One Arizona train takes you to the edge of the Grand Canyon. Another carries you past towering red cliffs, across historic trestles, and through a 680-foot tunnel.
And here’s something that makes this trip particularly appealing: you can experience both without changing hotels once.
The six-day Great Trains & Grand Canyons escorted vacation includes five nights in the Sedona area, two very different railroad journeys, an ancient cliff dwelling, and a former mining town.
There’s a trade-off, though.
While your suitcase gets to stay put, you won’t. Several days include substantial motorcoach travel, sightseeing, and walking.
Here’s what makes each stop special, what the package costs, and what you’ll want to know before booking.
Two Trains, Two Completely Different Arizona Experiences
You’re not simply taking two train rides through similar scenery.
Grand Canyon Railway travels 65 miles from Williams to Grand Canyon Village at the South Rim, a journey of approximately two hours and 15 minutes.
The railroad first welcomed passengers in 1901 and reopened in 1989. Today, it offers a historic way to approach one of America’s most recognizable natural landmarks.
But here’s an important detail.
You won’t spend the ride looking down into the Grand Canyon. The train takes you to the national park, where the famous overlooks become the main attraction.
The Verde Canyon Railroad, meanwhile, makes the journey itself the main event.
Its approximately four-hour, 40-mile roundtrip excursion follows the Verde River through a rugged canyon, passing crimson cliffs, crossing historic trestles, and traveling through a 680-foot manmade tunnel.
Passengers can watch from indoor seating or step into adjoining open-air viewing cars.
One railroad delivers you to an extraordinary destination. The other keeps the scenery coming outside your window.
For Tennessee travelers interested in more railroad getaways, our guide to taking train vacations from Nashville and other parts of Tennessee explains how to get started without an Amtrak station in Nashville.
What the Six-Day Arizona Trip Includes
AFC Vacations organizes the trip around one Sedona-area hotel base, with guided excursions to surrounding attractions.
Here’s the published itinerary:
| Day | What’s planned |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Phoenix, travel to Sedona, and enjoy a welcome dinner |
| Day 2 | Tour Sedona by trolley, including Chapel of the Holy Cross, Airport Mesa, Uptown, and Tlaquepaque |
| Day 3 | Drive through Oak Creek Canyon, ride Grand Canyon Railway, visit the South Rim, and return through Flagstaff |
| Day 4 | Visit Montezuma Castle and Jerome before riding Verde Canyon Railroad |
| Day 5 | Enjoy free time in Sedona, followed by dinner and a Western show at Blazin’ M Ranch |
| Day 6 | Transfer toward Phoenix for the journey home |
The package includes eight meals: five breakfasts and three dinners. Other meals are at your expense, and optional excursions, including a guided Jeep tour, may cost extra.
Arrival and departure occupy two of the six days. The busiest sightseeing happens in the middle, especially on days three and four.
AFC rates the tour Activity Level 3: Moderately Active. Expect regular walking, hills, steps, uneven terrain, potentially early starts, and significant travel time.
It’s a convenient way to see several places without arranging every detail yourself. Your walking shoes will still have work to do.
The Grand Canyon Railway Brings You to an Extraordinary View
The third day begins with a drive through Oak Creek Canyon, where the road winds between colorful cliffs and forested slopes.
From Williams, the group boards Grand Canyon Railway for the trip to the South Rim.
Then comes the view people travel from around the world to see.
Near Grand Canyon Village, the canyon stretches roughly 10 miles across. In places, the distance from rim to river is approximately a vertical mile.
A photograph can show the colors. Conveying that kind of distance is another matter.
The package includes time at the South Rim and additional motorcoach sightseeing, followed by a planned dinner in Flagstaff before returning to Sedona.
The itinerary doesn’t identify every overlook or specify exactly how much independent time travelers receive. Keep that in mind if you’re imagining a long hike.
There’s another consideration that can catch visitors by surprise.
The South Rim sits approximately 6,800 to 7,000 feet above sea level. Sedona is around 4,350 feet, and Flagstaff is approximately 7,000 feet. Walking can feel more tiring if you’re unaccustomed to those elevations.
Selected portions of the approximately 13-mile Rim Trail are paved, but accessibility varies along the route.
