8-Day San Francisco, Yosemite, Las Vegas, Sedona, Monument Valley Tour from LA
Address
Los Angeles
GPS
34.0536909, -118.242766
One-way trip from Los Angeles to Las Vegas includes a 7-night stay in each city. As you make your way from Las Vegas to Santa Barbara, you’ll stop in San Francisco and the surrounding areas of California, Nevada, and Arizona, including Yosemite National Park, Sedona, and Zion National Park, before finally arriving in Las Vegas. A cruise on the San Francisco Bay, a tour of the Las Vegas Strip at night, a visit to the Hoover Dam, and a Jeep tour through Monument Valley are among the many activities available.
8-Day San Francisco, West Grand Canyon
Highlights
- 8-day, 7-night tour from Los Angeles to San Francisco, Yosemite, Sedona, and Las Vegas
- See some of the most photographed landscapes of Yosemite National Park
- Take a bay cruise under the Golden Gate Bridge and around Alcatraz Island
- Explore Monument Valley by Jeep
- Learn about the natural and cultural history of the region
- Accommodation and breakfast included in San Francisco, Modesto or Monterey, Stevenson Ranch, Las Vegas, Flagstaff, and Page
- You’ll visit Hearst Castle instead of Yosemite in the winter months
- Tour ends in Las Vegas
Itinerary
Day 1 LOS ANGELES – SANTA BARBARA – 17 MILE DRIVE – CARMEL
Old Mission Santa Barbara
SUMMER ITINERARY: Depart north up the spectacular California Coast to the first stop in Santa Barbara. Visit a Spanish Mission and learn how these religious outposts were key in the development of the entire region.
Solvang Visitor Center (SUMMER)
Continue to Solvang, a quaint Danish community to browse in the local shops.
Cannery Row (SUMMER)
After our visit, we visit the town of Carmel home to the actor Clint Eastwood.
17-Mile Drive (SUMMER)
We head north to world-famous Route #1 where we get to see the spectacular California coastline up close. (small vehicles will travel on route 1 only while full-size coaches will travel through 17-mile drive exclusively) Enjoy some free time to stroll in town before departing to reach our hotel overnight.
Stearns Wharf
WINTER ROUTE: Depart north up the spectacular California Coast to our first stop in Santa Barbara. We explore the heart of downtown at the “state street promenade” after enjoying the architectural beauty of the promenade we visit the beaches and Stearns wharf enjoying a beautiful view of the ocean.
Old Mission Santa Barbara (WINTER)
We finish our visit to Santa Barbara at the Spanish Mission and learn how these religious outposts were key to developing this entire region.
Solvang (WINTER)
Our trip continues up to Solvang, a quaint community known as the “Danish capital of America.” Here we enjoy the Danish style architecture while browsing local shops and restaurants.
Silicon Valley (WINTER)
After our lunch break, we travel north through Silicon Valley before departing for our hotel for the evening.
Day 2 SAN FRANCISCO – BAY CRUISE – GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE – CHINATOWN
San Francisco City Hall
Today we understand why San Francisco is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. We start our tour walking on Lombard Street and then at the Fisherman’s Wharf with a cruise in the world-famous bay, under the Golden Gate Bridge, and around the notorious Alcatraz Island.
Downtown Sausalito
Walk along with the waterfront shops on cobbled sidewalks and enjoy the sunshine, sea air, and ambiance
Twin Peaks
Head for the top of Twin Peaks. These two hills rise almost 1000 feet above the City and sit just about in its geographical center. This is the best San Francisco view.
Chinatown
San Francisco’s Chinatown is the oldest one in North America and covers 24 city blocks. This neighborhood is one of the most popular attractions in San Francisco.
Day 3 SAN FRANCISCO – YOSEMITE
Yosemite Valley
SUMMER ROUTE: We head east through the farmlands of the Joaquin Valley to Yosemite National Park. This 1,200-square mile wonderland of forests, lakes, and waterfalls is located in the Sierra Nevada. Stop at El Capitan, Bridal-Veil Falls, and Half Dome.
Yosemite Falls (SUMMER)
Continuation for a walk from the Yosemite Visitor Center to reach one of the highest waterfalls in North America (730 meters) Yosemite Falls.
