National Parks Explorer Escorted Tour

14 Nights

Los Angeles, CA

The tour starts in San Francisco before heading inland, with Sacramento and gorgeous Lake Tahoe in the Sierra Nevada mountains our first stops. From there, we head to Reno and into the Black Rock Desert before crossing the Nevada state line into Idaho at Twin Falls. After a visit to the Craters of the Moon National Monument we arrive in the magnificent Yellowstone National Park, with its geysers and waterfalls. We move on to Grand Tetons National Park, Jackson Hole in the Rockies and Salt Lake City in the Mormon state of Utah. Our next stop is the canyon country of Moab and Arches National Park before we head for Bryce Canyon, Lake Powell and the unmissable splendour of the Grand Canyon. If you can tear yourself away, we move on to Flagstaff, Arizona before pushing on through the Mojave Desert to the 24-hour hustle and bustle of Las Vegas. After trying your luck at the casinos, or indulging in some luxury shopping, it’s back across the desert to Los Angeles, where our tour concludes.  

From £2081pp
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Highlights

  • Your itinerary includes tours of San Francisco, taking in Union Square and Fisherman’s Wharf and Los Angeles, where you will see Hollywood, Beverley Hills and the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
  • Get your kicks as we travel along the iconic Route 66, immortalised in movies and songs, with a stop in the historic town of Seligman, said to have been the inspiration for the Pixar movie Cars.
  • Stroll the boardwalk on a tour of Sacramento’s historic Old Town, marvel at the 10-acre Mormon complex of Temple Square in Salt Lake City and relive the Old West in the 19th century mining town of Virginia City.
  • Choose from a range of optional experiences, including a night tour of San Francisco with dinner, a Grand Canyon helicopter tour, a jet boat float trip on Colorado River in the Moab canyons or a flight over the beautiful Lake Powell.
  • Strike a pose at the famous Las Vegas welcome sign and then shop at one of its designer outlets. Take a stroll along the famous strip, try your luck at the casinos and enjoy dinner and a top show.
  • Yellowstone was designated America’s first National Park in 1872 and you can enjoy the best of it, including Yellowstone Lake, Old Faithful geyser, Yellowstone Canyon Falls and Mammoth Hot Springs.
  • Take one of our optional tours from Las Vegas to the world’s hottest destination, Death Valley, or into Monument Valley.
  • Day 1 - San Francisco Arrival
  • Day 2 - San Francisco
  • Day 3 - San Francisco - Lake Tahoe - Sierra Nevada Mountains - Reno
  • Day 4 - Reno - Black Rock Desert - Twin Falls
  • Day 5 - Twin Falls - Craters of the Moon - Yellowstone
  • Day 6 - Yellowstone
  • Day 7 - Yellowstone - Grand Tetons - Jackson - Salt Lake City
  • Day 8 - Salt Lake City - CanyonLands N.P. - Moab
  • Day 9 - Moab - Arches N.P. - Moab
  • Day 10 - Moab - Capitol Reef - Bryce Canyon
  • Day 11 - Bryce Canyon - Lake Powell - Grand Canyon - Flagstaff
  • Day 12 - Flagstaff - Seligman/Route 66 - Las Vegas
  • Day 13 - Las Vegas (Death Valley Optional)
  • Day 14 - Las Vegas - Mojave Desert - Beverly Hills - Los Angeles
  • Day 15 - Los Angeles Departure
  • Additional Information

Arrive into San Francisco International Airport and transfer independently to your hotel. Your Tour Director will contact you in the evening.

Hotel Carlton San Francisco

Breathe easy and enjoy our boutique hotel’s inviting hearth, eclectic decor and laid-back, eco-friendly vibe in between your adventures in Lower Nob Hill and San Francisco. Feel at home in the heart of it all.

Take a city tour which includes Union Square, the Civic Center and Fisherman’s Wharf. Standing on a hilltop, watching the fog swirl in through the Golden Gate, it is easy to understand why many consider San Francisco the most beautiful city in America. Enjoy the afternoon and evening at leisure, perhaps a cable car ride to Fisherman’s Wharf where one may enjoy a “Taste of San Francisco”: local seafood, famous sourdough breads or decadent Ghiradelli’s Chocolate. Or take a stroll by Sea Lions’ Marina to watch them frolic and play. Be sure to gaze across the bay to Alcatraz Island where “America’s Most Wanted” such as Al Capone and “Machine Gun” Kelly were incarcerated.

Hotel Carlton San Francisco

Breathe easy and enjoy our boutique hotel’s inviting hearth, eclectic decor and laid-back, eco-friendly vibe in between your adventures in Lower Nob Hill and San Francisco. Feel at home in the heart of it all.

Depart for Sacramento, capital of the “Golden State.” A stop will be made in Old Town, once a bustling centre of the Gold Rush and terminus of the Pony Express. Continue to gorgeous Lake Tahoe, nestled in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. In the afternoon you will visit Virginia City, a 19th century mining metropolis where the Old West comes to life. A short drive takes you to Reno and your hotel, where you may be tempted to try your luck in the casino.

