Las Vegas in 7 Days — Add Zion + Death Valley

Activities

1. 10:00 Bellagio Conservatory + Hotel Tour 1.5 hours

   Free rotating floral display at Bellagio Hotel — changes themes every 6 weeks. Walk through Bellagio's main casino floor + Picasso restaurant exterior + spa lobby. The Bellagio Hotel itself is one of Vegas's most-photographed venues.

   Cost: Free TIP: Conservatory busiest 14:00-17:00 — morning is calmer. Bellagio's $30 cocktail bar Lily has direct fountain view (no reservation needed).
2. 12:00 Lunch at Wicked Spoon Buffet (Cosmopolitan) 1.5 hours

   Cosmopolitan's signature buffet with 100+ dishes across global cuisines. Different from typical Vegas buffets — individual portion plates rather than bulk trays. Quality consistently rated #1 Vegas buffet.

   Cost: $55-65 per person TIP: Brunch (10:00-15:00) is the value play. Bottomless mimosa upgrade $25. No reservation — walk-in queue 30-45 min weekends.
3. 14:00 Caesars Palace + Forum Shops 2 hours

   1966-opened Roman-themed casino with 160-shop Forum mall (sky ceiling simulates day-to-night every hour). Trevi Fountain replica + Atlantis fountain show every hour. Free entry; window shop the celebrity-chef restaurants.

   Cost: Free entry TIP: Spiral escalator inside Forum is the canonical photo. Atlantis fountain free show every hour 11:00-22:00. Best photography at 16:00 'sunset' simulation in the sky ceiling.
4. 16:30 High Roller Observation Wheel 1 hour

   550-ft observation wheel at LINQ Promenade. 30-min cabin ride giving 360° Strip + Vegas Valley views. Sunset slot is the photographer's pick. Open Bar cabin upgrade ($60) gives unlimited drinks during ride.

   Cost: $30 standard / $60 Open Bar TIP: Sunset booking 30 min before sunset captures both day and night views. LINQ Promenade has free Fly LINQ zipline + shops. Best photo time December (cold = clearest air).
5. 18:00 Bellagio Fountains sunset shows 1 hour

   Free water shows every 30 min, music-synced. Sunset hour (varies seasonally — 17:30 winter, 20:00 summer) is the canonical photo time. View from across the Strip (Cosmopolitan side) or Bellagio's outdoor terrace.

   Cost: Free TIP: Post-dusk (after sunset, lights on) is more dramatic than golden-hour photos. Music varies between shows — some classical, some pop. Stay for 2-3 shows.
6. 19:30 Dinner at Gordon Ramsay Hell's Kitchen (Caesars) 2 hours

   Gordon Ramsay's flagship Vegas restaurant — opened 2018 at Caesars Palace. Beef Wellington + Sticky Toffee Pudding are signature. Set-menu options $69-89 + a la carte $40-80 per dish.

   Cost: $80-150 per person TIP: Reserve 2-3 weeks ahead. Open kitchen view tables are the premium seats. The Beef Wellington is the canonical order. Smart-casual dress code.
7. 21:30 Cirque du Soleil 'O' at Bellagio 90 min

   Aquatic acrobatic performance in 1.5M-gallon pool — Vegas's longest-running Cirque show since 1998. World-class synchronized swimming + diving + aerial acrobatics. The most-recommended first-time Vegas show.

   Cost: $140-300 / ticket TIP: Pre-book 1-2 weeks ahead. Front orchestra rows get water splash (rain ponchos provided). Avoid balcony seats — view obstructed. Tuesdays + Mondays are dark.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 06:30 Hotel pickup + drive to Grand Canyon West 2.5 hours

   Day tours pick up Strip hotels 6:00-7:00 AM. 2.5-hour drive each way to Hualapai Indian Reservation. Most tours include Hoover Dam stop on return + lunch + English guide.

