California Explorer | The Ultimate Travel Company

ITINERARY INSPIRATION

CALIFORNIA EXPLORER

Heading away from the coast, this adventurous self-drive will introduce you to California’s wealth of inland attractions, from rolling hillside vineyards to natural sanctuaries with mile-high granite cliffs.
CALIFORNIA EXPLORER

ABOUT THE ITINERARY

After a couple of nights in vibrant San Francisco, you’ll pick up your hire car and make your way up into California’s wine country – an enchanting world of gold-green hills scattered with family-run wineries and Michelin-starred restaurants. From here you’ll set off to discover the imposing granite monoliths of Yosemite National Park and the barren, sun-baked desert of the Death Valley.

Las Vegas, the lavish desert oasis with spectacularly themed hotels, glitzy casinos and first-class shows, makes for a fitting finale.

Monterey Bay, Carmel and Big Sur | California, USA | Ultimate Travel Company
ITINERARY INSPIRATION

DESIGNED BY SPECIALISTS

Bear in mind, these are just a starting point as all holidays are customised to the specific requirements of our guests. Whether you prefer a different style of accommodation, a greater focus on a particular interest or to go to a different destination all together, every itinerary is created individually around your preferences.

San Francisco | USA | Ultimate Travel Company
DAY 1-3

SAN FRANCISCO

Begin in the great city of San Francisco where highlights range from cycling across the Golden Gate Bridge to ferry trips to nearby Alcatraz – opt for a guided night tour for a more engaging experience of this infamous prison island.

You’ll also find an array of wonderfully diverse neighborhoods to explore, from the enormous Chinatown to student Berkeley and distinctly Italian North Beach (home to the iconic City Lights Bookstore). Other must-see attractions include crooked Lombard Street and the brightly painted Victorian buildings known as the Painted Ladies, as well as Pier 39 with its colony of sea lions. You’ll be staying at the upscale Argonaut Hotel on Fisherman’s Wharf with superb views out across San Francisco Bay.

Stay: Three nights at the Argonaut Hotel

California Explorer | The Ultimate Travel Company
DAY 4-6

NAPA VALLEY

From Frisco, hire a car and follow route 101 north across the Golden Gate Bridge towards picturesque Napa Valley whose acclaimed vineyards are responsible for producing some of America’s finest wines.

With elegant Hotel Yountville as your base, you’ll be able to devote your days to private wine tastings and behind-the-scenes tours of the wine making process, cycling through the scenic countryside and indulging in delicious farm-to-table cuisine at your hotel and surrounding restaurants. You can also pay a visit to the Napa Valley Museum to learn more and the fascinating culture and history of the region.

Stay: Three nights at Hotel Yountville

California Explorer | The Ultimate Travel Company
DAY 7-9

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK

From Napa Valley, it’s just a short drive inland to reach the vertical world of Yosemite National Park in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. An icon of America’s majestic natural beauty, the park is famed for its ancient sequoia trees, wildflower meadows, glacier-carved valleys and cascading waterfalls that hang from 3,000-foot granite cliffs like bridal veils.

You’ll be staying at the east end of Yosemite Valley, surrounded by views of the park’s most famous icons, including Half Dome, Yosemite Falls and Glacier Point. There are well-signposted hiking and biking trails in abundance, whilst those feeling more adventurous can opt for rock climbing or zip-lining. You can explore independently or in the company of a knowledgeable guide for a deeper insight into the park’s geology and wildlife.

Stay: Three nights at The Ahwahnee

California Explorer | The Ultimate Travel Company
DAY 10

DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK

Discover more extreme landscapes further south in the appropriately named Death Valley National Park. This is one of the hottest and driest places on earth, with sun-baked dunes and water-sculpted canyons that harbour a surprising diversity of life, including rattlesnakes, bighorn sheep and over 1,000 species of plants. Plus, Native American archaeological sites and ancient rock art.

Base yourself at the Inn at Death Valley, whose natural spring-fed pool remains a balmy 30°C even on the coolest of desert nights. From here you can set out to marvel at the spectacular colors that adorn the eroded hills of Artist’s Palette, the field of salt crystal formations known as Devil’s Golf Course and the Badwater Basin – the lowest point in North America.

Stay: One night at The Inn at Death Valley

Las Vegas | USA | Ultimate Travel Company
DAY 11-13

LAS VEGAS

Leaving Death Valley behind, you’ll now drive over the state line to Las Vegas in neighboring Nevada. With its lavishly themed hotels, glitzy casinos and wacky, over-the-top buildings, this money-making desert oasis makes for a fabulous finale to any Californian adventure. Even if you don’t gamble a cent, you can still indulge in Michelin-starred dining, browse high-end boutiques and experience world-class shows such as Cirque du Soleil and the Blue Man Group. Stay at the iconic Bellagio Hotel, famed for its elegance and dancing water fountains.

Stay: Three nights at Bellagio Las Vegas

DAY 14

FLY HOME

Return to the airport in time for your departure flight home.

THE PRICE BREAKDOWN
14 days from $6,710 per person

PRICE INCLUDES

  • Car hire
  • Private transfers
  • B&B accommodation and activities as stated
  • Based on two people travelling

PRICE EXCLUDES

  • International flights
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