Cannery Row
WINTER ROUTE: We start the day with a tour of Monterrey to include the wharf and Cannery Row. What was once a row of Sardine factories along the wharf is now a picturesque haven for people to enjoy a leisurely day while exploring its rich history
Carmel (WINTER)
We continue our tour of the beautiful California coast with a visit to the town of Carmel-by-the-sea, home to actor/director/mayor Clint Eastwood.
17-Mile Drive (WINTER)
We will then travel south returning back to Los Angeles. On the way, we will either travel along the California coast itself on scenic Route #1 (small vehicles only) or visit the acclaimed 17-Mile drive (full-size buses only) for a stunning view of the coast.
Day 4 STEVENSON RANCH – LAS VEGAS
Outlets at Barstow
Today’s route is east through the desert and Death Valley to arrive at the gambling capital of the world: Las Vegas. We stop for lunch at the outlet mall in Barstow, which is filled with all the famous brand names like Levi’s, Nike, Reebok, Timberland, Ralph Lauren, and more.
The Strip
In the evening we take a tour of the strip to see some of the truly amazing hotels and fantasies that are built in the middle of the desert, such as Caesar’s Palace, Mirage, Luxor, Paris, Mandalay Bay, New York, Treasure Island and more. Finish off the evening at one of the many shows or try your hand at one of the many casinos’, who knows maybe lady luck will be smiling on you tonight.
Day 5 LAS VEGAS – HOOVER DAM
Hoover Dam
After a leisurely breakfast, we leave Las Vegas and make our way to the Hoover Dam, understanding how this man-made phenomenon was built and what it did to the area. After our visit, we head back to Las Vegas for a free afternoon to enjoy some of the many unique attractions or popular shows that the city has to offer.
Hoover Dam Bypass
The Mike O’Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge spans the Colorado River between the states of Arizona and Nevada.
Day 6 LAS VEGAS – SEDONA
Chapel of the Holy Cross
We start the day traveling across the Mojave Desert and head up the Colorado Plateau and historic route 66, before arriving in Sedona. Known as the jewel of the desert and considered as one of the most beautiful places in America.
Drive the breathtaking scenic Oak Creek Canyon that descends 2000 feet (610 meters) to the valley floor. We stop for photos of the red rocks and surroundings at the Oak Creek Canyon overlook, and the slide rock state park.
Enjoy a lunch break in Sedona where you can browse authentic Indian arts and crafts stores together with unique boutiques and galleries. After our break, we head out to the surrounding desert to visit the Chapel of the Holy Cross ( self-guided visit using local shuttle service), and enjoy panoramic views of the Sedona red rock formations including Bell Rock, Courthouse Butte, and Cathedral rock. In the late afternoon, we depart the Sedona area to Flagstaff for overnight.
Bell Rock
Short, sweet, and simply stunning, the Bell Rock Pathway may be the most popular trail and one of the easiest of all the walkways and hikes in the Sedona area.
Day 7 SEDONA – MONUMENT VALLEY – HORSESHOE BEND
Horseshoe Bend
We start the day by heading to the mighty Colorado River, for a visit to “Horseshoe Bend” a spectacular sight unique to this region of the country.
Monument Valley – Highway 163 Scenic Drive
We continue the day heading into Monument Valley, one of the Iconic symbols of the American West and one of the most majestic and photographed points in the world. Deep in the heart of the Navajo nation lies this majestic park, which consists of sandstone masterpieces that tower from 400 – 1000 feet (up to 300 meters) around these sandstone towers you can find mesas buttes shrubs, and trees. Our visit starts with a jeep tour led by Navajo Indians. The tour will take you down into the valley and you will experience firsthand why the Navajo call this land “like no other place on earth”.
Day 8 ANTELOPE CANYON – VALLEY OF FIRE – LAS VEGAS
Antelope Canyon
We start the day where “The water runs through the rocks” as per the local Navajo folklore. We tour the lower Antelope Canyon and visit the spectacular dunes created by the wind, water, and sand; words are not enough to describe these formations created by Mother Nature.
Valley of Fire State Park
After our tour, we depart this amazing area and start making our way back to Las Vegas, along the way we stop for a lunch break and then visit the “Valley of Fire” named for the magnificent red sandstone formations created from shifting sands and dunes during the age of the dinosaurs more than 150 million years ago.
Our visit is timed to be able to see the appearance of the valley being on “fire” when reflecting the powerful sun’s rays into the valley (weather permitting). Depart the Park for an early evening arrival in Las Vegas.
