Our per person prices are based on two people sharing a room and a car. If you are travelling 3 or more people, prices per person are significantly reduced. Request a quote for your exact price.
Are you dreaming of a fairly short self-drive adventure in the Western United States, where you will see many of the famous sights along the way? And would you like to feel the contrast between US coastal cities and the desert? If so, this tour, packed with highlights from San Francisco in California to Las Vegas in Nevada, is the right choice for you.
The tour starts in one of the United States’ most iconic cities: San Francisco. A charming metropolis with steep streets, old trams, pastel-coloured houses, as well as landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge and the prison island of Alcatraz.
Big city is replaced by nature on a large scale in the more than 3,000 km² national park, Yosemite, which impresses with its glacier-created rock walls, waterfalls and wildlife in the middle of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
From mountain landscapes to sweeping views of the sea. After a stay in Yosemite, you head back to the coast, where charming small towns, wildlife and the raw landscape of the Pacific Ocean await you. The first stop is in the charming town of Monterey before you drive further south via the iconic Highway 1. After that, a stay in Santa Barbara awaits you and offers both white sandy beaches and cozy city life.
Your last stop in Southern California is in the city of the stars, Los Angeles, where you have plenty of time to explore the city on your own. World-famous beaches, film studios, Hollywood, Beverly Hills and the breathtaking views from the vantage point at Griffith Observatory await you here.
Coastal city turns into desert when, as the final stage of your tour, you head for the gambling city, Las Vegas, located in the Mojave Desert in Nevada. Look forward to ending your tour with a bang in perhaps the craziest city in the world, where everything seems oversized and fascinating.
Today you start your tour to the Western United States, which begins in the charming city of San Francisco. The city is located at the northern end of the State of California next to the beautiful and rugged Pacific Coast.
On arrival, you collect your luggage and go through immigration. In the arrivals hall, you follow the signs to your preferred means of transport into the centre of San Francisco, where you will be staying. It is up to you how you will get to the hotel, but the options are many and easily available. You can, for example, take the train that departs from the terminal or take an Uber/Lyft or a regular taxi.
After arriving at the hotel, it is an obvious choice to get something to eat at one the local restaurants, or you can relax with a refreshment at the hotel.
You will probably wake up early in this part of the world and be ready to explore the winding and steep streets of San Francisco. You are staying very centrally within easy reach of shopping places, cafés and, not least, the famous cable cars that have transported people over the city’s hills since 1878. You can buy either a single ticket or a full-day ticket at the turning point stations, and, with the famous Hyde-Powell line, you will easily get from Union Square to the famous area, Fisherman’s Wharf. If you want to travel on a cable car in true San Fran style, see if you can get a standing place on the side of the carriage and feel the rush in your stomach when the cable car picks up extra downhill speed.
You will spend the new couple of days on your own here in San Francisco, and you set the pace. The city caters for both travellers who just want to stroll around and those who want to feel the wings of history. There are many options.
Do not miss out on a trip across the iconic red suspension bridge, which opened in 1937. From the other side of the bridge, you are treated to breathtaking views of the city’s rooftops and, not least, the prison island, Alcatraz, which, from 1934-1963, housed America’s most hardened criminals, including the gangster Al Capone. Consider crossing the bridge by bicycle, which can be rented in many places in the area around Fisherman’s Wharf.
Back on the mainland, we highly recommend that you stop by the iconic pastel-coloured houses, Painted Ladies, located at Alamo Square. From here, you are rewarded with beautiful views of the city. You may want to proceed to the city’s large, green oasis, Golden Gate Park, which contains both a beautiful botanical garden and several museums, for example California Academy of Sciences.
If you want to meet some of the city’s biggest celebrities, you can head to Pier 39 – home to hundreds of sea lions, which have roared and splashed around at precisely this pier for decades. In the area, you will also find a wealth of shops and restaurants, including the famous Boudin Bakery, which is known for its sourdough bread in every conceivable shape. Here you can order the classic dish, clam chowder, which is, of course, served in a bread bowl.
If you want to experience one of the world’s oldest and largest Chinatowns outside Asia, you will find it in San Francisco. In Chinatown, you feel the incarnate Chinese culture in the ornate buildings, in the smell of dumplings and incense sticks and in the shops’ huge selection of everything right from ‘waving cats’ and kimonos to chopsticks.
