Southwest Slickrock (Utah): Additional Information

If you have booked a spot on this trip, we ask that you read the information on this page carefully and completely. There is lots of information here to help you prepare for this trip and have the best possible adventure you can!

Required Forms

All of our Riders are required to complete the following forms:

Sacred Rides waiver [pdf]

medical and insurance form [pdf]

Please download, print and complete the forms and bring them with you to your tour starting point. (note: the waiver is legal size - if you print it on 8 1/2 x 11, it will take two pages)

Flights

The closest international airport is in Las Vegas, Nevada (airport code: LAS). You will need to then get to St. George, Utah (see below), an easy shuttle trip away.

Please note: we do not book flights for our clients. Please contact your local travel agent for information on booking flights for this trip.

Getting to the Trip Starting Point

This trip starts and ends in St. George, Utah. Please see the schedule page for the exact trip start and end dates/times for your particular trip. Unless otherwise stated, you will be meeting your guides at the Hampton Inn restaurant at 9 am on your trip start date (see below for information on booking accommodation at the Hampton Inn).

St George is a 90-minute drive from Las Vegas. To get to St. George, take the St. George Executive Shuttle. Cost is $25 USD. The shuttle will take you directly to the Hampton Inn in St. George, our lodge for the first 3 nights of the trip.

To book your shuttle, call +1-435-628-8320 or 1-800-933-8320 toll-free in North America. Click here for the shuttle schedule

Pre-Trip Accommodation

Unless you are flying in to Vegas early in the morning and taking the shuttle in time to make the 9 am meetup time, you will need to book a night at the Hampton Inn before the trip starts. Visit the Hampton Inn website to book your accommodation.

Trip End Information

On the last day, we will be arriving at the Hampton Inn in St. George at approximately 6 pm. If you wish to fly out from Las Vegas that night, you can book a shuttle to Las Vegas using the shuttle information located above. Otherwise, you can book an extra night at the Hampton Inn and grab the shuttle to Vegas the next day.

If you are not flying out that evening, please visit the Hampton Inn website to make a reservation.

Trip Cancellations

You may cancel your reservation with no penalty within 7 days of booking. After the first week, our cancellation policy is as follows:

-60 days notice or more: $250 cancellation fee per person, or $100 transfer fee if you transfer to another trip
-30-60 days notice: $500 cancellation fee per person, or $250 transfer fee if you transfer to another trip
-less than 30 days notice: the full trip price is forfeited.

Please note that our cancellation policy is strict, and we ask that you do not request an exception to our policy. For this reason we strongly urge you to purchase affordable trip cancellation insurance.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance, including emergency evacuation coverage, is compulsory for all our tours. We recommend that you purchase travel insurance that includes cancellation protection so that you will be covered in the event that you are unable to attend our tour (due to injury, illness or other unforeseen circumstances) or in the unlikely event that our tour must be cancelled.

You can purchase discounted comprehensive insurance from World Nomads directly via our site at our insurance page

What type of bike should you bring?

We recommend you bring a solid all-mountain bike with you on this trip, with at least 4-5" of travel, and no heavier than 30 pounds since there are several long climbs. A bike with at least 2 chainrings up front is mandatory, as is front suspension.

Spare Parts for your Bike

Although there are some parts available locally, we recommend you bring the following parts and gear with you to avoid problems in case of breakdown or broken parts:

rear derailleur hanger (at least 1, preferably 2)
extra set of front and rear brake pads
extra chain if your chain is more than 6 months old
4 tubes
4 extra spokes
shock pump
chain lube
multipurpose tool for trailside repair (including chain break)

Bike Rentals

If you don't feel like hauling your bike to Utah, an alternative is renting a bike. We offer beautiful DeVinci Remix SL3 bikes for rent. These are quality cross-country bikes, built to handle the demanding terrain of Utah. Price is $249 Cdn for the duration of the trip. This can be booked online when making your initial booking, or can be added later.

Travelling with your bike

pika bag If you've never traveled with your bike, don't worry - it's much easier than you think! If you don't have a case for your bike, we recommend one of two options:

1) if you think you may be travelling more than once with your bike, then we recommend purchasing a purpose-made bike bag. This will protect your bike from damages, and makes shlepping your bike around a little bit easier than with a rigid box or cardboard box. We sell beautiful handmade bags by PikaPackworks in the United States. For more information, visit our online store.

