Hollywood, San Diego, Vegas & the Grand Canyon

Fly to California's largest city, meet your tour manager and make the short transfer to your hotel in Southern LA, by coach. Rest and relax after the journey, and enjoy the first of three evenings in the City of Angels.

Today you'll have the opportunity to discover Santa Monica's ocean-front boardwalk, the pier and Ferris wheel, and enjoy the exceptional shopping on Third Street Promenade. Take a seat in a beachfront café to watch LA life as it jogs, cycles or skates its health-obsessed way down towards Venice Beach.

From here, we'll head to Hollywood, the heart of the modern movie industry, to look for your favourite star's star on Hollywood Boulevard's Walk of Fame.

Leaving Buena Park this morning, head for the millionaires’ playground of Palm Springs, once home of the late Bob Hope and still a haunt of a host of Hollywood stars. Subject to seasonal opening, journey to the heights above the town on the world’s longest revolving cable car (at extra cost), and enjoy shopping in the desert-city’s shops and boutiques.

Later, head for San Diego and a two night stay.

Spend the day as you please in the laid-back Pacific city of San Diego, the epitome of Southern California living. There'll be a short introductory tour which includes the restored Downtown area, the historic Santa Fe Railroad Depot, and the Gaslamp District's wonderful collection of arts and crafts stores, specialist boutiques and places to eat.

The road-trip continues today as we cross the desert towards the resort of Scottsdale, nestled beneath the scenic McDowell Mountains. Spend the night in Old Town Scottsdale.

Depart Scottsdale after breakfast and spend time today in scenic Sedona, a lovely small town with an array of boutiques and cafes, set amongst true, classic red rock scenery.

Take an optional jeep ride through stunning scenery of rock spires and sandstone cliffs - travel along rugged roads from pioneer times, learning about the plants and animals of Arizona's high desert.

Continue on to Flagstaff a charming small town set on infamous Route 66.

Journey north today, heading for spectacular Grand Canyon. Whatever the time of day, the sight is breath-taking and, without doubt, one of nature’s most unforgettable sights. Later, perhaps take an optional helicopter flight over the chasm to marvel at the almost incomprehensible vastness of it all.

Spend another night in Flagstaff.

Leaving Flagstaff, continue through the awe-inspiring desert landscape, to Las Vegas, your base for the next two nights. Waste no time in familiarising yourself with your glittering, neon-lit surroundings – every bit as surreal as the Canyon’s glories.

And, tonight, enjoy an optional dinner and entertainment from the stars of the nostalgic The Rat Pack is Back show.

Discover glittering, glorious Las Vegas! Nothing prepares you for the glitz, glamour and sheer scale of this monument to man’s capacity for fun that seems to rise out of the desert floor, its towering hotels and gargantuan casinos reaching skywards, its streets – including the famous Strip – lined with colourful entertainment centres, stores, themed bars, and show lounges that have played host to generations of the entertainment industry's most famous names.

Alternatively, spend your day relaxing, checking out the city's shopping malls or even heading for one of the many golf courses. Come sundown, try your luck – or watch others trying theirs – in a sparkling, state-of-the-art casino where you'll find no end to the ways you can try your hand against Lady Luck. Wander up and down the Strip to see this unique place in all its colourful glory.

Tonight, maybe take to the skies on an optional night-time helicopter ride over the Strip.

Bid farewell to Vegas, heading back to LA and the airport to check in for your overnight flight home.

Arrive back in the UK, this morning, at the end of an exciting West Coast USA adventure.