West America Adventure Tour

Join tour San Francisco and check-in at the hotel. Hugging the shores of San Francisco Bay, America’s second most populous city is a fascinating mix of culture, commerce and character that cannot fail to charm.

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We have the day to explore some of San Francisco’s famous sights. On a morning’s orientation tour of the city we take in the colonial architecture of Alamo Square and the colourful eccentricity of Haight Ashbury, San Francisco’s once thriving ‘hippie district’ of the 1960s. Driving up to Twin Peaks we then enjoy some great views across the city and the bay, before moving on to Golden Gate Bridge and Fisherman’s Wharf. This afternoon is free to perhaps take in Lombard Street and Coit Tower, returning by the city’s famous cable cars back down to Union Square and Market Street.

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This morning we leave San Francisco behind and drive northward, heading through Stanislaus County towards Yosemite National Park. Passing numerous orchards and vineyards we head up into the Sierra Nevada, towards the rugged beauty of Yosemite. A mere 20 kilometres long, the central valley is dominated by the vast granite bulks of Half Dome and El Capitan (twice the size of the Rock of Gibraltar). We aim to take a walk up to the base of Yosemite Falls (the highest waterfall in the States), before continuing along to our hotel in Mariposa.

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More than 90% of Yosemite is designated as a wilderness area and over the next two days we have ample chance to explore. We can hike up to Glacier Point and then follow the Panorama and Mist Trail back down into the valley (an additional 5-7 hours), a challenging walk that takes us past Nevada and Vernal Falls and offers some stunning views of Half Dome and El Capitan. Other less demanding options include mountain bike hire, a walk up to the top of Yosemite Falls (3 hours walk to the top) or a relaxing day along the riverbanks. The park is filled with a variety of wildlife too, including hummingbirds, deer and even black bears.

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Leaving the park this morning we plan to drive across the scenic Tioga Pass (2600m) en route to Tenaya Lake. After lunch we continue on to the surreal landscapes of Mono Lake, at the base of the High Sierras. This incredible body of water is two and a half times as salty and eighty times as alkaline as sea-water and whilst it can sustain no fish life, it does abound in brine shrimp and flies, providing food for millions of migratory birds. From here we drive to Bishop, where we spend the evening. On early spring departures, if the passes over the Sierra Nevada are closed we may have to amend our itinerary and re-route the tour.

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Starting early to avoid the heat, we descend into Death Valley today, one of the lowest and hottest places on earth. After taking breakfast in Stove Pipe Wells, we then journey into the heart of one of the most remarkable settings on earth, where the marbled rocks, salt pans and black mountains provide us with an incredible backdrop. In marked contrast we end our day in Las Vegas, America’s extraordinary desert playground, where pirate ships and exploding volcanoes share centre stage with Venetian canals and ancient pyramids. This evening we have some free time to explore this unique city.

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Leaving the bright lights of Vegas behind us this morning we head next into the wilderness of south-western Utah and the stunning beauty of Zion National Park. Zion Canyon is an incredible natural landscape that sits at the meeting point of the Colorado Plateau, the Great Basin and the Mohave Desert. Home to golden eagles, elk and black bear, Zion boasts an incredible diversity of flora, from Ponderosa pine to desert bush. On arrival in the park this afternoon we take a walk to Emerald Pools before overnighting in nearby Springdale.

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Today we have a chance to hike up to Angel’s Landing, to enjoy a spectacular viewpoint down across the valley (4 hours). Other option for today includes The Narrows, the latter of which takes us along the river bed and (depending on the season) may require us to negotiate waist-high water (3 hours). Those looking for a more arduous trek might like to try the hike up to Observation Point (5 hours). After our day’s exertions we return to Springdale for our second night, where there may be a chance this evening to visit the local IMAX cinema.

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We drive to Bryce Canyon today, travelling via Buffalo and Mt Carmel Junction. The idea is to arrive in time to do an afternoon hike around the Navajo Loop, possibly taking in Queens Gardens as well if we have time. Bryce’s stunning multicoloured formations are steeped in the legends of the Paiute Indians and this evening we have a chance to watch the sun set across the sandstone ‘hoodoos’ from the canyon’s rim.