   Cost: $130-180 day tour TIP: Pre-book via Klook or Viator 2-3 days ahead. Bring water + snacks. Tours typically return Strip hotels 19:00-20:00.
2. 10:00 Grand Canyon West + Skywalk 3 hours

   Hualapai-managed Grand Canyon overlook + Skywalk glass U-shaped platform 1,200m above the canyon floor (2007-opened). Eagle Point + Guano Point overlooks plus Native American Village exhibits.

   Cost: Skywalk $30 / package included in tour TIP: Skywalk requires shoe covers — phones/cameras checked at entry (pro photos taken by staff $30-50). Self-photography possible at Eagle Point + Guano Point without restrictions.
3. 14:00 Lunch at Hualapai Ranch (included) 1 hour

   Western-style BBQ + buffet at Hualapai Ranch — included in most day tours. Live country music + cowboy demonstrations. Casual outdoor seating.

   Cost: Included in tour TIP: Vegetarian options available on request. Bring sunscreen — outdoor seating.
4. 15:30 Hoover Dam tour (return route) 1.5 hours

   1931-36 engineering marvel — 221m-tall concrete arch-gravity dam. Free dam crest walking; paid Powerplant Tour ($15) descends inside the dam. Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge (2010) gives the canonical overhead photo angle.

   Cost: Free walking; Powerplant Tour $15 TIP: Most Grand Canyon tours include 30-45 min Hoover Dam stop. Walk across the Pat Tillman Bridge for the iconic dam-from-above photo.
5. 17:00 Return to Vegas 1 hour

   1-hour drive back to Strip. Tour drops at hotel by 19:00-20:00.

   Cost: Included TIP: Most tours drop off at multiple Strip hotels in sequence — your hotel order depends on tour route.
6. 20:30 Dinner at SW Steakhouse (Wynn) 2 hours

   Wynn's signature steakhouse with lake-side patio. AAA 5-Diamond rating. Dry-aged USDA Prime steaks + nightly Lake of Dreams projection show outside.

   Cost: $120-220 per person TIP: Reserve 2-3 weeks ahead specifying lake-side patio. The Lake of Dreams show runs 18:00-23:00 every 30 min. Smart-casual dress.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 10:30 Mob Museum (Downtown) 2.5 hours

   Opened 2012 in a 1933-era courthouse where Senate gambling hearings were held. 3 floors of organized crime history — Bugsy Siegel, Lucky Luciano, Frank Costello. Actual electric chair + speakeasy + audio tours.

   Cost: $30 adult + $40 speakeasy upgrade TIP: Speakeasy basement is fully-operational Prohibition-era bar — $40 upgrade adds speakeasy + distillery. Audio tour included with entry.
2. 13:30 Lunch at Pizza Rock (Downtown) 1 hour

   Downtown's iconic pizza spot — multiple style options (Roman, New York, Sicilian, Neapolitan). Tony Gemignani's flagship — 11x World Pizza Champion. Counter-style + sit-down.

   Cost: $15-30 per person TIP: Counter-style ordering. Tony's Choice (mortadella + pistachio) is the signature. Open until 24:00 — popular for after-show late-night meal too.
3. 15:00 Fremont Street Experience walk 2 hours

   5-block pedestrian zone covered by 1,500ft LED canopy (Viva Vision, world's largest video screen). Daytime walk through the original 'Glitter Gulch' (1905-vintage) + Plaza, Golden Nugget, Fremont casino exteriors.

   Cost: Free TIP: Daytime is calmer — restored neon signs visible. SlotZilla zipline ($25-50) runs above Fremont — book for the day pass to use later in evening.
4. 17:00 Neon Museum + Boneyard 1.5 hours

   200+ retired Vegas neon signs displayed outdoor across a 2-acre 'boneyard'. The Stardust, Sahara, Moulin Rouge, Aladdin original signs preserved. Brilliant! after-dark experience uses projection mapping to 'relight' unfunctional signs.

   Cost: Day $20 / Brilliant! after-dark $35 TIP: Brilliant! is the more-photogenic visit. Pre-book online — limited capacity. Combine with Mob Museum (1km away) for Downtown half-day.
5. 19:00 Fremont Street Experience light show 1.5 hours

   Free hourly LED light shows on the 1,500ft Viva Vision canopy 18:00-01:00. Music-synced, 6-min duration each. The shows vary nightly — visit for 2-3 different songs.

