Best of the West
12-day journey through America's golden west coast

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive Los Angeles (2 Nights)
Welcome to southern California, where it’s usually 70F or 21C degrees and sunny. Arriving today, you’ll meet up with your Travel Director to get a glimpse of what’s to come on your West Coast USA tour, before getting to know Anaheim, your home for the next two nights. You’ll find plenty of dining and entertainment options with magical Disneyland nearby.

Day 2 | Los Angeles 
Ready to get stars in your eyes? This morning’s tour with your Travel Director will show you the all-out glitz and glamour of L.A. Join your fellow travellers and see the posh streets of Beverly Hills, drive down the iconic Sunset Boulevard, walk along the stars of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and see the Dolby Theater, home of the Academy Awards. Afterwards, we take you to beautiful Santa Monica where you’ll have the afternoon free to explore your way.

Day 3 | Los Angeles – Phoenix (1 Night)
We depart Los Angeles for Phoenix passing through San Gorgonio Wind Farm (one of the windiest places in the US). It features thousands of wind turbines that power the popular Coachella Valley resort towns. Passing through the resort town of Palm Springs, you will then cross the Arizona state line into the ‘Valley of the Sun’, a region boasting 300 days of sunshine per year. Catching your first glimpse of the Colorado River, your final destination for today is Phoenix. This evening is yours to enjoy at your leisure

Day 4 | Phoenix – Sedona – Flagstaff (2 Nights)
Heading north out of Phoenix, today you will witness the impressive saguaro cactus in their desert habitat. As you make your way to the small town of Sedona you will notice the red rock landscape provides a stunning backdrop for artists and craftsmen alike. As one of America’s best small cities for the arts and a haven for New Age enthusiasts, Sedona lives up to its reputation as an artist’s hub. On your way from Sedona to Flagstaff, you will pass through the heart of Oak Creek Canyon. Located in the Coconino National Forest, it is one of the most scenic drives in all of Arizona. With red sandstone walls on one side of the road and the lush river gorge canyon on the other, you can expect an incredible panoramic view.

Day 5 | Flagstaff – Grand Canyon – Flagstaff 
Start today in style with your sights firmly set on one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, the magnificent UNESCO World Heritage listed Grand Canyon National Park. You’ll learn all about the geological formation of the Grand Canyon with your Local Specialist, and then it’s up to you to choose how to explore it further. Perhaps view the Grand Canyon from above and take an optional helicopter tour. Still flying high from an incredible day, you’ll finish up this evening in the Arizonan escape town of Flagstaff, a laid-back outpost on the historic Route 66.

Day 6 | Flagstaff – Historic Route 66 – Las Vegas (2 Nights)
Ready to get your kicks on Route 66? Today is the day to do it. This iconic road is a symbol of the American dream and has been immortalised in books and movies for years. Still to this day, Route 66 represents the ultimate American road trip and you’ll get to take an unforgettable journey down a stretch of it, stopping by Seligman and Kingman en route to Vegas, two iconic outposts that offer a real taste of all things Americana, complete with classic motels, kitsch petrol pumps and steaming slices of apple pie. Finally, as if by magic, you’ll slowly spot the neon lights of Las Vegas looming in the distance. This entertainment oasis is surrounded by dry desert and has a reputation almost as big as the fortune’s many have made (and lost) here.

Day 7 | Las Vegas Free Time
With a full day in Sin City, it’s entirely up to you how to explore the entertainment capital of the world. The casinos, the all-you-can-eat buffets, the glittering rooftop pools, the biggest names in show business – they’re all here for the taking. Or if you’re up for it, to help tailor your Vegas experience, we’ve also got a whole suite of enticing Optional Experiences lined up to help you find a different side of Las Vegas. Head over to Hoover Dam to stand 900 metres above the Colorado River to admire Lake Mead, the biggest man-made reservoir in the United States. Perhaps a singalong at ‘Vegas! The Show’ if a show is more your style. However you choose to explore, today will be one to remember.

Day 8 | Las Vegas – Visalia (1 Night)
Leaving Las Vegas rich in memories, you’ll head for the Mojave Desert this morning. As the driest desert in the United States you’d expect nothing more than barren landscape as you drive through, so prepare to be surprised as you pass lots of rare and beautiful flowers and wildlife. Admiring the dramatic Sierra Nevada mountain range and continuing into the San Joaquin Valley, you’ll finish up today in the agricultural hub of Visalia. With a downtown area that boasts old world charm and a wide selection of superb restaurants, tonight’s dinner will no doubt be filled with chat amongst your fellow travellers about what to expect from your exciting visit to Yosemite National Park the following day.

