Blazing Saddles
Saddle up, all you western fans, and experience the spirit of the Old Wild West, and the cowboys who rode the trails in the lawless 1800’s. Visit Tombstone, the town that’s too tough to die, and scene of the famous Gunfight at the OK Corral. Ride your motorcycle through a slice of American history, from pioneer days in Apache country; along the heart of Route 66; to the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas.
14 days/13 nights
2020 tour dates: 25 April – 8 May
Day 1 Las Vegas Arrival
At last! You’ve arrived in Las Vegas, and settled in to our themed hotel on the city’s famous Strip. This evening, we’ll meet & greet in the hotel bar, and celebrate the start of the adventure! Afterwards, you’re free to take in the fantastic sights of Las Vegas – from the beautiful dancing waters of the Bellagio, to the calm canals complete with singing Gondoliers at the Venetian. Check it all out, maybe have a little flutter, lose your jetlag and acclimatise to the dry, desert heat.
Day 2 Las Vegas
This morning, you’ll awake bright and early, then we’ll all get together for a Welcome Brunch, and later in the afternoon we’ll collect our trusty mounts. We’ll be looking forward to riding across deserts, through canyons, and over mountains in the coming days. And you have another evening to enjoy the razzle-dazzle of Sin City, and prepare for an early start in the morning.
Day 3 Las Vegas to Williams
Our adventure begins in earnest today as we leave the city traffic behind, & with a twist of the throttle, we’ll get some miles under our belts, and be in Boulder City for breakfast. From here we’ll ride the desert highway, along the edge of the McCullough Mountain Range. Then we’ll stop for lunch in very heart of Route 66, for a real taste of what the Mother Road was like back in the day! Staying on Route 66 a while, we head east towards Williams, for our two-night stay in this cool old railway town. 268 miles
Day 4 Free day Williams
Williams is a quirky little town with a strong Route 66 identity. You could easily spend the day wandering around the place absorbing the atmosphere. Perhaps you’d like to do some shopping, or experience the adrenaline rush of a Zipline Ride high above the rooftops! You may like to visit Bearizona, the nearby wildlife park, to see Bison, Black Bears, Wolves, and more. We’re only 70 miles from the Grand Canyon, so you could easily ride there to see this wondrous sight. If you want a complete day off your bike, take the train from directly outside our hotel to Grand Canyon Village.
Day 5 Williams to Jerome
We’re on the road again today for a beautiful ride through Oak Creek Canyon to Sedona, famous for its massive red rock formations. Perhaps you’d like to try your hand at shooting a real cowboy gun, or even a Magnum .45 at a local gun range. Then enjoy one of the west’s most famous biking roads, the 89A which twists and sweeps up the Mingus Mountains in spectacular fashion, arriving at Jerome, a completely different kind of ghost town. The gold, silver and copper mines around this once prosperous corner of Arizona have long since closed, but Jerome’s rich history is still evident in the quaint old streets and buildings. We overnight in an historic hotel which is almost as it was back in the 1800s – apart from the modern home comforts! 108 miles
Days 6 Jerome to Eagle Mountain
Mount up and twist your throttle to cross the Mazatzal Mountains this morning towards the sweet little town of Strawberry. As we continue today’s ride, you’ll know you’re in cowboy country when you see the iconic southwestern Saguaro cacti, standing tall and proud, silhouetted on the hillsides. We’ll visit an old mining camp for lunch, then ride south to our luxurious mountainside hotel high in the Fountain Hills, with fabulous views across the valley below. 158 miles
Day 7 Eagle Mountain to Dude Ranch near Tombstone
Today’s ride sees us heading further south as we pass through Tucson. Look out for Mount Lemon rising behind Catalina at 9157 ft on our way there. Take time to enjoy the wide open landscapes of the Saguaro National Park and the Coronado National Forest. You’ll notice the Mexican influence colouring the names of the towns we ride through such as Casa Adobes and Sonoita as we near the Border and our destination of Tombstone. 223 miles
Day 8 Free Day at the Dude Ranch
The choice is yours for the next two days. Maybe you’d like to begin today like the old cowboys did, with a morning horseback ride through the old trails to breakfast out on the range. All meals, horse riding, Cowboy Cookout with entertainment, Breakfast Ride, and other activities are included at no extra charge. The Ranch also has swimming pool. Today is yours to do as you please, whether it’s shopping in Tombstone, or just chilling out with a cool Margarita by the pool – you decide!
