Western Values: Los Angeles, Grand Canyon, Yosemite, San Francisco & More
- Duration
- 14 Days
- Prices From:
- US$ 2,392
MODERATE | SELF DRIVE: Breathtaking canyons, the magnificent Mojave Desert, Joshua Tree, Lake Powell, and Yosemite are among the dramatic highlights of this heady mix of stunning western landscapes. Los Angeles bookends your trip, but the stretch from San Francisco to Carmel-by-the-sea and Santa Barbara adds gorgeous Pacific coastline scenery. As for entertainment, how about stops in Laughlin, Fresno and, of course, Las Vegas.
In 14-days delve into the California dream, explore the desserts of Arizona, the canyons of Nevada and the wilds of Utah on this self-guided tour of the west, with you in the driver’s seat.
Ease yourself into the pace and style of the old west at Knott’s Berry Farm in Anaheim with classic thrill rides and western history and continue on to the spectacular San Jacinto Mountains where you’ll feel you’re driving through a Hollywood western movie set because so many have been filmed here. On to Palm Springs where a ride on the aerial tramway over the Coachella Valley will leave you breathless. Hike and animal-spot at Joshua Tree National Park, where the Mojave and Colorado deserts meet and find yourself in the oasis city of Laughlin, where the Colorado River beckons you to paddle and fish or riverboat and dine. Legendary Route 66 leads you to the seductive Grand Canyon Caverns in Seligman and the Grand Canyon National Park, a plethora of endless eco adventures and 100-kilometre views.
Traverse the ancient earth of the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation, compare the sky to the waters of man-made Lake Powell, and breathe the clear air in Kanab before taking in the majesty of Utah’s Bryce Canyon National Park where pink “hoodoos” are etched out of the stone. Walk the narrow gap of a slot canyon in Zion National Park, Utah’s oldest national park before heading west to a luminous Las Vegas, which will be open, ready and waiting no matter what time of day or night you end up there. Take in the scaled-down re-creations of famous cities, ride a rollercoaster, dive into foodie-level cuisine, dance until dawn; Vegas doesn’t disappoint. The next day it’s on to Death Valley and the rugged Mojave Desert, the Panamint Mountains and north to Fresno, California to kick back with an old-vine Zinfandel from one of the many known wineries of the area.
Head north up the High Sierra to Yosemite National Park where guided walks to waterfalls will inspire. Look up to take in the enormous redwoods of Head Muir Woods National Monument on the way to lively San Francisco where everywhere you look, you’ll find superb dining, fashion, art and sight-seeing. The dreamy drive to Pebble Beach and along the dramatic cliffs to Monterey will have you stopping for snapshots before arriving in cute Carmel-by- the-Sea and mountainous Big Sur where you can dine on diver scallops in a restaurant perched over a cliff. Dip your toe in the bracing waters off Pismo Beach and sample a sweet aebleskiver, a Danish donut in Solvang, the Danish Capital of America, and cruise the American Riviera to Santa Barbara, the perfect send off to the west before heading home from Los Angeles.
- Duration
- 14 Days
- Prices From:
- US$ 2,392
Itinerary View Trip Map
Arrival in Los Angeles
Arrive at Los Angeles International Airport and transfer independently to your hotel. Depending on your time of arrival and the location of your hotel, you might be able to explore a little bit of the city. Los Angeles is a sprawling metropolis of seemingly endless sunshine and a leading center of entertainment, fashion, and sport, but Venice Beach or Santa Monica would make a great start.
Overnight Los Angeles
| Duration | 1 Night |
|---|
Los Angeles - Anaheim - Palm Springs
In the morning make your way south to Anaheim, Orange County's headquarters for fun. You can spend the day surrounded by icons and classic characters at the original Disneyland Park or at its companion park, Disney California Adventure Park. Alternatively, you might want to visit the nation's oldest theme park, Knott's Berry Farm, filled with old west history and thrill rides or one of Anaheim's other fun-filled attractions before continuing east to Palm Springs. This ultimate desert playground, nestled at the base of the majestic San Jacinto Mountains, offers the perfect blend of outdoor entertainment and casual relaxation. Spend the day lounging by the pool, walking along palm tree lined streets, or exploring countless shops, art galleries and museums. Consider taking a breathtaking journey up the sheer cliffs of Chino Canyon aboard the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, which offers stunning desert views.
