15D/14N - 2020 National Parks Explorer

    National Parks Explorer

    San Francisco-Lake Tahoe-Sierra Nevada Mountains-Reno-Black Rock Desert-Twin Falls-Craters of the Moon-Yellowstone National Park-Grand Tetons-Jackson-Salt Lake City-Moab-Arches National Park-Canyonlands-Capitol Reef-Bryce Canyon-Lake Powell-Grand Canyon-Flagstaff-Seligman-Route 66-Las Vegas-Mojave Desert-Beverly Hills-Los Angeles

    15days/14nights, San Francisco/Los Angeles

    2020 depart Sat: May 09, 30. Jun 27. Jul 18. Aug 15. Sep 05, 26.

    Child rates 07-12 years on request.

     

day 01 San Francisco

Own arrangements to your hotel in San Francisco. Meet your tour manager in the evening.

day 02 San Francisco

This morning take a city tour which includes Union Square, the Civic Centre and Fisherman’s Wharf. Standing on a hilltop, watching the fog swirl in through the Golden Gate, it is easy to understand why many consider San Francisco the most beautiful city in America. Enjoy the afternoon and evening at leisure, perhaps a cable car ride to Fisherman’s Wharf where one may enjoy a “Taste of San Francisco” local seafood, famous sourdough breads or decadent Ghiradelli’s Chocolate. Or Take a stroll by Sea Lions’ Marina to watch them frolic and play. Be sure to gaze across the bay to Alcatraz Island where “America’s most wanted” such as Al Capone was incarcerated.

day 03 San Francisco-Lake Tahoe-Sierra Nevada Mountains-Reno

Depart for Sacramento, capital of the “Golden State.” A stop will be made in Old Town, once a bustling center of the Gold Rush and terminus of the Pony Express. Continue to gorgeous Lake Tahoe, nestled in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. In the afternoon you will visit Virginia City, a 19th century mining metropolis where the Old West comes to life. A short drive takes you to Reno and your hotel, where you may be tempted to try your luck in the casino.

day 04 Reno-Black Rock Desert-Twin Falls

Journey through the Black Rock Desert and across the plains of northern Nevada. Follow the Humboldt River along the route that was once used by early pioneers on the Oregon and California Trails. Visit Elko, the formerly rough and tumble town that once sat at the end of the tracks laid from the west by the Central Pacific Railroad. Cross the state line at Jackpot and enter Twin Falls, located within Idaho’s Magic Valley region.

day 05 Twin Falls-Craters of the Moon-Yellowstone National Park

Leaving Twin Falls, you will cross the Snake River, known as “The River of No Return.” Then visit Craters of the Moon National Monument. This eerie desert landscape so closely resembles lunar conditions that the training for the first men on the moon actually took place here. Later this afternoon you arrive at Yellowstone National Park, established in 1872 by Ulysses S. Grant as the world’s first national park.

day 06 Yellowstone National Park

Enjoy a comprehensive sightseeing tour of this immense geothermal wonderland. Highlights of your tour will include Yellowstone Lake, Old Faithful, Mammoth Hot Springs, and Yellowstone Canyon’s majestic falls (seasonal).

day 07 Yellowstone-Grand Tetons-Jackson-Salt Lake City

This morning’s journey is through the rugged, snow-capped mountains which welcome you to Grand Teton National Park, Visit the Snake River Outlook and try your eye at capturing the stunning landscape made famous by Ansel Adam’s iconic shot. This prairie land is home to wild buffalo, moose and elk. Continue to Jackson Hole, the sophisticated “Crown Jewel” of the Rocky Mountains. Travel through southern Idaho to Salt Lake City in the Mormon State of Utah. See the State Capitol building and visit famed Temple Square and the Tabernacle before arriving at the hotel for the evening. May we suggest a dinner at the Roof Restaurant for panoramic views of Temple Square? (optional)

day 08 Salt Lake City-Canyonlands NP-Moab

Heading south this morning, you'll pass through Provo, home to Brigham Young University, en route to Canyonlands National Park. Today you will see a wilderness of countless canyons & fantastically formed buttes carved by the Colorado River & its tributaries. Rivers divide the park into four districts: the Island in the Sky, the Needles, the Maze & the Rivers themselves. We will visit some of the most scenic spots in the Island in the Sky mesa that rests on sheer sandstone cliffs over 1,000 feet above the surrounding terrain. Continue on to Moab for your stay tonight.