February and March can also bring snow and ice. Check the National Park Service’s current Grand Canyon conditions for weather and closures.
Railroad enthusiasts should also confirm two details: AFC doesn’t specify the Grand Canyon Railway seating class or promise steam power.
Verde Canyon Railroad Offers Four Hours of Red-Rock Scenery
The Verde Canyon excursion departs from Clarkdale and follows a historic rail corridor beside the Verde River.
Towering rock formations, canyon walls, and remnants of mining history give passengers plenty to watch. The 680-foot tunnel and historic trestles add a little railroad drama along the way.
Unlike the Grand Canyon Railway portion, this excursion returns passengers to the same depot.
There’s no national park arrival to plan around. The ride is the experience.
AFC specifically includes a First Class railcar for this excursion.
The railroad offers upholstered seating, climate-controlled cars, narration, and adjoining open-air viewing areas. You can step outside for a clearer look, then return to your seat when you’ve had enough wind.
An appetizer tray is offered, with additional drinks and snacks available for purchase. Confirm the exact group inclusions, and don’t count on appetizers replacing lunch.
Bald eagles are of particular interest during winter, although wildlife sightings are never guaranteed.
Even if the local wildlife skips its appearance, the scenery should keep your camera busy.
Sedona Deserves More Than a Hotel Check-In
With five nights in the Sedona area, there’s time to appreciate the red-rock surroundings between excursions.
The scheduled trolley tour includes Chapel of the Holy Cross, completed in 1956 and built into the surrounding landscape.
Its setting makes it memorable even for visitors with no plans to attend a service. The chapel remains an active religious site, so visitors should be respectful inside.
Golf-cart assistance toward the ramp and loan wheelchairs are available. Restrooms are portable facilities near the base of the hill.
The tour also includes Airport Mesa, known for its views, along with Uptown Sedona and Tlaquepaque, a shopping and arts destination with Spanish-Mexican architectural influences.
They’re good places to browse galleries, find something to eat, and slow down for a while.
Day five provides a longer stretch of free time. You could explore, book an optional Jeep excursion, enjoy the hotel, or spend an afternoon without following a group schedule.
After two busy sightseeing days, that last option may sound particularly attractive.
AFC lists Hilton Sedona, Courtyard by Marriott, and Poco Diablo Resort among possible accommodations, although another hotel may be used. Confirm the assignment if you hope to explore independently.
Montezuma Castle Has Five Stories You Can’t Walk Through
Near Camp Verde, Montezuma Castle National Monument preserves a five-story ancestral cliff dwelling built into a limestone alcove.
Dating to the 12th and 13th centuries, its rooms sit high above the ground. Visitors stand below and look up at a building tucked into the cliff itself.
Despite the name, the site has no established connection to the Aztec emperor Montezuma. European Americans applied that name in the 1800s.
You also can’t tour the rooms.
Interior access ended in 1951, so the dwelling is viewed from outside.
The main visitor route is an approximately 0.3-mile paved loop with minimal elevation change, benches, and some shade. The visitor center and main loop are wheelchair and stroller accessible, although a separate spur toward Castle A has a more challenging grade.
It’s a relatively short stop that adds a different chapter to a trip filled with canyon scenery.
Nearby Montezuma Well is a separate attraction and isn’t identified as part of this itinerary.
Mike McBey, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Jerome Is a Mining Town With a Hillside Personality
After Montezuma Castle, the itinerary moves to Jerome, a former copper-mining town perched above the Verde Valley.
Incorporated in 1899, the community now has galleries, shops, and other businesses inside historic buildings.
The streets and buildings are attractions in their own right. Those streets can also be steep, with narrow stairways along some routes.
A shop that looks close on a map may feel farther away when you’re walking back uphill.
Travelers who prefer less walking can stay near the motorcoach drop-off. The package includes a town visit but doesn’t establish admission to every museum or attraction.
Think browsing and enjoying the surroundings, with the time available determining how much you explore.
The Final Evening Brings Dinner and a Western Show
The last full day ends at Blazin’ M Ranch in Cottonwood, where a chuckwagon-style supper comes with Western music and comedy.
After several days of sightseeing, sitting down for dinner and entertainment may feel like good planning.
