Palm Springs, Bryce Canyon & Death Valley - 13 Days

Arrive at Los Angeles International Airport and make your own way to the hotel. Here, you will meet your Tour Director and prepare for the journey ahead. Please note: This tour may have travellers joining or departing at various points along the route, meaning group composition can change during the tour. Please also be aware that depending on group composition, guiding may be in additional languages as well as English.

Los Angeles - Palm Springs - Phoenix. Your journey begins as we travel through Palm Springs, long favoured by Hollywood’s elite. Set against the San Jacinto Mountains, the town is known for its lively centre and pristine golf courses. A striking field of wind turbines marks the entrance to this desert region. We continue through Indio in the Coachella Valley, home to the International Date Festival. Passengers joining the motorcoach tour should meet in the hotel lobby at 07:30 for an 08:00 departure.

Phoenix - Sedona - Grand Canyon. We travel through the Sonoran Desert, one of the most biologically diverse deserts in the Americas. Our route continues to Sedona, surrounded by distinctive red rock formations such as Cathedral Rock and Coffee Pot. We then drive through scenic Oak Creek Canyon before arriving at Grand Canyon National Park. At the rim, take in views of this vast, mile-deep canyon carved over millions of years by the Colorado River.

Grand Canyon - Monument Valley - Lake Powell. Today we enter Navajo Nation, passing Cameron Trading Post before continuing through the Painted Desert.Monument Valley presents some of the most recognisable landscapes of the American West, with its dramatic sandstone buttes. By late afternoon we arrive in Page, set above the Colorado River, where the evening is at leisure.

Lake Powell - Kanab - Bryce Canyon City. We visit Glen Canyon Dam, one of the highest concrete-arch dams in the United States, with views over Lake Powell where deep blue waters contrast with red canyon walls. Crossing into Utah, we pass through Kanab before reaching Bryce Canyon National Park. Here, we explore a landscape of striking sandstone spires known as hoodoos. This evening, you may wish to enjoy the clear night skies, renowned for their exceptional stargazing.

Bryce Canyon City - Zion - Las Vegas. We continue to Zion National Park, where towering rock formations have been shaped by wind, water and time. Later, we arrive in Las Vegas, known as the Entertainment Capital of the World, offering a wide range of shows, dining and nightlife.

A full day at leisure to explore Las Vegas. You might walk along the famous Strip, visit themed resorts, enjoy shopping or attend one of the city’s many live performances.

Las Vegas - Death Valley - Mammoth Lakes. We stop at the iconic Las Vegas Welcome Sign before heading into Death Valley, one of the hottest and driest places on earth. Highlights include Zabriskie Point and Furnace Creek. We then ascend into the Sierra Nevada Mountains to Mammoth Lakes, a former gold mining town now known for its alpine scenery. If Tioga Pass is closed, routing will be via Fresno.

Mammoth Lakes - Fresno - Yosemite - Modesto. This morning, you may choose an optional gondola ride to Mammoth Mountain for panoramic views. We then travel into Yosemite National Park via Tioga Pass, where we explore the valley floor. Key sights include El Capitan, Half Dome, Bridalveil Fall and Yosemite Falls.

Modesto - San Francisco. We depart early for San Francisco. On arrival, a city tour introduces you to its most notable sights before checking in to your hotel. This evening, you may opt for a City by Night tour.

A day at leisure to explore. You might ride a cable car to Fisherman’s Wharf and sample local specialities such as seafood, sourdough bread or Ghirardelli chocolate. Views across the bay reveal Alcatraz Island, once home to infamous prisoners. Alternatively, visit Union Square for shopping. An optional excursion to Napa Valley offers wine tasting in one of the world’s leading wine regions.

San Francisco - Monterey - Santa Barbara. We leave San Francisco for the Monterey Peninsula, known for its coastal scenery and elegant homes. In Monterey, we visit Fisherman’s Wharf and Cannery Row. We continue to Carmel-by-the-Sea, a charming town with galleries and boutique shops. The journey continues south through Paso Robles to the Central Coast for an overnight stay.

Santa Barbara - Santa Monica - Los Angeles. Travelling through the Santa Ynez Valley, we arrive in Santa Barbara, where palm-lined promenades meet sandy beaches. Returning to Los Angeles, we enjoy an orientation tour including Hollywood, Beverly Hills and Century City. We end in Santa Monica at the historic Route 66 terminus, where you may choose to have lunch on the pier before the tour concludes.