Highlights of California & the Golden West

Depart Dublin for our flight to Los Angeles where we will be met on arrival by our expert guide who will accompany us on the transfer to our hotel.

Join us as we begin the morning with a guided tour of Los Angeles, during which your guide will point out the countless film locations in the city. Starting in downtown, you will see the business district and the Mexican quarter before making a stop at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, followed by a visit to Griffith Park Observatory, where you will be able to enjoy a panoramic view of Los Angeles.

This afternoon we’ll explore more with our guide on a visit to Hollywood where we will walk down Hollywood Boulevard to the legendary Grauman's Chinese Theatre, complete with the handprints of famous stars in the cement. Before returning to our hotel, we will drive through exclusive Beverly Hills and Rodeo Drive – keep an eye out for celebrities!

Let’s explore more as we join our guide on our journey along the Pacific Coast! Our first visit today is Solvang, a village famed for its authentic Danish feel, pretty windmills and wonderful Danish bakeries.  

After some free time at leisure, we continue north to San Simeon for a visit to Hearst Castle – built by William Randolph Hearst this incredible hilltop home includes a twin-towered main building, three sumptuous guesthouses along with 127 acres of terraced gardens, fountains and pools.

Following our visit, we will transfer to our hotel in San Simeon for an overnight stay.

Approximate distance from Los Angeles to Solvang 210km and from Solvang to San Simeon 170km

Today we will explore more of nature’s splendour along the Pacific coastline as we journey along the 17 Mile Drive, widely recognised as one of the most scenic drives in the world. This famous coastal landmark runs through Pacific Grove to Pebble Beach, from the dramatic Pacific coastline to the majestic Del Monte Forest. We will enjoy awe-inspiring vistas and legendary sites such as The Lone Cypress, Spanish Bay, Cypress Point Lookout and Carmel Bay en route to our hotel in Monterey.

Approximate distance from San Simeon to Monterey 250km 

Following breakfast, we travel the short distance to the picturesque town of Carmel by the Sea. Here we will have free time to explore this one-square mile fairytale village full of inspired restaurants, cafes, boutique shops, art galleries and a white-sand beach.

This afternoon we continue north, through Silicon Valley, to our hotel in San Francisco.

Approximate distance from Carmel by the Sea to San Francisco 170km 

This morning joins us as we explore San Francisco!   Our city tour of this diverse and exiting city starts from Pier 33 with our expert local guide.  Later this morning we will voyage by ferry across the Bay from San Francisco to Sausalito offering views of Alcatraz, Angel Island and the Marin and Tiburon headlands as we sail across. 

Our afternoon will be spent in Sausalito, an enchanting waterfront town with a rich maritime history. From the shops and artwork to the restaurants and outdoor activities, it's hard not to be reminded of the close ties to the San Francisco Bay. 

Today we will visit one of the jewels of the American National Park Service, Yosemite. Our guide will take us on a drive of the Valley Floor where we will have opportunities to see the Mariposa Grove of Big Trees, Toulumme Meadows, Bridal Veil Falls and the Half Dome. 

Remember to keep an eye out for bears!  

This evening, we will overnight in our hotel in Fresno.

 Approximate distance from San Fransico to Yosemite National Park 270km / from Yosemite National Park to Fresno 150km

Let’s explore more of California’s natural wonders with a visit to Sequoia National Park, where the landscape has many trees over 200 feet high and over 30 feet in diameter.  During our visit today we will explore Grant Grove and the Giant Forest. The mountains, greenery and awesome beauty of these trees will form an unforgettable experience.

This evening, we will overnight in our hotel in Bakersfield.

Approximate distance from Fresno to Sequoia National Park 120km / from Sequoia National Park to Bakersfield 150km

Join us this morning as we head inland, travelling through the Mojave Desert, towards the lights and glamour of Las Vegas. En route we will enjoy a visit to Calico, a genuine old West mining town set in the Calico Mountains, which is now a Ghost Town. With a welcome by cowboys and sheriffs in old-style outfits, we will feel like we are going back to the Far West of the 1880s!

We will arrive in Las Vegas in the late afternoon with the remainder of the day at leisure to discover all this exciting city has to offer. Famed for its buzzing energy, 24-hour casinos and endless entertainment options, you will have ample time to explore the 4-mile-long Strip.

Approximate distance from Bakersfield to Calico 220km and from Calico to Las Vegas 240km

This morning our guide will take us on a trip Lake Mead, a 220km long lake that stretches from Grand Canyon National Park to Bullhead City. We will experience a guided tour of the power plant at Hoover Dam, one of the largest dams in the United States, which is situated on the famous Colorado River before returning to Las Vegas.

Indulge in another afternoon and evening at leisure in the iconic Las Vegas. Why not relax by the pool, enjoy some shopping or try your luck at one of the many casinos?

Bid farewell to the bright lights of Las Vegas as you transfer to the airport in the early morning for your overnight flight home. 

Arrive home following your once in a lifetime adventure through California & the Golden West.