Western USA National Parks Explorer

Our tour starts today in San Francisco. A Californian gem, the city is a bustling, buzzing mix of culture, commerce and vibrant community.

Due to the number of evening flights into San Francisco, our tour leader will hold a welcome meeting on the morning of Day 2 - timings will be left in the hotel reception. We don't provide arrival transfers on this tour, but information on how to reach the hotel will be provided in your final documentation.

There's so much to see and do, you won't be short of entertainment if you arrive earlier in the day. Why not get your first view of San Fran at Fisherman's Wharf, with its views over Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge?

Today we'll explore some of San Fran's highlights as we wander its famous streets, taking in the Victorian architecture of Alamo Square and the colourful eccentricity of Haight Ashbury, San Francisco's once thriving 'hippie district' of the 1960s. We'll also drive up into the elegant Twin Peaks district of the city to enjoy the views across the city and the bay (weather dependant), as well as seeing the Golden Gate Bridge and experiencing the eclectic bustle and resident sea lions over at Fisherman's Wharf.

The afternoon is free for you to explore at your own pace, perhaps paying a visit to Lombard Street and Coit Tower, before returning by the city's famous cable cars back to Union Square and Market Street. Later evening, there is the option to walk to Chinatown, discovering the labyrinthine chaos of the largest Chinatown outside of Asia.

This morning, we'll leave San Francisco behind and drive east, heading through the rolling landscapes of Stanislaus County towards Yosemite National Park, passing the agricultural region of the Central Valley, where numerous orchards and vineyards line the roads. As we climb into the Sierra Nevada, we'll begin to witness the natural beauty of Yosemite National Park, a region which became the first protected land in the world in 1864.

As we arrive in the valley, the towering presence of the two most demanding peaks of the park will be visible - Half Dome (the sheerest cliff in North America) and the vast granite bulk of El Capitan (twice the size of the Rock of Gibraltar) - both of which attract serious rock climbers from all over the world. We'll spend time visiting various viewpoints in the valley this afternoon, depending on the season and which roads are open. We might take a walk to the bases of Yosemite Falls and Bridalveil Falls, before continuing to follow the course of the Merced River to our final destination in Oakhurst, just outside the park boundaries.

Our drive time today is approximately three-to-four hours.

More than 90% of Yosemite is designated wilderness area and today we'll take the opportunity to explore it in more depth. Away from the main tourist areas of the Yosemite Valley, the park is filled with myriad options to make the most of its spectacular natural charms. One possibility is a drive up to Glacier Point then hike along the Panorama and Mist Trail back down into the valley (a challenging walk of some 4-6 hours). The hike takes in an ever-changing tableau that includes the impressive cascades of Nevada and Vernal Falls, as well as some breathtaking views of Half Dome and the High Sierras.

There are several other walking possibilities, ranging from moderate hikes to relaxing strolls along the riverbanks. As well as some of the most beautiful mountain landscapes on earth, the park is filled with a variety of wildlife too, including hummingbirds, deer and of course the ever-present black bears, ensuring you a captivating encounter whatever you choose to do.

Our tour leader will explain the possibilities, and will make a hike suggestion for the whole group. For those who have other interests or who would prefer something either more challenging or more leisurely, there is plenty of scope for you to choose an option that interests you the most.

A narrow range on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada is the only place you'll find the giant sequoia trees of California. These impressive, rare giants can grow to be thousands of years old and today we'll aim to walk among them. Giant sequoias are endangered and only grow between the elevations of 1,200 to 2,400 metres/4,000 to 8,000 feet.

Leaving Yosemite this morning, we'll drive across the scenic Tioga Pass (3,032 metres/9,947 feet), taking in the sub-alpine meadows of the Tuolumne Meadows and the giant sequoias of the Tuolumne Grove. We'll continue through the dramatic mountain vistas down towards the alkaline waters and surreal volcanic 'tufa' rock formations of Mono Lake at the base of the High Sierras. Continuing south from here our journey lies in the shadow of a range of towering peaks that rise to over 4,200 metres/13,779 feet as we make our way towards our overnight stop in the small settlement of Mammoth.