Overnight Palm Springs
| Duration | 1 Night |
|---|
Palm Springs - Joshua Tree National Park - Laughlin
In the morning, you head east through the Coachella Valley to Joshua Tree National Park, a land shaped by fierce winds, unpredictable torrents of rain, and climatic extremes. There are excellent hiking trails that display the unexpected beauty of the desert. A favorite is the Hidden Valley Trail which takes you into an area rumored to have been a hideout by cattle rustlers. Continue to Needles and Laughlin, an oasis bordered by rugged desert and the Colorado River. From outdoor adventure on the Colorado River to indoor entertainment indulgences, Laughlin offers a wide variety of activities.
Overnight Laughlin
| Duration | 1 Night |
|---|
Laughlin - Williams - Flagstaff
Continue travelling east towards Kingman where you can join Historic Route 66 and travel along the longest stretch that remains of this historic route, all the way to Seligman. Visit Grand Canyon Caverns, a natural limestone cavern 210 feet underground, making it the largest dry cavern in the U.S. Pass through the picturesque mountain town of Williams before arriving in Flagstaff, the other Gateway to the Grand Canyon.
Overnight Flagstaff
| Duration | 1 Night |
|---|
Flagstaff - Grand Canyon - Lake Powell / Page
Depart early today for Grand Canyon National Park, the world-famous natural wonder that defies description until you see it with your own eyes. Spend the day discovering the distinct South Rim of the canyon. Stop at one of the dramatic lookouts, walk part of the Rim Trail or along the historic Hermit Road, visit a Photo Hot Spot or climb to the top of a stone Watchtower for panoramic views that extend over one hundred miles on a cloudless day. When you've had your fill of magnificent vistas, continue north through the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation and on to Lake Powell, a vast blue man-made lake surrounded by beautiful sandstone walls.
Overnight Lake Powell / Page
| Duration | 1 Night |
|---|
Lake Powell / Page - Bryce Canyon
In the morning, you drive west towards Kanab where the exhilarating scent of sage and cedar fills the clear southwest air, then head north to Utah's magnificent Bryce Canyon National Park. Famous for its unusual geology, Bryce Canyon consists of a series of horseshoe-shaped amphitheaters where the power of wind, water and geologic mayhem has etched the pink cliffs and shaped the colorful limestone rock into thousands of spires called ‘hoodoos’.
Overnight Bryce Canyon
| Duration | 1 Night |
|---|
Bryce Canyon - Zion National Park - Las Vegas
Spend the morning exploring more of Bryce Canyon before heading west to similarly breathtaking Zion National Park. In Zion, Utah's oldest national park, spectacular views abound, and you can follow the paths of ancient native people, gazing at massive sandstone cliffs of cream, pink, and red that soar into the bright blue sky. Consider challenging your courage in a slot canyon, gorges of narrow width that often squeeze down to a sliver. Later in the day, continue west to Las Vegas, a city that surely needs no introduction.
Overnight Las Vegas
| Duration | 2 Nights |
|---|
Las Vegas
Enjoy a full day Las Vegas style. Walk the famous Strip lined with mega-resorts and flashing neon lights, place a bet at one of the casinos tables, dine inworld-class restaurants, catch the latest must-see show, shop designer boutiques, ride a rollercoaster, lay by the pool ... the list goes on. With so much to do, 24 hours in a day hardly seems like enough.
Overnight Las Vegas
Las Vegas - Death Valley - Fresno
When leaving this morning, take the opportunity to photograph the iconic Welcome to Las Vegas sign before continuing your journey west to the lowest elevation in North America, Death Valley National Park. In this part of California, the Mojave is at its most magnificent with geological history on full display stunningly sublime as it is rugged and severe. Continue through the Panamint Mountains, an immense range of twisted, sharply creased sedimentary rock, before heading north to Ridgecrest, Visalia and Fresno, California's renowned year-round playground.