   Cost: Free TIP: Best at 21:00-22:00 for crowd atmosphere. Original Vegas vibe — cheaper hotels, $0.99 shrimp cocktail tradition, lower-stakes casinos. SlotZilla zipline runs above during shows.
6. 21:00 Sphere — Postcard from Earth (final show) 1.5 hours

   Sphere's flagship 50-min immersive film by Darren Aronofsky — uses the 16K LED dome to take viewers from Earth's surface to space. The most-photographed Vegas attraction since 2023.

   Cost: $99-249 per ticket TIP: Multiple showtimes 16:00-21:30 — late shows have shorter queues. Sphere exterior LED animations are also worth viewing free from the Strip outside. Combo: Strip dinner → Sphere → Late-night Strip stroll.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 05:30 Hotel pickup + drive to Page, Arizona (3.5h) 3.5 hours

   Antelope Canyon is on Navajo Nation in Page, Arizona — 3.5h drive from Vegas. Day tours pick up Strip hotels 5:30-6:00 AM. Most tours combine Upper Antelope + Horseshoe Bend in a long day.

   Cost: $140-200 day tour TIP: Pre-book Navajo guide tours 1-2 months ahead — limited daily entries. Tours typically return 21:00-22:00. Self-drive possible but tour saves hassle.
2. 10:00 Upper Antelope Canyon tour (Navajo guide mandatory) 1.5 hours

   Slot canyon famous for light beams streaming through narrow sandstone walls. Upper Antelope ($60-80 entry) has the iconic light beams (only May-Sept noon hour). Mandatory Navajo guide tours.

   Cost: $60-80 entry + tour TIP: May-September noon hour for light beams. Tour guide carries dust off camera lenses with paint brush — sandy environment. Upper Antelope is narrower + more dramatic. Lower Antelope ($40) is walkable + good alternative.
3. 12:00 Lunch in Page 1 hour

   Page, Arizona is a small town near Lake Powell. Casual diners + chain restaurants. Most tours include 30-45 min lunch break.

   Cost: $15-30 TIP: Birdhouse + Big John's Texas BBQ are local favorites. Bring snacks for the long bus ride back.
4. 13:30 Horseshoe Bend overlook 1.5 hours

   Famous horseshoe-shaped meander of the Colorado River — 300m below the canyon rim viewpoint. 1.2km easy walk from parking lot. The canonical Page, Arizona photo.

   Cost: $10 vehicle entry TIP: No safety railings — keep 3m+ from edge. Best photo angle 13:00-15:00 (overhead sun lights both rim + river). Crowded weekends — visit early afternoon weekday.
5. 15:30 Return to Vegas (3.5h) 3.5 hours

   3.5h drive back via Hoover Dam Bypass. Tour drops at hotel 21:00-22:00.

   Cost: Included TIP: Long drive — bring water + snacks. Tour bus has bathroom + restroom stops every 2 hours.
6. 22:00 Late dinner at SushiSamba (Venetian) 1.5 hours

   Brazilian-Japanese-Peruvian fusion at the Venetian, open until 2:00 AM. The Roxy Sushi + wagyu beef are signatures. Vegas's iconic late-night fine dining option.

   Cost: $70-130 per person TIP: Reserve 1-2 days ahead. Late-night ambiance + Strip-view tables. Open until 02:00 — perfect for late-return Grand Canyon/Antelope days.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 08:30 Red Rock Canyon scenic loop (self-drive) 2.5 hours

   30-min drive from Strip. 21km scenic loop through 195,000-acre conservation area — red sandstone formations, Calico Hills, Ice Box Canyon, Mojave Desert wildlife. Free + accessible.