If you are looking for an easy way to get around San Francisco, you should consider buying a ticket for the hop-on hop-off bus, which takes you around the city’s most popular attractions.
From the morning, it is time to pick up your rental car at a nearby city office. it is a good idea to bring supplies with you for the upcoming drive, because today your road trip starts in earnest, and the beautiful drive only gets better with some snacks. Ahead, one of the absolute highlights of this tour awaits you, Yosemite National Park, which stretches over an area of more than 3,000 km².
As you approach the park (via Arch Rock Entrance), you will experience how city life is gradually replaced by barren landscapes and eventually mountains: the Sierra Nevada Mountains, where Yosemite is located. The last hour’s drive into Yosemite Valley itself is indescribably beautiful with vertical rock walls, spruce trees and the turbulent Merced River, which runs with you all the way.
Once you have arrived, you can either relax at the hotel, or you can already today visit the glacier-created Yosemite Valley and be blown away by the beautiful waterfalls that cascade from the park’s high rock walls. Here in Yosemite, there is something for all degrees of difficulty and ages, and you do not have to go far to see popular giants, for example Lower Yosemite Fall. You can benefit from consulting the Visitor Center about suitable routes.
Length of today’s drive: approx. 300 km
It is possible to upgrade your rental car when booking your tour. Get in touch with your travel specialist if you want more information.
Today, even more vantage points await you, and you may be lucky enough to spot one of the insect and berry-eating black bears on your way.
One of the best ways to experience the park is undoubtedly by bicycle, which can be rented at several places in the park. Alternatively, you can get around the valley on one of the park’s free shuttle buses.
During the summer months, when the snow has melted, Glacier Point is one of the vantage points that you should not miss out on. You can both drive up there by car or book a bus ride to Glacier Point (booked for a fee directly in the park on a first-come, first-served basis). If you are up for a hike from the vantage point, you can also book a bus ticket up to the vantage point and hike down via the Four Mile Trail. From Glacier Point, you can also experience an exceptional sunset – namely the moment when the sun casts an orange glow on the big mountain, Half Dome.
You should also consider taking the car to one of the most beautiful vantage points in the park, Tunnel View, from where you will have stunning views of Yosemite Valley, Bridalveil Fall and the famous mountains El Capitan and Half Dome, mentioned above.
Today, it is time to return towards the Pacific Coast, where you will visit the charming fishing town, Monterey. When you leave Yosemite, you can choose to make a minor detour via the small Mariposa Grove (except in winter periods when there is snow). Here you will find some of the world’s largest trees, Giant Sequoias. Look forward to standing in front of the huge tree root of the fallen giant ‘Fallen Monarch’ and feel smaller than you have ever felt before when you walk through the ’California Tunnel Tree’.
Later in the day, you will arrive in Monterey. Monterey is a cozy coastal town that, in addition to its location close to Highway 1, has charm, history and slow pace. Head to the town’s harbour area, where much of the town’s DNA is found. Here you will find old sardine canneries from the beginning of the 20th century, bearing witness to the town’s successful years in the sardine-canning industry before it collapsed after the Second World War. The street, Ocean View Avenue, was renamed and became famous as Cannery Row after the American author John Steinbeck wrote a novel with the same title set here. Today, there is a charming vibrant atmosphere with restaurants, cafés and specialty shops.
We recommend starting at the old fishing quays at Old Fisherman’s Wharf, where a ‘shrimp dog’ is a local classic if you are feeling peckish. From here, you can follow the path along the waterfront to Monterey Harbor.
End the day with dinner right on the waterfront with a view of pelicans diving for their dinner right here in Monterey Bay.
During the summer months, you can take advantage of the free shuttle bus that runs between Fisherman’s Wharf, Cannery Row and Monterey Bay Aquarium.
Length of today’s drive: approx. 300 km
Today , the tour proceeds southwards, and you should leave Monterey in good time. Make sure both to refuel the car and stock up on snacks. An exciting day on the road awaits you when you set course for Santa Barbara. You can choose to drive via the coastal road, Highway 1, which is known as one of the world’s most beautiful coastal stretches, or you can drive part of the route via Highway 101, which runs inland through the stunning mountain landscape. Regardless of which route you take, the day’s experiences along the way will not disappoint.
