Tour Code: 258-961

11-Day Grand Canyon, Yosemite/ Death Valley, SFO, Theme Parks Tour Package from Los Angeles

Buy 2 Get 3rd Free on sharing one room. Price already adjusted.

Airport transfer in, check in hotel. *Please arrange your flight arrive Los Angeles (LAX) between 9am - 9pm.

In the morning, we’ll visit the relaxing Danish immigrant town of Solvang. The word Solvang in Danish can be translated as "sunny countryside", which in fact is true for almost the entire year. While in Solvang, enjoy famous Danish pastries, cookies, and chocolates; wander the streets and charming wooden, cottage-style architecture that brings thousands of tourists (including royalty!) to visit each year. After lunch, we’ll return north to the Bay Area and stay overnight in San Francisco.

Before the automobile had become a way of life, the scenic 17 Mile Drive was navigated by horse-drawn carriages from the famous Hotel Del Monte (now the site of Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey) down through the Del Monte Forest, along spectacular views of the coastline, ending up at Pebble Beach. A hundred years later, people are still following the exact same route, just with fewer horses. Join us as we experience the majesty of the northern California coastline in this classic excursion. Along the way, we’ll stop at scenic viewpoints such as Seal Rock, Cypress Point, and Pebble Beach. We’ll visit the neighborhood known as Fisherman’s Wharf, as well as the charming seaside town of Carmel, and enjoy some of the best specialty shops and art galleries Carmel has to offer. Finally, we’ll get an in depth glimpse of life by the sea at the Monterey Aquarium*, where we will learn about the great canyon that lies inside Monterey Bay, one of the deepest underwater canyons along the coast of the continental United States.

We’ll spend a day discovering San Francisco’s many facets, from the urban (San Francisco Civic Center), to the natural (stunning views from the Twin Peaks of Eureka and Noe), to the iconic (the Golden Gate Bridge), and everything in between. We’ll spend time in Golden Gate Park, and see the Palace of Fine Arts, as well as visit the neighborhoods around Fisherman’s Wharf, Market Street, and Chinatown to glimpse the many lifestyles that flourish throughout the city. Also take ride a San Francisco Boat Cruise* to see the wonderful sights of the Bay.

Start your day with a ride on the cable car to Fisherman's Wharf, The carnival-esque atmosphere of Pier 39 offers a variety of shopping and dining opportunities, a Venetian Carousel and a colony of rather vocal and photogenic sea lions.
On the more serene end of the Wharf (towards the Golden Gate Bridge) you can relax at the Aquatic Park, learn about maritime history at the Hyde St. Pier and then warm-up with hot chocolate or indulge in a hot fudge sundae at Ghirardelli Square.

We’ll motor high up to Yosemite National Park where we’ll arrive after lunch, and marvel at the vistas that caused early explorers to call Yosemite the “incomparable valley”. Gaze at the jagged rocks of grotesque shapes, sheer precipices and overhanging rocks, waterfalls dropping hundreds of feet, and endless mountain ridges, as we come to understand why Yosemite is considered one of the most scenic spots in the Western United States. Sure to leave a lasting memory are the Giant Sequoia Trees, the Tunnel View, Bridalveil Falls, Yosemite Falls, the Merced River, and the famous rock formations, El Captain and the Half Dome. The day ends with an overnight stay in Fresno.

Hotel: Radisson Hotel & Conference Center, Fresno or similar

OR Bay Area - Barstow (Nov 26 - Mar 18, 2011)

We’ll drive through California's central valley and into the vast and beautiful Mojave Desert, with its Joshua tree forests, singing sand dunes, volcanic cinder cones, wildflowers, canyons, mountains, and mesas. Later, we’ll stop for a shopping adventure at the Tanger Outlets in Barstow, which offers factory discounted prices at fashion and accessory powerhouses such as Calvin Klein, Coach, Guess, Michael Kors, and Polo Ralph Lauren. We’ll return with our purchases to our hotel in Barstow for a night’s rest.

Las Vegas, it's a city that has something to offer for everyone. The infamous Las Vegas Strip is where tourists can enjoy a walk in the warm desert evening and visit the newest and most lavish casinos from Bellagio, Venetian, MGM Grand, The Mirage, and more. Or perhaps take a stroll downtown and view a dazzling light show that spans an entire street (Optional night tour). There are special shows and performances year round that truly makes Las Vegas as a city that never sleeps. Accommodations will be at the Excalibur Hotel & Casino, named for the mythical sword of King Arthur. Immerse yourself in the castle themed resort right in the middle of the Las Vegas Strip. Choose from one of the many eateries on the property, including the Roundtable Buffet, or head down the Strip and stop by one of the other world famous hotels. Overnight stay in Las Vegas.