   Cost: $20 vehicle entry (7-day pass) TIP: Pre-book timed entry online (recreation.gov) for weekends. Self-drive the 21km loop in 1.5-2 hours with photo stops. Sunrise + 2 hours before sunset for peak photography.
2. 11:30 Calico Hills Trail (short hike) 1.5 hours

   Calico I + II viewpoints are the canonical Red Rock photo angles. Easy 1.5km out-and-back trail through red sandstone. Family-friendly, low elevation gain.

   Cost: Included in park entry TIP: Wear hiking shoes — sandstone slippery. Bring water + sunscreen. Calico II has the iconic 'pancake-stack' formations.
3. 13:30 Lunch at Bonanza Café (Las Vegas Boulevard) 1 hour

   Local diner with Vegas history — opened 1965. American comfort food + 90s Vegas atmosphere preserved. Not on Strip — gives a glimpse of 'real' Vegas residents' food scene.

   Cost: $15-30 TIP: Casual walk-in. Order the chicken-fried steak + biscuits + gravy as the canonical Bonanza order. Cash-friendly.
4. 15:00 Return to Strip + pool afternoon 3 hours

   Drive back to Strip (30 min). Spend afternoon at hotel pool — Vegas summer pools are 30-37°C destinations themselves. Bellagio Pool Complex, Wynn Pool, Encore Beach Club daytime sessions.

   Cost: Pool entry free for hotel guests; day pass $50-150 TIP: Most Strip hotel pools restricted to guests; day passes available at non-guest pools. Encore Beach Club daytime is the premier pool party experience ($50-150 day pass).
5. 18:30 Final dinner at e by José Andrés (Cosmopolitan) 2.5 hours

   2-Michelin-star tasting menu by José Andrés at the Cosmopolitan. 8-course tasting $295/person — Vegas's premium fine-dining option. Modern Spanish + molecular gastronomy.

   Cost: $295 + drinks TIP: Reserve 4-6 weeks ahead. 8-seat counter-only — front-row chef interaction. Wine pairing $200 additional.
6. 22:00 Final show — Magic Mike Live or Sphere encore 1.5 hours

   Final-night premium entertainment. Magic Mike Live (Sahara, $80-180) for the iconic Vegas show experience. Sphere late-night concert (if available, $99-1,500) for spectacle.

   Cost: $80-300 / ticket TIP: Pre-book the show ticket alongside hotel booking — premium nights sell out. The combination of Vegas dinner + show is the canonical Vegas final night.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 06:00 Hotel pickup + drive to Zion (3 hours) 3 hours

   Zion National Park is 3 hours east of Vegas in southwestern Utah. Most tours pick up 6:00 AM. Self-drive saves time — $35 vehicle entry + park shuttle inside (mandatory April-November).

   Cost: $35 park entry + $130-180 tour TIP: Spring/fall (March-May, September-October) is the best window — summer hits 38°C in the canyon, winter has icy trails. Pre-book Angel's Landing permits 4 months ahead.
2. 10:00 Zion Shuttle + Riverside Walk 2 hours

   Park shuttle takes visitors through Zion Canyon (mandatory). Riverside Walk (3.5km easy paved trail) along the Virgin River is the universal first stop — gentle introduction to the canyon. Wheelchair-accessible.

   Cost: Shuttle free with park entry TIP: Park at Visitor Center → take shuttle to Temple of Sinawava → walk Riverside Walk → return shuttle. Most-popular trail in Zion — get on shuttle by 8:00 AM to beat crowds.
3. 12:30 Lunch at Springdale (gateway town) 1 hour

   Springdale is the gateway town outside Zion's south entrance. Casual diners + cafés + outdoor outfitter shops. Spotted Dog Café + Oscar's Café are local favorites.

   Cost: $15-30 per person TIP: Springdale is walkable + has free shuttle to Zion. Eat at restaurants on Zion Park Boulevard — most have outdoor patios with canyon views.
4. 14:00 The Narrows or Angel's Landing (choose one) 3-5 hours

   The Narrows: 16km return wading through the Virgin River between 300m sandstone walls. Best September-October when water levels low. Angel's Landing: 8.7km return + 450m vertical + chain-assisted ridge climb (permit required since 2022, $6).

