California Explorer

Begin in the great city of San Francisco where highlights range from cycling across the Golden Gate Bridge to ferry trips to nearby Alcatraz – opt for a guided night tour for a more intimate, engaging experience of this infamous prison island.

You’ll also find an array of wonderfully diverse neighbourhoods to explore, from the enormous Chinatown to student Berkeley and distinctly Italian North Beach (home to the iconic City Lights Bookstore). Other must-see attractions include crooked Lombard Street and the brightly painted Victorian buildings known as the Painted Ladies, as well as Pier 39 with its colony of sea lions. You’ll be staying at the upscale Argonaut Hotel on Fisherman’s Wharf with superb views out across San Francisco Bay. 

Stay: Three nights at the Argonaut Hotel

From Frisco, hire a car and follow route 101 north across the Golden Gate Bridge towards picturesque Napa Valley whose acclaimed vineyards are responsible for producing some of America’s finest wines. 

With elegant Hotel Yountville as your base, you’ll be able to devote your days to private wine tastings and behind-the-scenes tours of the wine making process, cycling through the scenic countryside and indulging in delicious farm-to-table cuisine at your hotel and surrounding restaurants. You can also pay a visit to the Napa Valley Museum to learn more and the fascinating culture and history of the region. 

Stay: Three nights at Hotel Yountville

From Napa Valley, it’s just a short drive inland to reach the vertical world of Yosemite National Park in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. An icon of America’s majestic natural beauty, the park is famed for its ancient sequoia trees, wildflower meadows, glacier-carved valleys and cascading waterfalls that hang from 3,000-foot granite cliffs like bridal veils. 

You’ll be staying at the east end of Yosemite Valley, surrounded by views of the park’s most famous icons, including Half Dome, Yosemite Falls and Glacier Point. There are well-signposted hiking and biking trails in abundance, whilst those feeling more adventurous can opt for rock climbing or zip-lining. You can explore independently or in the company of a knowledgeable guide for a deeper insight into the park’s geology and wildlife. 

Stay: Three nights at The Ahwahnee

Discover more extreme landscapes further south in the appropriately named Death Valley National Park. This is one of the hottest and driest places on earth, with sun-baked dunes and water-sculpted canyons that harbour a surprising diversity of life, including rattlesnakes, bighorn sheep and over 1,000 species of plants. Plus, Native American archaeological sites and ancient rock art. 

Base yourself at the Inn at Death Valley, whose natural spring-fed pool remains a balmy 30°C even on the coolest of desert nights. From here you can set out to marvel at the spectacular colours that adorn the eroded hills of Artist’s Palette, the field of salt crystal formations known as Devil’s Golf Course and the Badwater Basin – the lowest point in North America. 

Stay: One night at The Inn at Death Valley

Leaving Death Valley behind, you’ll now drive over the state line to Las Vegas in neighbouring Nevada. With its lavishly themed hotels, glitzy casinos and wacky, over-the-top buildings, this money-making desert oasis makes for a fabulous finale to any Californian adventure. Even if you don’t gamble a cent, you can still indulge in Michelin-starred dining, browse high-end boutiques and experience world-class shows such as Cirque du Soleil and the Blue Man Group. Stay at the iconic Bellagio Hotel, famed for its elegance and dancing water fountains. 

Stay: Three nights at Bellagio Las Vegas

Return to the airport for your international flight back to London.