Highway 1 offers incredible views of the Pacific Ocean to one side and the changing Californian landscape to the other. You should expect to make a number of stops along the way, where one vantage point replaces the other. Waves crashing against rock walls, birds of prey, famous bridges and sea elephants are in store for you on your route today. You can also look forward to seeing the McWay Falls at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park and to a superb coffee stop with a view at Ragged Point.
On the southern part of the route, you will also pass the coastal town of Morro Bay, where the pace is slow, sea lions peek out from among kayaks and fishing boats, and where there is always a view of the town’s landmark: the rock formation Morro Rock.
Shortly before Santa Barbara, you will find Santa Ynez Valley. The area is known for its many vineyards, and here you can find small eateries and taste the California grapes.
The area is also known for the small town of Solvang, which was founded by three Danes in 1911. Here you can, for example, enjoy Danish pastries and delicacies and take a stroll around the streets of the town with thatched houses, windmills and a copy of The Little Mermaid.
Regardless of when you arrive at your hotel in Santa Barbara, you will probably need a break, which you can suitably enjoy by the pool. If you have not eaten yet, you can either visit one of the area’s small eateries or go to the charming centre of Santa Barbara.
Length of today’s drive: approx. 370 km
Minor sections of Highway 1 may be intermittently closed due to repairs. In these cases, you can still enjoy much of the coastal road, albeit with a detour inland. See the practical information section for more details.
As today’s route to Los Angeles is relatively short, you can easily spend some of the day in Santa Barbara.
Santa Barbara is among the favourite getaways of Californians, which is quite understandable. Here you will find lovely sandy beaches, beautiful views of the Santa Ynez mountains and, not least, a leisurely pace. The city is incredibly charming with its Spanish-inspired houses in bright colours and orange bricks, and a pedestrian street with lots of life and small shops. We highly recommend a kayak trip from the morning, where you paddle around in the marina area together with your guide and which offers great views of the city’s roofs and the mountains in the background. Or maybe you want to stroll around and browse in the charming streets of the city centre? It is entirely up to you.
After a morning spent in Santa Barbara, you drive towards Los Angeles. If you need a fresh dip in the Pacific Ocean, you can choose to visit one of the many beautiful beaches along the way. If you take the route along the coastal road, you will, in fact, pass famous beaches such as Malibu, Zuma and Carpinteria Beach. You can also drive some of the route in the heights through the Santa Monica Mountains.
You will arrive in Los Angeles later in the day, and here you can look forward to days with plenty of opportunities to relax and visit theme parks, iconic vantage points and exciting eateries.
Length of today’s drive: approx. 160 km
You will spend the next couple of days in Los Angeles, and there will both be time for hanging out by the pool and for exploring.
You are in Los Angeles, also known as the heart of the film industry, which, with its boom in the early 1900s, put Hollywood on the map.
The Hollywood sign itself was put up in 1923 as an advertisement for a new residential area ‘Hollywoodland’. To this day, the sign has remained an iconic landmark and a symbol of the industry that each year attracts aspiring talents who dream of an acting career.
Today you cannot walk all the way to the sign, but you can get relatively close from the vantage point at Griffith Observatory, located in the Hollywood hills. From here you will have a panoramic view of the huge city and the Hollywood sign.
Drop by the street of the stars, Walk of Fame, where, for decades, the biggest celebrities have been awarded a star in the pavement. You could continue via the famous Sunset Blvd. lined with palm trees, past Beverly Hills and on to Santa Monica Beach, where you can enjoy a refreshing dip in the ocean. You can also visit the area and beach at Venice, located in extension of Santa Monica. Over the years, Venice has become a gathering point for both locals and visitors, and here there is always life on the boardwalk with small stalls and people training at Muscle Beach, as, for example, Arnold Schwarzenegger did in the 1970s.
We highly recommend that you set aside a day to visit one of the city’s famous film studios, where you can experience what happens ‘behind the scenes’ and gain insight into the creation of major Hollywood films, including how special effects are made.
If you are into shopping, you can visit the charming street 3rd Street Promenade, located in the Santa Monica area, and if you are looking for shopping on a large scale, you could consider driving to one of the city’s outlets.
