San Francisco and Las Vegas Tour from Los Angeles: 5 Days, Stay, Transport

At the start of the tour, you will depart north up the spectacular California Coast to Santa Barbara, one of the earliest Spanish settlements in this part of the Americas.

From Santa Barbara, the tour continues north and stops at Solvang, founded in 1911 by a Danish community. Here you will find bakeries, restaurants, and shops offering a taste of Denmark in California. Much of the architecture follows the traditional Danish style.

After a lunch stop at Solvang, you will head north to the world-famous 17 Mile Drive from where you will enjoy a stunning view of the California coastline.

You will stop at charming Carmel, known for its natural beauty and a large number of artists, poets and writers who have chosen to live there. Actor-director Clint Eastwood was mayor of the town from 1986 to 1988.

From Carmel, you will proceed to Silicon Valley. On arrival, you will be dropped at SpringHill Suites by Marriott Oakland Airport.

After breakfast, you will set out with your tour guide to explore San Francisco. Your day starts with a delightful 45-minute narrated cruise in the world-famous Bay. Have your camera ready to capture the city’s famous skyline with its amazing mix of buildings. Pass under the renowned Golden Gate Bridge and marvel at its colossal span. Sail back past notorious Alcatraz Island, site of the former federal prison that once housed Al Capone.

Return to Pier 39 for a leisurely lunch (payable direct) before an afternoon tour that takes in all the city’s famous landmarks. You will make stops at a number of key sights. Highlights include:

• Golden Gate Bridge

• Union Square

• Chinatown

• Nob Hill

End the day with a stunning evening view of the twinkling lights of the city from the Bay Bridge.

You will spend the night at the 3-star Modesto – Park Inn Hotel during summers and at Monterey/Holiday Inn Hotel in winters.

Leaving San Francisco after breakfast, your route for the day goes through farmlands of the Joaquin Valley to the magnificent Yosemite National Park. This 1,200 square mile wonderland of forests, lakes and waterfalls is located in the Sierra Nevada.

You will stop to see the following famous Yosemite features:

• El Capitan

• Bridalveil Fall

• Half Dome

From November to April, the visit to Yosemite will be replaced by a visit to the world-famous Hearst Castle. This incredible edifice was built by newspaper baron William Randolph Hearst early in the 20th century as a playground for himself and his guests, many of whom were Hollywood celebrities. The massive Castle contains a phenomenal collection of antiques and priceless treasures, including Greek vases dating from 800 BC, rare oriental carpets, and countless works of art.

In the evening, you will drive to Las Vegas and spend the night at the Comfort Suites Stevenson Ranch.

You will set out east and travel through dramatic desert scenery to the famous Death Valley, the hottest, driest, lowest place in North America. This is a starkly beautiful wilderness with sand dunes, canyons, parched salt flats, volcanic craters and multicoloured rock formations.

Stop for lunch at the outlet mall at the Nevada State Line (payable direct). You will have time at the mall to enjoy your lunch and browse the stores, which are filled with upscale brands like Levi’s, Nike, Reebok, Timberland and many more.

After leaving the mall you will drive on across the barren expanse of the great Mojave Desert and arrive in Las Vegas in the late afternoon. In the evening you will take a 4-hour tour of the legendary Strip to see some of the incredible hotels and fantasies that have been created in the middle of the desert. Some of the highlights include:

• Caesars Palace

• Mirage

• Luxor

• Paris Las Vegas

• New York New York

• Treasure Island

Finish off the evening by enjoying one of the many shows Vegas has to offer (payable direct). Or try your hand at one of the many casinos.

You will spend the night at Harrah's Hotel.

After a leisurely breakfast, you leave Las Vegas and head across the desert to the mighty Hoover Dam. Towering 725 feet above the powerful Colorado River, it is a spectacular feat of engineering. Rated as one of the man-made wonders of the world, it is noteworthy not only for its immense size and complex design but also for the huge technical challenges that were overcome during construction.

You will also see the blue waters of lovely Lake Mead. It is the largest man-made lake and reservoir in the US and a life-line to the settlements of the southwest.

You will spend around 3 hours at the Dam enjoying the standard tour and visitor center. Afterwards, you will head west and stop for one last chance at the slot machines on the State Line as you cross back into California.

You will arrive back in Los Angeles at around 7pm.