Essential Vegas to Grand Canyon & San Fran

Welcome to the USA and the first chapter of your West Coast adventure. After a relaxed morning at your own leisure in Las Vegas, you will meet your Adventure Leader and the group at the entrance to the Luxor Hotel’s Aurora Bar in the afternoon. This is where the journey begins: we will get to know one another, run through the days ahead, and pick up practical tips for staying safe and making the most of our time Stateside.

Then we hit the Strip. We will soak up the neon lights and electric energy of Las Vegas before sitting down for a group meal at Café Hollywood, a classic American diner with all the favourites. Afterwards, we will watch the famous Bellagio Water Show, where fountains perform to music and light. If you fancy a night out, your Adventure Leaders can guide you towards some of the best nightlife in town.

Las Vegas - Williams. This morning, we leave Las Vegas for the next stage of our adventure, stopping first at the iconic Las Vegas sign. We will then call in at Trader Joe’s to stock up on snacks before joining the historic Route 66.

For lunch, you can choose a relaxed Trader Joe’s picnic at Locomotive Park in Kingman, Arizona, home to the 1920s Steam Engine #3759, or you can opt for a classic Route 66 meal at the colourful Mr D’z Route 66 Diner nearby.

Next, we will explore Seligman, a small town packed with retro Americana that inspired Pixar’s Cars. After time to wander and take photos, we continue to Williams. Tonight, we check into a glamping site, settle into our cosy cabins, and enjoy a BBQ dinner (optional) together at Cruiser’s Route 66 Café. Back at camp, we gather around the fire for the ultimate road-trip treat: s’mores.

Williams - Las Vegas. This morning, we head straight for a true natural wonder: the Grand Canyon. We will take in the vast scale of this 277-mile gorge, enjoy the viewpoints along the South Rim, and walk one of the accessible trails. The Rim Trail is a great option, and you can take it at your own pace.

By mid-afternoon, we meet at Hopi House, next to the historic El Tovar Hotel, and travel back to Las Vegas. The evening is yours to explore.

Las Vegas - Los Angeles. Today, we travel by bus to Los Angeles, reaching Santa Monica in the early afternoon. After checking into the hostel, you will have free time to explore the lively 3rd Street Promenade with its shops, street performers, and relaxed coastal atmosphere.

Dinner is yours to choose, with plenty of local recommendations available. As evening falls, we regroup for a sunset walk along Santa Monica Beach, followed by an arcade challenge on the legendary Santa Monica Pier.

This morning, we head into the heart of Hollywood. After taking the metro to Sunset Boulevard, we will walk along the Hollywood Walk of Fame before enjoying a group meal at In-N-Out Burger. You then have free time to explore the area, whether that is the Hollywood Film Museum, the Wax Museum, or souvenir shopping.

In the early evening, we set out on a rewarding walk from Griffith Park up to the Griffith Observatory. We will pause for views of the Hollywood Sign and arrive in time to watch the sun set over Los Angeles. As we descend, the city lights below provide the perfect finale before we return to the hostel.

Los Angeles - San Francisco - Yosemite. This morning, we begin with a beach volleyball lesson on Santa Monica Beach, complete with a dedicated coach to help us perfect the basics. Later, we transfer to the airport for our flight to San Francisco.

On arrival, we meet our guide and travel straight into the foothills of Yosemite. We settle into the Yosemite Bug Mountain Resort, a rustic retreat surrounded by forest. After dinner at the June Bug Café, we head up the hillside for memorable stargazing under the Milky Way.

Yosemite - San Francisco. After checking out, we take the YARTS bus into Yosemite National Park for a full day of adventure. With our guide, we hike to Columbia Rock on the Yosemite Falls Trail, rewarded with sweeping views of the Sierra Nevada. We pause for a picnic lunch among towering cliffs and pines before cooling off with a plunge into the Merced River.

In the afternoon, we return to the resort to collect our bags and travel to San Francisco, stopping for dinner en route before checking into our hostel.

We begin our final day with a must-do experience: cycling across the Golden Gate Bridge. We will take in classic San Francisco views before returning our bikes at Pier 39.Although the tour concludes here, you can opt for one last adventure with a ferry trip to Alcatraz Island to explore the former prison known as The Rock. If you are staying in the city for the evening, you can end your journey in style with a cable car ride to Union Square, a Giants baseball game, or a final night out in San Francisco.