12 Days - Western Wonders
From Los Angeles to San Francisco
Itinerary & Map
Inside visits and special features are shown in UPPERCASE in the tour description.
DAY 1: LOS ANGELES.
Welcome to Los Angeles! Your Tour Director is on hand late this afternoon to answer any questions.
DAY 2: LOS ANGELES.
Begin the day with a sightseeing tour of Tinseltown. Drive through Hollywood and see the historic TCL Chinese Theatre. A historic gem, this world-famous cinema (formerly, Grauman’s), has hosted some of the most exclusive movie premieres in Hollywood history. The Dolby Theater (formerly the Kodak Theater) is the first permanent home of the glamorous Academy Awards. See the Hollywood Walk of Fame where iconic terrazzo stars grace block after city block of Hollywood Boulevard and Street-air Farmers Market, with more than 140 shops and restaurants. The remainder of your day is at leisure; your Tour Director will have suggestions for further exploration of the city.
DAY 3: LOS ANGELES–PALM SPRINGS.
Journey to the desert oasis of Palm Springs. Ever since Hollywood stars first came here in the 1930s, laying claim to ranch-style estates and holding up in elite hotels, the clean, dry air and sunshine have made Palm Springs irresistible.
DAY 4: PALM SPRINGS–SCOTTSDALE.
Travel through cacti-covered desert toward Old Town Scottsdale, where Western storefronts create an aura of the past. Afterward, enjoy free time to explore a taste of the Old West, with restaurants, shopping, and Western bars. With wooden beams, wagon wheels, and cowboy hats abundant, you’ll feel like you’ve traveled back in time to the era of outlaws and saloons.
DAY 5: SCOTTSDALE–SEDONA–GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK–WILLIAMS.
First stop today is a visit to Sedona, a center for Southwestern and New Age arts. Climb through Oak Creek Canyon with its weather-sculpted formations of dramatic, color-tinted crags. Then pass by the San Francisco Mountains and beautiful pine forests to the South Rim of the GRAND CANYON. For a once-in-a-lifetime experience, take our optional helicopter flightseeing excursion for incomparable views of flame-colored walls plunging 6,093 feet into the Colorado River. Stay overnight in Williams, a picturesque mountain town with Route 66 as its main street.
DAY 6: WILLIAMS–LAS VEGAS.
Cross the old Mohave gold-strike country, that still has traces of century-old ghost towns set in the natural desert beauty. Look out for Joshua trees, a species of the lily family that grows to 40 feet high and can live for more than 300 years. Today’s destination is the man-made oasis in the Nevada desert that is Las Vegas, a fantastic city of feverish gambling, neon lights, and glamorous shows. An orientation tour upon arrival shows off many of the themed casino resorts along the colorful “Strip.”
DAY 7: LAS VEGAS.
The day is free for exploring on your own. Your Tour Director will have plenty of activities to choose from and will recommend favorite restaurants and shopping areas.
DAY 8: LAS VEGAS–TULARE.
Departing the neon lights of Las Vegas, we continue across the desert landscape of Nevada before crossing into California. See the vast Mojave Desert, which covers one-fifth of California. Pass through the agricultural land and overnight in Tulare in the central San Joaquin Valley.
DAY 9: TULARE–YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK–MERCED.
This morning, we enter YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, a wonderland of spectacular lakes, giant granite domes, towering pinnacles, cascading waterfalls, and lush forests. Afterward, drive to Merced.
Continental Breakfast Continental Breakfast
DAY 10: MERCED–SAN FRANCISCO.
This morning, we continue west to the “Golden Gate City” of San Francisco, famous for its cable cars. After lunch, included sightseeing takes in the spectacular Golden Gate Bridge, Nob Hill, and bustling Fisherman’s Wharf.
Continental Breakfast Continental Breakfast
DAY 11: SAN FRANCISCO.
The day is free for you to explore more of this fascinating city. Choose from a variety of optional excursions or visit fascinating Alcatraz Prison. Get a close-up look at the infamous federal penitentiary that was off limits to the public for years.
NOTE:
Consider advance ticket purchase for Alcatraz Island with the National Park Service.
DAY 12
SAN FRANCISCO. Your vacation ends this morning. Extend your vacation with extra nights and explore San Francisco further.
Accommodations:
BANFF NATIONAL PARK Bow View Lodge (ST)
CALGARY Sandman Hotel Calgary City Centre (ST)
JASPER NATIONAL PARK Marmot Lodge (F)
KAMLOOPS The Thompson Hotel & Conference Centre (F)
VANCOUVER Holiday Inn & Suites Vancouver Downtown (F) or Ramada by Wyndham Vancouver Downtown (MF)
VICTORIA Royal Scot Hotel & Suites (F)
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:
Sightseeing:
LOS ANGELES
Sightseeing
GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK
Sightseeing
WILLIAMS
Historic Route 66
LAS VEGAS
Orientation tour of the famous Las Vegas “Strip”
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK
Sightseeing
SAN FRANCISCO
Sightseeing; Golden Gate Bridge
Notes:
On vacations that include an overnight stay in Las Vegas, at least one member of the traveling party must be 21 years of age or older.
The following UNESCO World Heritage Sites can be seen or visited on this vacation:
Yosemite National Park
Grand Canyon National Park
Transportation:
Private, deluxe air-conditioned motorcoach while touring with free Wi-Fi.
MEALS
2 continental breakfasts
Travel Terms & Conditions:
The purchase of any travel services offered by Cosmos, constitutes a contractual arrangement between you (the Traveler) and Cosmos, and represents your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions. Please ensure that you read carefully and understand the Terms & Conditions prior to booking. These Terms & Conditions cover Deposit & Final Payment information, Air-Inclusive Deposits & Final Payment, Revisions & Revision Fees, Air Arrangements, Participation, Travelers Who Need Special Assistance, Young Travelers, Smoking, Price Policy, Visas and Passports, Hotels & Accommodations, Baggage Allowance, Travel Documents, Not Included in the Land Price, Refunds, Service Inquires After the Vacation, Holidays, Safety, Photos & Pictures, Optional Excursions, and Responsibility.
