California & The Golden West 13 Nights / 14 Days

Welcome to the land where it’s always 70 degrees and sunny, Los Angeles, California. Arriving today, you’ll meet up with your Travel Director in the afternoon before getting to know Anaheim/Los Angeles, your home for the next two nights. You’ll find plenty of dining and entertainment options with Disneyland nearby. Hotel – Clarion Anaheim Resort.

Ready to get stars in your eyes? This morning’s sightseeing tour will show you the all-out glitz and glamour of LA, visiting the wealthy mansions of Beverly Hills, the palm lined streets of Santa Monica, the iconic Sunset Boulevard, and the Hollywood Walk of Fame, which is just a stone’s throw from the beacon of Hollywood, the Dolby Theatre, home of the Academy Awards. With your afternoon free explore on your own.

Departing Los Angeles, you will pass by the San Gorgonio Pass Wind Farm, one of the windiest places in the United States. It features thousands of wind turbines that power the popular Coachella Valley resort towns. Passing through the resort town of Palm Springs, you will be crossing the Arizona state line into the ‘Valley of the Sun’, a region that boasts a massive 300 days of sunshine per year. Catching your first glimpse of the mighty Colorado River, your final destination for today is exciting Phoenix. Hotel – Hampton Inn and Suites Phoenix Downtown.

Heading North out of Phoenix, today you will witness the impressive saguaro cacti in their arid habitat. As you make your way to the small town of Sedona you will notice the red rock landscape provides a stunning backdrop for artists and craftsmen alike. Sedona lives up to its reputation as an artist’s enclave, as it is recognized as one of America’s best small cities for the arts and a haven for New Age enthusiasts. On your way from Sedona to Flagstaff, you will pass through the heart of Oak Creek Canyon. Located in the Coconino National Forest, it is arguably the most scenic drive in all of Arizona. With red sandstone walls on one side of the road and the lush river gorge canyon on the other, you can expect a breathtaking panoramic view. Hotel – Days Hotel by Wyndham.

Start today in style with your sights firmly set on one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, the magnificent UNESCO World Heritage listed Grand Canyon. After learning in-depth with our Local Specialist you’ll discover more about the geological formation of the Canyon, and then it’s up to you how you wish to explore it further. Perhaps gain a new perspective of the canyon and view it from above with our optional helicopter tour. Still flying high from an incredible day, you’ll finish up this evening in the Arizonan escape town of Flagstaff, a laid back outpost on historic Route 66.  

Ready to get your kicks on Route 66? Today’s the day to do it. A symbol of the American dream, Route 66 has been eternally immortalized by literature and movies and still to this day represents the ultimate American road trip. You’ll be stopping by Seligman and Kingman en route to Vegas, two iconic outposts that are a real taste of all things Americana, complete with classic motels, kitsch petrol pumps and steaming slices of Apple pie. Finally, as if by magic, you’ll slowly spot the neon lights of Las Vegas looming in the distance; an entertainment oasis surrounded by dry desert with a reputation almost as big as the fortune’s many have made (and lost) there. Hotel – Ballys Las Vegas Hotel and Casino.

With a full day in Sin City, it’s entirely up to you how to explore the entertainment capital of the world. The casinos, the all you can eat buffets, the glittering roof top pools, the biggest names in show business – they’re all here for the taking. Or if you’re up for it, to help tailor your Vegas experience, we’ve also got a whole suite of enticing Optional Experiences lined up to help you see a different side of Vegas. You could wake up early for a western style breakfast and cowboy trail ride through the mountains, or heading over to Hoover Dam to stand 900 metres above the Colorado River to admire Lake Mead, it holds back the biggest man-made reservoir. Or perhaps a visit to the Mob Museum, or a singalong at ‘Vegas! The Show’ are more your style? Whatever you choose, today is guaranteed to be one to remember. 

