Arizona

Hopi Mesas & Navajo Lands of Canyon de Chelly & Monument Valley

Program No. 18591RJ
Gain a deeper understanding of Hopi and Navajo cultures as you visit their reservations to experience the landscapes, artifacts and traditions that have shaped their ancient story.

Enroll with Confidence

We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. Learn more

Protecting the Environment

We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Learn more

At a Glance

Stay on both the Navajo and Hopi reservations and immerse yourself in these cultures with exposure to native speakers and artisans who share insights into their life ways. Visit one of the oldest Hopi villages atop a windswept mesa. At Canyon de Chelly, field trips visit both North and South rims and the inner Canyon. Experience Monument Valley’s iconic formations and sweeping vistas.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking up to one mile daily over varied terrain. Optional longer hike at Canyon de Chelly to Ancestral Puebloan ruins. Elevations up to 7,300 feet.
Small Group
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.

What You'll Learn

  • Enjoy two Navajo/Diné-led 4x4 adventures to see ruins, petroglyphs and natural beauty.
  • Enjoy a docent-led field trip to the Museum of Northern Arizona and learn about Native past, present and future.
  • Visit Hubble Trading Post and hear from Navajo/Diné and Hopi speakers about their cultures and challenges.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Profile Image
Eric Kee
Eric Kee was born and raised on the Navajo Reservation in Tuba, City, Ariz. In addition to sharing his Navajo culture, Eric enjoys spending his spare time building Native American flutes, working with silver and enjoys hiking, kayaking, camping with his family. He met his wife in Florence, Italy during his three years teaching English and working Italian camps for kids. He, along with his wife and three children, currently reside in Tuba City, Arizona.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of Eric Kee
Eric Kee was born and raised on the Navajo Reservation in Tuba, City, Ariz. In addition to sharing his Navajo culture, Eric enjoys spending his spare time building Native American flutes, working with silver and enjoys hiking, kayaking, camping with his family. He met his wife in Florence, Italy during his three years teaching English and working Italian camps for kids. He, along with his wife and three children, currently reside in Tuba City, Arizona.
Profile Image of Filmer Kewanyama
Filmer Kewanyama View biography
Fil Kewanyama was born in the village of Shungopavi on Second Mesa on Hopi Land in northeastern Arizona. He is of the Qalwung'gwa (Sun Forehead) clan and grew up with all the ceremonies that are still a part of his life. Following his military service, Fil moved to Phoenix and then Prescott, Arizona where he started focusing on his art. Fil says he grew up learning to draw, paint and carve as it was all around him in the form of Hopi ceremonies and rituals.
Profile Image of Robert Sanford
Robert Sanford View biography
Buck Sanford graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.S. in natural resources and spent several years working in Costa Rica as a freelance tropical biologist and research station manager. After a Ph.D. at UC Berkeley, he held positions at Stanford, NC State, and Colorado State. He was a biology professor at Denver University for several decades. Following a stint as a program director at the National Science Foundation, Buck worked as a professor and an administrator at Northern Arizona University, retiring in 2021.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Meals
17 Meals
6 Breakfasts
5 Lunches
6 Dinners
The following choices may be available when requested in advance: Vegetarian
Lodging
Lodgings may differ by date. Select a date to see the lodgings specific to that date.
Display
Oct 13, 2024 - Oct 19, 2024
  • Oct 13, 2024 - Oct 19, 2024
  • Sep 22, 2024 - Sep 28, 2024
  • Oct 06, 2024 - Oct 12, 2024
  • Oct 13, 2024 - Oct 19, 2024
  • Mar 16, 2025 - Mar 22, 2025
  • Mar 30, 2025 - Apr 05, 2025
  • Apr 13, 2025 - Apr 19, 2025
  • Sep 21, 2025 - Sep 27, 2025
  • Oct 05, 2025 - Oct 11, 2025
  • Oct 12, 2025 - Oct 18, 2025
1 night
Flagstaff
Courtyard Flagstaff, convenient to the airport, I-17 and I-40, walking distance to Northern Arizona University, and moments from Arizona Snowbowl. We’re one of the most convenient pet-friendly hotels in Flagstaff! Our thoughtful amenities deliver everything you need for business or pleasure: well-appointed rooms – some with private balconies and spectacular views of the San Francisco Peaks – that promise free WiFi, plush bedding, and ergonomic workspaces. Maintain your active lifestyle at our hotel near downtown Flagstaff, AZ: Our fitness center is open 24/7 and our heated indoor pool beckons.
