California Holidays

Day 1 : Arrive Los Angeles (2 Nights)

Welcome to Los Angeles, La-La Land! 

At 6 p.m. meet your Travel Director and travel companions for a Welcome Reception at your hotel. 

Day 2 : Los Angeles Sightseeing

Make your way to Tinseltown, Hollywood, where you'll be joined by a Local Specialist for a guided walking tour taking in Hollywood's most famous icons: the Hollywood Sign, Grauman's Chinese Theatre and the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Later, experience the glitz and glamour of Beverly Hills as you cruise down famous Rodeo Drive, lined with high-end shops and beautiful people . The rest of the day is free to explore on your own. Perhaps you'd like to dip your toes in the Pacific Ocean at Santa Monica beach, enjoy a stroll along the famous pier or check out Universal Studios?  

Day 3 : Los Angeles –Santa Monica– Santa Barbara

Head to Santa Monica for a brief brush with its beachy culture before making your way up the coast to idyllic Santa Barbara.  Visit the historic Mission Santa Barbara, one of the 21 missions founded by the Spaniards along the El Camino Real Trail. This evening, your Regional Meal dinner is served at a local restaurant.

Day 4 : Santa Barbara – Paso Robles – Monterey (2 Nights)

After a leisurely morning, continue north to Paso Robles, in the heart of the wine growing region.  Enjoy a Be My Guest lunch at award-winning The Groves 41. Stroll through olive groves with a glass of local wine while your hosts enlighten you about olive trees and the process of olive oil making before dining on a delectable meal created with local ingredients and olive oil. After a day of relaxation it's time to head north to one of the California coasts most popular resorts, Monterey. 

Day 5 : Monterey Sightseeing

Embark on a tour of the Monterey Peninsula featuring Cannery Row and Fisherman's Wharf, beautiful Pacific Grove and the famed 17-Mile Drive. View the iconic Lone Cypress Tree and Pebble Beach Golf Links, before arriving in the fairy tale village of Carmel-by-the-Sea. Enjoy time browsing the galleries, delving into the boutiques or relaxing on the white sands of Carmel beach.  Then head south towards famous Big Sur along scenic Highway 1. Arrive at Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park and stroll among the giant redwood trees. Enjoy a Regional Meal dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 6 : Monterey – Yosemite

This morning, join your Local Specialists for a tour and tasting at Earthbound Organic Farms in nearby Carmel Valley. Explore the difference between organic and conventional farming, taste different salads fresh from the farm and learn the about the farm's grassroots story.
 
Ascend the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, through Gold Country, passing Victorian-era townships and saloons from the Gold Rush era, before arriving at stunning Yosemite National Park.

Day 7 : Yosemite National Park – Mariposa

Explore Yosemite National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and stop at the Mariposa Grove to view the Giant Sequoias, believed to be nearly 3,000 years old. Board a private valley floor tram tour with a National Park Local Specialist to discover the spectacular and wild landscape of Yosemite Valley. Pass the misty splendour of Bridal Veil and gaze at the wonders of El Capitan and Half Dome. The afternoon is yours to do as you please: explore further, take a hike or stroll along the Merced River. Later this afternoon, drive down the Sierras to your hotel. 

Day 8 : Mariposa – Napa and Sonoma Valleys – San Francisco (2 Nights)

Head to Northern California's beautiful wine country and enjoy lunch on your own at the Oxbow Public Market in Napa Valley. Retreat to an exclusive blending lab at Ravenswood Winery with a Local Specialist to create, taste and bottle your own perfect combination of Carignan, Petite Sirah and Zinfandel. Afterwards, cross the iconic Golden Gate Bridge and arrive in the 'Beautiful City on the Bay', San Francisco.

Day 9 : San Francisco Sightseeing

Explore San Francisco including the iconic sights of Fisherman's Wharf, Golden Gate Park, Union Square, Chinatown and Haight-Ashbury. Finish with San Francisco's famous Farmer's Market, featuring the Bay Area's best food artisans. Your afternoon is free to explore.  Feeling energetic? Hire a bike and cycle across the Golden Gate bridge to pretty Sausalito, or check out the bay views from Pier 39. 

This evening, join your Travel Director and fellow travellers for a Farewell Dinner at a local restaurant. 

Day 10 : Depart San Francisco

Your journey ends with a transfer to San Francisco International Airport. This is the end of your tour but does not have to be the end of your adventure. You may decide to extend your stay in San Francisco or perhaps continue north by rail and enjoy the scenic Oregon coast to Seattle.  

Call the travel specialists at Bon Voyage to discuss your ideal Coastal California with Yosemite National Park - Trafalgar Escorted Tour.