   Cost: Narrows free; Angel's Landing $6 permit TIP: Narrows requires water shoes + wading staff (rent $40 outside park). Angel's Landing permit lottery opens months ahead. Both are physically demanding — skip if not fit. Emerald Pools (3km easy) is the alternative.
5. 18:00 Return to Vegas (3 hours) 3 hours

   Drive back via I-15. Tours typically return 21:00-22:00. Self-drive arrives Vegas 21:00.

   Cost: Included or self-drive TIP: Springdale 18:00 dinner before driving back is the local recommendation — Vegas dinner at 22:00 is rough.
6. 22:00 Late Strip walk + dessert 1 hour

   Late-night Strip stroll — fountains, casino exteriors, Sphere LED animations. Find a 24-hour dessert spot like Lavo Italian Restaurant + Lounge at Palazzo for a final-night treat.

   Cost: Drinks $15-25 TIP: Vegas night Strip is the iconic photo — fountains lit + neon. Lavo serves late dessert + drinks until 02:00 AM.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 06:30 Drive to Death Valley (3 hours west) 3 hours

   Death Valley National Park is 3 hours west of Vegas. The hottest officially-recorded place on Earth (56.7°C in 1913). Self-drive is the only option — no public transit. Get the $30 vehicle pass at entrance station.

   Cost: $30 vehicle entry (7-day) TIP: Visit October-April only — summer temperatures kill (literally). Even spring/fall hits 30-35°C. Bring 2L+ water per person. Cell signal limited — download offline maps.
2. 09:30 Zabriskie Point sunrise overlook 30 min

   Iconic Death Valley overlook — golden hills of mineral deposits at sunrise. 5-min walk from parking. Featured in many films + Antonioni's 'Zabriskie Point' (1970).

   Cost: Included TIP: Sunrise is the canonical visit time (5:30-6:30 spring/fall). If arriving 9:30, the morning light is still good. Most-photographed Death Valley angle.
3. 10:30 Badwater Basin (lowest point in North America) 1 hour

   85.5m below sea level — lowest point in North America. Salt flat extends 320 km² with hexagonal crystalline patterns. Free + accessible.

   Cost: Included TIP: Walk out 500m onto the salt flat to see the hexagonal pattern. Bring sunglasses — white salt blinding. Best photo time 10:00-13:00 when overhead sun highlights pattern.
4. 12:00 Lunch at Furnace Creek (only restaurant) 1 hour

   Furnace Creek Visitor Center area has the only restaurant in Death Valley — The Inn's casual café. Limited menu, expect basic. Most visitors pack lunch.

   Cost: $15-30 or packed TIP: Bring a packed lunch ideally — Furnace Creek café has limited options + higher prices. Picnic tables outside Visitor Center are free + scenic.
5. 13:30 Devil's Golf Course + Artist's Drive 2 hours

   Devil's Golf Course — jagged salt crystal formations covering acres. Artist's Drive is a 14km one-way scenic loop with mineral-painted hillsides (Artist's Palette is the canonical photo).

   Cost: Included TIP: Drive slow on Artist's Drive — many photo pullouts. Artist's Palette at the loop midpoint is the most-photographed Death Valley angle after Zabriskie Point.
6. 16:00 Return to Vegas (3 hours) 3 hours

   3h drive back via Highway 190 + 95. Plan to arrive Vegas 19:00-20:00 for evening departure or final dinner.

   Cost: Included TIP: Sunset views from Highway 190 (look west) are the canonical road photos. Plenty of pullouts.
7. 20:00 Final Vegas dinner or airport 2 hours

   Final dinner if not departing tonight — Wicked Spoon brunch hours (or any unfinished restaurant). LAS Airport requires 2h-pre-flight arrival; international flights 3h.

   Cost: $30-150 per person TIP: LAS Airport is 5 miles from Strip — 15-min Uber ($15-25). International flights from Terminal 3, domestic from Terminal 1. Last meals at LAS terminals are surprisingly decent.

Meal Recommendations