2 nights
Second Mesa
Located in Northern Arizona, the Hopi Reservations encompasses approximately 1.5 million acres. Hopi land rises up 7,200 feet, offering panoramic views of the surrounding low-altitude desert. You'll find amazing history, culture, art, and food when you visit here... First Mesa Consolidated Villages offers organized tours in their jurisdiction. Visitors may travel freely along primary highways; off-road travel, including jeeps, motorcycles and 4-wheel drive vehicles, is prohibited without a guide. Your consideration is truly appreciated!
2 nights
Chinle
Located on the high desert of the Colorado Plateau, the Holiday Inn Chinle stands at the entrance to Canyon de Chelly National Monument. The canyon is the second largest in the USA. In huge hollows at the base of the canyon's vertical walls, ancient cliff dwellings of the Anasazi people stand well preserved since their construction more than 10 centuries ago. Petroglyphs both in and near the ruins clearly depict events of the canyon's early inhabitants. The remote location deep within the Navajo Nation removes it from the impact of the modern world and retains the canyon's sense of timelessness.
1 night
Cameron
Adjacent to the Cameron Trading Post, the Inn is in the hub of activity for the western Navajo Reservation. It features an operating trading post with Native American arts and crafts. Cameron Trading Post gives you central access to Monument Valley, Lake Powell and the Grand Canyon.
1 night
Flagstaff
Courtyard Flagstaff, convenient to the airport, I-17 and I-40, walking distance to Northern Arizona University, and moments from Arizona Snowbowl. We’re one of the most convenient pet-friendly hotels in Flagstaff! Our thoughtful amenities deliver everything you need for business or pleasure: well-appointed rooms – some with private balconies and spectacular views of the San Francisco Peaks – that promise free WiFi, plush bedding, and ergonomic workspaces. Maintain your active lifestyle at our hotel near downtown Flagstaff, AZ: Our fitness center is open 24/7 and our heated indoor pool beckons.
2 nights
Second Mesa
Located in Northern Arizona, the Hopi Reservations encompasses approximately 1.5 million acres. Hopi land rises up 7,200 feet, offering panoramic views of the surrounding low-altitude desert. You'll find amazing history, culture, art, and food when you visit here... First Mesa Consolidated Villages offers organized tours in their jurisdiction. Visitors may travel freely along primary highways; off-road travel, including jeeps, motorcycles and 4-wheel drive vehicles, is prohibited without a guide. Your consideration is truly appreciated!
2 nights
Chinle
Located on the high desert of the Colorado Plateau, the Holiday Inn Chinle stands at the entrance to Canyon de Chelly National Monument. The canyon is the second largest in the USA. In huge hollows at the base of the canyon's vertical walls, ancient cliff dwellings of the Anasazi people stand well preserved since their construction more than 10 centuries ago. Petroglyphs both in and near the ruins clearly depict events of the canyon's early inhabitants. The remote location deep within the Navajo Nation removes it from the impact of the modern world and retains the canyon's sense of timelessness.
1 night
Cameron
Adjacent to the Cameron Trading Post, the Inn is in the hub of activity for the western Navajo Reservation. It features an operating trading post with Native American arts and crafts. Cameron Trading Post gives you central access to Monument Valley, Lake Powell and the Grand Canyon.
1 night
Flagstaff
Courtyard Flagstaff, convenient to the airport, I-17 and I-40, walking distance to Northern Arizona University, and moments from Arizona Snowbowl. We’re one of the most convenient pet-friendly hotels in Flagstaff! Our thoughtful amenities deliver everything you need for business or pleasure: well-appointed rooms – some with private balconies and spectacular views of the San Francisco Peaks – that promise free WiFi, plush bedding, and ergonomic workspaces. Maintain your active lifestyle at our hotel near downtown Flagstaff, AZ: Our fitness center is open 24/7 and our heated indoor pool beckons.
2 nights
Second Mesa