Day 9 Free day Dude Ranch / Tombstone
You can simply relax and enjoy the facilities, or go by minibus or bike into Tombstone. Imagine … you dismount your trusty steed outside Big Nose Kate’s Saloon, and walk up Main Street, squinting with the high noon sun in your eyes. If you’re very quiet, you may even hear the jangle of spurs as you retrace the steps of Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp heading to the Gunfight at the OK Corral, where the ghosts of the Clanton brothers haunt the rafters. Stroll around Boot Hill, the most famous cemetery in the West, and learn the fate of the old town’s former inhabitants in the lawless days of the Old West. Optional 2 miles
Day 10 Dude Ranch to Wild Horse Pass
Enjoy a last leisurely breakfast at the ranch, then it’s back on the road heading north towards Phoenix. As you settle in to riding the highways and byways of Arizona, spare a thought to the old cowboys and pioneers of yesteryear, who could only cover 20-30 miles on each long day in the saddle! This evening, why not take a short ride on the complimentary shuttle bus for a steakhouse dinner at a nearby 1880’s western town? Yeehaw! 121 miles
Day 11 Wild Horse Pass to Lake Havasu
This morning’s ride takes us past the Bighorn Mountains, and we’ll stop for lunch at a shiny 50’s diner. Later, we’ll enjoy a scenic ride skirting Lake Havasu before crossing London Bridge to reach our luxurious lakeside hotel for the next two nights. 212 miles
Day 12 Free day at Lake Havasu
We’re right on the beachfront, so make the most of it by taking a jet ski out on the lake, or perhaps try the crazy jet boots which shoot you straight up out of the water like a fountain! If you prefer things a little less energetic, you could take a boat out, fish, or just swim and enjoy the sunshine. If water sports aren’t your thing, Lake Havasu City is just a short bike ride away.
Day 13 Lake Havasu to Las Vegas
You’re in for a treat today as we visit Oatman, a real old gold mining town. Walk the wooden boardwalks, stop by the old saloon, and have your camera ready to snap the wild donkeys (burrows) as they roam the streets; this is their town! We’re riding on some of the twistiest stretches of Route 66, over the notorious Sitgreaves Pass, and crossing the Black Mountains for lunch at a famous Route 66 diner. Then we cross the spectacular Hoover Dam once more, and mosey on back to Las Vegas. Time to return our trusty steeds, and hang up our cowboy hats, and later perhaps meet up for a farewell meal to swap stories of our adventures and rides on the trails of the old Wild West! 192 miles
Day 14 Las Vegas departure.
2020 Prices – Blazing Saddles guided motorcycle tours USA
Rider and Pillion, Shared Room £3175 pp
Solo Rider, Shared Room £4240 pp
Solo Rider, Single Room £5725 pp
What’s Included:
11 days Harley-Davidson motorcycle rental including sales and environmental taxes, VIP-PLUS Theft & Damage Waiver, custom mesh riding jacket for rider & pillion, fuel & oil, support vehicle, 13 nights hotels, some breakfasts, drinking water, National Park entrances, friendly tour guides. And the best time ever!
A deposit of £300 per bike is required if you reserve your place more than 24 weeks before the tour starts. 50% of the tour price is required 24 weeks before the tour starts and the balance is due 12 weeks before our Blazing Saddles guided motorcycle tours USA starts.
Supplementary Liability Insurance is also available at £18 per day.
When you are going to be riding in hot temperatures, you may wish to consider our mesh and hyperkewl products to help keep you cool
We hold a pre-tour meeting around 6-8 weeks before departure, where we give a detailed talk on what to expect on your guided tour, information on riding in the USA, what to wear and bring, and we provide you with an information pack. The meeting also gives you the opportunity to ask questions, meet your fellow riders, and revs up your excitement for our Blazing Saddles guided motorcycle tours USA!
N.B. This itinerary may change slightly subject to availability or road conditions. All mileages are approximate. In the case of major Exchange Rate fluctuations, we reserve the right to alter prices & issue a currency surcharge/refund if necessary. Flights not included.