba City, Arizona -> Grand Canyon, Arizona

From Monument Valley, we will travel to Tuba City to visit the Navajo Interactive Museum which allows you to explore the Navajo world through interaction. Afterwards, we will head out to the panoramic Grand Canyon.



Unparallel throughout the world, the Grand Canyon has been carved and shaped mainly by the Colorado River, flowing almost a mile (5,000 vertical feet) below our stop at the south rim. We will experience one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World with short hikes above and below the rim.


Hotel accommodations: Red Feather Lodge - Grand Canyon, Arizona
Includes: Hotel Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner on your own.

DAY 8:
Grand Canyon -> Sedona, Arizona

In the morning, we will continue to tour the Grand Canyon. Then we will travel to Sedona through the spectacular Arizona landscape with a stop in Flagstaff, pointing out the native cultural significance of San Francisco Peaks, and visit the Museum of Northern Arizona and its Native American exhibits. Native American arts and crafts are available for purchase from local artisans en route to Sedona.

The afternoon will be spent hiking near Sedona through Red Rock formations and a visit to Bell Rock, an energy vortex.


Hotel accommodations: Days Inn Sedona - Sedona, Arizona.
Includes: Hotel Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner on your own.

DAY 9:
Sedona -> Petrified Forest National Park -> Holbrook, Arizona


We will have a leisurely morning in Sedona, and then visit Petrified Forest National Park. With one of the world's largest and most colorful concentrations of petrified wood, multi-hued badlands of the Painted Desert, historic structures, archeological sites, and displays of over 200-million-year-old fossils, this is a surprising land of scenic wonders and fascinating science.

Hotel accommodations: Travelodge Holbrook - Holbrook, Arizona (near Petrified Forest National Park). Includes: Hotel Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner on your own.

DAY 10:
Holbrook, Arizona -> Gallup, New Mexico -> Albuquerque, New Mexico

En route back to Albuquerque, we will stop in Gallup, NM, the "Indian jewelry capital of the world," and visit some of the over 100 retail Indian arts businesses there. During the afternoon, we will visit the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque, which is owned by the 19 Pueblos of New Mexico, and where we will visit exhibits and have an authentic Native American cuisine.











Hotel accommodations: Sandia Courtyard Hotel - Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Includes: Hotel Breakfast, Lunch on your own. Dinner included at Indian Pueblo Cultural Center.

DAY 11: Albuquerque, New Mexico

Hotel breakfast included, check-outs, transfers. Arrangements will be made for shuttle to Albuquerque Airport from hotel at designated time of flights.

Includes: Hotel Breakfast.


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