Highlights of America's West Coast

We fly to San Francisco, our base for the next two nights. After checking into our hotel, there's some free time for you to settle in or perhaps to begin sightseeing. San Francisco is a famously bohemian city, and is packed with fantastic bars and eateries from modern restaurants to historic speakeasies, as well as iconic landmarks and sights.

We journey by rail from Oakland to Merced, travelling along the San Joaquin route through California's Central Valley. Arriving at Merced, we transfer by coach into the incredible Yosemite National Park. Here, we enjoy a tour of the dramatic valley floor with a local expert who takes us to Half Dome, standing 4,000 feet above the eastern part of the valley, as well as the world-famous El Capitan and thundering Bridalveil Falls, which sends water cascading down a 617-feet drop. We spend the night in Merced.

Today we head by rail to Bakersfield then by coach to the glamorous and glittering sights of Las Vegas for two nights.

You are free to discover Las Vegas for yourself. With no end of entertainment, Vegas is a favourite city for tourists, with an incredible selection of resorts, casinos, and shows to enjoy as well as fantastic spas and restaurants at many of the vibrantly themed hotels.

This morning we leave Las Vegas, continuing by coach through scenic Arizona and Utah to Kayenta. Enroute we stop in Kanab, Utah, a classic American West city, surrounded by a dramatic landscape of red rocks. Here there's a great choice of dining options, and you have free time for lunch before continuing to Kayenta, Monument Valley, where we spend the night.

After a buffet breakfast we travel by coach to spend the morning in the stunning Monument Valley, with entrance to the Visitor Centre included. In this iconic location - which has been featured in many films set in the American West - we learn about the history of the valley and enjoy awesome views from the centre. The gift shop sells authentic Navajo crafts such as dolls, blankets and jewellery. After our Monument Valley excursion, we drive to our legendary Route 66 destination - Flagstaff - where we spend two nights.

Today is an undoubted highlight of our holiday, as we visit the Grand Canyon. With free time here you could take one of the short walks to the South Rim from the Visitor Centre. From this viewpoint, it's possible to see across all the peaks and valleys of this incredible canyon, forged by the powerful Colorado River over millions of years.

This morning we board the fabulous Grand Canyon Railway, travelling in fully-restored vintage-style carriages as we return to the South Rim of one of the world's most breathtaking natural wonders. After a brief last chance to admire, we make our way by coach to Lake Havasu City for the night. The city is home to an unusual attraction; just a short walk from our hotel you'll find the Georgian-era London Bridge, that once spanned the River Thames but was relocated to Arizona in the 1960s. Overlooking the Colorado River, the city has miles of coastline with 27 replica lighthouses along the river's edge.

We travel by coach from Lake Havasu to Los Angeles for two nights. On arrival we have a half-day guided tour of famous landmarks including the Hollywood Boulevard, home to the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and the TCL Chinese Theatre, where the Oscars are held each year. After our tour we check into our hotel and your evening is free.

Today, you have a chance to explore Los Angeles under your own steam. Perhaps visit one of the famous beaches, or Beverly Hills. You could even take a studio tour at Universal Studios or Warner Brothers, or take a tour to view the homes of the Hollywood stars.

Today, we travel by Amtrak rail to Emeryville. We then transfer by coach to our first hotel in San Fran-cisco, Hotel Zephyr, where we check in for two nights.

We start today with a half-day city tour that takes us to the Golden Gate Bridge, spanning a mile over the Pacific Ocean, where we see the outstanding views across the bay, and Fisherman's Wharf, home to a colony of sealions. The rest of your day and evening is free in San Francisco. You might like to arrange to visit the nearby island of Alcatraz, the notorious former prison, or maybe walk up incredibly steep Lombardy Street, featured in innumerable movies.

After a leisurely day with free time to do any last minute shopping or sightseeing, we head to the airport for our overnight flight to London Heathrow.

We land back in London today, where your tour comes to end.