North America

Day 1 : Arrive San Francisco for two nights

Welcome to San Francisco, the City by the Bay. After checking in at your hotel, dive into exploring on your own at nearby Pier 39, the famed marketplace filled with shops, attractions and street performers.  Be sure to visit the pier’s resident sea lion population. 

Gather at the hotel with your Travel Director and fellow travellers for a Welcome Reception.

Day 2 : San Francisco Sightseeing and Free Time

As the mist rises over the bay, the great city of San Francisco stands before you. Embark on a morning exploration that takes you from Fisherman’s Wharf to fashionable Union Square. There’s a story around every corner of San Francisco, and you have some time this afternoon to follow your own path before gathering for a guided tour of the oldest Chinatown in the United States. Sample fortune cookies, a Local Speciality, and then celebrate your discoveries at a sumptuous Chinese Banquet Highlight Dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 3 : Napa - Lake Tahoe

Rise early this morning for an unforgettable optional hot air balloon ride over the lush Napa Valley. Then travel east to the state historic park of Old Sacramento, where you can experience life during the 19th-century California Gold Rush. Travel from the fertile Sacramento River valley to the alpine splendour of Lake Tahoe, its clear blue waters surrounded by evergreen pines and rocky outcrops. In season, choose to take a gondola ride for unparalleled views of the lake and nearby mountains. If you like, enjoy an optional sunset dinner cruise on the lake as you savour the magnificent views and magical mountain light.

Day 4 : Lake Tahoe Sightseeing and Free Time

After a relaxing breakfast, step back in time as you ride along the Pony Express Trail to America's largest historic landmark, Virginia City, where Mark Twain once roamed the streets and everybody wanted a piece of the "Richest Place on Earth". Learning about California's infamous Gold Rush is a true Cultural Insight. Take some time to visit one of the mansions, museums, gold and silver stores and see a real mine. This evening, join an elegant sunset dinner cruise on the lake, complete with live music and magnificent views. 

Day 5 : Lake Tahoe -Yosemite National Park

Lying just east of the Sierra Nevada, Mono Lake feels like another world. Its salty waters and limestone formations called “tufa towers”were once part of a great inland lake that covered most of Nevada and Utah. Currently, migrating birds use Mono Lake as a resting point on their journeys to South America or tropical seas. Snow-covered for much of the year, stunning Tioga Pass is the perfect entry point to the Golden State’s most famous National Park. Descend from the Sierra Nevada into the Yosemite Valley, passing the misty splendour of Bridal Veil and Yosemite Falls. Gaze in wonder at the granite walls of El Capitan and Half Dome.

Day 6 : Yosemite - Monterey for 2 nights

Head west today into Salinas Valley and join an agricultural education tour to learn about fruit and vegetable production and advanced farming techniques of the region. After cruising scenic 17-Mile Drive past the famed Lone Cypress Tree and Pebble Beach Golf Links, stop in the quaint village of Carmel-by-the-Sea. Browse the many shops, wander down to the water’s edge or enjoy a cappuccino at a sidewalk cafe. Travel north to Monterey for two nights.

Day 7 : Monterey Peninsula & Big Sur Excursion

Experience the glories of the California coast on your day trip to Big Sur. Highway 1 hugs the rocky cliffs, high above the dazzling Pacific.Hidden coves with sandy beaches, towering redwoods touching the sky and dolphins and sea lions cavorting in the clear waters—Big Sur’s natural majesty will take your breath away. Return to Monterey for a tour of Cannery Row, made famous by native Californian John Steinbeck. Enjoy some free time at lively, picturesque Fisherman’s Wharf, home to restaurants, shops and vibrant street life, or join an optional tour to the world-renowned Monterey Bay Aquarium. Tonight, join your Travel Director and fellow travellers for a festive Farewell Dinner including a wine pairing.

Day 8 : Monterey - Roaring Camp - Depart San Francisco

When Isaac Graham settled in the hills outside of Santa Cruz in the 1830s, Mexican authorities named his rowdy settlement “Roaring Camp.” Today, journey back in time to the era of lumberjacks and sawmills in a re-created 1880s logging camp, complete with general store and railroad depot. Luckily, Graham and his lumberjacks didn’t cut down the massive redwoods just minutes away in Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. Walk amongst the awe-inspiring trees—some of the largest living things on earth—and admire these treasures of California. End your journey where you began, in the golden city of San Francisco. Take a complimentary transfer to San Francisco International Airport or return to the hotel in San Francisco if you wish to extend your stay.

This is your last day of this escorted tour, however your adventure doesn't have to end here. Perhaps you may want to extend your stay and fly to one of the Hawiian Islands for some relaxation, or maybe head to the bright lights of Las Vegas before returning back to the UK.

Call the USA travel specialists at Bon Voyage to discuss your ideal Northern California adventure.