West Grand Tour – California, Arizona, Nevada

First Day:  Arrival in Los Angeles, CA
Arrival at the airport, collect your car hire and transfer to hotel. The remaining time of the day is available to visit the city, in total relaxation, because you will have three days to visit L.A. – tomorrow and at the end of the tour you will spend the two nights and the last two of the tour in a cozy and comfortable three star lodge under the Hollywood Hills.

Second Day: Los Angeles, CA
Day dedicated to the visit of L.A. using the Hop-&-Off:take the bus and go down to the places you most want to visit, using the advice of your road-book, then take another bus of the same line as you wish. So time out, free dinner and overnight stay at the same hotel.

Third Day: Los Angeles, CA – Laughlin -305 mi.
Once you are driving, a long journey awaits you that, past the Mojave Desert and the fresh waters of the Colorado River, will drive you to Nevada, in the charming town of Laughlin. Much of the route takes you along Interstate 15, which you will take shortly before San Bernardino and will take you to Laughlin. This highway, like many roads in the USA, has several panoramic views, especially when it runs along the Mohave National Preserve.

Fourth Day: Laughlin – Grand Canyon -215 mi.
If you want to have a taste of the old West, this morning, before resuming your trip on # 40 to the Grand Canyon,
take a short detour – about 38 mi. round trip – and go to Oatman: you will find yourself in the past between old saloons, mules, horses, etc…
So, once you cross the Colorado plateau, you will be faced with one of the shows more intense that nature can offer: the Grand Canyon. Stunning views, majestic rock formations, the tumultuous Colorado River and a myriad of colors that constantly change during the day. Do not miss the spectacle of dawn and sunset on the canyon. You will arrive late in the afternoon, in time then to settle in hotel for the sunset.

Note: Before arriving at the Grand Canyon Village you can take a day trip to Antelope Canyon – see photo on the description card. The excursion is on demand but is really not to be missed for spectacularity and the uniqueness of the place

Fifth Day: Grand Canyon
Early this morning, after breakfast, riding a mule, you will ride for about two hours along the path along the East Rim. The tour is guided and provides stops at the most spectacular spots for taking photos and listening to information from your guide. After admiring the Grand Canyon from its edges, in the afternoon you will do it from above during a flight-sighting on this wonder of nature: a truly unique experience!

Sixth Day: Grand Canyon—Las Vegas, NV (270 mi.)
Nowadays, once you get back to driving, a long journey awaits you which, along the U.S. highway 180, Interstate Higjway 40 and, after Kingman, the US. highway 93, in the early afternoon will take you to Las Vegas, the glittering capital of the game and fun, in time to stay at the hotel, relax and prepare for a first visit to the city, its casinos, restaurants, discos, etc … Then return to Hotel and overnight stay.

Seventh Day: Las Vegas, NV
Enjoy today a day of leisure in this city that looks like an immense open-air playground. Here is what to do in Las Vegas as well as visiting the various casinos and penny arcades:
– See the choreographic fountains in front of the Bellagio Hotel, “dancing” every 15 minutes, from 8 am to midnight – every 30 minutes in the afternoon.
– Walk along the Las Vegas Strip and impress you with the sight of the world’s largest and most spectacular casinos and hotels.
You will be guided along the strip to enjoy some of the many night clubs and restaurants during one of the themed guided tours.
Nature trekking lovers can join a tour of the nearby Red Rock Canyon, with various modes: buses, three-wheel drive (available on request).

Eighth Day: Las Vegas, NV—Death Valley, CA – 140 mi.
Drive to the Death Valley National Park,
to discover its mysterious charm. Get off early in the morning and make sure the car’s air conditioning works well and the gas tank is full, as there are only a couple of service stations along the road across the Death Valley. Also bring a consistent one
water supply. Once ready to endure the temperatures of one of the hottest places in the world, the well-deserved award will be the sight of many natural wonders such as Badwater, Dante’s View, Artist Palette and Zabrinsky Point before coming to Furnace Creek – where you will be staying – so Mesquito Springs at Scotty’s Castle, just to name a few,
without forgetting a visit to the ghost town of Rhyolite, former mining center, now abandoned.
You will be at the Furnace Creek Ranch, a true oasis of peace in the desert, with all the comforts.

Ninth Day: Death Valley, CA—Yosemite, CA -205 mi.
The contrast between the desolation of the Death Valley and the lush vegetation of the Yosemite National Park will be evident as soon as you pass the city of Bishop, you will enter the whole of the Sierra Nevada towards the Passo del Tioga. Yosemite is one of the most popular American National Parks and is visited every year by millions of tourists, fascinated by the variety of landscapes: pure granite walls, dome carved in the ice, alpine peaks, flowery meadows.
Overnight at 3 star hotel, double with breakfast, inside the park.