Day 9 | Visalia – Yosemite National Park – Modesto (1 Night)
Awe-inspiring nature at its finest, Yosemite will challenge all other national parks you’ve previously visited to stake its claim as the most beautiful. The third oldest national park in the United States and a UNESCO World Heritage site, this patch of heaven is all emerald green valleys, cascading waterfalls, giant sequoia trees, and pine-scented forests, framed by the iconic Half Dome and the striking peak of El Capitan. Take your time soaking it all in and exploring the various trails and picnic areas your way before heading on to Modesto, one of the greatest agricultural areas of the nation and the home of the E. & J. Gallo Winery.

Day 10 | Modesto – San Francisco (2 Nights)
Feeling the ocean breeze moving ever closer you’ll head back to the California coast today, crossing the Bay Bridge into one of the West Coast’s best loved cities, San Francisco. A historical hub for progressive thinkers and creatives, San Fran’s famously hilly landscape will instantly win you over as you spot the old-fashioned cable cars slowly rising and falling on the horizon. Explore the ‘City by the Bay’ on a sightseeing tour that visits Fisherman’s Wharf, the Palace of Fine Arts, the lush Presidio area and Italian influenced North Beach. This evening you could opt to join our Chinatown walking tour, exploring the markets, dim sum joints and herb shops of America’s oldest Chinatown before dining family style for a decadent Chinese feast.

Day 11 | San Francisco Free Time
You’ll head off this morning to a San Fran institution, Boudin Bakery, which has been producing their very special ‘Mother Dough’ since 1849. With breakfast sorted, the rest of the day is then free for you to explore your way. If it’s city icons you’re after, why not join your fellow travellers for a walk along the Golden Gate Bridge, followed by a visit to the pretty seaside community of Sausalito. Alternatively, take a cruise around the bay, taking in Alcatraz Island en route, or venture out to Muir Woods to admire the towering, ancient redwood trees that grow here. However you choose to explore, you’ll be sure to make the last day of your USA value tour an extra special one.

Day 12 | Depart San Francisco
With fond memories of sunny Los Angeles, fun loving Vegas and peaceful Yosemite still fresh in your mind, today your adventure through the Golden West will come to an end. You’ve tasted, trekked and maybe even taken a helicopter ride over these lands, and we hope you’ve made many incredible memories along the way. Not ready to go home just yet? Why not extend your stay in San Francisco a little longer, and pay those cheeky sea lions down at Fisherman’s Wharf an overdue visit. Departure will be at leisure.

Inclusions

Accommodation
11 nights accommodation in cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted.
Food
1 breakfast, 1 iconic breakfast

Included Sightseeing
Los Angeles
See the very best Hollywood and Santa Monica have to offer
Grand Canyon National Park
Visit this UNESCO World Heritage Site and Natural Wonder of the World
Las Vegas
Explore this entertainment-filled city with its grand hotels and shops
Yosemite National Park
Take in breath-taking views of El Capitan and Half-Dome Rock
San Francisco
Get familiar with Fisherman’s Wharf, Union Square and Chinatown
Boudin Bakery
Iconic breakfast at renowned Boudin Bakery, a San Francisco institution since 1849
Desert Viewpoint Intertribal Cultural Heritage Site
A Make Travel Matter experience which offers some of the best views of the Grand Canyon while meeting local Indigenous communities

Additional Details

Lead in price:
From $3,485
Based on 6 June 2024 departure
(based on twin share, land only)
Room Configuration: Twin Share/Double
Tour Operator

Terms and Conditions

Full payment due 120 days prior to departure or at time of booking if booked within 120 days of departure; whichever comes first. Prices are in AUD, are per person, land only, based on double occupancy and are subject to availability. If guests change to another tour or date not on sale, they are responsible to pay the difference and adhere to different payment conditions. Savings are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. May be combined with 5% Global Tour Rewards savings only, not combinable with group discounts, Future Travel Credit carry forward discount or any other discount or promotion. Other conditions may apply.

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