Today, you are leaving the coastal area of California and heading for the Mojave Desert with Las Vegas, located in the State of Nevada, as your final destination. It is a wild contrast to experience the skyscrapers of the big city rapidly being replaced with small towns, sandbanks and wind witches rolling slowly across the road.
You drive via the town of Barstow, which is located about halfway on today’s route. In addition to a giant outlet centre, Barstow also has the iconic diner, Peggy Sue’s Diner from 1954. Do like a true American and order a cheeseburger and baked onion rings, and wash the whole thing down with a milkshake.
Nearby, you will also find the former silver mining town, Calico, where the largest discovery of silver in California’s history was made in 1881. Since then, the town has been abandoned and become a ghost town. Visit the silver mine and sense the harsh conditions under which people worked or take a stroll past the well-preserved houses.
After another few hours of driving from Barstow, you can suddenly sense Las Vegas in the distance. As you approach the city, you will be able to see quirky buildings towering up on the horizon. These are the famous theme hotels that are located side by side along the almost 7-km long Las Vegas Blvd. – also called The Strip.
You drop off your car at Las Vegas Airport towards the end of the day (details can be found on your voucher) and book a taxi to your hotel*. The drive from the airport to the hotel takes just 10 minutes. In Las Vegas, the easiest way to get around is on foot, by taxi or using Las Vegas’ modern version of a tram, the Monorail.
On arrival at your theme hotel, it is hard not to smile at the sight of the many flashing machines, where dozens of hopeful players sit pulling the ‘arm’. Check in at the hotel, take a dip in the pool and enjoy an evening at one of the city’s many restaurants. Already this evening, you can stop at the famous fountain in front of the Bellagio hotel, which, since it opened in 1998, has provided impressive water shows to the sounds of classical music for passersby.
Welcome to Vegas, Baby!
*It is possible to extend your car rental so that the car is not returned until in connection with your departure. Ask your travel specialist about this possibility.
Length of today’s drive: approx. 435 km
The day in the desert city is spent at your leisure. The city is much more than flashing casinos. Here you will find entertainment, shopping, buildings and gastronomy in the most voluminous sense.
Go hotel hopping and experience the impressive, themed hotels where decoration is taken to another level. At The Venetian hotel, you can see gondolas sailing around the canals, and Hotel Paris impresses with its 160-metre tall replica of the Eiffel Tower. You could hop on the Las Vegas Monorail, which runs behind one side of the Strip and stops at many of the major theme hotels.
If you want to complete your stay in true Vegas fashion, consider starting the day in one of the city’s huge buffets, which offer every conceivable dish from the morning. It is an experience in itself to see the selection of sushi, jelly cakes, baked potatoes and chocolate-covered strawberries presented side by side.
If you are looking for a different dining experience this evening, consider booking a table at The STRAT Hotel’s revolving restaurant. From here, you can enjoy dinner with views of the Mojave Desert and millions of lights from the city’s themed hotels.
If Grand Canyon is on your bucket list, a helicopter trip over the canyon is highly recommended. If you have extended your car rental, you can also consider a visit to Zion National Park, which is just over two hours’ drive away, or you can experience the beautiful red rock landscapes in Valley of Fire State Park, which is about an hour’s drive away.
Today you begin your return journey to Europe.
Unless you have chosen to purchase extra days of car rental in Las Vegas as an add-on, today you will take a taxi to the airport, which is located at one end of Las Vegas Blvd. If you have instead kept the rental car during your stay in Las Vegas, it must be returned at the airport (details are stated on your voucher). The process is straightforward, and afterwards your luggage is brought to the airport. From here, you fly towards Europe.
If you want to extend your stay with a visit to an American city, you continue to your chosen destination.
You land at your chosen airport after a wonderful and eventful tour.
From £409 pp including flights
Children under 12 years from £409
Single room supplement from £219
Extend your USA adventure with a stop out of the ordinary with a stay in the southern city of New Orleans.
New Orleans is popularly known as the ‘Big Easy’, and for good reason. Here the pace is slow, and there is always a pleasant atmosphere from the sound of jazz music and the view of beautiful old trees decorated with brightly coloured necklaces.