Early season conditions may mean that the Tioga Pass over the Sierra Nevada remains closed. In that case, we'll reroute the tour via Bakersfield. Our tour leader will make adjustments to the schedule to visit the awe-inspiring giant sequoias along the route, before continuing to our hotel in Bakersfield.

Starting early to avoid the heat, this morning we'll descend into Death Valley, one of the lowest and hottest places on earth. We'll then journey into the heart of one of the most remarkable settings on earth, where the marbled rocks, salt pans and black mountains provide us with an incredible backdrop.

In marked contrast, we'll end our day in Las Vegas, America's extraordinary desert playground, where exploding volcanoes share centre stage with Venetian canals and ancient pyramids. This evening, we'll have free time to explore the neon city.

Today's drive time will be approximately 5 hours.

This morning, we'll head to Zion National Park (a three-hour drive), aiming to arrive just after lunch.

The main area of the national park that we'll visit is Zion Canyon, a 24-kilometre/15-mile rift in the beautiful red and tan Navajo sandstone. We might take a walk along the Watchman's Trail, a moderate hike of approximately two hours that will take us past many of the park's famous geological formations, including the Towers of the Virgin and the Altar of Sacrifice. The very end of the walk brings us to a spectacular overlook of the Watchman, a red rock pinnacle that dominates the skyline. Photographic opportunities are plentiful, with a great contrast between the red of the rocks and the running rivers that we'll pass. As always, our tour leader will explain the possibilities and will make a hike suggestion for the whole group, while there are other easier or more challenging trails to enjoy for those who wish.

We will be staying overnight in nearby Hurricane.

Today, we'll continue to explore this magnificent creation, first paying a visit to the visitor centre before taking the park's shuttle bus to the start of the walks. There are so many possibilities to explore here that it's not possible to do them all - our tour leader will outline the options taking into account the conditions on the day, and will accompany one of the moderate-level hikes.

Walks range from approximately 5-13 kilometres/3-8 miles in length, and some are predominantly flat while others have elevation gains of up to 600 metres/1,968 feet. You might like to walk up to Scout's Lookout, a meandering hike that begins with 21 steep switchbacks, known as Walter's Wiggles, and culminates in one of the most spectacular viewpoints in Zion, a challenging journey of some four hours that affords us some quite breath-taking views down across the valley. There are also plenty of easier options for people to enjoy. For those of us who aren't hikers, the park's shuttle bus takes people along the valley floor with regular stops to get out, explore and jump back on the next vehicle. Quite simply, there is something in Zion for everyone.

This morning, we'll set off early to Bryce Canyon (a 90-minute journey). Bryce is without doubt one of the natural highlights of this journey - a world of surreal kaleidoscopic sandstone forms that are steeped in the tales of the Paiute tribe. Legend has it that the sandstone 'hoodoos' of Bryce are in fact the petrified followers of the Coyote God, turned to stone as they stood listening to his angry tirade. Looking out over these towering pillars that litter the floor of Bryce Canyon's great amphitheatre, you could almost believe that you're facing a crowd of people, all awaiting their judgement.

On arrival, we'll explore the myriad shapes and shades of this fairytale realm, hiking along the Navajo Loop, or taking in the grandeur of the Queen's Garden. Bryce was created as a national park in 1928 and as you look out across the pink, orange and red spires it is easy to sympathise with Ebenezer Bryce, a Mormon farmer who is best remembered for the profound words, 'Well it's a hell of a place to lose a cow!'

We'll have the option to see Bryce at its most radiant this morning, in the golden hues of sunrise. For those interested in an early start, we'll drive up to Sunrise Point to watch the dawn break across the landscape.

Later in the morning, we'll drive to Capitol Reef National Park, where we can stop and take a short hike. Capitol Reef encompasses a landscape of coloured sandstone cliffs, twisting canyons, monoliths and spires. From here, we'll drive to Moab, the largest town in south-eastern Utah, where the rest of the evening is free to relax and enjoy at our own pace. Time permitting, we might also visit Dead Horse Point.

