San Francisco and Wine Country Delights

Day 1

ARRIVE SAN FRANCISCO (3 nights)
Welcome to San Francisco and Wine Country! With this Free and Easy itinerary, you’ll soon be fitting right in the laid-back California lifestyle with no early wake up calls and a leisurely pace. Take a complimentary transfer to your tour hotel where you meet your Tour Director this afternoon. Join your Tour Director and fellow travellers for a Welcome Drink at 6 p.m. at your hotel.
Hotel: Hyatt Regency San Francisco (MD)

Day 2

SAN FRANCISCO SIGHTSEEING
Just steps from your hotel, you’ll start this morning’s tour at San Francisco’s famous Saturday morning Ferry Plaza Farmers Market. Browse Northern California’s bounty of organic produce and fl owers from small regional farmers and ranchers, artisan specialities and gourmet street fare. Continue to San Francisco’s favourite attractions - Union Square, crooked Lombard Street, Golden Gate Park and Fisherman’s Wharf. You’ll have some free time for lunch before embarking on an afternoon catamaran sail past Alcatraz Island and under the Golden Gate Bridge. This evening, join your Tour Director on a walking tour through Chinatown. Learn about the neighbourhood’s colourful history, inhale the pungent scents of the tea and herbal shops, admire
the Chinese-style buildings, and stop at the Golden Gate Cookie Factory to watch (and sample) how fortune cookies are made. Save room for tonight’s Highlight Dinner, a traditional banquet at a popular Chinese restaurant. (FB, HD)

Day 3

SAN FRANCISCO AT LEISURE
Get up whenever you please today as you have the entire day to explore San Francisco at your leisure! Ride the cable cars, explore North Beach’s Little Italy or visit the museums and gardens of Golden Gate Park. Or eat your way through San Francisco’s colourful neighbourhoods on an optional Local Tastes of the City tour. You can also venture further away on optional trips to Carmel and Monterey, Muir Woods National Monument or Yosemite National Park. The choice is yours and your Tour Director will be happy to help you make the necessary arrangements for you. (FB)

Day 4

SAN FRANCISCO – SONOMA – NAPA (4 nights)
Leave your hearts in San Francisco as you set out in search of Bacchus in California’s world-renowned Wine Country. Join a local guide for a walk through the Asia-inspired woodland of Quarryhill Botanical Garden in Sonoma’s Valley of the Moon. Later this morning, pass through the quaint towns of Glen Ellen and Kenwood before arriving in Sonoma for some free time and lunch on your own. Explore historic Sonoma Plaza, flanked by the Presidio and Mission San Francisco de Solano – the last California mission built, and browse the unique gift shops and restaurants. This afternoon, retreat to a private blending lab at Ravenswood Winery and create, taste and bottle your own perfect combination of Carignane, Petite Sirah and Zinfandel. (FB)
Hotel: River Terrace Inn (SF)

Day 5

NAPA VALLEY EXCURSION
Travel along the scenic, less-travelled Silverado Trail, dotted with more than 40 wineries and vineyards. Your first stop is one of the most picturesque, Silverado Vineyards, where you’ll tour the winery and taste popular cabernets and chardonnays. Continue on up the valley for a guided walk around Long Meadow Ranch’s Rutherford Gardens, renowned for their century-old black mission fig trees and extensive vegetable farm and fruit orchards. Relax and enjoy a picnic Highlight Lunch in the gardens, featuring the ranch’s own grass-fed beef and just harvested fruit, vegetables and honey. Then, taste some more fine wine and sample the ranch’s gourmet olive oils. After lunch, return to the hotel where you’ll have some time to explore the town or relax. Later, get ready for a unique and interactive experience: a hands-on cooking class at a famous culinary school. You’ll group into teams with your fellow travellers and prepare a delicious four-course gourmet meal alongside top chef instructors. When finished, relax with a glass of champagne
and hors d’oeuvres before enjoying the fruits of your labour at a Highlight Dinner paired with locally produced wines. (FB, HL, HD)

