California Discovery (9 Days / 8 Nights)

An in-depth journey to the famous Highlights of California and fabulous Pacific coast. Explore and enjoy the parks like few tourists experience. From desert to mountains, and to the sea.

$ 3,925.00 per person based on 2 people sharing.

$ 5,095.00 for single supplement

**Due to the limited capacity of this tour, Please inquire for live availability.

This tour can be booked with a 10% Deposit, with the balance payable 8 weeks prior to departure.

Hiking Grade: 2 (Adventure Touring)

These adventurous touring style trips sometimes may visit remote areas where facilities are often basic. Many of our cultural journeys often involve some camping or basic lodging. Our adventure touring trips will often involve long drives and rough roads. To enjoy these trips we suggest reasonable fitness and health, a moderately active lifestyle and a positive attitude. Suggested preparation: Two or three times a week, we recommend you walk on undulating terrain for an hour or more, for at least three months prior to departure.

Description:

California offers many natural treasures. Enjoy 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, a chance to soak in hot springs, ramble 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.

Trip Highlights:

• Wildlife Walks at Yosemite National Park
• California Wine Tastings
• Soak in natural hot springs
• Travel along Coastal Highway 1
• Explore the San Francisco sights
• Visit Alcatraz
• Walks among Sequoia Redwood Trees
• Diving deep into Chinatown

Inclusions:

• 8 breakfasts, 7 self made picnic lunches
• 8 nights in centrally located tourist class hotels (3-star)
• Expertly trained multi-lingual tour director
• Guided walks
• Private transport
• National park entry fees and pernits
• National park entry fees, tours and sightseeing as specified

Exclusions:

• Flights, airport taxes, and airport transfers
• Meals not listed in the itinerary
• Travel Insurance (compulsory)
• Visas
• Medical treatment
• Personal expenses
• Optional excursions
• Airport transfers
• Tour leader tip (USD$15-20 per day)
• Porterage
• Cost of laundry, soft drinks & alcoholic beverages (with the exception of an included wine tasting)

Departure Dates:

2026: 

26th May - 3rd June

25th August - 2nd September

29th September - 7th October

Day 1: Arrive in Las Vegas

Welcome to Las Vegas! Arrive at your hotel via airport shuttle or local taxi and settle in after your long journey. Take time to relax this evening in preparation for the great adventures ahead. Airport transportation options vary in cost and convenience, you can choose based on your preferences and schedule.

Meals Included: N/A

Overnight: Tuscany Suites & Casino

Day 2: Death Valley National Park

Your guide will greet you at the hotel lobby at 8am for a brief orientation. We start our adventure by exploring the famous Las Vegas Strip by foot. In the early afternoon we are heading out to reach Death Valley National Park. This area is known for extreme weather conditions and temperatures, and is one of the hottest places on earth. In summer, temperatures can reach over 49°C. We aim to get into the park in the late afternoon as the soft evening light sets in. We’ll explore the dramatic landscapes of Zabriskie Point and the salt flats at Badwater Basin. After dark, we’ll try to venture out to the sand dunes for an exhilarating nighttime walk, where you can marvel at the immense dark skies and the Milky Way above. Death Valley is part of the International Dark Sky Association, making it one of the best places on Earth for stargazing. End your evening back at the hotel within the park for a refreshing swim in the hot spring-fed pool.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch 

Overnight: The Ranch at Death Valley, 1 night (Early/late season we stay in Bakersfield if Tioga Pass is closed

Drive time: 125 mi / 200 km or 2.5 hrs

Day 3: Sierra Nevada Mountains and Yosemite National Park

We depart after breakfast. California’s 395 parallels the steep escarpment of the Sierra Nevada. At Lone Pine, we see Mount Whitney, the highest mountain in the lower 48 of the United States, at 4421 m. The Sierra Nevada range is still rising because of the clash of tectonic plates. At Lee Vining, we cross over the Sierra at Tioga Pass at 3030 m. Here, we reach the high alpine plateau of Tuolumne. Photo stops at Tenaya Lake, and Olmstead Point follow. Our accommodations are just outside of Yosemite, a valley that is a 1000-meter deep granite valley carved by massive glaciers. Some of the world’s tallest waterfalls tumble over the cliffs of the valley.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch 

