Compare Las Vegas to San Fran: Parks, Canyons, Valleys by Intrepid Travel vs California Classics by Globus
Compare details and see what other travelers are saying.
| Trip |
4.5 | Great
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 8 days | 10 days |
| Price From | $ 2,412 | $ 3,899 |
| Price Per Day | $ 302 | $ 390 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Small group tour | Group tour |
| Lodging Level | Premium | Premium |
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | No |
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| Meals Included | N/A | N/A |
| Description |
Fall in love with the rugged and diverse American West on this eight-day adventure, from the sun-baked dunes and canyons of Death Valley to Yosemite National Park's granite peaks and pine forests. Explore the highlights of the wild west coast and stroll the neon-lit boulevards of Las Vegas, walk through giant sequoias in Mariposa Grove, take scenic drives and hikes to natural wonders like Yosemite Falls, spend some free time to explore Monterey Bay at your own pace, check out coastal parks in California, enjoy dinner at a local winery and end it all with a catamaran cruise in the bay of San Francisco, taking in all the iconic sites from the water during sunset. |
When you hum along to California Dreamin’ on the radio, what wistful wonders come to mind? Giant sequoias in Yosemite National Park? Big reds in Sonoma? Mega stars in Los Angeles? Colossal mansions that dot the entire Pacific coastline? From the City by the Bay to the City of Angels, this ten-day tour of California reveals every heavenly sight that earned the Golden State its name. Yosemite’s Cathedral Spires, 17-Mile Drive’s Lone Cypress, and San Simeon’s Hearst Castle are just a few you’ll want your camera ready for. Between the high energy of Silicon Valley and the high style of Beverly Hills, this encompassing California vacation weaves in plenty of kickback time with visits to a Sonoma vineyard, the quiet Danish village of Solvang, and the tony resort zip codes of Monterey, Carmel, and Santa Barbara. Don’t forget your shades. |
Day 1 Las Vegas
Welcome to the glitzy desert city of Las Vegas, Nevada! It may be a gambler’s paradise, but if the tables aren't your thing, there's still plenty to discover in this neon metropolis. Maybe wander along the famous strip, past impersonators, billboards and hotels to the choreographed Bellagio Fountain show. Hit the chain stores or lose all sense of time exploring the gaudy interiors of hotels like The Venetian, Caesars Palace and New York-New York. Your trip starts at 6 pm tonight with a welcome meeting. After, why not join your fellow travellers for an optional dinner and indulge in some nightlife?
Day 2 Las Vegas to Fresno
This morning, depart Las Vegas and begin your road trip. This is a long driving day and a great opportunity to experience the dramatic change in landscape from the desert to the mountains of California. You'll have plenty of stops to stretch your legs and take photos. The first stop is Death Valley National Park. Don't let the name fool you – this park features huge sand dunes, canyons, sculpted rocks, valleys and volcanic craters. Death Valley is extremely hot and dry (the highest recorded temperature in the world was measured in local Furnace Creek at 56.6 degrees Celsius in 1913), so remember to drink plenty of water and don't overexert yourself. Stop along the way at Zabriskie Point, Badwater Basin and the Mesquite Dunes, where you’ll have the chance to explore with some short walks. Continue around the Sierras to the south, where things get much greener. You’ll spend the night in Fresno, where you’ll have dinner at a local restaurant with your group.
Day 3 Yosemite National Park
This morning, head north to the world-famous Yosemite National Park – featuring colossal granite cliff faces, cascading waterfalls (depending on the season), and sequoia forests, the scenery in Yosemite attracts travellers from all over the globe. When you arrive, wander through the jaw-dropping Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, home to some of the largest known trees on Earth. These colossal, ancient wonders are adapted for survival – they’re resistant to disease, thanks to a large content of tannin in the wood, and their thick asbestos-like bark means that they can withstand the hottest of forest fires, making them almost indestructible. Make the scenic drive into Yosemite Valley and explore sites like Yosemite Falls and the visitor center, before settling in at a local restaurant in Yosemite Valley for a fun pizza dinner and a cold beer (if you fancy).