day 09 Moab-Arches National Park--Moab

Today we visit Arches National Park, one of Utah's Mighty 5. Once in the park, you'll discover a landscape of contrasting colors, landform and textures unlike any other in the world. With over 2,000 natural stone arches, in addition to hundreds of soaring pinnacles and giant balanced rocks, this red rock wonderland will amaze you with its formations and inspire you with its most unique scenery. This evening enjoy an optional Jet Boat Float trip on the Mighty Colorado River.

day 10 Moab-Capitol Reef-Bryce Canyon

Visit Capitol Reef National Park, a destination of extraordinary natural beauty, established in 1937 to protect a unique geological feature. Continue to spectacular Bryce Canyon, where a tour through a multi-coloured wold of sandstone spires and pinnacle, ‘hoodoos’, will dazzle the eye. This evening, weather permitting, be sure to gaze upon the spectacular night sky filled with sparkling stars and brilliant constellations and the aroma of pinewood campfires.

day 11 Bryce Canyon-Lake Powell-Grand Canyon-Flagstaff

Travel to stunning Lake Powell, where crystal blue water laps against red rock canyon walls. After crossing the Colorado, enter the Navajo Indian Reservation and drive through the Painted Desert via Cameron Trading Post. Arrive at the Grand Canyon, one of the 7 great natural wonders of the world. Stop at the rim to fully experience this mile-deep colourful canyon’s plunging gorges and rising spires formed by the mighty Colorado River. Overnight in Flagstaff.

day 12 Flagstaff-Seligman/Route 66-Las Vegas

Descend the high Coconino Plateau into the Mojave Desert. Along the way, pass through Seligman, a town built along the famed Route 66 that looks as if it were frozen in time sixty years ago. Onward to Las Vegas, the dazzling “Entertainment Capital of the World.”

day 13 Las Vegas

Today is at leisure for you to enjoy the many attractions that Las Vegas has to offer. In addition to world-class shopping, bustling casinos, and Broadway-calibre shows, you might simply stroll the famous Strip taking in its amazing sights. You also have the opportunity today to take an optional trip to Death Valley, one of the hottest, driest, and lowest places on the surface of the Earth.

day 14 Las Vegas-Mojave Desert-Beverly Hills-Los Angeles

Today stars with a stop at the iconic Las Vegas Welcome Sign where you may wish to capture your photo memory. Travel to Los Angeles via the Mojave Desert. Cluster of unique Joshua trees dot the mountainous landscape. Upon arrival in Los Angeles you will enjoy a tour including Hollywood, Sunset Strip and parts of Beverly Hills, before reaching your hotel.

day 15 Los Angeles

Your tour comes to an end in the morning. Transfer independently to the airport.

Inclusions: twin share, welcome reception, deluxe coach, tour director, visits as per program, porterage, service charges, taxes.
Sightseeing: San Francisco, Sacramento, Yellowstone National Park, Guided Tour of Temple Square, Arches National Park, Route 66, Seligman, Los Angeles city Tour including Beverly Hills & Hollywood.

Hotels: San Francisco-Hotel Carlton, Reno-Harrahs Reno, Twin Falls-Red Lion Hotel Twin Falls, Yellowstone-Gray Wolf Inn/Brandon Iron Inn, Salt Lake City-Hotel RL Salt Lake City, Moab-Moab Valley Inn, Bryce Canyon-Bryce View Lodge, Flagstaff-Days Hotel Flagstaff, Las Vegas-Luxor Las Vegas, Pyramid rooms (or similar).

Notes: All bookings are made only on English spoken tour departures; however some tours may be modified to bilingual (2 languages) at short notice. Tours are subject to change without notice pending climatic and local traffic conditions.

Optional excursions: Night tour of San Francisco with dinner in Chinatown, cruise the Colorado on a float trip in Moab, helicopter flights over the Grand Canyon, fly over Lake Powell and enjoy a Monument Valley tour, Las Vegas by Night tour, “All-American” Picnic at a surprise destination en route.

Kindly book your optional tours with your tour director at the start of the tour.

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