Itinerary

Arrive among the neon lights of the world-famous Las Vegas Strip. Home to colossal casino resorts and styled as the Capital of Entertainment, take the day to stroll around the sights and sounds of the one place where glamour and extravagance are celebrated like nowhere else on Earth. Chances are you’ll be a bit jetlagged, and this is the perfect way to ease into the start of your trip after getting settled into your hotel. You’ll be up early the next morning on an adventure so don’t forget to get a good night’s sleep.

Las Vegas is ideally located for visiting a range of natural wonders: the Grand Canyon, Red Rock Canyon and Valley of Fire. Choose between an exhilarating helicopter tour to a private bluff in the Grand Canyon, a tour of the beautiful Red Rock Canyon with a ride through the famed Rocky Gap or a full day tour of the prehistoric Valley of Fire. Whatever you select, you will have an unforgettable experience, and plenty to talk about later that day over dinner.

Pick up your rental car after breakfast and make the nearly 2-hour journey to the famed Death Valley National Park. You’ll arrive at The Ranch, set along Highway 190 right next to the Park Service Visitor Centre, this beautiful, lush premise is the perfect base for exploring California’s largest national park. You’ll find Death Valley’s classic town square with its towering date palms and mission-style architecture right next door as you settle in to the vast grounds of your accommodation.

Start the afternoon getting your bearings in Death Valley with a guided horse ride from your hotel. You’ll have the option of riding to the valley floor or into the foothills of the Funeral Mountains where you’ll get extraordinary views of the valley below – entering the land just like the ‘49ers did during the California Gold Rush.

Spend the rest of the day enjoying the many amenities available at your hotel – there’s tennis courts, the lowest elevation golf course in the world, a spring-fed pool set to 30°C and communal fire pits to sit by as the day slips into evening.

Spend the day discovering Death Valley at your leisure. You’ll want to start early to avoid the midday heat. Get a map from your hotel and decide which places you want to stop at before you go. Death Valley is a place of extremes: being both the hottest and driest park in the United States and, at 282 feet below sea level, the lowest point in North America. But don’t let these facts cause concern. Its otherworldly landscapes and incredible colours are truly out of this world, and well worth seeing in person. Bring a 1-2 litre bottle of water per person and there’s no reason you won’t have a good time.

Make the 4-hour drive down to Palm Springs first thing in the morning so you can make the most of your overnight stay in this iconic mid-century modern desert oasis. A dream-like destination for sun, sand and relaxation, Palm Springs offers outdoor recreation in lush desert nature, stunning golf courses, delightful dining, boutique shopping and some of the finest examples of mid-century modern architecture – which you can see by yourself or on a guided tour.

You’ll be arriving in the heart of the city at your luxurious accommodations, so check in to your hotel and take your pick – you’ll find there’s plenty to do at the pace you want.

After breakfast make the short drive over to where you’ll be spending the next two nights: Joshua Tree. You’ll be arriving at Auto Camp where you’ll find yourself luxury camping or glamping in an Airstream in the middle of the stunning Mojave Desert minutes away from the entrance to Joshua Tree.

With no less than 8,000 rock climbing and hiking routes, Joshua Tree National Park is a must for hikers. But for the spiritually and artistically minded it’s an equally attractive destination. Joshua Tree’s stark, bewitching beauty is characterised by world-famous rock formations, cactus-dotted desert landscapes and the eponymous tree itself.

Get settled in and take your pick of things to do – from morning yoga and desert meditation to nature walks, guided adventure hikes and introductions to rock climbing – you’ll find plenty to take part in.

If you haven’t planned a sunrise hike or a morning class from the day before, strike out on your own and discover Joshua Tree at your own pace. The park is a hiker’s haven and there are a few trails you shouldn’t miss before you leave, especially as most of them are easy to traverse. Start with Keys View for awe-inspiring panoramic views of the surrounding San Bernardino Mountains, Coachella Valley and the San Andreas Fault, or try the popular Hidden Valley Nature Trail. Afterwards, head to the famed Skull Rock Trail and the Arch Rock Trail for the unusual rock formations.

End the night stargazing – you can easily spot shooting stars and even see planets. Joshua Tree benefits from virtually no light pollution and the detail in the night sky will take your breath away.

The journey up to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks from Joshua Tree is nearly six hours, so break up this lengthy road trip with an overnight in the centrally-located city of Bakersfield. Known for its history as the oil and agriculture hub of California, the city has come a long way since the days of the pioneers.

Drop your bags off at your hotel and take the afternoon easy, or head out and explore Bakersfield’s diverse museums. See one-of-a-kind fossils excavated from the local region in the Buena Vista Museum of Natural History or take a walk through the past at the Kern County Museum which displays thousands of historical and cultural artefacts dating back to the town’s Gold Rush history.