Tenth Day: Yosemite, CA—Lake Tahoe, CA – 138 mi.
In the morning, private guided tour of the park, from 9am to 6pm. Departure to the capital of Nevada, Carson City. Waiting along the road, the jewel of Sierra Nevada, Lake Tahoe…
You will sleep in a lodge on the southern coast of the lake.

Eleventh day: Lake Tahoe, CA —Sacramento, CA — Mendocino, CA (300 mi.) – le Red Woods
At 9 o’clock you will be on the south coast of the lake
and on board a kayak you will take part on a guided tour up to Emerald Bay. Kayaking is the best way to admire the beauty of the lake. Finally, around 1pm, along the ancient route of emigrants heading to Sacramento City in search of luck, you will move to Mendocino, on the north coast of California.
You will arrive in the evening and settle in a typical one B&B in Victorian style.
Dinner (not included) and overnight stay.

Twelve Day: Mendocino – in Red Woods Parks
Mendocino is the ideal place for trekking among giant trees: some of these are among the highest living beings in the world. Inside they are slightly lower than the coast. Also, along one of the many Red Woods trails in Mendocino, you can visit a real rarity: the Pigmeal Forest. The same sort of trees that, just a few hundred meters away, reach the spectacular heights
for which they are famous, here, on the other hand, because of different environmental conditions, they reach the height of a person.
Overnight in the same lodge.

Thirteen day: Mendocino – San Francisco – 155 mi.
Today, after breakfast, in full relaxation, you will take the highway 101 southbound to go to San Francisco where you will arrive through the Golden Gate late in the morning and settle down at the Pacific Heights Hotel, 3 star or Holiday Inn Civic Center, 3 star*, downtown, in a double room with breakfast. In the afternoon is available a self-guided tour of the city, that is almost entirely accessible on foot, but if you prefer, you can take the 49 Mile Scenic Drive. Following an easy route of about 50 mi. well-marked by white and blue signs, you will be able to visit many attractions. If you prefer guided tours, you can opt for the many tours shown in our road book, which shows the most interesting places in the city and its hinterland.

Fourteenth Day: San Francisco
After breakfast, pick up at your hotel to join the on bus guided tour that, after crossing the scenic Sierra Nevada, will take you to the Yosemite Park. During the tour, trekking for about an hour in Tuolumne Grove, then you will stop at the Inspiration Point to admire (and photograph) the Half Dom and you will practice a variety of activities, including a tour at the Visitor Center – all with the information and comments of the expert guide.
At the end of the tour, you will be accompanied back to your San Francisco hotel for dinner (not included) and overnight stay.

Fifteenth Day: San Francisco – Three Rivers – 256 mi.
In the morning, after breakfast in your hotel you will be picked up to take the eight hour guided tour of the city.
You will visit the major attractions of San Francisco such as the Alcatraz Island, China Town, The Fisherman Wharf, Golden Gate and North Beach. In the late afternoon, departure for Three Rivers, at the Sequoia National Park boundaries. Arrival in the evening and accommodation at the Three Rivers Lodge.

Sixteenth Day: Sequoia National Park
After a rich breakfast, a guide will meet you in the lobby of your hotel and will accompany you for the entire day of excursion to the Sequoia National Park between large trees, high peaks and deep canyons. In the subsoil, there are over 200 marble caves with endemic fauna. A wide variety of habitats where you can see a wide variety of plants: 1,200 species that make up dozens of unique plant communities. It is difficult to appreciate the size of the sequoia giants, because the nearby trees are all huge. The real age of the sequoia known as “General Sherman” and “General Grant” is unknown, but it is estimated that these giants are between 1800 and 2700 years.
At the end of the excursion, you will be retaken at the hotel for dinner (not included) and overnight stay.

Seventeenth Day: moving south – Los Angeles, 200 mi.
In the morning, transfer to Los Angeles. Arrival late in the morning and accommodation at the hotel.
In the afternoon, self-managed visit to the Hollywood district, or visit at the Museum of Natural History.
At the end, dinner (not included) and overnight stay.

Eighteenth Day: Los Angeles
Visit to Universal Studios and Warner Bros Studios in the morning.
In the afternoon, free time to visit other L.A. highlights such as Disneyland or Disney California Adventure (with transport included from L.A.), movie stars homes tour, one hour flight by plane or helicopter, LA Cruise Dinner and Dance (all available on request).
Overnight stay at the same hotel.

Nineteenth Day:  Return Flight
After breakfast, time available for eventual shopping, then transfer to the airport, return of the rented car and
boarding for the return flight.