Day 1
Fly to Los Angeles
Arrive in Los Angeles and take a complimentary airport-hotel shuttle to reach your start hotel where you will meet your Tour Manager. If you wish to explore Los Angeles on your own and at leisure; we recommend adding on a couple of nights prior to your tour staying in locations such as Hollywood, West Hollywood, Beverly Hills or Universal. We can pre-book a Universal Studio attraction tickets for your convenience.
Overnight: Hilton Los Angeles Airport or similar
Day 2
Los Angeles – Palm Springs – Phoenix/ Scottsdale (375 miles)
Travel east from Los Angeles to Palm Springs, a desert oasis known for its lively downtown, pristine golf courses, and Hollywood legacy, set against the San Jacinto Mountains. Wind turbines signal your arrival, followed by a drive through Indio, home of the International Date Festival. Continue through striking desert landscapes to Phoenix and Scottsdale, celebrated for their luxury resorts, vibrant arts, and Sonoran Desert beauty.
Overnight: Courtyard Scottsdale Old Town or similar, breakfast included
Day 3
Phoenix/ Scottsdale – Sedona – Grand Canyon National Park (235 miles)
Travel through the Sonoran Desert, the richest, most biologically diverse desert ecosystem in the Americas, with thousands of species of animals and plants, including the towering Saguaro cacti. The Saguaro is the magnificent symbol of the Desert Southwest, capable of growing to 50 feet tall. Continue to Sedona and see the spectacular red rock scenery. Situated in a unique geological area, Sedona is encircled by distinctive red-rock monoliths – with such names as Cathedral, Coffee Pot, Bell, and even Snoopy – because their massive shapes resemble these familiar images. Then drive through the breathtaking Oak Creek Canyon before arriving at Grand Canyon National Park, one of the seven great natural wonders of the world. Visit lookout points along the South Rim to fully experience this mile-deep canyon – plunging gorges, rising spires, extinct volcanoes and below the rim, the winding Colorado River.
Overnight: Holiday Inn Resort The Squire at Grand Canyon or Grand Canyon Plaza Hotel or similar
Day 4
Grand Canyon National Park – Monument Valley – Page/ Lake Powell (300 miles)
Today enter the Navajo Indian Reservation, passing the trading post of Cameron. Continue through the Painted Desert to visit Monument Valley, an area that embodies perhaps the most iconic images of the American West. In the late afternoon, arrive at the town of Page, situated on a mesa above the Colorado River, and enjoy an evening at leisure.
Overnight: Hyatt Place Page or Lake Powell or Best Western Plus Lake Powell or Courtyard Page or similar.
Day 5
Page/ Lake Powell – Bryce Canyon National Park (150 miles)
Visit the mighty Glen Canyon Dam, the second highest concrete-arch dam in America. From here you’ll enjoy views of stunning Lake Powell, where crystal blue water laps against towering red-rock canyon walls. Enter the Mormon state of Utah, pass through the town of Kanab before visiting spectacular Bryce Canyon, where a tour through a multi-coloured world of sandstone spires and pinnacles will dazzle the eye. This evening, weather permitting, be sure to gaze upon the spectacular night sky filled with sparkling stars and brilliant constellations and take in the aroma of pinewood campfire.
Overnight: Best Western Plus Ruby's Inn or similar, breakfast included
Day 6
Bryce Canyon National Park – Zion National Park – Las Vegas (245 miles)
Travel today to Zion National Park and see the massive rock formations carved by wind, time, and the Virgin River. This afternoon experience the contrast of Las Vegas, the dazzling “Entertainment Capital of the World,” where you will find round-the-clock shopping, nightly shows, and of course gambling.
Overnight: Luxor Hotel & Casino or Excalibur or similar
Day 7
Las Vegas
Today is at leisure for you to enjoy the many attractions that Las Vegas has to offer. In addition to world-class shopping, glitzy casinos, and world-class shows, you can simply stroll the famous Strip taking in its amazing sights, or “shop ‘til you drop” at designer outlets.
Overnight: Luxor Hotel & Casino or Excalibur or similar
Day 8
Las Vegas – Death Valley – Mammoth Lakes** (346 miles)
Your tour stops at the iconic Las Vegas Welcome Sign where you may wish to capture your photo memory of Las Vegas. Having enjoyed glamorous Las Vegas, it will be a sharp contrast this afternoon to enter the quiet and extreme environment of Death Valley. Stop at Zabriskie Point and Furnace Creek Ranch before continuing across the valley and ascending the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the alpine resort town of Mammoth Lakes**. The area gained prominence as the gold mining town in the 19th century and today is renowned for the superior skiing terrain and staggeringly beautiful mountain vistas.
Overnight: Mammoth Mountain Inn or similar (Courtyard Fresno or similar)
Day 9
Mammoth Lakes** – Yosemite National Park (180 miles)
Arise with the morning sun and join us for an optional seasonal scenic gondola ride to the summit of Mammoth and enjoy a tasty breakfast as you survey a most stunning view of California from its desert floor to its lofty peaks. Next, your journey today brings you to the Tioga Pass** into the scenic wonderland of Yosemite National Park. Here, you will experience the valley floor and its splendors including the glacial-shaped granite formations of El Capitan, Half Dome, the magnificent Bridal Falls and Yosemite Falls. Overnight nearby Modesto.
** NB: Winter Routing - The Tioga Pass may be closed due to weather or road conditions, in which case you will overnight in Fresno or Visalia and a visit to Mammoth Lakes will not be possible (winter routing applies to all departures between October and May under normal snow conditions)
Overnight: Doubletree by Hilton Modesto or similar
Day 10
Yosemite Gateway Area – San Francisco (90 miles)
Depart early this morning to arrive in San Francisco, and enjoy a comprehensive sightseeing tour on arrival.
Overnight: Hilton San Francisco Union Square or similar
Day 11
San Francisco
Today your tour comes to an end. It's time to head to the airport for your flight home.
