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Amtrak Vacations

Grand Canyon Explorer

9-day one-way rail trip from Albuquerque to Flagstaff via the Grand Canyon

Illustration of Grand Canyon Explorer

Amtrak Vacations' Grand Canyon Explorer is a 9-day, one-way rail vacation that starts in Albuquerque, New Mexico and ends in Flagstaff, Arizona. The route rides the Southwest Chief to Santa Fe and on to Williams, then switches to the Grand Canyon Railway for the ride into Grand Canyon National Park. The pace mixes free time with guided outings: day 1 in Albuquerque is unstructured, day 3 brings a guided walking tour of Santa Fe in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, and day 5 opens with breakfast at the Fred Harvey Restaurant before the train carries travelers into the park for a South Rim tour. A full free day at the Grand Canyon follows, then a day trip to Sedona for an Ultimate Jeep tour of the red rock formations rounds out the trip before it ends in Flagstaff. It suits travelers who like a blend of guided sightseeing and independent exploring, and who don't need a return trip built into the package.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has risen US$160 since 4 Jul, to US$1,579.

US$1,579US$1,4194 Jul12 Sep

Each point is a day we checked this operator's own page, not a weekly average, and the line holds flat between checks rather than guessing at movement we did not see. 3 of 5 points are a live read of the operator's page. Hollow points are values shown when the trip was first listed here and never confirmed with the operator.

What to know before you look closer

  • This is a one-way itinerary that ends in Flagstaff; a return trip to your starting point is not part of the package.
  • Only 1 meal, a single breakfast, is included across the 9 days.
  • Final hotels depend on which of the 17 accommodation options and cities you choose, from the Yavapai Lodge at the park to the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel in Williams.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Albuquerque

    Albuquerque, NM

    Welcome to Albuquerque, a truly gorgeous city full of stunning sights. Take advantage of your free time today to enjoy all this city has to offer while enjoying its clear blue skies and fresh desert air.

  2. Day 2overnight: Santa Fe

    Albuquerque to Santa Fe

    Travel on your own to the Amtrak station and board the Southwest Chief for a breathtaking ride to Lamy. From Lamy, you will board Amtrak's Thruway bus to transfer to Santa Fe.

  3. Day 3overnight: Santa Fe

    Santa Fe, NM

    Today, you will see all the sights of Santa Fe on a guided walking tour of the city, nestled in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Williams

    Santa Fe to Williams

    Travel on your own to the Amtrak station and board the train to Flagstaff. Upon arrival in Flagstaff, you will be transferred to the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel in Williams.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Grand Canyon

    Grand Canyon Onboard Grand Canyon Railway

    This morning, enjoy your included hearty breakfast at the Fred Harvey Restaurant. Then, board the Grand Canyon Railway, which will take you right into the heart of Grand Canyon National Park. Discover the stunning sights of the Grand Canyon on a guided tour of the Canyon's majestic South Rim.

  6. Day 6overnight: Grand Canyon

    Grand Canyon National Park, AZ

    The entire day is yours to explore the Grand Canyon! Check out any of the Canyon's sights you didn't get a chance to see yesterday.

  7. Day 7overnight: Flagstaff

    Grand Canyon to Flagstaff

    This morning, you will have some more free time to explore the Grand Canyon before departing in the early afternoon for Flagstaff.

  8. Day 8overnight: Flagstaff

    Day Trip to Sedona

    Get up close and personal with the Red Rocks of Sedona on your included Ultimate Jeep tour. This excursion combines the rugged and historic exclusive Soldiers Pass Trail tour with the Old Bear Wallow tour.

  9. Day 9

    Your Journey Ends in Flagstaff

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 5Breakfast at the Fred Harvey Restaurant, then the Grand Canyon Railway carries the group into Grand Canyon National Park for a guided tour of the South Rim.
  • Day 3A guided walking tour of Santa Fe, a city set in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.
  • Day 8The included Ultimate Jeep tour combines the Soldiers Pass Trail and the Old Bear Wallow tour through Sedona's red rock formations.
  • Day 6A full free day at the Grand Canyon to revisit any sights missed the day before.

Included

  • One-way Amtrak® in Coach accommodations from Albuquerque to Santa Fe and Santa Fe to Williams on the Southwest Chief®
  • 8 nights' hotel accommodations
  • One-way shuttle transfer from Maswik Lodge to Flagstaff hotel
  • Round-trip transfer from Flagstaff to Sedona
  • 1 meal (1 breakfast)

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?
From $1,579 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $1,579 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is train travel included?
Yes. One-way Amtrak in Coach accommodations covers Albuquerque to Santa Fe and Santa Fe to Williams on the Southwest Chief, plus a one-way ride on the Grand Canyon Railway into the park.
Is this a roundtrip or a one-way trip?
It's one-way. The itinerary starts in Albuquerque and ends in Flagstaff; a return journey is not included.
What hotels are used?
8 nights of hotel stays selected from 17 accommodation options across the route's cities, including the Crowne Plaza in Albuquerque, La Posada de Santa Fe, and the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel in Williams.
How many meals are included?
One breakfast, on the morning the Grand Canyon Railway departs for the park.

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