The Great West

Arrive at Los Angeles International Airport and transfer independently to your hotel.

This morning, pick up your rental car and make your way south to Anaheim, Orange County's headquarters for fun. Spend the day surrounded by icons and classic characters at the original Disneyland Park or at its companion park, Disney California Adventure Park. Visit the nation's oldest theme park, Knott's Berry Farm, filled with old west history and thrill rides, or one of Anaheim's many other fun-filled attractions (admissions not included).

Today, head further south, stopping at Mission San Juan Capistrano for a snapshot of California's history. Continue to the scenic coastal community of San Diego whose cool breezes, tranquil waters and miles of world-renowned beaches welcome visitors from all over the world. From SeaWorld and the San Diego Zoo to Seaport Village, Mission Bay, the Gaslamp Quarter and Old Town, San Diego has it all.

Enjoy more of San Diego's blue skies and beautiful surroundings before heading northeast to Palm Springs for more fun in the sun. This ultimate desert playground nestled at the base of the majestic San Jacinto Mountains offers the perfect blend of outdoor entertainment and casual relaxation. Spend the day lounging by the pool, walking along palm tree-lined streets or exploring countless shops, art galleries and museums. Consider taking a breathtaking journey up the sheer cliffs of Chino Canyon aboard the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, which offers stunning desert views.

This morning, set out east through the Coachella Valley to Phoenix and Scottsdale, two of Central Arizona's top destinations. With Phoenix's skyscraper-filled skyline complemented by famed Camelback Mountain and Scottsdale's Old West charm, it's guaranteed you'll enjoy this uniquely Southwestern playground.

Today, head north to Grand Canyon National Park, a natural wonder that you simply have to see to believe. This enjoyable journey is full of scenic detours. Visit Montezuma Castle National Monument, where you can gaze through the windows of the past into one of the best-preserved cliff dwellings in North America; Sedona, a picturesque city surrounded by rich red-rock monoliths that rise high above the city; and nearby Oak Creek Canyon, whose densely forested gorge is known for its colourful rock formations.

Rise early to see the sunrise then spend the morning discovering the distinctive South Rim of the Canyon. Stop at one of the numerous overlooks, walk part of the Rim Trail or along the historic Hermit Road, visit a photo hotspot or climb to the top of a stone watchtower for panoramic views that extend over 100 miles on clear days. When you've had your fill, continue further north through the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation and on to Lake Powell, a vast blue man-made lake surrounded by beautiful sandstone walls.

Enjoy a full day exploring Lake Powell and its surrounding areas. Consider taking a cruise along 50 miles of Lake Powell shoreline to Rainbow Bridge National Monument, the largest known natural bridge in the world, or visiting Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, where sandstone pinnacles, arches and mesas of rich red and orange rise out of the barren, sandy landscape.

This morning, set out west for Kanab, where the exhilarating scent of sage and cedar fills the clear Southwest air, then head north to Utah's Bryce Canyon National Park. Famous for its unique geology, Bryce Canyon consists of a series of horseshoe-shaped amphitheatres where the power of wind, water and geologic mayhem has etched the pink cliffs and shaped the colourful limestone rock into thousands of spires called hoodoos.

Spend the morning exploring more of Bryce Canyon before heading west to Zion National Park. In Zion, Utah's oldest national park known for its incredible canyons and spectacular views, you can follow the paths of ancient native people and gaze at massive sandstone cliffs of cream, pink, and red that soar into the bright blue sky. Consider challenging your courage in a slot canyon. Later today, continue west to Las Vegas, Nevada, a city that needs no introduction.

Enjoy a full day Las Vegas-style. Walk the famous Strip lined with mega-resorts and flashing neon lights, place a bet at one of the many casinos, dine at world-class restaurants, catch the latest must-see show, shop designer boutiques, ride a rollercoaster, lay by the pool ... the list goes on. With so much to do, 24 hours in a day hardly seems like enough.

Today's journey west takes you to the lowest elevation in North America, Death Valley National Park. Here, the Mojave is at its most magnificent with geological history on full display in this rugged, severe, sublime section of California. Enhance your desert experience with a stop at Zabriskie Point offering spectacular views of the wildly eroded and vibrantly coloured badlands. Don't miss the opportunity to enjoy some of the world's best stargazing this evening.

This morning, travel north into the High Sierra where Tioga Road, the highest drivable pass in California, leads you into Yosemite National Park. Best known for its impressive waterfalls, grand meadows and spectacular rock formations, Yosemite was one of the first wilderness parks in the United States. **From early November to late May, Tioga Pass may be closed due to weather or road conditions, in which case you will need to drive the southern route through Bakersfield and Fresno into the Yosemite area.

Get outside today and delve into the depths of the park. Walk to a waterfall or learn about the wonders of the park during a ranger-guided stroll. Explore a giant sequoia grove and with approximately 800 miles of trails, Yosemite is also a great place to hike.

Leave the wonder of Yosemite behind as you journey north via Bridgeport and Devil's Gate Pass en route to Lake Tahoe. Here, where California and Nevada meet, you can discover this jewel of nature surrounded on all sides by the Sierra Nevada mountains.

Today's journey east takes you through Gold Rush-era attractions, California's State capital, Sacramento, and on to San Francisco. Considered one the greatest cities in the world, San Francisco offers one-of-a-kind sights and something to suit your every need.

With 49 square miles of amazing sights, scenes and destinations, there's always plenty to do in San Francisco. Spend a full day exploring the beloved City by the Bay's neighbourhoods, including Fisherman's Wharf, Chinatown, Union Square, Nob Hill, the Embarcadero/Financial District and Golden Gate Park. To experience something truly unique, walk along the railings of the Golden Gate Bridge or take a ride on an iconic cable car.

This morning, head south for an exhilarating trip along 17-Mile Drive from Pacific Grove to Pebble Beach. Continue south along central California's scenic Pacific Coast Highway. This twisting, cliff-hugging route starts in Monterey and takes you through the quaint village of Carmel-by-the-Sea and Big Sur, where mountains plunge into the Pacific Ocean. Farther south, the landscape mellows to oak-studded hills as the road passes Hearst Castle.

Continue south to Ventura passing through Pismo Beach, inland agricultural valleys of rolling countryside and Santa Barbara, often described as the "America Riviera". Located along the southern-most part of California's Central Coast, Ventura is a classic beach town in a spectacular setting.

Today, travel further south through Oxnard, yet another beautiful stretch of coast in Malibu, and the seaside town of Santa Monica. Arrive in the Los Angeles area with enough time to glimpse some of the glitz and glamour of the City of Angels. Check out the Hollywood Walk of Fame, TCL Chinese Theatre, formerly Grauman's Chinese Theatre, the Sunset Strip, Beverly Hills and Rodeo Drive – some of the best sights Los Angeles has to offer.

Return your car at the airport before your departure flight.