San Francisco's iconic Golden Gate Bridge
San Francisco's iconic Golden Gate Bridge
Curry Village tent cabins at Yosemite National Park, USA  | Nathaniel Wynne
Knights Valley, Northern Sonoma County  | Keri May
Canvas Tent Cabin in Yosemite National Park  | Curry Village, Yosemite National Park
Barren landscape of California's Death Valley  | Lynne Challinor
Northern Sonoma Vineyards  | Keri May
Massive cliff face in the heart of Death Valley  | Jake Hutchins
Travellers on the cable car in San Francisco  | Graham H.
Vineyards of Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma  | Keri May
The skyline of San Francisco  | Saskia Tolhuis
View from Artesa Winery, near Napa  | Keri May

Nevada to the West Coast Wineries and National Parks

This is a new type of tour, covering some highlights of the United States: National Parks, Wine Country, and some incredible US cities.

14 Days from

$ USD

Trip Code: PCA
View dates to BookEssential Information

Extra trip options & supplements

*Prices listed are per person

Nevada to the West Coast Wineries and National Parks - Single Supplement
$2290 USD

Duration

  • 14 Days

Activities

  • 14 days sightseeing

Accommodation

  • 11 nights hotel accommodation 2-3 star with private facilities
  • 2 nights in tent cabins with shared facilities

Meals

  • 2 Dinners
  • 12 Lunches
  • 14 Breakfasts

Difficulty Grading  

2 / 10

Adventure touring

Trip highlights

  • National Parks: Death Valley, Sequoia, Yosemite.
  • Wineries in Napa Valley
  • Tour of Alcatraz
  • California Coast, Alcatraz, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Catalina Island.

Overview

Explore and enjoy the parks like few tourists experience. From desert to mountains, and to the sea. The dark skies of Death Valley, swim under the stars in Hot Springs, walk the Yosemite Trails at sunset, and be in awe at the grandeur of the world’s largest tree, the Sequoia. Following all this, come explore Chinatown in San Francisco. An evening visit to Alcatraz is not to be missed before we drive along the beautiful Highway 1. We enjoy a great wine tasting, rambles on the beaches, and explore coastal towns. There is time to see the great gray whales on their migration to Alaska. Our journey starts in Las Vegas and ends in Los Angeles.

Itinerary

Expand all | Collapse all

Welcome to Las Vegas. Individual transfer from airport to hotel, Hotel Golden Nugget or similar 3 star

Meals: B

Your Guide will welcome you at the hotel. We start by exploring the famous Las Vegas Strip by foot. In the early afternoon we are heading out to reach Death Valley National Park. Our hotel is in the heart of the national park, complete with its own hot spring pool! In the soft evening light, we explore Zabriske Point and the salt flats at Badwater. Marvel at the immense dark skies and the milky way above. We might see a coyote walking over the dunes and howling at the moon. Maybe you want to enjoy a swim in the hot spring fed pool at your hotel. Overnight at The Ranch at Death Valley or similar 3 star. Drive time: 141 mi/ 2 hours

Meals: B,L

This morning we wake up at Furnace Creek in Death Valley National Park. After a leisurely breakfast we’ll take some time to explore Death Valley. Popular stopping points include the Harmony Borax Works, the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, Stovepipe Wells, and the seldom visited Mosaic Canyon. We’ll exit the park through Panamint Springs and make way towards the lush mountains and forests of central California. This evening we’ll find ourselves just outside the gateway town to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks which we’ll visit the next morning. Comfort Suites Visalia or similar 2 star Drive time: 315 mi / 5 ½ hours

Meals: B,L

From Visalia we’ll depart towards our next national parks following breakfast. The winding Sierra Drive takes us through the small town of Three Rivers and rapidly engulfs us with the Old Growth Redwood Forests. A stop at the Sequoia National Park sign will be our welcome to this trip’s second National Park before embarking on the Generals Highway. There are more points of interest worth stopping at in Sequoia NP than a lifetime could afford, so our guide will navigate us to the most stellar of highlights. The General Sherman Tree, King’s Canyon Overlook, the Lost Grove, and the Big Stump grove will be among the stops as we weave through the park. We’ll exit the in the afternoon, drive through Fresno, Oakhurst, and eventually come to rest for the evening inside Yosemite National Park at Curry Village tent cabins. Drive time: 240 miles/ 4 hours

Meals: B,L

Wakeup surrounded by granite domed walls in the one and only Yosemite Valley. Breakfast with the group will be early to facilitate an entire day wandering about the park. We’ll spend the morning doing leisurely walks around the valley floor. Plenty of opportunities for photos and self directed strolls. Stop at the backpacker’s campground, lay on your back, and take in the views of Yosemite Falls and Half Dome, then take a swim in a calm river eddy as the sun goes down.

