San Fran to Vegas

DAY 1 San Francisco.

Welcome to the San Francisco, USA, a city with a storied history and plenty of eccentric characters. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm. Please look for a note in the hotel lobby or ask reception where it will take place. We'll be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this meeting, so ensure you bring these details to provide to your leader.

If you're going to be late, please inform hotel reception. If you can't arrange a flight that will arrive in time for today's welcome meeting, you may wish to arrive a day early so you're able to attend. Get the formalities out of the way and then head out on a tour through San Francisco's famous Little Italy and North Beach districts with a local who knows all the best pubs, and finish with dinner at a local restaurant.

Included Activities

• San Francisco - Dinner Urban Adventure

Meals Included Dinner

Special Information

Notes: As there's very little time spent in San Francisco on this trip, we recommend you arrive a few days early to see the sights. We'll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability). 

 

DAY 2 Sonoma. 

Hit the road out of San Francisco and drive north to the beautiful Sonoma Valley wine region. Home to iconic varietals and picturesque countryside, Sonoma has the feel of a more relaxed Napa Valley. Enjoy lunch, a wine tasting and an optional winery tour at a local vineyard. Later, explore the historic buildings and scenic trails of nearby Jack London State Historic Park.

The author of such classics as Call of the Wild and White Fang was attracted to the area – where he lived until his death – because of the rugged, natural beauty on display. See for yourself what London described as “an almighty sweet land you and I have chosen . . . our Valley of the Moon” and then spend the night in sleepy Sonoma.

Included Activities

• Sonoma - Jack London State Historic Park
• Sonoma - Wine Tasting
• Sonoma - Picnic lunch

Optional Activities

• Sonoma - Jack London Cottage - USD4

Meals Included Lunch

 

DAY 3 Yosemite National Park.

Get set for a long day of driving east to Yosemite National Park. The journey will take about seven hours, and even though the scenery along the way is captivating it’s a good idea to have a book or podcast handy just in case you want a break from watching it stream by.

Featuring sequoia forests, granite cliff faces and waterfalls, the scenery in World Heritage-listed Yosemite had made it a favourite among hikers for generations.

Included Activities

• Yosemite National Park

Meals Included There are no meals included on this day.

 

DAY 4 Yosemite National Park.

Enjoy a free day to explore glorious Yosemite National Park. There are plenty of hikes on offer, with varying degrees of difficulty. If you feel like breaking a sweat, the five-hour hike to the top of Nevada Fall features plenty of switchbacks, and 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, like the one-hour walk to popular swimming spot Mirror Lake. Keep an eye out for squirrels (and watch for bears!) along the way. If you’d prefer, you can hire a bike and cycle around Yosemite Valley, stopping by the park's museum, photo gallery, shops and restaurants on the way.

In the heat of summer, a nice option is a float down the Merced River on a raft followed by a few drinks at the local cafe.

Optional Activities

• Yosemite - Cycling in Yosemite Valley - USD12
• Yosemite National Park - Hiking - Free
• Yosemite - Raft Rental (seasonal) - USD30

Meals Included There are no meals included on this day.

 

DAY 5 Lake Tahoe.

Drive four-hours to Lake Tahoe and enjoy a day to do as you please in this natural playground. The variety of activities on offer change with the seasons. In summer, you can paddle on the clear, blue waters of the lake in a kayak or take a refreshing dip. The hillside around the lake is perfect for hiking during the warmer months.

You can even take an optional sunset sail, glass of champagne in hand. During winter the area becomes a snow-covered playground. Choose to strap on some snowshoes and go for a hike over powdery hills, take a sleigh ride, or try your hand at ice skating. 

Optional Activities

• Lake Tahoe - Kayaking/watersports - USD25
• Lake Tahoe - Sunset champagne cruise - USD75

Meals Included There are no meals included on this day.

 

DAY 6 Eastern Sierra/Lone Pine.

Watch the ash vault begin to quiver with heat shimmer as you make the six-hour drive into Death Valley. Tomorrow you’ll explore the wonderous landscape of the valley, but today the destination is Lone Pine.

A tiny town famous as the setting for movies like Gunga Din, How the West Was Won and Django Unchained, there’s the chance to visit the Museum of Western Film History here, which celebrates the many films shot in the area.

There may also be the opportunity to visit the Manzanar National Historic Site, a former Japanese Internment Camp during WWII while en route to Lone Pine, depending on the group’s interest.

Optional Activities

• Lone Pine - Museum of Western Film History - USD5

Meals Included Breakfast

 

DAY 7 Death Valley. 

Today you'll explore the geologically rich Death Valley National Park. Don't let the name fool you, this park features huge sand dunes, canyons, sculpted rocks, valleys and volcanic craters. Elevations fluctuate from 85 metres below sea level near Badwater Point (the lowest point in the USA) to 3756 metres above sea level at Telescope Peak.

 Death Valley is extremely hot and dry (the highest recorded temperature in the world was measured in local Furnace Creek at 56.6˚C in 1913) so remember to pack plenty of water and don't overexert yourself. For expansive views of the valley, you can hike to Dante's View, or perhaps visit the puckered, volcanic Ubehebe Crater. 

Included Activities

• Death Valley National Park

Optional Activities

• Death Valley National Park - Hiking (seasonal) - Free

Meals Included Breakfast

 

DAY 8 Las Vegas.

It's a short three-hour drive through Nevada today to the glitzy desert city of Las Vegas. This city may be the gambling capital of the world, but if the tables aren't your thing there's still plenty to discover in Las Vegas. Maybe wander along the Strip past impersonators, billboards and hotels to the choreographed Bellagio Fountain show.

Or perhaps head to a rooftop amusement park, 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. In the evening, join up with the group for an included buffet dinner, a classic Vegas dining experience.

Included Activities

• Las Vegas - Buffet Dinner

Optional Activities

• Las Vegas - Helicopter Tour of The Strip - USD110
• Las Vegas - Limo (per group) - USD300
• Las Vegas - Big Apple Express roller coaster - USD15
• Las Vegas - Eiffel Tower - USD20
• Las Vegas - Neon Museum Tour - USD28
• Las Vegas - Neon Museum - USD20

Meals Included Dinner

 

DAY 9 Las Vegas. 

Your trip comes to an end after breakfast. As there's a great deal to do in Las Vegas, we recommend staying a few extra days to make the most of this exciting city. If you need help booking extra accommodation, our reservations team will be happy to assist (subject to availability).

If you do decide to stay on, perhaps indulge in an unforgettable helicopter trip from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon. The trip includes champagne, beverages and a light snack, all served above the Colorado River. 

Optional Activities

• Las Vegas - Grand Canyon Helicopter flight from Las Vegas - USD529

Meals Included There are no meals included on this day.