Overnight: Yosemite View Lodge

Drive Time: 300 mi / 480 km, or 6 hrs

Day 4: Yosemite National Park  

Our early morning today takes us into the park to Glacier Point, where we are greeted with stupendous, panoramic views of Yosemite Valley, including the iconic Half Dome, El Capitan, and the distant High Sierra peaks. This vantage point offers one of the most breathtaking perspectives in the park, showcasing Yosemite’s dramatic landscape from above. We’ll continue on to Mariposa Grove, where you can walk among ancient Giant Sequoia trees, some of the largest and oldest living organisms on Earth. These towering giants, with their massive trunks and centuries-old presence, create a humbling and one-in-a-time experience. After a fantastic morning in nature we’ll make our way to the city of San Francisco known for its steep hills, historic cable cars, diverse neighborhoods, and stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch 

Overnight: Hotel Caza Fisherman's Wharf

Drive time: 200 mi / 320 km or 4 hrs

Day 5: Explore San Francisco

San Francisco does not disappoint. A beautiful city draped over hills by the Pacific Ocean, the views astound as we explore the city on foot and by cable car during our half-day city tour. See Union Square, explore Chinatown, the Embarcadero, and Fisherman’s Wharf. There is also time for you to explore the city on your own. A pass to the city’s iconic Cable Cars is included in your tour, and we highly recommend taking advantage of these for ease of travel and because, when in SF! In the late afternoon, join us to see Alcatraz, when hidden cells are opened to the few as we explore the unknown side of this famous prison island. Your tour of Alcatraz is included in your trip price. A nighttime cable car ride back to our hotel closes our day of adventures.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Overnight: Hotel Caza Fisherman's Wharf

Day 6: Golden Gate Bridge & Monterey

We say goodbye to San Francisco via the Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Park, the Painted Ladies, and the Haight-Ashbury district. Various photo stops are possible. Along the magical Pacific Coast, we head towards Monterey and Carmel-by-the-Sea. Hop on a boat for a whale-watching cruise in the afternoon (optional, not included) or choose to spend time at your leisure exploring Monterey on your own.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Overnight: Laurel Inn Motel 

Drive time: 130 mi / 210 km, or 3 hrs

Day 7: Highway 1 and Paso Robles wine region

Highway 1 is one of the most beautiful roads in the world. This cliff hanging highway passes over the Pacific with impressive views off the shoreline and the ocean. We stop for unforgettable photo opportunities and take in the sights. Marvel at the rugged beauty of Big Sur, the remarkable Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge, visit the Elephant Seal observatory, admire the engineering of Big Creek Bridge, and finally arrive in Moro Bay with its remarkable giant rock formation. In the afternoon, join us in a culinary expedition into the famous Paso Robles wine region of California. Let us take you to charming wineries to explore and taste excellent local California wine in the town often called the Tuscany of the US. Tastings are included in the price of your tour. And this evening, for an additional treat, take a dip in a nearby hot springs pool to soak your cares away.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Overnight: Paso Robles Inn

Drive time: 150 mi / 250 km, or 3 hrs

Day 8: Beaches of Southern California and Malibu

Today the adventure begins long before we reach the bustling city. Our first stop is the picturesque Pismo Beach, where we’ll take a refreshing walk along the sandy shoreline. we’ll continue our drive along the scenic Pacific Coast Highway to the charming city of Santa Barbara. Known as the "American Riviera," Santa Barbara boasts a blend of Mediterranean architecture, lush gardens, and mountain views. You'll have time to explore the quaint and vibrant State Street, where you can browse unique boutiques, enjoy a coffee at a sidewalk café, or simply soak up the laid-back atmosphere of this coastal gem. As the day winds down, we'll make our way to the final destination on our coastal trip, Los Angeles.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Overnight: Hilton, Los Angeles Airport

Drive time: 220 mi / 350 km, or 4-5 hrs

Day 9: Depart from Los Angeles

Today concludes your adventure and we bid you goodbye from our California adventure. Departure is on your own today. You have a few transportation options to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), each option offers a different balance of convenience, cost, and travel time, you can choose the one that best suits your needs. The Hilton Airport Hotel does offer a complimentary shuttle service to LAX, running 24/7. It's one of the most convenient options, typically taking 10-15 minutes depending on traffic.

Meals Included: Breakfast

About Your Leader

All of our tour leaders are certified in First Aid and CPR and registered as official guides with the national parks. 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!