Located in Northern Arizona, the Hopi Reservations encompasses approximately 1.5 million acres. Hopi land rises up 7,200 feet, offering panoramic views of the surrounding low-altitude desert. You'll find amazing history, culture, art, and food when you visit here... First Mesa Consolidated Villages offers organized tours in their jurisdiction. Visitors may travel freely along primary highways; off-road travel, including jeeps, motorcycles and 4-wheel drive vehicles, is prohibited without a guide. Your consideration is truly appreciated!
2 nights
Chinle
Located on the high desert of the Colorado Plateau, the Holiday Inn Chinle stands at the entrance to Canyon de Chelly National Monument. The canyon is the second largest in the USA. In huge hollows at the base of the canyon's vertical walls, ancient cliff dwellings of the Anasazi people stand well preserved since their construction more than 10 centuries ago. Petroglyphs both in and near the ruins clearly depict events of the canyon's early inhabitants. The remote location deep within the Navajo Nation removes it from the impact of the modern world and retains the canyon's sense of timelessness.
1 night
Cameron
Adjacent to the Cameron Trading Post, the Inn is in the hub of activity for the western Navajo Reservation. It features an operating trading post with Native American arts and crafts. Cameron Trading Post gives you central access to Monument Valley, Lake Powell and the Grand Canyon.
1 night
Flagstaff
Courtyard Flagstaff, convenient to the airport, I-17 and I-40, walking distance to Northern Arizona University, and moments from Arizona Snowbowl. We’re one of the most convenient pet-friendly hotels in Flagstaff! Our thoughtful amenities deliver everything you need for business or pleasure: well-appointed rooms – some with private balconies and spectacular views of the San Francisco Peaks – that promise free WiFi, plush bedding, and ergonomic workspaces. Maintain your active lifestyle at our hotel near downtown Flagstaff, AZ: Our fitness center is open 24/7 and our heated indoor pool beckons.
2 nights
Second Mesa
Located in Northern Arizona, the Hopi Reservations encompasses approximately 1.5 million acres. Hopi land rises up 7,200 feet, offering panoramic views of the surrounding low-altitude desert. You'll find amazing history, culture, art, and food when you visit here... First Mesa Consolidated Villages offers organized tours in their jurisdiction. Visitors may travel freely along primary highways; off-road travel, including jeeps, motorcycles and 4-wheel drive vehicles, is prohibited without a guide. Your consideration is truly appreciated!
2 nights
Chinle
Located on the high desert of the Colorado Plateau, the Holiday Inn Chinle stands at the entrance to Canyon de Chelly National Monument. The canyon is the second largest in the USA. In huge hollows at the base of the canyon's vertical walls, ancient cliff dwellings of the Anasazi people stand well preserved since their construction more than 10 centuries ago. Petroglyphs both in and near the ruins clearly depict events of the canyon's early inhabitants. The remote location deep within the Navajo Nation removes it from the impact of the modern world and retains the canyon's sense of timelessness.
1 night
Cameron
Adjacent to the Cameron Trading Post, the Inn is in the hub of activity for the western Navajo Reservation. It features an operating trading post with Native American arts and crafts. Cameron Trading Post gives you central access to Monument Valley, Lake Powell and the Grand Canyon.
1 night
Flagstaff
Courtyard Flagstaff, convenient to the airport, I-17 and I-40, walking distance to Northern Arizona University, and moments from Arizona Snowbowl. We’re one of the most convenient pet-friendly hotels in Flagstaff! Our thoughtful amenities deliver everything you need for business or pleasure: well-appointed rooms – some with private balconies and spectacular views of the San Francisco Peaks – that promise free WiFi, plush bedding, and ergonomic workspaces. Maintain your active lifestyle at our hotel near downtown Flagstaff, AZ: Our fitness center is open 24/7 and our heated indoor pool beckons.
2 nights
Second Mesa
Located in Northern Arizona, the Hopi Reservations encompasses approximately 1.5 million acres. Hopi land rises up 7,200 feet, offering panoramic views of the surrounding low-altitude desert. You'll find amazing history, culture, art, and food when you visit here... First Mesa Consolidated Villages offers organized tours in their jurisdiction. Visitors may travel freely along primary highways; off-road travel, including jeeps, motorcycles and 4-wheel drive vehicles, is prohibited without a guide. Your consideration is truly appreciated!
2 nights
Chinle