Today's total drive time is approximately four-and-a-half hours.

Located a short distance from Moab is Arches National Park, home to the world's largest concentration of natural sandstone arches. With over 2000 arches, giant sandstone fins, balancing rocks and towering spires, the park is a unique setting for today's hike.

We'll take in the Devil's Garden, a four-hour hike that takes us through a landscape littered with arches. We'll also enjoy a more gentle walk around The Windows Loop (approximately 90 minutes), before returning to Moab for a free afternoon. We'll then head back to Arches to walk to Delicate Arch for sunset (two hours). Probably one of the most photographed arches in the American southwest, Delicate Arch, with its backdrop of the snow-capped peaks of La Sal, is the perfect setting for our late afternoon hike. After our walk, we'll head back to Moab for the evening.

After breakfast, and a quick visit to the News Paper Rock, we'll continue on to Mesa Verde National Park this morning. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Mesa Verde is home to some of the best-preserved cliff dwellings in the world. After viewing the Native American exhibits at the visitor's centre, we'll take a guided tour of the site and pay a visit to the Chapin Mesa Archaeological Museum. After our visit, we'll continue to the city of Cortez.

Today, we'll drive to the town of Page, via the Navajo Reservation, the biggest in the country, founded in 1888 to provide a protected region for the Navajo people.

The Navajo Nation constitutes the largest tribe left in the United States, the last survivors of a people who were decimated by the arrival of the white man and his quest for land and gold. Monument Valley, our highlight destination today, lies within the heart of this vast tribal area - nothing can prepare you for the sheer grandeur of this awe-inspiring setting, with isolated monoliths, sandstone pinnacles and towering spires rocketing skywards above the desert floor. The only way to experience this dramatic backcountry is by jeep and you can choose to take an optional guided tour of the valley with a Navajo guide.

We'll continue towards Page as the late afternoon sun alters the colours of the landscape and dips towards the horizon.

Our drive time today will be approximately six hours.

This morning, we'll have the option to visit the famous Antelope Canyon, a beautiful peach-gold coloured canyon formed by the force of flash floods coming from the plains above, or otherwise spend time at the enormous Lake Powell, with its scenic azure waters.

Later, we'll take a short walk to Horseshoe Bend, with its lookout point over the eponymous river bend, before continuing our journey towards the southern rim of the Grand Canyon, arriving this afternoon.

Once described by Theodore Roosevelt as 'the one great sight every American should see', the Grand Canyon extends 445 kilometres/277 miles from east to west, from the western edge of the Navajo Reservation to the Nevada border around Lake Mead. Reaching a depth of 1,600 metres/5,249 feet the canyon's floor is littered with some of the oldest rocks on the planet. As we take in the views from Yavapai Point, we'll gaze out across a land that has taken over 2 billion years to create.

Today is free to make the most of this natural wonder at your own pace. You might like to hike various parts of the rim trail (easy to moderate walking), taking you along the top edge of the canyon with some stunning viewpoints; or perhaps the Bright Angel Trail, a steeper walk that takes you further down below the rim of the canyon. There are a multitude of different walking options available, all of which will offer you some spectacular scenery of this amazing landscape.

If you'd rather not hike, you might prefer to make use of the park's shuttle service to explore the rim.

Sunsets at the Grand Canyon are an altogether unforgettable experience, if you're lucky, you might spot condors circling on the thermals above, adding to the majesty of the moment.

This morning, we'll drive along one of the most historic highways in America, the famous Route 66. A shadow of its former self, the road is nonetheless still rich in the Americana of its glory days, when it used to be known as the 'Main Street' of America. En route, we'll pass through two small towns that exude Americana - Kingman and Seligman.

On arrival in Vegas, we'll have the evening free to make the most of one of America's most notorious cities.

The trip ends after breakfast at our hotel in Las Vegas.

There are no activities planned today, so you're free to depart from Las Vegas at any time. If you'd like an airport transfer today, you'll need to depart from Las Vegas International Airport (LAS), which is a 15-minute drive away.