Day 1 Departure from London Gatwick
Your tour begins when you meet your Journeys of Distinction representative at the airport. Once they have assisted you through check in they will wish you bon voyage as you head to the executive lounge. The complimentary food, drinks and entertainment continue on your Virgin Atlantic flight. On arrival in Las Vegas you will be transferred to the Bellagio where you’ll be welcomed by your Tour Manager.
Meals: In-flight
Hotel: Bellagio
Day 2 Las Vegas
When we say that nothing can prepare you for Las Vegas it is in no way travel brochure hype. This is a fascinating city that offers round the clock activities and you have your full first day to explore at your own pace. Casinos, shopping and shows are in abundance, all offering larger than life experiences. Don’t miss out though on the more reflective pursuits…. the Bellagio fountains and people watching down the strip are a must. Yosemite National Park.
Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Bellagio
Day 3 Las Vegas to Zion National Park
Leave the bright city lights behind as we head out to admire the unique geography of the Zion National Park. Settle in to your hotel for your two night stay and prepare for tomorrow’s revelations from the natural world.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel: Zion Lodge or Majestic Lodge
Day 4 Zion National Park
Fifteen miles long and half a mile deep, the landscape here is truly dramatic. The red, orange and yellow hues represent millions of years of nature carving through Navajo sandstone. The day is yours to explore as you please. As you take the shuttle bus around the park you will have an opportunity to view the magnificent scenery and get to know the wildlife, which includes no fewer than 19 species of bat. The park provides many optional activities – the Riverside Walk offers close up views of the warm colours oozing from the rock strata of the canyon walls.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel: Zion Lodge or Majestic Lodge
Day 5 Zion to Lake Powell
Our exploration of the natural world continues as we journey up to Bryce Canyon to take in the hoodoos. These tall, skinny spires of rock rise up majestically from the canyon floor. Onwards to Kanab, the gateway to southern Utah and northern Arizona with all its dramatic countryside. Finally, we head to your spectacular watering hole for the next two nights, beautiful Lake Powell. Your hotel has an enviable location, overlooking the Waheap Marina on the south eastern side of Lake Powell. 2000 miles of shoreland spanning from Arizona to Utah was created when the Glen Canyon Dam was put in place to hold back the Colorado River. An interesting fact: America’s second largest man made lake took 17 years to reach its high water mark!
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel: Lake Powell Resort
Day 6 Lake Powell
The day is yours to explore at leisure. How about an optional ‘flight-seeing’ excursion over the stark desert landscapes of Monument Valley? In the evening, we’ll take a relaxing dinner cruise. What better place to admire the striking blue waters and big sky – the colour changes of the rocks add the perfect backdrop to a romantic evening.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel: Lake Powell Resort
Day 7 Lake Powell to Grand Canyon National Park
From a man made creation to one of Mother Nature’s most magnificent spectacles. The Grand Canyon National Park is our next stop, and it is not surprising that it is one of the seven natural wonders of the world. The canyon is at some points over one mile deep and 15 miles at its widest. It has to been said that its sheer size is genuinely quite humbling.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel: Kachina Lodge, Thunderbird Lodge or Maswik North Lodge
Day 8 Grand Canyon National Park to Scottsdale
Our exploration of the Grand Canyon continues at sunrise where the Arizona landscapes will light up before your eyes. Our next overnight stop is Scottsdale but before we reach this destination we want to introduce you to the red rock formation of Sedona. Then we explore Montezuma’s Castle – the ruins of Native Americans’ cliff dwellings. We continue deep into the Valley of the Sun; 7000 feet down there is much to discover.
Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Hyatt Regency at Gainey Ranch
Day 9 Scottsdale
Today you have a full day in Scottsdale to do with as you please. Midway through the tour this is a luxurious spot to relax and reflect on the journeys already achieved. Scottsdale is an upscale shopping destination which also boasts world-class golf courses, waterfront restaurants and an art district brimming with inspiring galleries.
Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Hyatt Regency at Gainey Ranch
Day 10 Scottsdale to San Diego
We head south today as we enter the arid desert landscape of Yuma Valley and cross the Colorado River to San Diego in southern California. With its blue skies and sunshine this is a city that feels more like a holiday getaway.
Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: US Grant
Day 11 San Diego
You will have a full day to discover this uplifting city for yourself. So what to do? Well, Coronado Island’s small beach community will welcome you with open arms – you may recall it from the classic 1958 movie Some Like it Hot. Or perhaps you prefer to head to the Gaslamp Quarter for some shopping and gallery indulgences.
Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: US Grant
Day 12 San Diego to Los Angeles
We may have difficulty tearing you away from charming San Diego, but we are keen to take you north up the coast via the old Spanish mission of San Juan Capistrano. The missions of California were an important factor in the founding of the State. Here you may choose to visit the mission house and discover this rich history. At our next stop, we take in the vibrant beach scene of Santa Monica. The day ends in Los Angeles.
Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Beverly Hilton
Day 13 Los Angeles
Today begins with a sprinkling of Hollywood glamour as we meander up to Beverly Hills – the home ground of the rich and famous. Then we head down onto Hollywood Boulevard itself… an opportunity for you to search for your favourite stars’ hands and feet imprints in the pavement. In the evening we’ll have dinner at a Santa Monica restaurant on the water.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel: Beverly Hilton
Day 14 Los Angeles to Shell Beach
California is of course famous for its beaches and today you will be able to experience them for yourself. Continuing our journey north we will pass stunning bays and beaches before reaching the ‘American Riviera’ of Santa Barbara. The shops and restaurants on the wharf have the most inspiring backdrop where mountains and Spanish Colonial architecture make the perfect companions. Shell Beach at Pismo is where we will spend our evening. Drift off to sleep as the Pacific Ocean whispers sweet nothings in your ears.
Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Cliffs Resort
Day 15 Shell Beach to Monterey
William Randolph Hearst, a name synonymous with newspaper publishing, is the subject of the first part of day 15. The short drive past Morro Bay takes us to San Simeon where we take a tour of Hearst Castle. It is completely extravagant and one of the largest ‘house’ museums in the States. The Pacific Highway beckons though and we continue up dramatic Highway 1 past Big Sur, home to the coastal mountain of Cone Peak, to Monterey.
Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Marriott
Day 16 Monterey
We have saved the most stunning part of the coastline until last. The 17-Mile Drive is famously beautiful and the views will certainly have you reaching for your cameras. Possibly the most photographed aspect is the Lone Cypress at Cypress Point. Arty and charismatic Carmelby-the-Sea is our final stop today – explore its quaint appeal.
Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Marriott
Day 17 Monterey to Yosemite
Today we head inland as we cross the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains en route to the world heritage site of Yosemite National Park. With over 95 percent designated wilderness the area is home to an abundance of wildlife and is well known for its granite cliffs, waterfalls and giant sequoia groves. This trip includes a stop off at Mariposa Grove to see Grizzly Giant – a 2,700-year-old enormous sequoia that is so tall that lighting has struck it many times.
Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Yosemite Lodge or Yosemite View Lodge
Day 18 Yosemite
After our overnight stay, this morning we go deep into the Valley of Yosemite and view the 3000 feet vertical granite rock formation of El Capitan. As you can imagine the walking trails are exceptional here and there will be plenty of time for you to explore the wildlife up close, discover the Indian Museum, the Ranger Station or the Ansell Adam Gallery.
Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Yosemite Lodge or Yosemite View Lodge
Day 19 Yosemite to San Francisco
We thought long and hard about how to end such a tour of exceptional contrasting sights and for us it had to be in the Golden Gate City of San Francisco. Today sees us making our way out of Yosemite’s 1200 square miles to this colourful city.
Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Intercontinental Mark Hopkins
Day 20 San Francisco
What better way to start your exploration of San Francisco than with a city tour? No doubt you’ve seen all the sights before in the movies and television programmes but here they are for real…. Telegraph Hill, the Golden Gate Bridge, China Town, Twin Peaks, Pier 39 and Fisherman’s Wharf with its views of Alcatraz. This afternoon is free time – why not take a cable car ride up the hairpin beds of Lombard Street?
Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Intercontinental Mark Hopkins
Day 21 San Francisco
Your Tour Manager will have plenty of suggestions for your free day. How about a trip to the eerie and fascinating? ‘The Rock’ offers a moving experience that will undoubtedly be one of your lasting memories of this holiday. This evening there’s a farewell dinner cruise around San Francisco Bay.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel: Intercontinental Mark Hopkins
Day 22 Depart San Francisco
Enjoy your last morning in San Francisco with some souvenir shopping or last-minute sightseeing. Then we’ll head to the airport for your Virgin Atlantic flight back to Heathrow, accompanied by your JOD Tour Manager.
Meals: Breakfast, in-flight
Day 23 Arrive London Heathrow
Welcome home as you arrive back in to the UK early morning with many stories to share with friends and family.
Meals: In-flight