Yosemite and the National Parks Holidays

Day 1 : Arrive Las Vegas

Welcome to glittering Las Vegas. Get acclimated and relax at your hotel situated on the famous Las Vegas Strip. At 6 p.m. meet your Travel Director and travelling companions for a Welcome Reception at your hotel. 

Day 2 : Las Vegas – Death Valley National Park – Mammoth Lakes

Today, discover North America's lowest, hottest and driest point as you enter Death Valley National Park, the largest National Park in the contiguous United States. Enjoy scenic views at Zabriskie Point over the inferno that is Death Valley, learn about the valley's unique geological features, and enjoy sweeping views of desert gorges, striking peaks, and miles of sand dunes as your Travel Director shares fascinating facts about the area's unique history and intriguing weather patterns. See if you can spot wild burros, bighorn sheep or lizard while taking in the views. After lunch, dip 282 feet (86 metres) below sea level at the Badwater Basin, the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere. No putter required at Devil's Golf Course-a massive saltpan of jagged spires-where "only the devil could play golf on such rough links." Continue through the desert landscape of Death Valley ascending to Mammoth for our overnight stay.

Day 3 : Mammoth Lakes to Yosemite National Park (2 nights)

Take a scenic Gondola ride to the peak of Mammoth Mountain and enjoy the stunning views while you enjoy a tasty breakfast. Touch the clouds through the Tioga Pass (seasonal) and enter the UNESCO-listed Yosemite National Park. View Yosemite Valley's El Capitan, Cathedral Rocks, and Bridal Veil Falls. Our 'Stay with a Story' tonight exudes a cosy, ski-lodge atmosphere and is located just a stone's throw from Yosemite Falls.

Day 4 : Yosemite Free Time

Explore the National Park today, famed for its giant, ancient sequoia trees. you'll Join a Local Specialist Park Ranger to delve into the natural history, flora and fauna, and people who found sanctuary in these tranquil emerald-green surrounds over the centuries. Driving past Tenaya Lake and Tuolumne Meadows, we journey to Yosemite Valley where we'll embark on a special valley floor tour. The rest of the day is free to go for a walk or hike and take in the breathtaking beauty of Yosemite.

Day 5 : Yosemite National Park - Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks

As you leave Yosemite National Park, stop at one of the most photographed vistas in the world, providing a panoramic view of Yosemite Valley, including El Capitan, Half Dome, Cathedral Rocks, and Bridal Veil Falls. Stop at the Kings Canyon Visitor Center and stretch your legs on a short hike to the General Grant Tree, the second largest tree in the world. Today, these two National Parks protect nearly half of the remaining sequoias in the world. Stop at Kings Canyon Lookout for a bird's eye view of the canyon and continue along the Majestic Mountain Loop, winding through groves of majestic sequoias before arriving at Sequoia National Park, a stunning area near the southern end of California's famous mountain range. This evening, after dinner, immerse yourself in a stargazing program as a naturalist and Local Specialist guides you through the star spangled sky, far away from the city lights. 

Day 6 : Sequoia National Park Excursion

Explore this "Land of Giants" further with a walk along the General Sherman Tree Loop trail which culminates at the base of the General Sherman Tree-the world's largest living thing, estimated to be over 2,200 years old.Stop at the Giant Forest Museum, where you learn about the history and ecology of the giant sequoias and enjoy a short movie presentation the giant sequoia ecology and fire inside the replica of a burned-out giant sequoia. Walk the Big Trees Trail while enjoying the fresh air of the giant redwood forest. Use the park's complimentary shuttle system to explore further on your own. Perhaps climb up Moro Rock, a massive granite formation right in the center of Sequoia National Park. Old West grilling doesn't get any more authentic than at lunch today as you enjoy an alfresco, all-you-can-eat barbecue and Regional Meal in beautiful Wolverton Meadow while a living-history re-enactor, a Local Specialist, tells stories of early life in the mountains. The rest of the day is yours to explore at your own pace.

Day 7 : Sequoia National Park - Los Angeles

Descend through the spectacular Sierra Nevada and the Los Padres National Forest before arriving in Los Angeles, the City of Angels. Stroll down fashionable Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, considered America's epicenter of high-end lifestyle. This evening join your fellow passengers for a Farewell Dinner.

Day 8 : Depart Los Angeles

Today, a transfer is provided to Los Angeles International Airport. This is the end of your tour but doesn't have to be the end of your adventure. Perhaps you may decide to extend your stay and travel to San Francisco or maybe include a city stop over at New York or Boston before heading back to the UK. 

Call the USA travel specialists at Bon Voyage to discuss your perfect California's Great National Parks - Trafalgar Escorted Holiday.