Overnight Fresno
| Duration | 1 Night |
|---|
Fresno - Yosemite - San Francisco
Your drive today takes you north into the High Sierra and Yosemite National Park. Best known for its impressive waterfalls, grand meadows, and mesmerizing rock formations, Yosemite was one of the first wilderness parks in the United States. Enjoy the outdoor magic, walk to a waterfall, learn about the natural wonders during a ranger-guided stroll, or explore a giant sequoia grove. With eight hundred miles of trails, Yosemite is a fantastic place to hike. In the afternoon, you head west to Muir Woods National Monument, a remnant of ancient coast redwood forests, and on to San Francisco. Considered one of the greatest cities in the world, San Francisco offers an incredible range of sightseeing possibilities and fabulous iconic views.
Overnight San Francisco
| Duration | 2 Nights |
|---|
San Francisco
With forty-nine square miles of amazing sights, scenes, and destinations, you won’t run out of things to do in San Francisco. Spend a full day exploring this captivating City by the Bay's neighborhoods including Fisherman's Wharf, Chinatown, Union Square, Nob Hill, the Embarcadero/Financial District, and Golden Gate Park. To experience something unique, walk along the railings of the Golden Gate Bridge or take a ride on its world-famous Cable Car.
Overnight San Francisco
San Francisco - Monterey / Carmel - Central Coast
Start the morning, heading south for an exhilarating trip along 17-Mile Drive from Pacific Grove to Pebble Beach. Continue south along central California's delightfully scenic Pacific Coast Highway. This twisting, cliff-hugging route starts in Monterey and takes you through the quaint village of Carmel-by-the-Sea and on to Big Sur, where mountains plunge into the Pacific Ocean. Farther south, the landscape mellows to oak-studded hills as the road passes famous Hearst Castle.
Overnight Central Coast
| Duration | 1 Night |
|---|
Central Coast - Santa Barbara - Los Angeles Area
Your drive today takes you south, passing through Pismo Beach and agricultural valleys of rolling countryside on your way to Solvang, the Danish Capital of America. Further south is Santa Barbara, often described as the American Riviera, with gorgeous Mediterranean buildings in the downtown area displaying its Spanish colonial heritage. Make sure you spend time admiring the architecture, have a late lunch or browse the upscale boutiques before you arrive in the Los Angeles area.
Overnight Los Angeles
| Duration | 1 Night |
|---|
Los Angeles
Make your way to Los Angeles International Airport for your flight home unless you plan to extend your stay in the area..
Other Information
DEPARTURES:
Daily departures: April 1, 2024 - March 31, 2025
PRICE INCLUDES:
- 14 days Intermediate Car Rental with unlimited mileage (Mazda 3 or similar)
- Detailed day by day itinerary
- 1 night moderate accommodations in Los Angeles
- 1 night moderate accommodations in Palm Springs
- 1 night moderate accommodations in Laughlin
- 1 night moderate accommodations in Flagstaff
- 1 night moderate accommodations in Lake Powell / Page
- 1 night moderate accommodations in Bryce Canyon
- 2 nights moderate accommodations in Las Vegas
- 1 night moderate accommodations in Visalia
- 2 nights moderate accommodations in San Francisco
- 1 night moderate accommodations in Central Coast
- 1 night moderate accommodations in Los Angeles Area
PRICE EXCLUDES:
- Car rental insurance
- Travel insurance
- International and domestic airfare & airfare taxes
- Entrances fees to sites not explicitly listed as included
- Meals and beverages not mentioned
- Road tolls
- Gratuities
- Items of a personal nature
- Visa fees if applicable
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS:
- See raw rocks and the effects of earthquakes in Joshua Tree
- Take a nostalgic ride along sections of Historic Route 66
- View one of the seven natural wonders of the world, the Grand Canyon
- Behold the rich colors of Bryce Canyon’s famous spires, called “hoodoos”
- Gaze at Zion’s massive sandstone cliffs of cream, pink, and red
- Enjoy 24 Hour entertainment in glittering Las Vegas
- Stand at the lowest land elevation in North America in Death Valley
- Walk along the railings of San Francisco’s world-famous Golden Gate Bridge
- Marvel at 17-Mile Drive’s the Lone Cypress
- Experience California’s Central Coast splendor on Highway 1
- Enjoy Danish-style hospitality in Solvang
- Explore Santa Barbara, the American Riviera
TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
Prices are "from" per person based on twin/double share accommodation and for travel in low season. Seasonal surcharges and blackout dates may apply. Limited seat/spaces and all pricing is subject to change and availability. Rates for single or triple travellers are available on request. Additional terms and conditions apply for car rental - please inquire.
1 Oct 2024
