Colorado Overview
From vast prairie grasslands to the majestic mountains, rushing rivers to desert landscapes, Colorado is a staggeringly beautiful corner of America. The highest-altitude state in the USA offers an unbelievable selection of wildlife and natural wonders as well as rich cultural heritage found in frontier forts, narrow-gauge railways, mining museums, dinosaur fossils, and ancient cliff dwellings. From ice climbing to a hot springs soak, a stay in a historic hotel or a trip through a ghost town, Colorado’s embarrassment of riches ensures a spectacular sight around every corner, and with 300 days of sunshine a year you’ll have perfect conditions to get out and enjoy it all!
The iconic Rocky Mountains that stretch from the Canadian border with Idaho and Montana through to the north of New Mexico have part of their home in Colorado, at the aptly named Rocky Mountain National Park. Here you’ll find rugged peaks, crystal-clear lakes, rushing rivers, dense forests, cascading waterfalls and an abundance of wildlife.
In Spring and Summer, Colorado becomes an Outdoor lover’s paradise! There’s kayaking and white-water rafting on the Colorado River combined with endless horse riding, hiking and cycling trails throughout the state.
Colorado is filled with highlights to make for a memorable road trip or escorted touring destination. Visit Colorado Springs, where you’ll find Pikes Peak, and the spectacular Garden of the Gods, featuring iconic red-sandstone formations and awesome mountain views. See dramatically changing landscapes in Gunnison National Park or the Great Sand Dunes National Park or head to Durango to ride the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. steam train as it traverses through canyons and climbs jagged mountains. You can also drive the iconic Million Dollar Highway, whose roads lead to colossal mountain passes, sheer drops and rushing rivers. From here, you can head off the highway and visit Mesa Verde National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the most well-preserved cliff dwellings on the continent, once home to the Ancestral Pueblo over 800 years ago.
If you thought that all Colorado offered was stunning natural scenery, you’d be quite wrong. Denver, Boulder and Aspen offer urban adventures just as exciting as any city break in Europe. Denver, the state capital, is a thriving scene of fashion, art and culinary innovation where you’ll find everything from designer brands to cultural landmarks. Enjoy craft beers complemented with food festivals and fresh fish markets. Don’t miss a film or tour of the spectacular amphitheatre Red Rocks Theatre or an epic concert surrounded by miles of arid red rock landscape. You’ll also find classic American food with a Colorado twist throughout the state, often created from the produce that lies in surroundings, from elk sliders and bison burgers.
We offer all types of holidays in Colorado, which can be tailor-made to suit your interests, timeframe and budget. Whether your interest is in spotting wildlife or enjoying outdoor pursuits on an independent self-drive, or marvelling at the scenery on an escorted tour, we can help you experience Colorado in a way that suits you.
Must See Places in Colorado
Rocky Mountain National Park
Just a few miles from the town of Estes Park, Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the most popular national parks in the United States. The soaring mountain peaks, alpine lakes and meadows, forests, and abundant wildlife showcase nature at its best. The park has more than 100 peaks over 10,000 feet, including Longs Peak, the highest in the park, at 14,259 feet
Mesa Verde National Park
At Mesa Verde, get an up-close look at how Native American tribes thrived in Colorado from AD 600 to 1300. Regardless of whether or not you have seen cliff dwellings before, you will be blown away by Mesa Verde and the amount of access to the actual ruins that the park allows visitors. The park’s centerpiece, Cliff Palace is one of the most impressive dwellings in the entire Southwest, with a dramatic setting and incredibly preserved ruins.
Garden of the Gods
Garden of the Gods, a registered National Natural Landmark, is a unique landscape of jagged stone towers and fins jutting up 300 feet from the earth, and giant balanced boulders and rock piles dotting the landscape, with distant mountains completing the scene. Fifteen miles of trails, most of which are short and easy, allow you to get up close to the dramatic rock formations and wander through the surreal scenery.
Vail and Nearby Mountain Towns
The ski resort town of Vail draws huge crowds in winter but it’s also a pleasant place to visit at any time of year. When it comes to skiing, this is one of the top ski resorts in Colorado. The town at the base of the ski hill is postcard cute, with chalet-style restaurants, shops, and hotels that make you feel like you are in the heart of the Alps. This is a high-end resort with luxury hotels, fine dining, and designer stores.
Durango and the Silverton Narrow Gauge Railway
In southern Colorado, the town of Durango has a lovely setting at the base of surrounding mountains. The historic downtown area has some well-restored, grand old buildings that function as hotels and restaurants. Some are done in southwestern décor, with an Old West feel. In the summer, the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railway is one of the town’s main tourist attractions. This historic train runs day trips up the valley from Durango to the old mining town of Silverton, high in the mountains.
The Million Dollar Highway
A spectacular scenic drive stretches from the old mining town of Silverton, to the town of Ouray, along what is called the Million Dollar Highway. This is a 46-kilometre two-lane highway that hugs the mountainside in places and looks out over jaw-dropping cliffs and across valleys to inspiring mountain peaks. It is one of the most spectacular mountain drives in Colorado.
Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness
Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness showcases some of Colorado’s most spectacular Rocky Mountain scenery and offers a chance to get out of your car and into nature. This area has six mountains over 14,000 feet, along with forests, alpine lakes, meadows, and 175 miles of trails to help you explore the terrain. Alternatively, you can enjoy the views on some of the scenic drives.
Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
Home to the tallest sand dunes in North America, Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is a unique sight in Colorado with a diverse landscape that most visitors are not expecting to find. The 750-foot Star Dune is startlingly high, particularly when you are considering climbing it, and the mountains in the distance create a stunning setting.
Dinosaur National Monument
Dinosaur National Monument, in northwest Colorado, combines dramatic scenery with natural and cultural history to create one of Colorado’s most interesting sites. Dinosaur remains embedded in exposed rock walls reveal evidence of the giants that once roamed these areas. Petroglyphs offer insight into the cultures and people that lived here long ago, and surrounding it all are cliff walls and the Green and Yampa Rivers snaking through the otherwise dry landscape.
Video Credit: Colorado Tourism