Transport

Deluxe transportation by sprinter or mini-coach Transportation by a sprinter or mini-coach equipped with Wi-Fi throughout. All coaches are equipped with air-conditioning and an onboard lavatory. Additionally, coaches may have the following onboard amenities: wi-fi, footrests, luggage nets, movable seats, individually adjustable air conditioning, etc. Each passenger travelling on an escorted tour is allowed one piece of checked baggage per person due to space limitations. Additional luggage will be charged at $7.00 per person per day (subject to change). Due to the nature of this holiday, bags are handled many times, so a durable, reasonably sturdy and clearly labelled bag is required. The Tour Manager will issue you a special luggage tag which should remain on your customer’s bag at all times to help ensure the bag is delivered to, and retrieved from, the hotel room at each destination The small-group tour will require an enhanced level of physical activity as the focus is on local experiences and doing what locals do, you will explore each city by either walking or in a smaller vehicle which provides more flexibility

Accommodation

13-night hotel accommodations as specified or similar with a private bath and/or shower San Francisco Marriott Marquis, San Francisco, or similar Hampton Inn Fresno Airport, Yosemite Gateway, or similar Sahara Hotel, Las Vegas, or similar Comfort Inn & Suites San Diego Zoo/Seaworld, San Diego, or similar Crowne Plaza LA Harbor, Los Angeles, or similar Radisson Santa Maria, Central Coast, or similar Lighthouse Lodge & Cottages, Monterey/ Carmel, or similar Embassy Suites by Hilton San Francisco Airport, San Francisco, or similar

Meals

5 complimentary breakfasts

Others

Small-group tour with a maximum of 20 passengers A slower pace and more time in each destination with more free time in each city to explore Focus on local experiences - do what the locals do! Explore each city by either walking or in a smaller vehicle, providing more flexibility and opportunity to explore more sights and experience different destinations with smaller group sizes More independent and curated concept than a traditional escorted tour Tour of San Francisco exploring diverse neighborhoods and the city’s waterfront including a ride on the iconic Cable cars Thrilling and scenic bike ride across the Golden Gate Bridge and Bay Cruise Experience the grandeur of Yosemite National Park Evening tour of Las Vegas featuring some of the must-sees along the strip Witness the majesty of the Grand Canyon’s West Rim Visit the desert oasis and celebrity hideaway of Palm Springs Enjoy the relaxed coastal vibes of San Diego, with a city tour Tour of Los Angeles hopping between the most famed spots and local favorites Walk the charming streets of Santa Barbara, known as America’s Riviera Discover the unforgettable Hearst Castle Experience the rugged Pacific coastline along Highway 1 through Big Sur Explore the Monterey Bay, including the coast hamlet of Carmel Hotel, state, and local taxes, service charges, and porterage service (limit one piece of checked luggage per person) Information kit

Guide

Services of a professional multilingual Tour Manager throughout Not only will the Tour Managers’ offer their local knowledge and share hidden gems and stories with you, but they will act as the logistical organizer, ensuring that everything is running smoothly and that you’re having a good time during your holiday. As an expert and a local, your guide will be a valuable resource for questions about local customs, language, food, and other practical travel information. In a guided tour, you will get a personal experience of your adventure.

Not included:

Others

Airfare unless specified in the tour itinerary Meals are not included in order to allow for more flexibility Laundry, telephone, optional excursions and other items of a personal nature Travel Insurance Gratuities Pre and Post Accommodation Airport Transfers Everything that is not mentioned in included

Optional

San Francisco Evening Tour Scenic helicopter ride over and into Grand Canyon Thrilling Universal Studios Hollywood World renowned Monterey Bay Aquarium All optional excursions are subject to change and availability. Optional excursions are to be booked with the Tour Manager Pre and post accommodation

Insurance

Insurance is not included

Flights

Flights are not included

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Day 1: San Francisco Arrival
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: San Francisco Arrival

Arrive in San Francisco and transfer independently to your hotel. Your Tour Director will meet you in the evening. Accommodation at the San Francisco Marriott Marquis, San Francisco, or similar
Day 2 Day 2: San Francisco
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: San Francisco

This morning, a fun and exciting city tour provides an overview of the city and enables you to truly appreciate many of San Francisco’s most famous sights, including Chinatown, Union Square, and Fisherman’s Wharf. Your tour will include a ride on one of San Francisco’s historic cable cars. And for an extra thrill, consider hanging off the running board, Doris Day-style. As no visit to San Francisco would be complete without taking a cruise on the Bay or crossing the Golden Gate Bridge, in the afternoon we collect a bike from Fisherman’s Wharf and pedal across the Golden Gate before boarding a ferry back across the Bay, passing the famous PIER 39 sea lions along the historic waterfront which reveals the city’s spectacular skyline. Be sure to take full advantage of prime photo opportunities with unobstructed views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the notorious Alcatraz Island. This evening you may join your Tour Director for San Francisco. This evening you may join your Tour Director for the San Francisco evening tour (Optional). Accommodation at the San Francisco Marriott Marquis, San Francisco, or similar
Day 3 Day 3: San Francisco (Napa Valley Or Muir Woods Optional)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: San Francisco (Napa Valley Or Muir Woods Optional)

