Day 1: Sunday, September 28:
Meet mid-afternoon at the Inn on Alameda to explore the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum and the heart of the historic city of Santa Fe before gathering for a wine tasting in the early evening.  The Welcome Dinner is at La Casa Sena where the performance of light operatic hits compliments the scrumptious fare.  Inn on Alameda (D)
 
Day 2: Monday, September 29:
At Bandelier National Monument, we walk through an ancestral Pueblo village to admire 800-year old cliff dwellings, kivas and petroglyphs.  After lunch, we follow a juniper-and pinion pine-lined route through Frijoles Canyon.  We dine at the home of a local artist and gourmet chef who not only prepares a fabulous Southwestern meal for us but also inspires stimulating conversation about the art and artists working in Santa Fe today, the nation’s second largest art center.  Inn on Alameda (B, L, D)
 
Day 3 : Tuesday, September 30:
After breakfast, we walk the 5-10 mile Aspen Vista Trail with stunning views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains followed by lunch at The Shed, a converted 17th-century adobe mansion nestled behind The Plaza.  Choose either a relaxed afternoon seeing some of the city’s famous museums and landmarks, such as the Loretto Chapel, or enjoy a gentle hike to nearby Dorothy Stewart Trail.  We dine at another well-known Santa Fe restaurant specializing in Northern New Mexico cuisine. Inn on Alameda (B, L, D)

Day 3 : Wednesday, October 1:
Spend the day at near-by Ghost Ranch, first taking our time to make the ascent to Chimney Rock, with unforgettable views of the colorful Painted Desert and Pedernal.  After a picnic lunch, either trek past pink, purple, and vermilion-hued rock formations in aptly named Box Canyon or visit the Ghost Ranch museum which chronicles the Late Triassic period 200 million years ago.  We enjoy outdoor pre-dinner drinks to admire the early evening sky of New Mexico before retiring to the Abiquiu Café for a casual dinner. Abiquiu Inn (B, L, D)
 
Day 4: Thursday, October 2:
After breakfast, we enjoy a private tour of Georgia O’Keeffe’s home from 1947 to 1985 and hear from local experts how Georgia O’Keeffe lived and worked in her pioneering days of exploring this wild but spectacularly beautiful landscape.  We lunch at an outdoor café enroute to Chimayo, where we stop at the famous Santuario, and then visit the Centineal weaving studio.  We arrive in Taos for a casual late afternoon stroll.  Prior to dinner at the Apple Tree restaurant, we hear from a lecturer who retells stories of the literary lives and times of famous former Taos residents: Mabel Dodge Luhan, D.H. Lawrence, Ansel Adams, Martha Graham and Carl Jung. Mabel Dodge Luhan House (B, L, D)
 
Day 5: Friday, October 3:
The high altitude of the Taos Plateau, and its magnificent vistas, nearly take our breath away as we hike high above-and down to the Rio Grande. We visit the thousand-year-old Taos Pueblo, art galleries and the town plaza before our sumptuous Farewell Dinner at Lamberts restaurant.Overnight: Mabel Dodge Luhan House (B, L, D)
 
Day 6: Saturday, October 4:
After breakfast there is time for a stroll to the Plaza for last minute shopping before we leave mid-morning to return to Santa Fe with stops at both the Inn on Alameda or at the Santa Fe Airport; or take the 90-minute shuttle to Albuquerque where you can extend your stay to enjoy the Balloon Fiesta or connect with a wide-range of departing flights.

Terrain             
New Mexico justifiably can claim some of the most stunning walks in North America, combining rock formations, mountain ranges, aspen and cottonwood forests, and best of all a beautiful sky.  We cover 4-6 miles a day to compensate for an altitude of 7,000 feet.  Most trails are good, a few rocky in places, with ups and downs of 300 to 500 feet, two or three times a day.

Weather
New Mexico enjoys some of its best weather in late September and early October, when it might be a little cool at the beginning of the day but temperatures will soon heat up to the mid-70’s with no humidity.  Once the sun goes down the evenings will be cooler in the mid-50’s so you will probably need a light jacket or sweater.  Although rain is possible at  time of the year, it is unlikely.

*The full time, expert services of both a Walk Leader and Walk Manager providing life experiences as diverse as the destinations they reveal with in-depth knowledge of the area

*A support vehicle for resting walkers, transportation of luggage and supplies (and local shuttles to optional activities where possible)

*First class accommodations (always ensuite!), carefully chosen for their location, charm, comfort and the quality of their cuisine

*All meals (including wine with dinner), on-trail snacks and refreshments

*Welcome Briefing and Dinner

*All transfers – ferries, cable cars, trains etc as indicated in the Itinerary

*Demonstrations, wine-tastings, admissions to museums, historic sites and more as specified in the Itinerary

*All gratuities at hotels and restaurants

*Comprehensive Travel Information Package and Reading List

* Maps

The Inn On Alameda

The Inn is one of the 500 “Greatest Hotels in the World” and is situated in the heart of Santa Fe,located between th the historic Plaza and the galleries of Canyon Road.  This ideal location provides many opportunities for quiet morning walks, exploring museums, shopping, restaurants and local Santa Fe festivities.  The Inn offers a secluded setting with private flower-filled courtyards.  Each room is designed with emphasis on detail and southwestern style comfort.  All rooms are en-suite with local artwork, cable television, plush robes, Egyptian cotton bedding, iron/ ironing boards and hairdryers.  Each morning enjoy the “Breakfast of Enchantment” featuring local fruits, juices, baked pastries, muffins and homemade granolas.

Abiquiu Inn

Since 1985, the Abiquiu Inn has evolved as a haven for guests seeking quiet and efficient hospitality.  A great place to get away from it all, the Inn is situated in the serenity of the Chama Valley and only a few minutes from Ghost Ranch, which we explore for a whole day including a visit to the dinosaur museum.    The area around Abiquiu has been a gathering place for tribal people since before the Anasazi settled there more than a thousand years ago.  All rooms are en-suite with southwestern décor, color television, telephone, heating and air conditioning.  We dine at Café Abiquiu, which has a reputation for fine food with a variety of dishes from around the world as well as cuisine from Northern New Mexico.

Mabel Dodge Luhan

Situated at the end of a quiet road not far from the center of town, the house appears much as it did in the days when Mabel admired her views of the sacred Taos Mountain from the third-story solarium. Romance, warm adobe charm, early century elegance, historic relevance. Herringbone vigas, traditional arched doorways, kiva fireplaces, and carved pillars. A welcoming hearth and relaxed ambiance. Panoramic view. Engaging evening salons featuring local artisans. Quiet patios and tree-lined acequia.