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This morning we see Bryce at its most radiant, in the golden hues of sunrise. Returning to the hotel for breakfast, we then drive to Capitol Reef National Park, where we stop and take a short hike. Capitol Reef encompasses a landscape of coloured sandstone cliffs, twisting canyons, monoliths and spires, a wonderful setting for our two-hour hike. From here we then drive to Moab, the largest town in south-eastern Utah, where the rest of the evening is free to relax and enjoy at our own pace. Time permitting we may visit Dead Horse point.

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Located a short distance from Moab is Arches National Park, home to the world’s largest concentration of natural sandstone arches. With over 2000 arches, giant sandstone fins, balancing rocks and towering spires, the park provides a unique setting for today’s hike. We take in the Devil's Garden, a strenuous four-hour trek that takes us through a landscape littered with arches. We also enjoy a more gentle walk around The Windows Loop (1.5 hours), before returning to Moab later this afternoon.

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A free morning in Moab allows us a chance to enjoy some optional mountain biking or rafting excursions. Please note: Participation in canoeing, kayaking, or rafting (including whitewater) requires that you are able to swim 25 metres unaided. We then head back to Arches to walk to Delicate Arch for sunset (2 hours). Probably one of the most photographed arches in the American southwest, Delicate Arch, with its backdrop of the snow-capped peaks of La Sal, provides the perfect setting for our late afternoon hike. After our walk we then head back to Moab for the evening.

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After breakfast, and a quick visit to the News Paper Rock, we continue on to Mesa Verde National Park this morning. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Mesa Verde is home to some of the best preserved cliff dwellings in the world. After viewing the Native American exhibits at the Visitors Centre, we then take a guided tour of the site and pay a visit to the Chapin Mesa Archaeological Museum. After our visit we continue to the city of Cortez.

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Set deep in the heart of the Navajo Nation, the sandstone buttes and monoliths of Monument Valley present us with some of the most famous landscapes on earth; stars of countless westerns and Hollywood movies. After driving to Mexican Hat and taking a scenic drive through the Valley of the Gods there is the option to join a jeep tour today to enjoy a Navajo Cultural Experience. We overnight in Kayenta.

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This morning we drive to the Navajo National Monument. The Navajo Nation constitutes the largest tribe left in the United States and this morning we take a short walk from the visitors centre to view the Anasazi (ancient Pueblo) ruins in the Betatakin Canyon. Leaving the valley behind, we then drive to Lake Powell, the second largest man-made lake in the United States, enjoying a scenic hike to Horseshoe Bend and paying a visit to the impressive Glen Canyon Dam complex en route. This evening there is a chance to enjoy an optional sunset horseback ride.

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There is the option this morning for us to pay a visit to Antelope Canyon, probably the most photographed slot canyon in the south-western United States. Formed by water erosion, the Navajo sandstone has been sculpted into an incredibly beautiful landscape of ‘flowing’ rocks. From here we drive to the Grand Canyon, stopping off to view the national park from the vantage points of Desert View and the Grand Viewpoint, before finally reaching our hotel later this afternoon.

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Today we explore one of the oldest landscapes on earth. Reaching a depth of 1600 metres the Grand Canyon took over two billion years to create and this morning we have a chance to hike down into the canyon. The hike down to Indian Gardens takes around three hours, with the journey out to Plateau Point adding an extra 45 minutes each way. Alternatively you may like to use the park’s free shuttle service to explore the West Rim and the Hermit’s Rest. This afternoon is free to continue exploring, or perhaps enjoy a helicopter flight over the canyon (optional).

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This morning we drive along one of the most historic highways in America, the famous Route 66. A shadow of its former self, the road is nonetheless still rich in the Americana of its glory days, when it used to be known as the ‘Main Street’ of America. Our drive back to Las Vegas takes us through the towns of Kingman and Seligman, home to the wonderfully eccentric ‘Delgadillo’s Snow Cap Drive-in’. On arrival in Vegas we then have a final free evening to make the most of one of America’s most iconic cities.

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The tour ends in Las Vegas this morning.