Your Tour Director is on hand to assist with making your plans for the day: perhaps another cable car ride to Fisherman’s Wharf where you may enjoy a “Taste of San Francisco”: local seafood, famous sourdough bread, or decadent Ghiradelli’s Chocolate. Or take a stroll by Sea Lions’ Marina to watch them frolic. Be sure to gaze across the bay to Alcatraz Island where “America’s Most Wanted” such as Al Capone and “Machine Gun” Kelly were incarcerated. Or visit Union Square for a shopping stop at Macy’s Department Store. If you would like to explore beyond the city, we recommend you embark on a wine-tasting tour of Napa Valley, world-renowned for its fine wineries and beautiful scenery. Or you may choose to take in the natural wonder of the Bay Area by hiking through the “enchanted” forest at nearby Muir Woods (optional). Accommodation at the San Francisco Marriott Marquis, San Francisco, or similar
Day 4 Day 4: San Francisco > Yosemite >Yosemite Gateway
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: San Francisco > Yosemite >Yosemite Gateway

This morning we journey east toward the tranquility of California’s High Sierras and Yosemite National Park’s nearly 1,200 square miles of mountainous terrain. Once inside the park, you will be introduced to some of Yosemite’s most famous and awe-inspiring scenery, including Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, El Capitan, Tunnel View, and Bridalveil Falls. Postcard-perfect pictures abound so be sure to have your camera ready. Accommodation at the Hampton Inn Fresno Airport, Yosemite Gateway, or similar
Day 5 Day 5: Yosemite Gateway > Mojave Desert > Las Vegas
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Yosemite Gateway > Mojave Desert > Las Vegas

Today, travel through the Mojave Desert on your way to Las Vegas. Late afternoon arrival in the dazzling “Entertainment Capital of the World” will give you enough time to start enjoying this fantastic city right away with an exciting evening tour featuring the famed casinos along the Strip followed by a visit to Downtown Las Vegas, where you will enjoy the glitzy lights of the Freemont Experience. Accommodation at the Sahara Hotel, Las Vegas, or similar
Day 6 Day 6: Las Vegas > Grand Canyon West > Las Vegas
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Las Vegas > Grand Canyon West > Las Vegas

This morning we stop at the iconic Las Vegas Welcome Sign where you may wish to capture a photo memory of Las Vegas before making your way on an included day trip to the Grand Canyon’s West Rim. On the way, admire the beauty of Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the U.S. formed by the Hoover Dam. At the Grand Canyon West, you will have time to explore the views on your own and if you choose, join an optional helicopter trip over the canyon, a float on the Colorado, or walk on the Skywalk platform. This evening at leisure - your Tour Director will provide recommendations that cater to your desired experience, whether it be partaking in the stellar shopping or enjoying the countless fine dining options that Vegas has to offer. Accommodation at the Sahara Hotel, Las Vegas, or similar
Day 7 Day 7: Las Vegas > Palm Springs > San Diego
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Las Vegas > Palm Springs > San Diego

Today your journey takes you from Las Vegas through Palm Springs, the winter playground for Hollywood royalty, with its lively downtown area and immaculately kept golf courses at the base of the rugged San Jacinto Mountains. This city in the desert was once known as the winter retreat of stars like Frank Sinatra, Jane Russell, and Elvis Presley. Today it is a flourishing resort town with great shops, restaurants, and a year-round desert climate. A sea of wind turbines mark the entrance to this desert oasis. We continue south to San Diego, a city known for its beaches, parks, and perfect climate. Enjoy the evening at leisure and perhaps visit some of the vibrant neighborhoods of San Diego. Accommodation at the Comfort Inn & Suites San Diego Zoo/Seaworld, San Diego, or similar
Day 8 Day 8: San Diego
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: San Diego

Today you will explore California’s second-largest city with your Tour Director. The relaxed seaside surf vibes of neighborhoods such as Sunset Beach provide a quintessential California Coastal experience. During your Insider city tour of San Diego’s sites, you will witness the central role of the American Navy in this port city. You may choose to enjoy one of San Diego’s many attractions such as Sea World or the World Famous San Diego Zoo. In the evening, we recommend checking out another of the city’s bustling neighborhoods or perhaps a dinner cruise on the bay (optional). Accommodation at the Comfort Inn & Suites San Diego Zoo/Seaworld, San Diego, or similar
Day 9 Day 9: San Diego > The Oc > Los Angeles
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 9: San Diego > The Oc > Los Angeles

