National Parks of the Great American West

Start your American adventure with a flight to San Francisco. Upon arrival at the airport, meet your friendly local tour manager and check into your hotel for your first evening at leisure.

You’ll also be free to explore the city and find dinner in one of the nearby local restaurants.

This morning, join a captivating sightseeing tour of San Francisco’s most famous landmarks.

Start the day in Union Square, the city’s bustling commercial hub, where you’ll find a charming collection of high-end boutiques, cafés, and restaurants set against the imposing backdrop of Macy’s flagship California store. This historic department store, which was rebuilt after a major earthquake in 1906, has been a staple of San Francisco’s retail industry for over a century and is perfect for a spot of retail therapy if you get the chance. 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 modern engineering, the bridge has become synonymous with the USA’s Pacific Coast, and you’ll have time to marvel at its iconic red façade and San Francisco’s wide-stretching surrounding bay areas.

Next, cross the bay into neighbouring Marin County for a stop in Sausalito. This former harbour town, now an artistic retreat for the rich and famous, offers exquisite views over Richardson Bay and a lively waterfront promenade perfect for enjoying a drink and watching the world go by. 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.

Board your coach for a scenic drive through California’s great outdoors, heading south along the Pacific coast to the vibrant harbour city of Monterey. From the Old Fisherman’s Wharf and historic Cannery Row to the Monterey Bay Coastal Trail, there’s plenty to enjoy on the city’s waterfront.

After a short stop in Monterey, continue south to the idyllic town of Carmel-by-the-Sea where you’ll find picturesque cottages, cafés and boutiques nestled amongst white-sand beaches and craggy hillsides. You’ll have ample time to explore the village, before continuing your journey east towards Merced, where you’ll check into your hotel for the night.

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. Aptly named for its unique shape, this vast quartz mountaintop is one of Yosemite’s most famous rock features with rounded sides on three of its faces and a sheer cliff-face dominating its fourth. Continue along the park’s dense woodland routes, with plenty of stops along the way to make the most of the park’s extraordinary scenery, before coming to your next stop, 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.

After a longer break, and a few photo stops, you’ll make your way to the most famous of the park’s waterfalls. Yosemite Falls, standing over 700 meters tall, provides the perfect way to crown your visit to the national park with truly enchanting views.

Make your way to nearby Visalia for time at leisure this evening.

An unmissable day awaits in the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Nestled in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, these expansive alpine reserves boast magnificent granite peaks, and river valleys that simply must be seen to be believed. The day’s undeniable highlight, however, comes in the immense giant sequoia trees that thrive across the park.

Entering the parks from the west, witness the incredible resilience and sublime beauty of the natural world as you trace a path through prehistoric glacial valleys and a host of giant sequoia groves which have stood watch over the region for over 3,000 years. You’ll stop at various points throughout today’s tour to make the most of your time in California’s great outdoors.

These extraordinary groves are often referred to as the ‘Land of Giants’ and, standing at almost 300 feet high, it’s not hard to see why. With over one-third of the entire planet’s naturally occurring giant sequoias, the parks offer a truly unique wilderness experience complete with memorable views over the surrounding Sierra Nevada Mountains. Keep an eye out for Mount Whitney, the highest peak on the continental US, dominating the park’s skyline.

Following a fascinating escape into these ancient landscapes, return to Visalia for some downtime at your next hotel.

Enjoy a scenic drive this morning, trading the verdant landscapes of the Central Valley for the Mojave Desert’s arid stretches. As you pass through rolling dunes and vast open plains, you’ll follow the same trails that saw settlers and prospectors flock to the frontier at the height of the gold rush. Though decades have passed, the region retains the rugged character of the Old West.

In the early evening, you’ll stop at the next hotel, based in the famed Death Valley, for an overnight stay. Your accommodation this evening, the Inn at Death Valley, combines the character and style of an Old Western ranch with modern comforts such as an outdoor swimming pool and bar.