OR Barstow - Death Valley National Park - Las Vegas(Nov 26th - Mar 18, 2011)

Death Valley is arguably one of the most beautiful Valleys in the world. Looking out from Zabriskie Point, you are surrounded by yet another of Death Valley's forbidding, almost unearthly, desert landscapes. These are badlands. Beneath the dark shadows of the Black Mountains, a great, extraordinarily flat expanse of shimmering white spreads out before you. You have reached Bad Water. At -282 feet it is the lowest spot in the Western Hemisphere. Step onto the trail and you'll see that the white expanse is made up of billions of crystals of almost pure table salt! After leaving the park, head towards the Las Vegas. Upon arrival in Las Vegas, you will have a choice of joining an optional tour, which would show you the best resorts and hotels that Las Vegas has to offer, or you can have the freedom of exploring the city on your own. Overnight stay in Las Vegas.

Today we will make our way to the Grand Canyon, one of the most spectacular examples of water’s erosive power. Carved by the Colorado River beginning as much 17 million years ago (according to recent studies), this stunning natural wonder is 277 miles long, 18 miles wide, and more than a mile deep. Canyon National Park is a designated World Heritage Site and is incomparable with its vistas of sheer drops and cliffs marked with different geological strata dating back billions of years. We’ll spend the day along the South Rim of the Canyon, stopping at various viewpoints along the way and admiring this glorious work of art that could only have been sculpted by nature and time. Then return for an overnight stay at our hotel in Las Vegas.

OR

Las Vegas - Hoover Dam - Grand Canyon West Rim - Las Vegas

From Las Vegas, we’ll make our first stop of the day at the magnificent and massive Hoover Dam, built during the Great Depression to harness the power of the Colorado River. We’ll then travel on to the Hualapai Indian Reservation, located on the West Rim of the Grand Canyon*, and its famous Skywalk*. Created by David Jin of the Hualapai Tribe, the Skywalk extends in a U-shaped platform 70 feet over the edge of the Grand Canyon, and about 4,000 feet above its basin. With a 10 foot solid glass floor, you’ll have a view of the Canyon below like nothing you’ve ever seen – the closest thing to floating in thin air. You may also elect to experience the Grand Canyon from both above and below: the adventurous among you won’t want to miss the Helicopter and Pontoon Boat Ride*. Later, we’ll return to our hotel for a night’s rest.

*Optional activity; fee not included in tour price. See “Exclusions” for cost details.

On this day, we’ll make our return sunny Los Angeles on the southern coast of California. In the famous entertainment city, we’ll stop by the Hollywood landmarks, take a walk along Hollywood Boulevard, and visit the Chinese Theater and the Kodak Theater complex, now the permanent home for the Oscars. After dinner, we’ll transfer to our hotel in the city for a night’s rest.

Today we’ll spend the day in the magical world of Disneyland*, brainchild of creator Walt Disney. Suitable for all ages, from children to the young at heart, Disneyland has a little something for everyone. Not only will you meet some of the most memorable characters from Disney films, including the one and only Mickey Mouse, but you’ll also experience the brilliance of Walt Disney’s imagination through the countless rides and shows that will give memories to last a lifetime. At night you’ll see fireworks over Magic Kingdom’s Castle and other special treats found nowhere else in the world. When the park closes, we’ll head back to our hotel in Los Angeles for another night.

San Diego City Tour* (Optional - Adults $68; Child $58) (Starting after 4/1/2011)

At 9:00am we will depart from the hotel and drive south along the Pacific Ocean heading to San Diego, the second largest city in California. We’ll first stop by the U.S. Naval compound in San Diego harbor, where docked at the Navy Pier is the USS Midway, the longest-serving aircraft carrier in U.S. Naval history, with a storied career that lasted from 1945 to 1997. After lunch, our tour goes to Coronado Island and visits the Hotel del Coronado, a National Landmark that was built in the glorious wooden Victorian style in the 1800s. Up next is Balboa Park, where we’ll enjoy the luscious botanical gardens and Spanish architecture lining the long promenades, and then we’ll move on to Old Town San Diego to walk among the classic Mexican Pueblos and browse the shops offering unique Latin American souvenirs and craftwork. In the evening we’ll return to Los Angeles to catch the sunset. We’ll return to our hotel by 7:30 pm.

*Optional activity; fee not included in tour price. See “Exclusions” for cost details.

Experience a day of entertainment and the magic of filmmaking at the world-famous Universal Studios* in California. The studio-themed park has attractions that include behind-the-scenes tours of movie sets, as well as rides based on your favorite films, such as the Shrek 4D Simulator Ride, or the heart-pounding Jurassic Park River Adventure. And with various shows and performances throughout the day featuring scenes and reenactments from blockbuster movies, you can expect a whole day’s worth of non-stop excitement! After the we will transfer you out to the airport(LAX).

**Please arrange your air-ticket departure from LAX after 9pm.