Day 4 Yosemite National Park
Enjoy a full day to explore the spectacular scenery of Yosemite National Park. The breathtaking landscapes have made Yosemite a favourite among hikers for generations, and there are plenty of trekking routes on offer with varying degrees of difficulty. Your leader will choose a hike based on the group’s ability and desires. If you feel like breaking a sweat, the hike to Vernal Falls features plenty of switchbacks and depending on the season, you’ll be rewarded with spectacular views of the cascading waterfall beneath the giant Half Dome. Feel like taking it easy? No problem, there are plenty of gentle trails on offer, too. Keep an eye out for squirrels (and watch for bears!) along the way. Make the winding trip up to Glacier Point for incredible views over the valley, Yosemite Falls and Half Dome – don't forget your cameras today, as this is one of the best places in the park to get amazing photos.
Day 5 Monterey
After breakfast this morning, depart Yosemite for coastal California and the haven of Monterey. Your leader will take the group on an orientation walk when you arrive to get your bearings. The rest of the day is free to explore at your own pace – maybe head to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, a popular spot for tourists and locals alike. Tonight, maybe get a recommendation from your leader on one of the best dinner spots in the area or just kick back on the beach and watch the sunset.
Day 6 California Coast / Monterey
Today you’ll head out on a full-day exploration of the glittering coast and the surrounding villages and parks with your group. Make the most of the scenic parks along California Highway 1 and check out Sea Lion Point. Check out the gorgeous local beaches in Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, explore tidepools and relax on the white sands, surrounded by turquoise waters and cliffs. Head out on an easy coastal hike for epic views over the ocean, then cap off the day with a visit to a local winery in the Carmel Valley for a wine tasting and dinner with views of the surrounding vineyard.
Day 7 San Francisco
This morning after breakfast, you’ll follow the coast to Santa Cruz, stopping at the famous pier for some free time to grab lunch, sit on the beach and enjoy the vibes. Visit Half Moon Bay for a short beach walk and then carry on to San Fran. When you arrive, head out on a tour of the city and then check in to your hotel for the night. At sunset, you’ll hit the water for an incredible catamaran cruise around the bay, with views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island – this is the perfect farewell to a sun kissed Californian adventure. If you like, head out with your fellow travellers for one last dinner.
Day 8 San Francisco
With no activities planned today, your adventure ends this morning. If you’d like to stay longer, just speak to your booking agent.
Day 1: ARRIVE IN SAN FRANCISCO
Welcome to San Francisco! At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions for a welcome drink.
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Day 2: SAN FRANCISCO
City by the Bay Enjoy morning sightseeing in one of the world’s most beautiful cities. See Golden Gate National Recreation Area, including the Golden Gate Bridge and the Presidio. Free time this afternoon to explore the city. Ride the world-famous cable cars, shop in Union Square, or visit the Museum of Modern Art. Dinner at a local restaurant this evening. (Breakfast,Dinner)
LOCAL FAVORITECULTURE & TRADITION As the song goes, you’ll leave your heart in San Francisco with a stroll through the exquisite Japanese Tea Garden. Walk the beautiful landscapes in the oldest public Japanese garden in the United States. Learn about the history of the park and enjoy time to explore the five acres of native Japanese plants, serene koi ponds, pagodas, and more.
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Day 3: SAN FRANCISCO–EXCURSION TO SAUSALITO & SONOMA
Vineyards & Views Travel across the Golden Gate Bridge this morning to the charming town of Sausalito. Continue to Sonoma for lunch on your own. Visit a local vineyard for a tour and tasting. (Breakfast)
TOUR HIGHLIGHTTASTES & TRADITIONS Cross San Francisco Bay on the iconic Golden Gate Bridge to stroll the quaint artisan avenues of Sausalito. Enjoy waterfront views and breathtaking scenery in the charming waterfront village with a large variety of shops, restaurants, and art galleries. Venture to Sonoma with its wealth of verdant vineyards for a wine tasting.
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Day 4: SAN FRANCISCO–YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK
The Mountains are Calling Travel eastward through the Sierra Nevada Mountains to Yosemite National Park. Free time this evening. (Breakfast)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT NATURAL WONDERS Yosemite has innumerable lakes, meadows, ice-sculpted domes, forests, waterfalls, and unspoiled alpine scenery. Descend into the 4,000-foot valley for an open-air Valley Floor Tram to explore the famous sites of El Capitan, Cathedral Spires, Yosemite Falls, and Half Dome. Here, John Muir realized, “The mountains are calling, and I must go.” We think you’ll agree.
