Day 3
Included San Diego tour - Discover the laid-back, sun-kissed, Southern California city of San Diego on today's full-day excursion. Highlights include the historic Santa Fe Railroad Depot and the Gaslamp District. Across the Bay Bridge, Coronado Island is home to the Hotel del Coronado, where Edward VIII first met Mrs Simpson and Marilyn Monroe filmed 'Some Like it Hot'.
Day 4
Drive to Palm Springs - This morning, you’ll travel to the millionaires’ playground of Palm Springs, with its grand collection of mid-century architecture. After checking into your hotel for the night, make the most of the rest of the day with time to explore downtown’s palm-fringed streets. Once home of the late Bob Hope and still a haunt of a host of Hollywood stars, Palm Springs exudes mid-century charm and promises fascinating sights at every turn.
Day 5
Travel on Route 66 to Williams - Cross the desert and travel to Williams, once a Route 66 staging post and now a quintessential western town handy for the Grand Canyon, where you’ll spend the next two nights.
Day 6
Included tour of the Grand Canyon with optional helicopter flight - Venture out for your trip’s stellar highlight today with a journey into the breath-taking Grand Canyon, one of the world’s most famous natural wonders, which has been shaped by the Colorado River for millions of years. You’ll enter the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park near the Mather Point lookout, which offers truly unforgettable views over the immense chasms below.
You’ll observe multi-coloured layers of rock, visit some of the region’s finest vantage points and learn about the diverse range of wildlife that inhabits the area. As the day goes by, watch the canyon’s rock change colour as the sun moves across the sky.
For those daring enough, you can also enjoy the expansive red rock landscapes from the open skies with a once-in-a-lifetime optional helicopter ride. Soaring over the top of the canyon allows you to marvel at the almost incomprehensible vastness of it all.
This evening, return to Williams for a second night.
Day 7
Drive to Las Vegas and Rat Pack is Back show - Today's journey takes you to Las Vegas, for a two-night stay in the World's Capital of Entertainment. Spend your first evening soaking up the electrifying atmosphere of this extraordinary, man-made, 24-hour entertainment oasis.
See the spectacular hotels, glittering casinos and sparkling show lounges – home to some of the biggest names in show business.
Later tonight, you’ll have the chance to a take trip back in time with the acclaimed Rat Pack is Back show. Enjoy dinner and live entertainment as the Tuscany Suites play host to a recreation of the famous Sands showroom for the fascinating tribute to the unforgettable sounds of Frank, Sammy and Dean.
Day 8
Optional helicopter flight - A free day to explore all that's big and bold in Las Vegas! Enjoy a walk - with a drink or two on the way - through some of the mega-resorts on the famous Strip or maybe try your luck in one of the many casinos. Later, perhaps relax by the pool, arrange to be pampered in a spa, or simply shop ‘till you drop.
This evening, don’t miss an incredible opportunity to see Vegas by night on our optional Vegas Nights helicopter flight over the Strip for an incredible ten minutes soaring high above the world-famous neon landscapes including Bellagio and Caesars Palace.
Day 9
Drive across the Mojave Desert to Visalia - Bid ‘Sin City’ farewell today and head west across the vast, dry wilderness of the Mojave Desert, entering the lush California Central valley for an overnight stay in small-town Visalia.
Day 10
Included visit to Yosemite National Park - Today, explore one of North America’s most impressive natural wonders - the magnificent Yosemite National Park. With spectacular mountain landscapes and dramatic waterfalls, Yosemite’s 12,000-mile nature reserve offers your first glimpse of America’s Great Outdoors.
The first of many spectacular sights you might see today is the park’s unmistakable granite peak, Half Dome, one of Yosemite’s most famous rock features. Next will be the imposing El Capitan. Dominating the surrounding valleys, this glorious granite monolith is a relic of the Triassic period and was formed from an underground collision between the Pacific and North American tectonic plates.
Take a break on the Valley Floor, surrounded by mountain peaks and dense woodland before heading off to Merced for an overnight stay.
Day 11
Travel to San Francisco - Head for the Californian coast, today, visiting exquisite Carmel-by-the-Sea and the fishing town of Monterey, both linked by stunning 17-Mile Drive on the shore of the Pacific Ocean.
Continue to delightful San Francisco, the city by the Bay, for a two-night stay.
Day 12
Optional San Francisco city tour - Take this morning's optional guided tour of the city's major landmarks, starting at Union Square, the city’s bustling commercial hub, set against the imposing backdrop of Macy’s flagship California store. Continue to Nob Hill, the trendy former home of the ‘Big Four’ railway barons, where you’ll stop briefly to admire the neighbourhood’s ornate Grace Cathedral.
Your next stop will be the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, one of the world’s most recognisable sights, which spans the mile-long strait of the same name. A spectacular feat of engineering, the bridge has become synonymous with the USA’s Pacific Coast, and you’ll have time to marvel at its iconic red façade before you cross the bridge into neighbouring Marin County.
You’ll then stop in Sausalito, a former harbour town and now an artistic retreat for the rich and famous. This afternoon, board a ferry for the journey back across the Golden Gate Strait and catch a glimpse of the infamous Alcatraz Island, a former prison which once housed the likes of Al Capone and the United States’ most notorious criminals. The ferry will then dock at Fisherman’s Wharf, a popular waterfront area famous for its fresh seafood and tourist-friendly bars.
After a busy day’s sightseeing in San Francisco, enjoy a well-earned rest with the evening at leisure.
Day 13
Morning at leisure and return flight - You'll be free to spend this morning as you see fit, perhaps with some self-guided exploration around Golden Gate Park or the 'Hippy Heartland' of Haight Ashbury. Alternatively, you can opt to ride the 'little cable car' from bustling Union Square, just three blocks from your hotel.
At lunchtime, continue to the airport for your overnight flight home.
Day 14
Land in the UK - Touch down in the UK and head home at the end of an unforgettable holiday.