Located on the high desert of the Colorado Plateau, the Holiday Inn Chinle stands at the entrance to Canyon de Chelly National Monument. The canyon is the second largest in the USA. In huge hollows at the base of the canyon's vertical walls, ancient cliff dwellings of the Anasazi people stand well preserved since their construction more than 10 centuries ago. Petroglyphs both in and near the ruins clearly depict events of the canyon's early inhabitants. The remote location deep within the Navajo Nation removes it from the impact of the modern world and retains the canyon's sense of timelessness.
1 night
Cameron
Adjacent to the Cameron Trading Post, the Inn is in the hub of activity for the western Navajo Reservation. It features an operating trading post with Native American arts and crafts. Cameron Trading Post gives you central access to Monument Valley, Lake Powell and the Grand Canyon.
1 night
Flagstaff
Courtyard Flagstaff, convenient to the airport, I-17 and I-40, walking distance to Northern Arizona University, and moments from Arizona Snowbowl. We’re one of the most convenient pet-friendly hotels in Flagstaff! Our thoughtful amenities deliver everything you need for business or pleasure: well-appointed rooms – some with private balconies and spectacular views of the San Francisco Peaks – that promise free WiFi, plush bedding, and ergonomic workspaces. Maintain your active lifestyle at our hotel near downtown Flagstaff, AZ: Our fitness center is open 24/7 and our heated indoor pool beckons.
2 nights
Second Mesa
Located in Northern Arizona, the Hopi Reservations encompasses approximately 1.5 million acres. Hopi land rises up 7,200 feet, offering panoramic views of the surrounding low-altitude desert. You'll find amazing history, culture, art, and food when you visit here... First Mesa Consolidated Villages offers organized tours in their jurisdiction. Visitors may travel freely along primary highways; off-road travel, including jeeps, motorcycles and 4-wheel drive vehicles, is prohibited without a guide. Your consideration is truly appreciated!
2 nights
Chinle
Located on the high desert of the Colorado Plateau, the Holiday Inn Chinle stands at the entrance to Canyon de Chelly National Monument. The canyon is the second largest in the USA. In huge hollows at the base of the canyon's vertical walls, ancient cliff dwellings of the Anasazi people stand well preserved since their construction more than 10 centuries ago. Petroglyphs both in and near the ruins clearly depict events of the canyon's early inhabitants. The remote location deep within the Navajo Nation removes it from the impact of the modern world and retains the canyon's sense of timelessness.
1 night
Cameron
Adjacent to the Cameron Trading Post, the Inn is in the hub of activity for the western Navajo Reservation. It features an operating trading post with Native American arts and crafts. Cameron Trading Post gives you central access to Monument Valley, Lake Powell and the Grand Canyon.
1 night
Flagstaff
Courtyard Flagstaff, convenient to the airport, I-17 and I-40, walking distance to Northern Arizona University, and moments from Arizona Snowbowl. We’re one of the most convenient pet-friendly hotels in Flagstaff! Our thoughtful amenities deliver everything you need for business or pleasure: well-appointed rooms – some with private balconies and spectacular views of the San Francisco Peaks – that promise free WiFi, plush bedding, and ergonomic workspaces. Maintain your active lifestyle at our hotel near downtown Flagstaff, AZ: Our fitness center is open 24/7 and our heated indoor pool beckons.
2 nights
Second Mesa
Located in Northern Arizona, the Hopi Reservations encompasses approximately 1.5 million acres. Hopi land rises up 7,200 feet, offering panoramic views of the surrounding low-altitude desert. You'll find amazing history, culture, art, and food when you visit here... First Mesa Consolidated Villages offers organized tours in their jurisdiction. Visitors may travel freely along primary highways; off-road travel, including jeeps, motorcycles and 4-wheel drive vehicles, is prohibited without a guide. Your consideration is truly appreciated!
2 nights
Chinle
Located on the high desert of the Colorado Plateau, the Holiday Inn Chinle stands at the entrance to Canyon de Chelly National Monument. The canyon is the second largest in the USA. In huge hollows at the base of the canyon's vertical walls, ancient cliff dwellings of the Anasazi people stand well preserved since their construction more than 10 centuries ago. Petroglyphs both in and near the ruins clearly depict events of the canyon's early inhabitants. The remote location deep within the Navajo Nation removes it from the impact of the modern world and retains the canyon's sense of timelessness.