This morning we head north along the SoCal coast toward Orange County, or the OC, as it has come to be called by locals. Enjoy the atmosphere of cliffside Laguna Beach, with its local art galleries and vibrant surf culture. Continue onward to Los Angeles, America’s second-largest city, a sprawling metropolis, and the home of America’s entertainment industry. Enjoy an evening at leisure. Your Tour Director may suggest you explore LA’s smaller neighboring city of Long Beach, with one of the largest ports in the United States is also home to a historic ocean liner, the Queen Mary, which you may choose and explore (optional). Accommodation at the Crowne Plaza LA Harbor, Los Angeles, or similar
Day 10 Day 10: Los Angeles
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 10: Los Angeles

Embark upon an extensive and entertaining insider tour of Los Angeles that will deliver a true taste of Southern California with a visit to the most popular seaside communities like Venice whose boardwalk is famous for its Muscle Beach, and Santa Monica, home to one of California’s oldest pleasure piers. You’ll catch a glimpse of the glitz and glamour of Beverly Hills, where you just might cross paths with a celebrity shopper or two along Rodeo Drive. Enjoy local flavors at the LA Farmer’s Market before making your way to Hollywood, where you’ll check out the Stars on the Walk of Fame, the celebrity hand and footprints at the Chinese Theatre, and of course the Hollywood Sign! An afternoon partaking in the thrills offered at Universal Studios (optional) is recommended. Accommodation at the Crowne Plaza LA Harbor, Los Angeles, or similar
Day 11 Day 11: Los Angeles > Malibu > Santa Barbara > Central Coast
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 11: Los Angeles > Malibu > Santa Barbara > Central Coast

This morning you depart LA traveling through the coastal hamlet of Malibu, home to celebrities and recluses alike, this enclave is like none other in California. Continue north up Pacific Coast Highway (called PCH by locals) to Santa Barbara, where palm-lined walkways border white sandy beaches. Known as the “American Riviera” for its similarities to the South of France, enjoy local food and wine during a lunch stop. Make sure to check out the city’s unique Spanish architecture at its beautiful City Hall before continuing to a central coast town for an overnight stay. Accommodation at the Radisson Santa Maria, Central Coast, or similar
Day 12 Day 12: Central Coast > Hearst Castle > Big Sur > Monterey
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 12: Central Coast > Hearst Castle > Big Sur > Monterey

Head north along Highway 1 to one of California’s most unique destinations, Hearst Castle. Built by newspaper baron William Randolph Hearst, the eclectic collection of old-world architecture and grand gardens is situated amidst a stunning coastal landscape that will leave you in wonder. Continue up the curvy coast road through Big Sur, a cliffside retreat where viewpoints over the rugged Pacific coastline are truly unparalleled. Continue onward over the famed “Bixby Bridge” to Monterey, California’s first capital city, where you will be able to enjoy your evening at leisure with recommendations from your Tour Director. Accommodation at the Lighthouse Lodge & Cottages, Monterey/ Carmel, or similar
Day 13 Day 13: Monterey/Carmel > San Francisco
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 13: Monterey/Carmel > San Francisco

This morning you will experience all that the Monterey Peninsula has to offer by visiting the quaint village of Carmel after an exhilarating journey along one of the most scenic roads in the world, 17-Mile Drive. Afterward, take in the sights, sounds, and smells of Monterey at Old Fisherman’s Wharf and explore Cannery Row’s historic waterfront district, John Steinbeck’s inspiration for his novel of the same name. You may choose to visit the world-renowned Monterey Bay Aquarium where you will be able to see and even interact with local aquatic wildlife, including the Aquarium’s most famous and adorable Sea Otter residents. In the afternoon, pass the fertile valleys of Castroville and Santa Clara en route back to where you started your unforgettable journey, San Francisco. Accommodation at the Embassy Suites by Hilton San Francisco Airport, San Francisco, or similar
Day 14 Day 14: San Francisco Departure
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 14: San Francisco Departure

Your West Coast tour has come to an end. Transfer independently to the airport for your return flight home.

+11

14 days tour

U.S. Small Group Tour - The Best Of The West

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip U.S. Small Group Tour - The Best Of The West

Day 1: San Francisco Arrival

Day 2: San Francisco

Day 3: San Francisco (Napa Valley Or Muir Woods Optional)

Day 4: San Francisco > Yosemite >Yosemite Gateway

Day 5: Yosemite Gateway > Mojave Desert > Las Vegas

Day 6: Las Vegas > Grand Canyon West > Las Vegas

Day 7: Las Vegas > Palm Springs > San Diego

Day 8: San Diego

Day 9: San Diego > The Oc > Los Angeles

Day 10: Los Angeles

Day 11: Los Angeles > Malibu > Santa Barbara > Central Coast

Day 12: Central Coast > Hearst Castle > Big Sur > Monterey

Day 13: Monterey/Carmel > San Francisco

Day 14: San Francisco Departure

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