Grand Tour of America

We fly from London Heathrow to the vibrant city of San Francisco, where we spend two nights. With its harbourside charms and laid-back culture, bohemian San Francisco is one of America's most-loved cities.

We're introduced to the city during a sightseeing tour. We see the inspiring Golden Gate Bridge, which was the longest suspension bridge in the world when it was built in the 1930s. Continuing, we see popular Fisherman's Wharf before cruising to the famous island of Alcatraz. Once an 'escape-proof' maximum security prison housing notorious criminals such as Al Capone and the fascinating 'Birdman of Alcatraz', today Alcatraz is a fascinating public museum.

We board an Amtrak train today for a journey inland, to Merced. From here, we take a coach to nearby Yosemite National Park, one of the most stunning areas of natural beauty in the United States, known for its deep valleys, tumbling waterfalls and ancient, towering trees. We enjoy a tour of the valley floor, taking in views of Half Dome, a well-known rock formation with a unique shape. We also see the 3,000-foot El Capitan, a huge rock face popular with rock climbers, and the spectacular Bridalveil Falls. We return to Merced, where we spend the night.

We board our Amtrak service to Bakersfield today, continuing across the desert to Las Vegas by coach. On arrival, we check into the famous Park MGM hotel for two nights, staying on the bustling Las Vegas Strip.

You're free to explore incredible Las Vegas at your own pace today, and there's plenty to occupy yourself with here. The Las Vegas monorail is a great way to discover the fantastic sights and spectacles of the Las Vegas Strip and its variety of resorts, with top-class shows, excellent restaurants, and an extraordinary selection of entertainment to choose from.

Today, we head across Nevada to Arizona, via the Hoover Dam. Entering Arizona, we take the legendary Route 66, following this famous road until Flagstaff, where we spend two nights at the Little America Hotel, set amidst 500 acres of ponderosa pine forest.

Today, we enjoy a return journey on the Grand Canyon Railway. Travelling in vintage carriages hauled by historic locomotives, we wind our way towards one of the world's most awe-inspiring sights, the Grand Canyon. The canyon, created by the Colorado River over a period of 6 million years, is up to 18 miles wide, a mile deep, and is one of the most visited sites in the US. We arrive at the South Rim and the main viewpoint of the canyon, where we enjoy some time to take in the dramatic vistas.

Today we drive through Navajo country and Utah's Monument Valley - a stunning yet familiar landscape, the backdrop of so many American Western movies. The entire region has the feeling of a bygone era, where cowboys still spend lonely months herding cattle across miles of untouched hills and Native Americans perform age-old rituals. Enjoy excellent views of the vast and wild scenery as we make our way to Durango, where we spend the night.

We board the Durango and Silverton Railroad today for a journey through breathtaking canyons, past emerald-green rivers and dense forests. The line connects Durango with the mining town of Silverton and incredibly, has been in continuous use since its inception more than 130 years ago. We continue by coach to Grand Junction, nestled in Colorado's fruit growing area, where we spend the night.

*During the early part of the season the Durango & Silverton Railroad operates a winter timetable. During this period we enjoy a journey from Durango to Cascade Canyon by rail.

Leaving Grand Junction, we set out on one of the USA's most scenic rail journeys, travelling aboard the California Zephyr. Our journey takes us up into the Rocky Mountains, through the heart of Colorado's wine region towards Chicago.

We arrive in Chicago's Union Station this afternoon, and you're free for the rest of the day to start exploring the city. Set on the shores of vast Lake Michigan, the 'Windy City' is home to a wealth of fantastic things to see and do. A must-try for visitors is Chicago-style deep dish pizza. By no means your traditional Italian-style pizza, this delicious pie-like dish is made with layered cheese and chunky tomato sauce encased in a high crust and is served in many iconic eateries across the city.

Today, we enjoy a Chicago Architecture Cruise, seeing some of the city's great buildings from the river - including skyscrapers, hotels and homes designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. The city has a stunning skyline and many renowned museums, restaurants and cafés - which you're free to explore after our cruise. You could climb the 110-storey Willis Tower, which, upon its completion in 1974, was the world's tallest building.

We explore Chicago further today on a guided sightseeing tour, seeing many of the incredible sights of the city. This evening, we board the Lake Shore Limited for the overnight rail journey to Buffalo, on the cusp of Niagara Falls.

We arrive in Buffalo today and transfer to our hotel, located close to the spectacular Niagara Falls. The waterfall is a distinct emerald colour, and has a thundering force which produces a mist - seeing it is an unforgettable experience.

We take the train to cosmopolitan New York, an adrenaline-charged metropolis bursting with some of the world's greatest art, culture, cuisine and history. On arrival, we take a unique 'behind the scenes' tour of iconic Grand Central Terminal. This is one of the USA's most famous stations. It boasts elegant marble floors and an incredible vaulted ceiling painted with a stunning celestial mural, with thousands of golden stars and constellations set against a turquoise backdrop. We continue to our hotel, where we spend two nights.

Today we set out on a guided tour that includes some of New York's most spectacular sights. We take a harbour cruise around Manhattan, which takes us past the world-famous Statue of Liberty. We continue with a visit to leafy Central Park, a green oasis of calm set against a backdrop of towering skyscrapers, and glamorous Fifth Avenue, the city's most famous shopping street. Later, you have some free time to explore this exciting city; there are numerous museums and galleries to visit, or maybe catch a show on Broadway.

Bidding a fond farewell to New York and the US, we transfer to the airport for our flight to London Heathrow.

We arrive back in London and your holiday comes to an end.