1 night
Cameron
Adjacent to the Cameron Trading Post, the Inn is in the hub of activity for the western Navajo Reservation. It features an operating trading post with Native American arts and crafts. Cameron Trading Post gives you central access to Monument Valley, Lake Powell and the Grand Canyon.
1 night
Flagstaff
Courtyard Flagstaff, convenient to the airport, I-17 and I-40, walking distance to Northern Arizona University, and moments from Arizona Snowbowl. We’re one of the most convenient pet-friendly hotels in Flagstaff! Our thoughtful amenities deliver everything you need for business or pleasure: well-appointed rooms – some with private balconies and spectacular views of the San Francisco Peaks – that promise free WiFi, plush bedding, and ergonomic workspaces. Maintain your active lifestyle at our hotel near downtown Flagstaff, AZ: Our fitness center is open 24/7 and our heated indoor pool beckons.
2 nights
Second Mesa
Located in Northern Arizona, the Hopi Reservations encompasses approximately 1.5 million acres. Hopi land rises up 7,200 feet, offering panoramic views of the surrounding low-altitude desert. You'll find amazing history, culture, art, and food when you visit here... First Mesa Consolidated Villages offers organized tours in their jurisdiction. Visitors may travel freely along primary highways; off-road travel, including jeeps, motorcycles and 4-wheel drive vehicles, is prohibited without a guide. Your consideration is truly appreciated!
2 nights
Chinle
Located on the high desert of the Colorado Plateau, the Holiday Inn Chinle stands at the entrance to Canyon de Chelly National Monument. The canyon is the second largest in the USA. In huge hollows at the base of the canyon's vertical walls, ancient cliff dwellings of the Anasazi people stand well preserved since their construction more than 10 centuries ago. Petroglyphs both in and near the ruins clearly depict events of the canyon's early inhabitants. The remote location deep within the Navajo Nation removes it from the impact of the modern world and retains the canyon's sense of timelessness.
1 night
Cameron
Adjacent to the Cameron Trading Post, the Inn is in the hub of activity for the western Navajo Reservation. It features an operating trading post with Native American arts and crafts. Cameron Trading Post gives you central access to Monument Valley, Lake Powell and the Grand Canyon.
1 night
Flagstaff
Courtyard Flagstaff, convenient to the airport, I-17 and I-40, walking distance to Northern Arizona University, and moments from Arizona Snowbowl. We’re one of the most convenient pet-friendly hotels in Flagstaff! Our thoughtful amenities deliver everything you need for business or pleasure: well-appointed rooms – some with private balconies and spectacular views of the San Francisco Peaks – that promise free WiFi, plush bedding, and ergonomic workspaces. Maintain your active lifestyle at our hotel near downtown Flagstaff, AZ: Our fitness center is open 24/7 and our heated indoor pool beckons.
2 nights
Second Mesa
Located in Northern Arizona, the Hopi Reservations encompasses approximately 1.5 million acres. Hopi land rises up 7,200 feet, offering panoramic views of the surrounding low-altitude desert. You'll find amazing history, culture, art, and food when you visit here... First Mesa Consolidated Villages offers organized tours in their jurisdiction. Visitors may travel freely along primary highways; off-road travel, including jeeps, motorcycles and 4-wheel drive vehicles, is prohibited without a guide. Your consideration is truly appreciated!
2 nights
Chinle
Located on the high desert of the Colorado Plateau, the Holiday Inn Chinle stands at the entrance to Canyon de Chelly National Monument. The canyon is the second largest in the USA. In huge hollows at the base of the canyon's vertical walls, ancient cliff dwellings of the Anasazi people stand well preserved since their construction more than 10 centuries ago. Petroglyphs both in and near the ruins clearly depict events of the canyon's early inhabitants. The remote location deep within the Navajo Nation removes it from the impact of the modern world and retains the canyon's sense of timelessness.
1 night
Cameron
Adjacent to the Cameron Trading Post, the Inn is in the hub of activity for the western Navajo Reservation. It features an operating trading post with Native American arts and crafts. Cameron Trading Post gives you central access to Monument Valley, Lake Powell and the Grand Canyon.





Recommended For You

loading spinner