Venture into Death Valley this morning, which owes its name to an ill-fated group of prospectors who got lost in its dunes on their way across the Frontier. Enclosed by Amargosa and Panamint Mountain ranges, this mesmerising desert expanse is the lowest point in the continental US and is officially the hottest location in the world with average summer temperatures ranging from 45-60°C!

Here, you’ll experience an entirely different element of the great American wilderness with a drive through some of the nation’s most impressive stretches. With expansive salt flats, winding roads that fade into the horizon and tumbleweed-strewn dunes reminiscent of the Wild West, Death Valley offers an authentic taste of the American frontier.

Diversity is at the heart of the region, and surprising pockets of life thrive against the Mojave’s arid landscapes. Passing through the valley’s wildflower meadows, vibrant oases and far-reaching saltpans, you’ll be completely immersed in its unique ecosystems and seemingly endless desert landscapes.

After time in the desert, take to the bright lights of the world’s entertainment capital, Las Vegas. Check into your hotel upon arrival and enjoy the rest of the evening at leisure, perhaps taking in the themed hotels, casinos and neon-lit bars of the city’s ‘Strip’ and downtown areas.

Cross the state borders this morning as you visit idyllic Zion, the first of five extraordinary national parks you’ll explore across Utah over the coming week. Arriving in the neighbouring town of Springdale, you’ll swap your coach for the park’s smaller shuttles which are better suited to the reserve’s winding roads and rugged terrain. The shuttles also run the entire length of the valley, allowing you the freedom to travel as much or as little as you’d like through the scenery. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to make the most of some of Zion’s winding mountain trails and striking red rock landscapes with stops at the park’s panoramic lookout spots.

However you spend your day in Zion’s glorious canyon landscapes, reconvene in Springdale for the drive to Bryce Canyon City. Your final stop today will be the historic Ruby’s Inn where you’ll stay for the next two nights. A staple of Bryce’s hospitality industry, the hotel houses a general store, perfect for restocking your essentials or finding the perfect souvenir to commemorate your trip, with a handful of western-style stores across the street.

Get ready this morning for a busy day spent taking in the exquisite red rock landscapes and ranging hoodoos of Bryce National Park, which boasts some of the USA’s finest star-gazing lookouts. Showcasing colourful red rock valleys, unique ‘horseshoe amphitheatres’ carved out of the canyon’s plateaus, and the world’s highest concentration of hoodoos, Bryce promises an abundance of memorable sights.

After arriving in the park this morning, start at Sunrise Point, an idyllic lookout where you’ll have ample time to take in the canyon’s scenic beauty under the morning light and perhaps capture a photo or two of the jagged sandstone hoodoos. The lookout is also home to the park’s visitor centre, and you’ll have the option to stop here to make the most of its café and shop.

You’ll be able to take an easy walk along the rim of the canyon to Sunset Point, so named for its extraordinarily clear skies and its popularity amongst stargazers. From here, those in favour of a more active day will be free to hike into Bryce Canyon’s sublime vistas.

Reconvene with the rest of the group later this afternoon, before returning to Sunset Point as the sun goes down. From here, you’ll enjoy enchanting views of the setting sun as the canyon is bathed in orange light.

After a busy day in the park, spend the rest of the evening at your own pace back at your hotel.

Head out early this morning for an en-route drive through the colourful sandstone valleys and famed landmarks of the Capitol Reef National Park. Set on the Waterpocket Fold, this reserve boasts some of the most impressive rock faces and mesas in the world.

As you pass through the park’s sparsely populated mountain vistas, watch its snow-capped peaks, rugged plant life and barren red rock cliff faces blend into a vibrant array of colours.

You’ll then drive on to charming Moab, situated on the Colorado River, this evening for the first of two overnight stays. In amongst stunning red rock scenery, enjoy time at leisure to explore the town, where the enduring character of the Wild West is perfectly paired with modern amenities, or recharge in the comfort of the hotel’s outdoor swimming pool.