Meals: B,L

A transfer from Yosemite to the Napa Valley will include seeing a part of Yosemite we haven’t yet visited. Exiting through Big Oak Flat Road will allow us to look back on the valley from a vantage new to us. We’ll pass Tuolumne Grove and Groveland on our way to Napa. We’ll visit a winery for an included tasting before settling in at our hotel for the evening. Napa Winery Inn or similar 3 star. Drive time: 175 mi /3 ½ hours

Meals: B,L

Sleep in this morning after a full week of heavy travel. Eat breakfast at your leisure then take a walk around Napa. At 10am we’ll hop on the wine trolley where we’ll commence a tour of numerous wineries and sample the region’s best product, finishing the night with an included dinner at a local restaurant. We’ll return to the hotel post-dinner

Meals: B,L,D

Today we’ll make way to San Francisco over The Golden Gate Bridge. We’ll stop on both sides of the bridge and look over Alcatraz Island which we’ll be visiting in the afternoon. Your guide will give you a lay of the San Fran landscape to explore on your own the following day. After the Alcatraz tour this afternoon, return to the hotel, or stay out to enjoy a SF dinner. Hotel Caza or similar 3 star, 2 nights Drive time: 70 miles / 2 hour

Meals: B,L

Today is entirely self-directed. The presidio of SF, Golden Gate Park, Union Square, Chinatown, Fisherman’s wharf, and the Embarcadero are favorites of locals and visitors alike. See the painted ladies and the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood if there’s any time left in your day

Meals: B,L

Today we depart San Francisco and make our way along the coast to Paso Robles, another favorite for California’s wine afficionados. Before tonight’s arrival, we’ll make several stops at notable CA coastal cities. Driving between the ocean and the redwoods, we’ll pass Half Moon Bay on our way Santa Cruz where we’ll take our first break from driving. Grab a coffee on the pier and get some sand between your toes before we head around the bay to Monterey. Have some lunch, stroll around the downtown neighborhood, then hop back in the van as we cruise up to Paso Robles where we settle in for the night. Paso Robles Inn 3 star Drive time: 215 miles / 4 hours

Meals: B,L

From Paso Robles to Los Angeles we’ll have many more stops to make along the shore. We’ll hit the coast at Pismo Beach then again at Gaviola Beach where highway one and the 101 meet. We’ll make a stop in Santa Barbara to stretch the legs, eat lunch, and explore the downtown; then we’ll cruise over to Ventura, drive through Malibu, and see the pacific Palisades from the coast. Once we arrive in Santa Monica we’ll turn inland towards Los Angeles proper. Before arriving at the hotel for the night we’ll drive through Beverly Hills for some celebrity spotting. Get to bed early tonight because tomorrow will be a long but fruitful day on Catalina Island. Miyako Hotel or similar 3 star, 3 nights Drive time: 250 miles / 4 ½ hours

Meals: B,L

The early bird gets the worm today, so we’ll aim to be in Long Beach for the boat to Catalina Island by 7:30am. The boat ride is about an hour, so you’ll have time to review the day’s options and itinerary while you sip a cup of jo on the water. Catch breakfast with the group once we touch down in Avalon then spread out to see the island however you’d prefer. Some like to see it via Zip-line, others via jeep tour. After the morning activity, grab some lunch in the historic downtown before heading out for a second activity. Some enjoy a glass-bottom boat, a drink on the beach, a relaxing hour or two at the spa, or a stroll through the botanical garden. Whatever it is that you do, don’t miss the boat back at 7:30pm!

Meals: B,L

Today is our last full day as a group. From the hotel, we’ll drive around LA from Rodeo Drive, Hollywood, the Walk of Fame, and Melrose Ave. In the afternoon we’ll head to Venice beach, Manhattan Beach, and finally the Santa Monica Pier. Farewell dinner included. Drive time: 70 miles / 2 hours

Meals: B,L,D

After breakfast, this amazing trip concludes and you will continue to your forward arrangements independently.

Meals: B

Map

Elevation

The map and elevation chart are for illustrative purposes only and meant to provide general guidelines.

Ready to start your adventure?

View dates to Book

What’s included?

Included

  • 13 Breakfasts, 12 self-made picnic lunches, 2 dinners
  • 11 nights hotel accommodations in 2-3 star hotels with private facilities
  • 2 nights in tent cabins in Yosemite Valley / Curry Village with communal baths
  • Expertly trained multi-lingual tour directors
  • 15 seat, private passenger vans with or without a trailer depending on group size
  • Entrance fees to National Parks
  • Cable car day pass
  • Catalina Island Ferry to and from
  • Alcatraz visit
  • Wine tasting, wine trolley tour

Not included

  • Cost of laundry, soft drinks & alcoholic beverages
  • Meals not indicated in the itinerary
  • Flights, airport taxes, and airport transfers
  • Travel Insurance (compulsory)
  • Visas
  • Medical treatment
  • Personal expenses
  • Optional excursions
  • Hotel Porterage
  • Tour leader tip (approx USD$10-12 per day)

About your guide

All of our USA tour leaders are certified in First Aid and CPR and registered as official guides with the national parks. All of them are trained to guide hikes. Most are bilingual and many of our departures are conducted in English as well as one other language (typically German or Spanish). Your tour leader is from the USA and may have grown up here or may have moved here from another country - As many Americans do!

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