DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1: Fly to San Francisco

Fly in to San Francisco airport and collect your hire car, before driving to your hotel in the city. Soak up the views of the iconic Golden Gate Bridge.

Days 2 to 4: Explore ‘San Fran’

Explore this fabulous city at your own pace. Get under its skin by taking a stroll thought the leafy neighbourhood of Pacific Heights, where Victorian mansions and green parks provide a picturesque backdrop. After a seafood lunch at Fisherman’s Wharf, you can head up to the top of Coit Tower for panoramic views over the city and bay. Then spend the evening in the vibrant Mission district, with dinner in the eclectic Castro area.

You can ride the iconic cable cars, visit Chinatown, the Palace of Fine Arts, California Academy of Sciences or take the ferry across the bay to Sausalito. Alternatively take in a Giants baseball game, to feel the heart of the city. The infamous prison on Alcatraz Island is a top attraction, but you will need to book well in advance to avoid disappointment. Golden Gate Park is also very popular.

Muir Woods, with its giant sequoia (redwood) trees, is within easy reach of the city, and the famous Napa Valley vineyards are only 1.5 hours away, with over 300 wineries. You will find the legendary French Laundry restaurant here, but you will need to make a reservation months in advance, as it is one of the world’s greatest restaurants. If you stay overnight in Napa, you can enjoy the great outdoors by hiking, biking or horse riding along the valley’s many trails. You can also take in the beautiful scenery on a hot air balloon ride at sunrise, followed by a champagne breakfast.

Days 5 & 6: Yosemite National Park

Today head inland, driving for four hours to Yosemite National Park in the Sierra Nevada mountains, a vast wilderness area known for its waterfalls, deep valleys, meadows and giant sequoias. Tunnel View is a scenic viewpoint at the western entrance to the valley, offering a stunning view of the Bridalveil Fall and the granite cliffs of El Capitan and Half Dome. This region is know for camping, hiking and many outdoor activities.

Day 7: Drive to Monterey

This morning leave Yosemite and head for fashionable Monterey on the rugged Pacific Coast, a drive of just under 4 hours.

Cannery Row, immortalized by the novelist John Steinbeck, was once the centre of the sardine-packing industry. Today many gift shops, seafood restaurants and bars are located in these old converted factories. Monterey Bay Aquarium is also excellent, with thousands of marine animals and plants on display.

Day 8: Drive along ‘Big Sur’ to San Simeon

‘Big Sur’, which stretches south from Carmel to San Simeon, is one of the most striking stretches of coastal road in the world, and a good reason to look forward to the next stage of your trip!

Driving down Highway One, you’ll have steep cliffs to your left and the vast, sparkling Pacific to your right, with waves crashing at the foot of the cliffs and sea lions lazing on deserted bays. The drive will take you less than three hours, so make frequent stops to enjoy the sights. At the end of a fabulous day, stop in San Simeon with its pristine beaches for an overnight stay. Nearby Hearst Castle is a significant landmark.

End the day overlooking the ocean at sunset, and possibly spot a few migrating whales (gray whales & orcas from December to May; humpback whales from May to November; blue whales from July to October).

Day 9: Drive to Santa Barbara

Continue your journey south, following Highway One for four hours towards Santa Barbara. Hug the coastline as you soak up this incredible driving experience.

On arrival in Santa Barbara you can wander down to the laidback and trendy beach, relax in one of the cocktail bars along State Street, or head into town for some boutique shopping and gallery hopping.

Days 10 & 11: Los Angeles

After two hours on the road you will reach Los Angeles, a bustling city that is the home of the Hollywood movie industry. Keep an eye out for the rich and famous, as you drive past the designer shops on Rodeo Drive, and lavish celebrity mansions in Beverly Hills.

Alternatively you can get in some more beach time in Santa Monica. Linger over lunch and catch a live performance on the pier, or carry on to bohemian Venice, where street art and urban farms abound.

Day 12: Fly to Las Vegas

Drive to Los Angeles airport this morning to drop off your hire car and fly to Las Vegas. On arrival make your own way to your hotel.

Famous for its glitz and glamour, Las Vegas was originally a desert stopover on the train line between Los Angeles and Salt Lake City. However it flourished when gambling was legalised in Nevada after the Great Depression, with many theatres and casinos built to cater for the influx of young male workers who came to build the Hoover Dam.

Today it is known for its luxury casino resorts and wide range of world-class entertainment found along “The Strip”.

Days 13 & 14: At leisure

Las Vegas is all about entertainment, so be sure to do your homework and check what shows are on offer, and book your tickets online well in advance to avoid disappointment. The variety of shows is astonishing and the standards are simply world class.

Slot machines are everywhere, with all forms of gaming on offer, but don’t miss Fremont Street, also known as “Glitter Gulch” - a pedestrianised thoroughfare in the heart of downtown Las Vegas, which features live entertainment, a zipline and a light show. The Container Park is an open-air shopping centre with many boutiques and restaurants.

For 360 degree views of Las Vegas and the surrounding desert, climb the Stratosphere Observation Deck, which at 1,149 ft is the tallest freestanding observation tower in the United States. You can take a trip back in time with a visit to the Neon Museum boneyard, with its historical collection of iconic signs. The Mob Museum is also fascinating, telling the story of organised crime (particularly the role played by the Mafia) in the history of Las Vegas. The Atomic Testing Museum explores the history of America’s nuclear testing program.

A helicopter trip to the awesome Grand Canyon, the largest in the world, will give you sweeping views over its enormous layered bands of red rock, and is a must on your first trip to Las Vegas. Closer to town, the red cliffs of Red Rock Canyon are only 17 miles from ‘The Strip’. You can also take a day tour to the salt pans and mountains of Death Valley, the lowest and hottest point in North America; explore the Old West and pan for gold at Eldorado Canyon; or take a tour to Hoover Dam and marvel at this engineering wonder.

There is simply so much to see and do in Las Vegas - from Mandalay Bay’s ice lounge; to the free Bellagio fountains, music and lights show (held every 15 to 30 minutes); Cirque Soleil circus acts; and dinner at the Excalibur Casino, complete with medieval knights. You can even take a hot air balloon ride over ‘The Strip’ and Red Rock Mountains, try out indoor sky diving and race in a supercar. Somehow in Las Vegas, all things seem possible!

Day 15: Fly Home

Transfer to Las Vegas airport for your flight home.

PRICING

Price is based on two adults sharing en-suite accommodation on a room only basis. Economy flights from London and standard car hire are included.

We offer a choice of hotels at different prices, so please discuss your requirements with us. All hotels are subject to availability.

It is essential that you have personal holiday insurance and an appropriate driving licence. The FCO should also be consulted.