If shopping sounds more exciting head to downtown Bakersfield’s Antique District. Home to numerous antique stores, all known for their unique and hard-to-find collectibles, you’ll be in for quite a treat with the eclectic selection on offer.

Finish the journey to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks first thing in the morning with a 2-hour drive. Situated south of the Sierra Nevada, and home of the world’s largest and oldest tree, nicknamed General Sherman, Sequoia National Park protects and preserves the beauty of California’s unique sequoia trees.

You’ll be arriving at the park’s stunning stone and cedar mountain lodge, Wuksachi with its friendly service and cosy accommodations. Get settled in and decide between joining one of the lodge’s guided outdoor activities or exploring on your own. Sequoia National Park is filled with exciting hiking trails and stunning scenic drives, so grab a map from the front desk and plot out your afternoon – just don’t forget to include the stunning Crescent Meadow Loop.

Head today to Kings Canyon National Park. Home to the last remaining grove of sequoia trees in the world, Grants Grove, the park features terrain similar to that of Yosemite, and is an ideal stop for outdoor enthusiasts with miles of hiking trails and opportunities for horse riding. Trails not to be missed include the General Grant Loop Trail, the Zumwalt Meadow Trail and the easily accessible Roaring River Falls Trail. For panoramic views take the Big Baldy Ridge Trail, and if you only have time for one trail, make sure it’s the 8-mile Mist Falls. You’ll get to see a little bit of everything, and the views don’t disappoint.

Situated in California’s Sierra Nevada mountain range, Yosemite is a designated World Heritage Site, internationally-renowned for its deep valleys, grand meadows, ancient sequoia trees, freshwater lakes, breathtaking waterfalls, and staggering granite cliffs, like the famous El Capitan. Start the 2.5-hour drive over as early as you want – there’s plenty to see in Yosemite, and you’ll want to make the most of your time there.

You’ll be arriving at the beautiful Rush Creek Lodge & Spa just minutes from the entrance to the park nestled into the hillside woodland. Get settled into your stunning surroundings and take your pick of activities – your hotel has fantastic amenities, and Yosemite National Park abounds with outdoor pursuit. Start with a visit to the park at your leisure – you’ll enter by car and then explore on your own by foot. Yosemite is a haven for hiking and there are so many iconic locations you’ll want to make sure you see – El Capitan, Glacier Point, Half Dome, Cathedral Peak, Vernal Fall, Bridalveil Fall and, for the culturally-minded, the Ansel Adams Gallery in nearby Yosemite Valley.

Since you spent yesterday exploring Yosemite by yourself, why not see what you might have missed on a private guided hike? On this 5-6 hour excursion that combines short easy hikes with insightful outdoor education, you’ll travel along less-visited trails with an expert guide, getting an incredible experience of the forest, waterfalls and meadows in the park while simultaneously gaining a deeper understanding of the Yosemite wilderness. Plus, your tour will be tailored to your hiking experience so you can have a great time without overstretching yourself.

After a solid day in the park, spend the late afternoon or evening at your hotel relaxing in the pool and tucking in to a delicious meal come dinner.

After breakfast, make the 3-hour drive over to the final stop on your trip: San Francisco. You’ll have a pleasant ride thanks to driving (at least partially) along the scenic Highway 120. Drop off your rental car upon arrival since you won’t be needing it with the city’s walkable distances, classic cable cars and BART metro system. Arrive at the Hotel Caza in the Fisherman’s Wharf neighbourhood – where you’ll have great access to many of San Francisco’s landmarks including the famous 3-mile long Lombard Street – and get settled in before heading back out to explore.

Widely considered the cultural capital of California, San Francisco is famous for its old-fashioned cable cars, stunning Victorian architecture, dynamic waterfront and soaring Golden Gate bridge, not to mention world-renowned ballet, symphony and opera, trend-defining cuisine, and individual neighbourhoods that have as much history as character.

Start your first full day properly exploring this world-renowned city. There are many ways to see San Francsico, and one of the best is from the iconic Golden Gate Bridge on a scenic bike tour. You’ll get to see the innate beauty of the Bay Area with this 3-hour guided tour, cycling from San Francisco across to Sausalito and back, stopping for multiple photo opportunities along the way.

Whether or not you go cycling, chances are you’ll be hungry. So spend your afternoon or lunchtime taking a food tour around San Francisco. Food is a huge part of any culture, and the city has multiple districts that are known for their culinary delights. Choose between Italian-focused North Beach, historic and hip Mission District or San Francisco’s renowned Chinatown, and taste the local history. Instead of a tour, you can also spend whatever remaining time you have strolling the streets of this world-famous city, stopping at all the places you still want to see before you leave. With so much to do and see, you won’t have any trouble keeping yourself occupied!