Day 1: Los Angeles – Arrival
Arrival. Vehicle pick-up at the airport.
You will have a chance to have a first look at Los Angeles, and will settle in at your hotel for 2 nights.
Day 2: Los Angeles
Nicknamed “the city of angels”, Los Angeles is known for its cinema, chic neighborhoods, celebrities, legendary beaches and Palm trees, but the city is equally renowned for its museums and shops. Los Angeles offers you all the choices you can imagine.
Suggested excursions: Oldies Car tour; Universal Studios; Warner Bros Studios.
Day 3: Kingman
Kingman is a historic desert city in Arizona, nestled along the iconic Route 66. It boasts stunning natural beauty with the Hualapai Mountains and offers a glimpse into American nostalgia with its vibrant, vintage charm. Kingman is a gateway to the picturesque landscapes of the Southwest.
Day 4: Grand Canyon
Distance to destination: 330 km
Morning drive to Grand Canyon, a superb geological phenomenon. This is most certainly one of the highlights of your trip. Walk along the South Rim to see one of the most beautiful and awe-inspiring wonders in the world. The Grand Canyon is the result of millions of years of wind and water erosion. It’s an endless expanse of shapes, colors and impenetrable shadows. The Colorado River flows over a mile below the canyon rim.
Suggested excursions: Helicopter ride; Jeep Tour.
Day 5: Page & Lake Powell
Distance to destination: 210 km
Page is your getaway to Lake Powell, an artificial lake created by the damming of the Colorado River, and Antelope Canyon. Continue your daily exploration with a visit of Horseshoe Bend, a canyon formed in the shape of a horseshoe by the Colorado River. The overlook is 1,280 meters above sea level and the Colorado River is at 975 meters above sea level making it a breathtaking 305 meter drop.
Suggested excursions: Antelope Canyon tour; Lake Powell Cruise
Day 6: Monument Valley
Distance to destination: 200 km
Leave for Monument Valley, where you will find yourself surrounded by dark red hills. Visit of this imposing area where numerous westerns have been filmed. This 25 mile-long and 16-mile wide desert plain overflows with gigantic sandstone monolithic structures rising high above the valley.
Suggested excursions: Jeep Tour.
Day 7: Moab
Distance to destination: 235 km
Moab is the gateway to two National Parks: Arches NP, famous for its massive red rock formations, and Canyonlands NP, with its mesas and buttes carved by the Green and Colorado rivers.
Day 8: Moab
Native American rock art can be found everywhere in Moab, as well as dinosaur tracks at sites like Bull Canyon Overlook and Copper Ridge.
Suggested excursions:. Jeep tours; Jetboat tours.
Day 9: Bryce Canyon
Distance to destination: 400 km
Bryce Canyon, one of the most fascinating natural parks of Utah, will be your next stop. The Mormons discovered this site in the 19th century. The dazzling shapes and shades of the memorable pink cliffs constantly vary from dawn to dusk.
Day 10: Zion
Distance to destination: 120 km
Zion National Park is the oldest park in Utah; this Canyon will impress you with cathedral-shaped rocks, some of which are more than 900 meter high. There is also a great diversity of plant and animal life due to the park’s unique geography. Hike around its breathtaking trails.
Day 11: Las Vegas
Distance to destination: 260 km
From the calm and serenity of the parks to the lights and extravagance of the legendary city of Las Vegas.
Day 12: Las Vegas
Oasis lost in the desert of Nevada, Las Vegas is the city where luxury and entertainment are at its finest as the lights, games, glitz, and stars shine throughout the night.
Suggested excursions: Sun buggy; Mob Museum; Cirque du Soleil show.
Day 13: Mammoth Lakes
Distance to destination: 520 km
This morning, cross the Nevada desert on the way to Pahrump and Shoshone. On entering the state of California, you descend to the impressive Death Valley, approximately 320 feet below sea level. This area is so desolate that the first cowboys who ventured here described it as “no stream to drink from, no tree to hang from”.
Approaching the Sierra Nevada mountains, get ready for a big natural change. Green trees will accompany you to Mammoth Lakes, one of the most renowned California ski resorts. Make a stop at Mono Lake and the ghost town of Bodie.
* Passengers may be relocated to Bakersfield (Hourglass Hotel or similar) between Jan 1 and Jun 30 and Oct 6 and Dec 31, should the Tioga Pass be closed
Day 14: Yosemite
Distance to destination: 166 km
Access to Yosemite National Park will happen from the Tioga Pass. Yosemite will surprise you with its fresh Alpine landscapes: pine forests, magnificent waterfalls and sheer white monolithic cliffs. Hike around Half Dome, Yosemite Valley, Bridalveil Falls and Yosemite Falls. Spend some time in the Pioneer Village in the southern part of the park.
Day 15: San Francisco
Distance to destination: 420 km
Drive down from the mountains and across the fertile agricultural lands of Central Valley. Route towards the Pacific to reach San Francisco, cultural capital of the American West. Enjoy the incredible views of the Bay, one of the most impressive in the world. You will spend here the last 2 nights of your Classic West tour.
Day 16: San Francisco
Ride a cable-car on a steep hill, go to Chinatown, see the Golden Gate Bridge, go shopping in Union Square or visit the famous Alcatraz prison. Walk around the city, take a cable car and explore the diverse neighborhoods. Rent a bike to cross the world-famous Golden Gate Bridge and explore the picturesque town of Sausalito across the bay. You are in San Francisco!
Suggested excursions: Golden Gate bike tours; Alcatraz tour; Bay Cruise sail; Academy of Science.
Day 17: San Francisco – Departure
End of the tour and car drop-off at the airport
If you want to extend your trip, don't miss our extension Highway1, 3 more nights on the coast to go back to Los Angeles!