Join us in a city full of life, mystery and history, and where you cannot help fall in love with the atmosphere, the people and the surroundings.
From £499 pp including flights
Children under 12 years from £499
Single room supplement from £229
In the northern United States, in the state of Illinois – on the shores of Lake Michigan in the Midwest – lies a gem of an American city: Chicago. It’s the United States’ third-largest city after New York City and Los Angeles, yet despite its size, it feels wonderfully local and is easy to get around. In the mid-19th century, as the railways expanded through Chicago, it grew from a small trading post into a true metropolis and industrial powerhouse. Its geographical location made it a vital commercial corridor and, to this day, it remains the country’s busiest rail hub – also known as the "Railroad Capital of America". People moved here from all over the country, laying the foundations for the diversity that still defines the city. The locals are proud of their city – and it’s easy to see why.
Chicago offers world-class museums, interactive public spaces, historic theatres, and green oases, with skyscrapers standing in striking contrast to the Chicago River as it cuts through the city. There’s also a vibrant evening scene with plenty of blues music and Chicago-style deep-dish pizza. It’s a winning combination for adults and children alike, with time to delve into the culture and history, and to shop along the famous Magnificent Mile.
From £479 pp including flights
Children under 12 years from £479
Single room supplement from £249
Enjoy 3 nights in the Sunshine State’s exotic city, Miami, which offers a perfect combination of relaxation and adventure. The days are at your free disposal, so you set your own pace.
Miami gives you ample opportunities for lazy days spent at the beach. The city is ideally located right next to the Atlantic Ocean, where you can enjoy yourself at the city’s almost endless, chalk-white sandy beaches and go swimming in the warm ocean.
The evenings can be spent feeling the pulse of the city and the eternal summer atmosphere. Here you can enjoy strolls along Collins Avenue, the iconic wealthy street adorned with pastel-coloured Art Deco houses and colourful American vintage cars. The surroundings direct your senses towards the city’s Cuban DNA, which can be felt in the form of enticing salsa rhythms, the scent of sweet cigars and the taste of a fresh mojito. Miami is a true melting pot of American and Cuban cultures.
We recommend that you explore exciting parts of the city such as the Cuban neighbourhood, Little Havana, or the art area, Wynwood Walls. Outside the city, Florida's distinctive nature is found in the World Heritage Site, Everglades National Park, habitat of, for example, alligators, crocodiles, black bears, frogs, snakes and more than 360 species of birds.
If you dream of visiting the southernmost point of the United States and experiencing the United States’ counterpart to the Caribbean, you may consider an excursion to Key West.
The possibilities are many – whether you are looking for adventure, or just want to pull the plug with a few days and stretch out under the palm trees, Miami is the right place for you.
The stay includes flight to Miami and 3 nights at a hotel in Miami Beach – with an option of adding extra nights.
From £469 pp including flights
Children under 12 years from £469
Single room supplement from £269
Complete your tour with a stay in the metropolis, New York City, which is completely its own. Let yourself be carried away by the pulse of the city, which is sure to overwhelm and fascinate you at the same time.
The Big Apple has everything, right from magnificent architecture, art and culture to history and money. New York is hard to describe in words, it has to be experienced physically – no matter where you go, or what you do, it is as if it is only to be found here.
Look forward to a cruise of southern Manhattan, where, among other attractions, you will see Brooklyn Bridge, the Manhattan skyline and the Statue of Liberty with her crown and her torch held up in symbolic immortalisation of the concepts of openness, freedom and hope.
You have the rest of the time at your own disposal, and you can turn your activity level both up and down.
When you are in New York, you are spoilt for choice: walk across Brooklyn Bridge, take a rowboat ride in Central Park, taste local delicacies in the Meatpacking District, see the John Lennon memorial ‘Imagine’ or get goose bumps at One World Trade Center.
You can also experience world-class museums such as MoMA, the Guggenheim and the Natural History Museum.
If you want the full ‘New Yorker experience’, you should not miss out on a Broadway musical or a visit to a blues or jazz bar.
The extension includes domestic flight to New York City with 3 nights in Manhattan and a guided cruise of southern Manhattan.
Children under 12 years from £2539
Single room supplement from £1599
Emily loves to travel and is extremely passionate about helping others achieve their travel dreams.