Leaving Vegas perhaps a little lighter in the pocket but rich in memories, you’ll head for the Mojave Desert this morning. As the driest desert in the US you’d expect nothing more than barren landscape as you drive through, so prepare to be surprised as you pass rare and beautiful flora, wildlife and the iconic joshua trees, which only grows right here in the Mojave. Admiring the dramatic Mojave Desert and continuing through into the San Joaquin Valley, you’ll finish up today in the agricultural hub of Visalia. With a Downtown area that boasts old world charm and a wide selection of tasty restaurants, tonight’s dinner will no doubt be filled with chat about what to expect from glorious Yosemite tomorrow. Hotel – Wyndham Visalia.

Awe inspiring nature at its finest, Yosemite will challenge all other national parks you’ve previously visited to stake its claim as the most beautiful. The third oldest national park in the US and a UNESCO World Heritage site, this patch of heaven is all emerald green valleys, cascading waterfalls and pine scented forests, all framed by the iconic Half Dome and the imposing presence of El Capitan. Take your time soaking it all in and exploring the various trails and picnic areas before heading on to Modesto, one of the greatest agricultural areas of the nation and the home of the E. & J. Gallo Winery. Hotel – Doubletree by Hilton. 

Feeling the ocean breeze moving ever closer you’ll head back to the Californian coast today, crossing the Bay Bridge into one of the West Coast’s best loved cities, San Francisco. A historical hub for progressive thinkers and creatives, San Fran’s infamously hilly landscape will instantly win you over as you spy the old-fashioned cable cars slowly rising and falling on the horizon. Explore the ‘City by the Bay’ on a sightseeing tour that visits Fisherman’s Wharf, the Palace of Fine Arts, the lush Presidio area and Italian influenced North Beach. This evening you could opt to try our Chinatown walking tour, exploring the markets, dim sum joints and herb shops of America’s oldest Chinatown before dining family style at a decadent Chinese feast. Hotel – Parc 55 by Hilton.

We hope you’re hungry as you’re off to a San Fran institution, Boudin Bakery, who have been producing their very special ‘Mother Dough’ to create sourdough loaves since 1849 for an Iconic Breakfast. Appetites satisfied, the rest of today is then free for you to explore your way. If it’s icons you’re after why not join us for an optional walk along the walk along the Golden Gate Bridge, followed by a visit to the pretty seaside community of Sausalito. Alternatively, take a cruise around the bay, taking in Alcatraz Island en route, or venture out to Muir Woods to admire the towering, ancient redwood trees that grow here. Whatever you choose, make your last day in San Francisco an extra special one.

Hugging the Pacific coastline you’ll make your first stop today in Monterey, keeping a look out for seals, sea lions, dolphins and even whales on the way. Later, you will make your way down to Carmel-by-the-Sea. A former haven for artists and writers, this pretty town has something of an English countryside feel to it thanks to the 1920’s gable roofed cottages dotted about. After taking a stroll along Ocean Avenue, you’ll journey on to Cannery Row, a place immortalized by John Steinbeck’s novel of the same name that depicts the sardine canning business that was Monterey’s lifeblood for the first half of the 20th century. Finally, you’ll finish up in San Luis Obispo. Hotel – The Kinney, Tapestry Collection by Hilton.

Venturing into the scenic wine country of the Central Coast this morning, you’ll almost be able to smell the delicious pinot noir from grapes that are grown in this region. Drive through rolling hills and sunny valleys peppered with wineries before pulling in to Santa Barbara, where the perfect weather, red tiled roofs and bougainvillea strewn walls will have you thinking you’ve been transported to the Mediterranean. With an afternoon at your disposal, your first stop should undoubtedly be Mission Santa Barbara, known as the “Queen of the Missions”, a still active parish mission that sits perched above the city. The mission holds historical Chumash artwork that are not politically correct. The Chumash lived in Santa Barbara before the mission was built and was established to make contact with the Chumash people. Alternatively, you have the option to join a foodie walking tour to taste delicious bites of food and get a taste of the wine of the region. Craving seafood? Head to Stearns Wharf, California’s oldest working wharf, to take your pick of the day’s catch. Hotel – Ramada by Wyndham.

Enjoy every second of the drive today as you follow the coast all the way back to the ‘City of Angels’, Los Angeles. You’ll stop by Venice Beach for one final dose of vitamin sea, before your trip comes to end at Los Angeles International Airport. California and the Golden West, you’ve been unbeatable!