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Day 5: YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK–MONTEREY
Giants of the Land and Sea Before departing Yosemite National Park, visit Mariposa Grove, home to many old-growth sequoias. Stand in awe as you look skyward at these massive giants, one of the Earth’s largest and longest living organisms. Then, on to Monterey, home to the famed Cannery Row. (Breakfast)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT HISTORY & HERITAGE Immortalized by John Steinbeck in his novel of the same name, Cannery Row is filled with history and vibrant sights along the waterfront of Monterey Bay. Once a bustling district of sardine factories, the street is a brightly painted avenue of eateries and shops that harken back to a heritage of fishermen and rich stories. In the morning, stroll along the wharf for the chance to see whales, otters, and other sea creatures in the kelp forests of the Pacific Ocean shore.
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Day 6: MONTEREY. EXCURSION TO CARMEL
Cottages & Cypress Trees This morning, spend your free time visiting historic Cannery Row. Other highlights today include a visit to the resort town of Carmel with a scenic drive along the famed 17-Mile Drive. Return to Monterey for free time before dinner at a local restaurant. (Breakfast,Dinner)
TOUR HIGHLIGHTCULTURAL GEMS Feel the windswept spirit of the Pacific Ocean with a spectacular drive along 17-Mile Drive to the charming haven of Carmel-by-the-Sea. See its crooked cottages and twisted trees in the popular haunt of writers, artists, and celebrities. You’ll pass by sweeping sea views and rocky shores, visit the world-famous Pebble Beach Golf Course for a walk on the fairway, and see the iconic Lone Cypress clinging to its rocky perch.
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Day 7: MONTEREY–BIG SUR–SAN SIMEON–SOLVANG
California Gold Journey south through Big Sur to San Simeon and visit Hearst Castle. Continue to Solvang for a free evening. (Breakfast)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT LEGENDARY LIVES Visit the opulent mansion of legendary newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst, which houses splendid antiques, art treasures, and exotic possessions purchased at an estimated $50 million. Your guided tour shows off the highlights of the impressive 123-acre estate.
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Day 8: SOLVANG–SANTA BARBARA–LOS ANGELES
Treasures & Traditions Explore the Danish town of Solvang and enjoy a [LF] Danish specialty at a local bakery. Then, travel through the Santa Ynez Mountains to beautiful Santa Barbara to visit the Old Mission Santa Barbara. Continue to metropolitan Los Angeles, the motion picture capital of the world. (Breakfast)
LOCAL FAVORITECULTURAL GEM Stroll the streets of Solvang and feel as though you’ve entered a charming Danish town with picturesque buildings and shops, restaurants and windmills that create a taste of Denmark in California’s Santa Ynez Valley. Enjoy a traditional Danish pastry at Mortensen’s famous bakery.
TOUR HIGLIGHTHISTORY & HERITAGE Experience the beauty and history of California’s mission trail with a visit to Old Mission Santa Barbara. Soak in the stunning Spanish influence of the 1786 “Queen of the Missions” with its wrought iron, terra cotta, and carved wood. Feel the serenity amid its whitewashed walls and tile-roofed buildings below its chiming twin bell towers ringing out on the Camino Real above the beautiful Pacific Ocean.
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Day 9: LOS ANGELES
California Traditions Morning sightseeing of this gigantic metropolis takes you from Olvera Street—the oldest thoroughfare in the city—to Hollywood. See the Sunset Strip and Beverly Hills. Later, visit the Getty Museum. This evening, your Tour Director hosts a special farewell dinner at a local restaurant. (Breakfast,Dinner)
TOUR HIGHLIGHTART & ARCHITECTURE Visit the amazing Getty Museum to see a vast collection of art housed within its hilltop complex above Los Angeles. Here, a treasure trove of masterpieces is displayed with art from the Middle Ages to the present.
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Day 10: LOS ANGELES
Safe travels until we meet again! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. You may choose to extend your time in Los Angeles and explore more on your own. Extra nights are available for purchase. (Breakfast)
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