2) If you think this is the only trip you'll take with your bike for a while, then you can pick up a cardboard travel box for your bike at your local store. Some stores will also pack your bike up for you for a fee.

Assembling your bike when you arrive

We have bike stands and a full toolset available for assembling your bike once we arrive in St. George.

Packing List

comfortable clothes for riding, such as biking jerseys and padded shorts. 2+ sets are ideal, 1 is a must.
helmet
bike gloves (2 sets is ideal)
lightweight, weather-resistant outerwear for riding in inclement weather.
warm clothing such as sweaters and fleece jackets and pants for nighttime.
swimwear
sunglasses/eye protection for sunny and/or muddy days.
hydration system that can carry at least 2 litres (bottles and/or Camelbak)
toiletries i.e. toothbrush, shampoo, soap
towel
camera
sunscreen and insect repellent

Connecting With Your Fellow Tour Participants

We have a community site where you can post a bit about yourself and get to know your fellow tour participants. Studies show that people who get to know their tour mates before hand have 38% more fun - simply scroll down to the Forum section and find the forum for your specific trip! [visit our community site]

Passports & Visas

All travelers require a valid passport (with a minimum of 6 months validity). Citizens of some countries will also require a visa. For more information, please contact your local U.S. embassy, or passport office.

Emergency Contact

If you need to contact us in an emergency, you can reach us during office hours at the following numbers:

Dialing within North America: 1 (888) 423-7849
Dialing outside of North America: +1 (647) 999-7955
If you feel that you need to contact us outside of office hours, our Utah office can be contacted at 1-800-860-6460.

If you do not receive an immediate answer when calling the above numbers, please leave us a detailed message and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Health Requirements

Vaccinations are not required for the United States, and the U.S. has an excellent healthcare systems. Should you experience illness or injury while in the United States, rest assured that you will receive the best care possible.

Fitness Requirements

You should have a moderately high level of fitness and be able to bike for up to four hours a day in order to fully enjoy the spectacular scenery and riding on this trip. This is one of our most challenging trips, and you need to be prepared.

We recommend you train in advance of this trip, in order to get the most out of this trip. We have partnered with Fit for Trips to develop customized training programs for you in advance of your trip. We recommend beginning your training at least 2 months prior to your trip. For more information, please visit the Sacred Rides page at Fit for Trips.

Safety & Security

To maximize your safety during our tours you should exercise common sense and caution at all times. We recommend that you always stick to set travel arrangements, and avoid unknown areas. We also recommend that you wear minimal jewelry and that you keep valuable items safely stored. Always keep a copy of your passport, airline tickets, travelers checks and credit card numbers separate from where you keep the originals.

Meals

On this trip, all breakfasts and lunches are included in the trip price. Dinners can be taken in local restaurants or you can use the kitchens at our lodges when available (from past experience, most groups decide together whether they will eat out or stay in on a particular night). You should budget $10 US per meal prepared in-kitchen, or $15-$20 per dinner in local restaurants (depending on the quality of restaurants you choose).

Other expenses

Aside from meals, there are no required additional expenses for this trip, but you might like to take spending money for such things as souvenir shopping, nightlife and Internet cafes. The easiest way to deal with spending money is to withdraw money from an ATM/bank machine, which are readily available.

Currency

The U.S. dollar (USD) is the currency of the U.S. For the latest currency exchange information use the Yahoo! Currency Exchange Calculator

Laundry

Many of the lodges and hotels on this trip have laundry service, and there are laundromats available in most of the towns where we are staying.

Internet

All of the towns where we are staying have internet cafés and many of the hotels have their own internet service.

Tipping

Gratuities of 10-20% are common in the United States. We encourage you to tip your guides if you feel you have received excellent service and have had an enjoyable trip. A typical gratuity is $20-$100 per guide.

Useful Links

For additional information about traveling in Utah and Las Vegas, visit:
Tourism Utah website
Visit Las Vegas

Our Guarantee

We're so sure you'll have an amazing time on this trip that we're offering a satisfaction guarantee. View more information about our guarantee.