Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Denver - Green Mountain Falls - Durango - Telluride - Crested Butte - Aspen - Grand Lake - Boulder
100% customisable for you
Rally the teens and head to the airport, as your epic family adventure in Colorado begins today. It’s a ten-hour direct flight from the UK to Denver, the state’s capital, so make sure you’re loaded up with plenty of in-flight entertainment (including our irresistible USA reading list). On arrival, a private driver will be waiting to whisk you off to your first accommodation: a charming and historic hotel, your home for the next three nights.
Once you’ve unpacked, this evening is yours to play with. Feeling tired? We recommend kicking back, relaxing and enjoying the hotel’s facilities, ready for two days of Denver adventures ahead. Or, if you’re feeling peckish, drop your Concierge a WhatsApp message and they’ll book you into a restaurant to feed the whole family.
The next two days are dedicated to discovering all things Denver, from its iconic Rocky Mountain backdrop to its hip and trendy hotspots. Our favourites? 16th Street, a vibrant art-adorned neighbourhood leading from the Capitol to LoDo (Lower Downtown); the boutiques and breweries in the Larimer Square district; the Castle Rock outlets, a haven for shopaholics; and the dizzying choice of museums, from the interactive History Colorado Centre to the Denver Art Museum. Ready for a dose of nature? Head to the incredible Red Rocks Amphitheatre (and surrounding walking trails), a naturally formed amphitheatre and host to major music artists.
It’s time to get some miles under your belt. Your road trip officially commences today, so after breakfast, collect your hire car for a one-and-a-half-hour drive through forested landscapes to Green Mountain, a charming town located at the base of Pikes Peak. Along the way, we recommend stopping at the Garden of the Gods, a beautiful park adorned with red sandstone formations, hiking trails and sacred sparkling springs.
Craving more nature? Don’t miss the Pikes Peak Highway, a 19-mile scenic route starting from the foot of Pikes Peak and leading to its summit via the Crystal Reservoir. On arrival in Green Mountain, check in for the night at a rustic inn and spend the rest of today enjoying your rural surroundings.
Your adventure through Colorado continues today with a six-hour drive to Durango, a small mountain city in the state’s southwestern corner. Six hours is quite the journey (as we’re sure your teens will remind you), so we’ve arranged the perfect pit stop en route – Mount Princeton Hot Springs. Set at the base of the Collegiate Peaks, you can enjoy a quick soak in the natural rock pools along Chalk Creek, washing away any road-trip-induced fatigue. Feeling refreshed?
Continue to Durango and settle in for two nights at a charming hotel in the heart of the city’s historic downtown.
Today’s all about admiring one of Colorado’s most phenomenal sights: the ancient Native American cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde National Park. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, these fascinating structures include everything from single-room storage units to villages with over 150 rooms. Comprising some of the best-preserved relics of Native American life in North America, this is the perfect place to bring budding archaeologists.
Once you’re back in the present-day hustle and bustle of Durango, dive into the town’s myriad delights. One of its most iconic sights is the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, where you can watch the vintage steam train roll into the station. If the teens are keen for a dose of adrenaline, swap the streets for the Animas River Valley, a popular spot for canoeing, rafting and canyoning.
You’ve come about as far south as you can in Colorado, so hit the road north on Highway 550 (one of the state’s most beautiful roads) to Telluride, in the heart of the Rockies. The three-hour journey passes through the Animas River Valley and skirts the San Juan National Forest before climbing into the mountains. The final leg loops around the towering Mount Sneffels and drops into Telluride, where you’ll check in for two nights at the foot of the chairlifts (the town is a popular ski resort in winter).
The rest of today and tomorrow are free for you to explore your scenic surroundings. Admire the beautiful Victorian architecture of the historic downtown area, drive along the scenic San Juan Skyway, hop on the chairlifts to enviable viewpoints or lace up your boots and enjoy the many mountainous hiking trails.
Another day, another road trip. Today, swap Telluride for the equally scenic resort town of Crested Butte, a three-and-a-half-hour drive away. Time will fly as you hop between stunning spots, from the high-altitude Blue Mesa Reservoir to the spectacular Black Canyon of Gunnison National Park, a deep gorge home to roads and trails with breathtaking views.
On arrival in Crested Butte, check in for the night at a cosy guesthouse and spend the rest of the day enjoying the gentle hum of activity in the picturesque Victorian downtown.
Your journey through Colorado’s incredible resort towns culminates today in Aspen, one of the most stylish and exclusive holiday spots in North America. We recommend setting off in the morning, as the drive can take a good five hours, winding through the high mountain roads of the Rockies.
On arrival in Aspen, check in for two nights at a hotel set slightly out of town, at the foot of the chairlifts. Once you’ve settled in and freshened up, head out for an evening of exploring. As you can imagine, everything here is geared towards luxury – think fancy restaurants, fashionable boutiques and swanky bars at every turn. Aspen is also a hotspot for artsy festivals, so we recommend reaching out to your local Concierge to check what’s going on during your stay.
Wake up early this morning, you only have one full day in beautiful Aspen, and there’s not a moment to waste. Kick things off by enjoying a delicious organic breakfast with a local resident (who’ll also be your insider guide for today). Once you’re fuelled up on food, take a trip up the Independence Pass, one of the highest passes in Colorado, only accessible via a paved road. From here, embark on a hike (tailored to your abilities) along trails with panoramic views of the Rocky Mountains. This is also a great opportunity to check out Independence, a fascinating (if a little eerie) ghost town of the Gold Rush era that has long since been abandoned.
Rise and shine for another half-day drive, this time to Grand Lake, a delightful lakeside town and western gateway to the Rocky Mountain National Park. Along the way, make a stop at Maroon Bells, one of the region’s most emblematic viewpoints and a hotspot for photography (and Instagram) enthusiasts.
On arrival in Grand Lake, settle in for two nights at a historic hilltop lodge overlooking the village and lake. The rest of today is yours to play with, but we recommend stretching your legs with a walk along the shore before enjoying a delicious meal in town.
Covering an area of 670 square miles, the Rocky Mountain National Park is home to some of the highest mountains in America, as well as emerald forests, alpine lakes and diverse flora and fauna. The best way to soak in the magnitude of your surroundings? Enjoy one of the 350 hiking trails – our team can guide you through the difficulty levels and find a route to suit the whole family. It’s also worth making a detour to the Trail Ridge Road, the highest paved road in the United States. Winding through the mountains at a mighty 12,184ft high, its views are well worth writing home about.
After nearly two weeks of living in the lap of nature, it’s time to ease yourself back into urban life with an overnight stay in Boulder, located two-and-a-half hours from Grand Lake. This peaceful small town combines cosmopolitan charm and beautiful nature with its pretty parks and cycle paths. Spend the night in a comfortable motel in the city centre, where you can dump your bags before heading out to celebrate your final night in Colorado.
Sadly, the time has come to bid farewell to the wild and wonderful Colorado and begin the journey home. Make the short 40-minute drive back to the airport in Denver, drop off your rental car and enjoy some downtime in the airport lounge. Most direct flights back to the UK depart in the evening and take around ten hours, so spend tonight on board and touchdown tomorrow morning full of tales from your trip.
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
ENQUIRE NOW
Our team of destination experts will get to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday
We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from fast-tracking you through airport check-in and security to our network of local Concierges