Day 6

NAPA AT LEISURE
You have a free day to explore Napa on your own! Spend the day around town, visit the gourmet shops at the Oxbow Public Market, enjoy a leisurely lunch at one of the charming restaurants or shop for antiques and crafts. If you are feeling extra adventurous, join an optional sunrise balloon flight over the vineyards or a journey through the bucolic countryside with lunch aboard the vintage rail cars of the Napa Valley Wine Train. (FB)

Day 7

CALISTOGA EXCURSION
This morning, travel the scenic drive north to St. Helena and Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park, the site of a water-powered grist mill where early Napa Valley settlers gathered. Continue on to explore the art and vineyards of the award-winning estate winery Clos Pegase and sample some of its estate wines. Lunch is on your own in bubbly downtown Calistoga, noted for its hot springs and geyser. Then, join a guided private tour of Castello di Amorosa, a 107-room, Tuscan-style castle and winery, complete with a moat, chapel and torture chamber. Learn how the castle vintners combine traditional wine making methods with modern technology to produce wines similar to the hand-crafted wines from Italy’s Tuscany and Umbria regions. And, you’ll taste the wine, of course! Later, treat your sweet tooth with a stop at famous Chef Thomas Keller’s Bouchon Bakery and shop for delectable pastries, cookies, chocolate and treats. This evening, celebrate a wonderful vacation with a ‘Be My Guest’ Farewell Dinner at a winery where you’ll also enjoy a private tour and sample estate-produced wines and olive oil. (FB BG)

Day 8

NAPA – DEPART SAN FRANCISCO
Toast your fantastic journey with the finest bubbly at Domaine Carneros by Taittinger. Tour the beautiful chateau and vineyards while learning about sparkling wine production. Finish with a seated tasting of sparkling wines and raise a glass to the pleasures of Bacchus with your fellow travellers. A transfer is provided to San Francisco International Airport and to the tour hotel in San Francisco for passengers extending their stay.

Day 9

ARRIVE BACK IN THE UK

*Please do not schedule any flights before 5 p.m.*

What's Included

• Return transatlantic flights

Sightseeing Highlights

• San Francisco Enjoy a city tour exploring the main attractions; sail on a catamaran under the Golden Gate Bridge; take a guided walking tour through Chinatown.
• Sonoma and Napa Valleys Journey along the scenic Valley of the Moon, Carneros Highway and Silverado Trail, dotted with wineries.
• Glen Ellen Explore the Quarryhill Botanical Garden with an expert guide.
• Ravenswood Winery Blend your own wine at a private seminar.
• Rutherford Visit Long Meadow Ranch Rutherford Gardens and sample fresh local produce, wine and gourmet olive oil.
• Silverado Vineyards Join a private visit to this beautiful hilltop winery accompanied by a tasting of limited production wines.
• Sonoma Partake in a fun hands-on cooking class with expert chefs at a
• renowned culinary school.
• St. Helena Visit the mill at Bale Grist Mill State Historic Park.
• Clos Pegase Enjoy the art and sample the varietals on this guided tour.
• Castello di Amorosa Enjoy a private guided tour of the castle followed by a tasting of fi ve wines.
• Nicholson Ranch Winery Admire the sweeping wine country views and taste fi ne wines on this exclusive tour.
• Domaine Carneros Tour the winery, visit the beautiful chateau and enjoy a tasting of various sparkling wines.
• Hidden Treasure: Trafalgar’s expert Tour Directors will be sure to surprise you during your tour by revealing a wonderful Hidden Treasure unique to your destination.

Dining Highlights

• Welcome Drink with your Tour Director in San Francisco.
• 7 full breakfasts.
• Picnic Highlight Lunch at a farm in Napa Valley.
• Local Highlight Dinner in San Francisco.
• Private cooking class and Local Highlight Dinner with wine in Sonoma.
• ‘Be My Guest’ Farewell Dinner with wine at a Sonoma Valley winery.

First Class Travel Highlights

• First Class hotel accommodation includes two-bedded rooms with private facilities, all hotel service charges and tips, baggage handling fees and local taxes.
• Touring by luxury air-conditioned motorcoach with reclining seats and a restroom onboard.
• The services of one of Trafalgar’s top professional Tour Directors.
• A stylish wallet, tour documents and Welcome on Tour book with map.
• Complimentary airport transfers are provided on Day 1 and Day 8.