The main show takes place in a climate-controlled barn, while frontier-town activities are outdoors.
The ranch reports wheelchair and scooter accessibility, chair seating, and serving-line assistance. Vegetarian substitutions and gluten-free options can be discussed in advance.
For travelers who enjoy old-fashioned Western entertainment, it’s a fitting farewell.
How Much Does the Tour Cost?
AFC’s rates vary by departure, room occupancy, and airfare arrangements.
As of October 25, 2026, these are two advertised 2027 departures:
| Departure | Land only, per person sharing a room | With advertised base airfare, per person sharing a room |
|---|---|---|
| February 21–26, 2027 | $2,849 | $3,524 |
| March 14–19, 2027 | $2,999 | $3,649 |
Both departures are advertised as guaranteed.
Nashville isn’t among AFC’s displayed base airfare gateways. The advertised air-inclusive rates apply to specified airports, including Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas, Denver, and other western cities. Tennessee travelers need an airport-specific quote.
For two people sharing a room, March costs $5,998 land only, before expenses outside the package.
Published single supplements are $950 for February and $975 for March. Early-booking discounts may apply, depending on availability and payment conditions.
Other organizations advertise versions of this vacation, but their prices, airfare rules, and eligibility conditions may differ.
What Else Should You Budget For?
Eight included meals leave other lunches and dinners to cover yourself.
Allow money for optional excursions, travel insurance, airline baggage or seat-selection charges, personal purchases, and certain gratuities.
Qualifying air-inclusive bookings include flights and hotel transfers. Land-only travelers should confirm transfer arrangements before buying independent airfare.
AFC’s general terms say hotel transfers can be purchased for most programs, commonly at $150 roundtrip, subject to scheduling and availability. Confirm that option for your departure.
An inexpensive flight can lose its appeal if it doesn’t connect with the group’s schedule.
Our guide to 10 things to check before booking a Nashville trip covers similar questions about hotel location, transportation, extra charges, and cancellation rules.
AFC lists a $400 per-person deposit for domestic tours, with final payment due 90 days before departure.
Its published cancellation penalties increase as departure approaches, reaching 25% of the full price at 89–60 days and no refund at 14 days or fewer. Earlier cancellations can also involve retained payments, and future travel credits have restrictions.
Read the AFC terms and conditions before paying. Cancellations must be submitted in writing.
What Travelers With Mobility Concerns Should Know
The two railroads have different equipment restrictions, which deserve attention before booking.
Grand Canyon Railway provides wheelchair and scooter spaces in Coach and First Class, along with accessible restrooms.
Its published lift limit is 500 pounds, including the passenger and device. Scooters are limited to 26 inches wide and 50 inches long. Dome-class seating requires stairs.
Verde Canyon Railroad has stricter limitations.
According to its passenger information, motorized wheelchairs and scooters aren’t permitted. Manual wheelchairs must be no wider than 24.5 inches, and the boarding lift has a 400-pound limit.
Loan manual wheelchairs have a 250-pound user limit. Accessible-car placement requires advance arrangements, and not all train restrooms accommodate wheelchairs.
Beyond the trains, Montezuma Castle has a short paved main loop, while Jerome has steep streets. Elevation and winter conditions can make Grand Canyon walking more demanding.
Remember the tour’s Moderately Active rating. Travelers needing assistance should obtain written confirmation covering the trains, motorcoach, trolley, hotel, and attractions before paying a deposit.
Is This Six-Day Arizona Vacation Worth It?
This itinerary brings several distinct experiences into one organized trip, with a tour director, arranged transportation, and the same hotel room waiting each night.
That combination could appeal to first-time Arizona visitors, railroad enthusiasts, and travelers who prefer someone else to handle the driving.
The trade-off is time.
You’ll spend substantial portions of the vacation on trains, motorcoaches, and scheduled excursions. Grand Canyon and Jerome visits fit within a busy itinerary.
But you’ll experience two very different canyons, explore Sedona’s red-rock surroundings, see an ancient cliff dwelling, and visit a mining town with plenty of character.
And when the day ends, there’s no suitcase to pack before the next adventure.
You can review the AFC Vacations itinerary and departure options for availability and booking details.