Today, explore the enchanting rock features of the Arches National Park in the morning light. Upon arrival, you’ll have the chance to witness the red-rusted landscape, with its magnificent stone arches, colossal pinnacles and impressive stone stacks, from a handful of truly spectacular viewpoints.

The highlight of the day will be the renowned Delicate Arch, the most famous of the park’s 2,000 rock loops, which stands at 52 feet tall and was used as a waypoint by cowboys and prospectors to help navigate the region’s rugged landscapes. Next, you’ll visit the aptly named ‘Windows’ section of the reserve, home to a large concentration of natural stone arches that perfectly frame the surrounding mountain vistas. A short way further into the park will bring you alongside the intriguing Balanced Rock, a 35-foot monolith featuring a precariously balanced boulder atop an ever-eroding spire.

After a brilliant morning’s viewing across Arches National Park, you’ll return to Moab for time at leisure. If you haven’t already, be sure to make the most of your time in the city’s quintessentially Western centre. Otherwise, enjoy the hotel’s amenities and spend some time unwinding ahead of tomorrow’s exploration.

A day of adventure awaits as you’ll be discovering Canyonlands National Park, which has been carved over the millennia by the Colorado River. Enter the park from the south, briefly pausing at the Needles Visitor Centre, before continuing to the Big Spring Canyon Overlook, often described as the start of the Grand Canyon. After some time to admire the colourful exposed rock faces, you’ll move into the canyons themselves.

This evening, continue to Monument Valley, where you’ll be free to unwind with an overnight at your next hotel. As you approach Monument Valley, you’ll be on the same stretch of road that featured in the movie Forest Gump. You’ll make stops at various viewpoints on the way in.

This morning, head into Monument Valley, which acted as the setting for many a classic Hollywood western, and enjoy viewing more of Arizona's breath-taking natural wonders. Driving through the valley in smaller vehicles, you’ll be able to see the East and West Mittens, two free-standing rock buttes which resemble hands, before continuing on to Flagstaff. As you approach the town, watch Utah’s desert landscapes transform into verdant alpine woodlands in the shadows of the San Francisco peaks. Upon arrival in Flagstaff, check into your hotel and enjoy the rest of the evening on your own time.

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.

Depart Flagstaff this morning for the final leg of your road trip through America’s Old West with a scenic journey back west into California. Your destination today will be the laid-back desert resort of Palm Springs, once a favourite retreat of Hollywood’s rich and famous, where you’ll spend the next two days relaxing in the acclaimed Margaritaville Resort. With palm-studded streets, spectacular mountain landscapes and North America’s largest collection of mid-century architecture, there will be plenty of fascinating sights to see.

Arriving in the afternoon, you’ll be free to explore the boutiques and bars that once hosted the likes of Frank Sinatra and Marilyn Monroe and find dinner at one of the lively local eateries.

Venture out into Palm Springs’ quirky downtown area this morning and wander along Palm Canyon Drive, a boulevard fringed with art galleries, speciality shops, and vintage boutiques. Wander past the surrounding neighbourhoods with mid-century celebrity residences, including Elvis Presley’s honeymoon home.

To explore further, an optional ride on the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway takes you from the desert floor to the summit of Mt. San Jacinto Canyon. This tramway operates one of the world’s largest rotating tram cars, which slowly turns as you travel, ensuring views of the Chino Canyon and valley below. Reconvene with your fellow travellers at the hotel this evening for your final night.

Leave Palm Springs this morning and make the drive to glamorous Hollywood. Watched over by the Hollywood sign on Mount Lee in the Hollywood Hills, this neighbourhood is rife with some of the United States’ most recognisable landmarks.

Chart the history of the city’s film industry along the Hollywood Walk of Fame, see the TCL Chinese Theatre, with its handprints and footprints of the big names, and visit the Hollywood & Highland shopping and entertainment complex. Lastly, pass along the Sunset Strip on Sunset Boulevard with its legendary rock clubs and celebrity haunts.

Later, you’ll be transferred to Los Angeles Airport for your overnight flight back to the UK.

Bring your unforgettable all-American adventure to a close as you arrive back in the UK.