Harrah's Casino Hotel Reno

Property Location With a stay at Harrah's Casino Hotel Reno, you'll be centrally located in Reno, steps from Knitting Factory and Reno Arch. This casino resort is within close proximity of National Bowling Stadium and Reno City Hall.

Journey through the Black Rock Desert and across the plains of northern Nevada. Follow the Humboldt River along the route that was once used by early pioneers on the Oregon and California Trails. Visit Elko, the formerly rough and tumble town that once sat at the end of the tracks laid from the west by the Central Pacific Railroad. Cross the state line at Jackpot and enter Twin Falls, located within Idaho’s Magic Valley region.

Red Lion Hotel Twin Falls

Property Location Located in Twin Falls, Red Lion Hotel Twin Falls is in a shopping district and convenient to College of Southern Idaho and Canyon Springs Golf Course. This hotel is within close proximity of Rudy's - A Cook's Paradise and Shoshone Falls.

Leaving Twin Falls, you will cross the Snake River, known as “The River of No Return.” Then visit Craters of the Moon National Monument. This eerie desert landscape so closely resembles lunar conditions that the training for the first men on the moon actually took place here. Later this afternoon you arrive at Yellowstone National Park, established in 1872 by Ulysses S. Grant as the nation’s first National Park.

Gray Wolf Inn and Suites

With a stay at Gray Wolf Inn & Suites, you'll be centrally located in West Yellowstone, steps from Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center and Yellowstone IMAX Theatre. This hotel is within close proximity of Yellowstone Historic Center and Playmill Theatre.

Enjoy a comprehensive sightseeing tour of this immense geothermal wonderland. Highlights of your tour will include Yellowstone Lake, Old Faithful, Mammoth Hot Springs and Yellowstone Canyon’s majestic falls (seasonal).

Gray Wolf Inn and Suites

With a stay at Gray Wolf Inn & Suites, you'll be centrally located in West Yellowstone, steps from Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center and Yellowstone IMAX Theatre. This hotel is within close proximity of Yellowstone Historic Center and Playmill Theatre.

This morning’s journey is through the rugged, snow-capped mountains which welcome you to Grand Teton National Park. Visit the Snake River Outlook and try your eye at capturing the stunning landscape made famous by Ansel Adam’s iconic shot. This prairie land is home to wild buffalo (Tatonka!), moose and elk. Continue to Jackson Hole, the sophisticated “Crown Jewel” of the Rocky Mountains. Travel through southern Idaho to Salt Lake City in the Mormon State of Utah. See the State Capitol building and visit famed Temple Square and the Tabernacle before arriving at the hotel for the evening. May we suggest dinner at the Roof Restaurant for panoramic views of Temple Square? (optional)

Little America Hotel - Salt Lake City

Among Salt Lake City hotels, Little America stands apart as a superior choice—and not just because it's one of Salt Lake’s most luxurious four-diamond hotels.

Heading south this morning, you’ll pass through Provo, home to Brigham Young University, en route to Canyonlands National Park. Today you will see a wilderness of countless canyons & fantastically formed buttes carved by the Colorado River & its tributaries. Rivers divide the park into four districts: the Island in the Sky, the Needles, the Maze & the Rivers themselves. We will visit some of the most scenic spots in the Island in the Sky mesa that rests on sheer sandstone cliffs over 1,000 feet above the surrounding terrain. Continue on to Moab for your stay tonight.

Moab Valley Inn

Ease into the warm comfort of the contemporary accommodations at the Moab Valley Inn in Moab, Utah, where every room is guaranteed to be relaxing, clean and smoke free. Here, modern design and nature blend seamlessly, directly at the edge of the Utah desert.  

Today we visit Arches National Park, one of Utah’s Mighty 5. Once in the park, you’ll discover a landscape of contrasting colors, landform and textures unlike any other in the world. With over 2,000 natural stone arches, in addition to hundreds of soaring pinnacles and giant balanced rocks, this red rock wonderland will amaze you with its formations and inspire you with its most unique scenery. This evening enjoy an optional Jet Boat Float trip on the Mighty Colorado River.

Moab Valley Inn

Ease into the warm comfort of the contemporary accommodations at the Moab Valley Inn in Moab, Utah, where every room is guaranteed to be relaxing, clean and smoke free. Here, modern design and nature blend seamlessly, directly at the edge of the Utah desert.  

Visit Capitol Reef National Park, a destination of extraordinary natural beauty, established in 1937 to protect a unique geological feature. Continue to spectacular Bryce Canyon, where a tour through a multi-colored world of sandstone spires and pinnacles, “hoodoos”, will dazzle the eye. This evening, weather permitting, be sure to gaze upon the spectacular night sky filled with sparkling stars and brilliant constellations.

