Hollywood, San Diego, Vegas & the Grand Canyon

Fly to California's largest city, meet your tour manager and make the short transfer to your hotel in Southern LA, by coach. Rest and relax after the journey, and enjoy the first of two evenings in the City of Angels.

 

 

Today you'll have the opportunity to discover Santa Monica's ocean-front boardwalk, the pier and Ferris wheel, and enjoy the exceptional shopping on Third Street Promenade. Take a seat in a beachfront café to watch LA life as it jogs, cycles or skates its health-obsessed way down towards Venice Beach.

From here, we'll head to Hollywood, the heart of the modern movie industry, to look for your favourite star's star on Hollywood Boulevard's Walk of Fame.

 

Leaving Buena Park this morning, head for the millionaires’ playground of Palm Springs, once home of the late Bob Hope and still a haunt of a host of Hollywood stars. 

Enjoy the breathtaking views of the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway on one of our optional tours. This is the world’s largest rotating tram car, travelling over two-and-one-half miles along the breathtaking cliffs of Chino Canyon, transporting riders to the pristine wilderness of the Mt. San Jacinto State Park. During your journey, tram cars rotate slowly, offering picturesque and spectacular vistas of the valley floor below

Later, head for San Diego and a two night stay.

 

Spend the day as you please in the laid-back Pacific city of San Diego, the epitome of Southern California living. There'll be a short introductory tour which includes the restored Downtown area, the historic Santa Fe Railroad Depot, and the Gaslamp District's wonderful collection of arts and crafts stores, specialist boutiques and places to eat.

 

 

 

The road-trip continues today as we cross the desert towards the resort of Scottsdale, nestled beneath the scenic McDowell Mountains. Spend the night in Old Town Scottsdale.

 

 

 

Depart Scottsdale after breakfast and spend time today in scenic Sedona, a lovely small town with an array of boutiques and cafes, set amongst true, classic red rock scenery.

You'll have a few hours free to explore as you see fit, perhaps browsing the town's eclectic blend of art galleries and New Age stores. If you'd prefer a more active few hours, you can also admire the area's striking landscapes from one of the nearby walking trails. 

After a few hours in Sedona, continue on to Flagstaff, a charming small town set on infamous Route 66, for your next hotel.

 

Journey north today, heading for spectacular Grand Canyon. Whatever the time of day, the sight is breath-taking and, without doubt, one of nature’s most unforgettable sights. Later, perhaps take an optional helicopter flight over the chasm to marvel at the almost incomprehensible vastness of it all.

Spend another night in Flagstaff.

 

 

Leaving Flagstaff, continue through the awe-inspiring desert landscape, to Las Vegas, your base for the next two nights. Waste no time in familiarising yourself with your glittering, neon-lit surroundings – every bit as surreal as the Canyon’s glories.

And, tonight, enjoy an optional dinner and entertainment from the stars of the nostalgic The Rat Pack is Back show.

 

 

Discover glittering, glorious Las Vegas! Nothing prepares you for the glitz, glamour and sheer scale of this monument to man’s capacity for fun that seems to rise out of the desert floor, its towering hotels and gargantuan casinos reaching skywards, its streets – including the famous Strip – lined with colourful entertainment centres, stores, themed bars, and show lounges that have played host to generations of the entertainment industry's most famous names.

Alternatively, spend your day relaxing, checking out the city's shopping malls or even heading for one of the many golf courses. Come sundown, try your luck – or watch others trying theirs – in a sparkling, state-of-the-art casino where you'll find no end to the ways you can try your hand against Lady Luck. Wander up and down the Strip to see this unique place in all its colourful glory.

This evening, don’t miss an incredible opportunity to see Vegas by night on our optional Vegas Nights helicopter flight over the Strip. 

Meet your experienced pilot, who will give you a short briefing as you board your luxury Airbus helicopter, and take off on an unforgettable Vegas experience. After take-off, you'll enjoy unparalleled views of the Las Vegas Strip from a different perspective - the skies. Soar high above the world-famous neon landscapes including Bellagio, Allegiant Stadium, Caesars Palace, High Roller, Wynn Las Vegas, The STRAT, Circa, historic downtown and more. You'll be in flight for around 10-12 minutes, giving you ample time to take in each iconic part of the city skyline from the comfort of your leather theatre-style seated helicopter. 

 

 

 

Bid farewell to Vegas, heading back to LA and the airport to check in for your overnight flight home.

 

 

 

 

Arrive back in the UK, this morning, at the end of an exciting West Coast USA adventure.