Bryce View Lodge

The Bryce View Lodge offers the finest in Bryce Canyon lodging. Located next to Bryce Canyon National Park on Highway U-63 in Southern Utah, this perfect Bryce Canyon lodging is nestled at the edge of a pine forest on a high plateau that overlooks the beautiful Bryce Canyon National Park.

Travel to stunning Lake Powell, where crystal blue water laps against towering red rock canyon walls. After crossing the Colorado, enter the Navajo Indian Reservation and drive through the Painted Desert via Cameron Trading Post. Arrive at the Grand Canyon, one of the 7 great natural wonders of the world. Stop at the rim to fully experience this mile-deep colorful canyon’s plunging gorges and rising spires formed by the mighty Colorado River. Overnight in Flagstaff.

Days Hotel Flagstaff

Enjoy the natural beauty of northern Arizona when you stay at our Days Hotel Flagstaff, near Northern Arizona University.

Descend the high Coconino Plateau into the Mojave Desert. Along the way, pass through Seligman, a town built along the famed Historic Route 66 that looks as if it were frozen in time 60 years ago. Onward to Las Vegas, the dazzling “Entertainment Capital of the World.”

Luxor Hotel & Casino Las Vegas

Known for its iconic pyramid shape, Luxor is located on the Las Vegas Strip and features a casino and live entertainment. It provides a full-service spa, 4 large pools and a hot tub.

Day at leisure! Enjoy all that Las Vegas offers. In addition to shopping, bustling casinos, and Broadway-caliber shows, you might simply stroll the famous Strip or take an optional trip to Death Valley, one of the hottest, driest, and lowest places on the surface of the Earth.

Luxor Hotel & Casino Las Vegas

Known for its iconic pyramid shape, Luxor is located on the Las Vegas Strip and features a casino and live entertainment. It provides a full-service spa, 4 large pools and a hot tub.

Today starts with a stop at the iconic Las Vegas Welcome Sign where you may wish to capture your photo memory. Travel to Los Angeles via the Mojave Desert. Clusters of unique Joshua trees dot the mountainous landscape. Upon arrival in Los Angeles you will enjoy a tour including Hollywood, Sunset Strip and parts of Beverly Hills, before reaching your hotel.

Crowne PLaza Los Angeles LAX Airport

Located less than one mile from the LAX terminals, the newly-renovated Crowne Plaza Los Angeles International Airport hotel offers a modern and refreshing hotel experience. Whether you are traveling for business or pleasure, our hotel offers a comfortable stay and friendly environment for working, meeting, dining and celebrating. Experience the LA lifestyle at our "Responsibly Green" contemporary hotel in Los Angeles, California.

Transfer independently to the airport for your return flight.

Tour Inclusions:

  • Welcome reception to meet your tour guide and fellow travellers
  • Take in the sites and sounds of the City by the  Bay, San Francisco, including the Golden Gate Bridge, Union Square, and Fisherman’s Wharf
  • Discover California’s State Capital, Sacramento, and get a sense of the Golden state’s young but rich history
  • Travel along the shores of Lake Tahoe and enjoy picturesque stops en route
  • Stroll the glitzy main street of the ‘Biggest Little  City in the World’, Reno
  • Transport yourself to another planet, exploring the Craters of the Moon National Monument
  • Discover the limitless natural majesty of the world’s first National Park, Yellowstone
  • Witness the stunning rugged peaks of the Grand Teton Mountain Range
  • Experience Salt Lake City including Temple Square, home to the Mormon Tabernacle
  • Capture the ethereal mountain landscapes of Arches and Canyonlands National Parks
  • Explore the unique rock formations of Bryce Canyon National Park
  • Gaze at the majestic Grand Canyon
  • Traverse historic Route 66, stopping at the iconic roadside town of Seligman
  • Enjoy leisure time for shopping, gambling, eating, or all of the above in glitzy Las Vegas
  • Stroll the Hollywood Walk of Fame and find your favorite celebrity’s star
  • Get a glimpse of all the glamour Los Angeles has to offer with stops at some of its most  famous spot

Optional Excursions:

  • Hop on board a cable car during an extensive night tour of San Francisco and enjoy dinner this evening in the “City by the Bay”
  • Ride a bike across the Golden Gate Bridge with vast views of the San Francisco Bay
  • Escape from the city to experience the natural beauty of Muir Woods and the quaint coastal  hamlet of Sausalito
  • Fulfill a bit of adventure with a jet boat ride on the Colorado River
  • Enjoy a dinner at a rooftop restaurant in Salt Lake City with panoramic views of Temple Square
  • Discover the vast majesty of the Grand Canyon from above with helicopter flight
  • Fly over scenic Lake Powell and enjoy western film landscapes of Monument Valley during a tour
  • Experience the glitz and glam of Las Vegas during an extensive evening tour
  • Enjoy more of the excitement that Vegas has to offer with a dinner show
  • Take an excursion to Death Valley National Park