TakeTours Gotobus

DAY1 Arrival at Los Angeles International Airport

We begin our tour by meeting in Los Angeles, where a tour guide will meet you at the Baggage Claim Area of the airport to guide you to the hotel if needed. Refer to "Pickup & Drop-off" for more information. Tonight you will be free to enjoy the city at your leisure.

DAY2 Disneyland (28 miles)

Today we will kick off our tour in Disneyland,** where we will enjoy the fun and charm of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle and the It’s a Small World cruise marquee, feel the thrills at The Haunted Mansion and Space Mountain, and meet all of our favorite Disney characters at Mickey's Toontown. Other attractions such as the Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Forbidden Eye simulator ride and Tarzan’s Treehouse promise an unforgettably fun afternoon. For only $15.00 extra, stick around for Fantasmic!,* a nighttime show featuring fireworks, live acting, water effects, music, decorated rafts, and reworked Disney animation projected onto large mist screens. After a fun-filled day we will return to our hotel in Los Angeles.

DAY3 Los Angeles - Solvang - Hearst Castle - San Francisco (448 miles)

This morning we will depart from Los Angeles at 8:00am and drive along the scenic Pacific Coast Highway on the way to Solvang, a quaint little Danish town in the Santa Ynez Valley. From here we will continue north, arriving at noon in San Simeon for a visit to Hearst Castle,* a mansion built from 1919-1947 for the leading newspaper publisher William Hearst. The castle protects an extensive collection of artifacts from the Renaissance period, as well as lavish living and dining quarters and lush gardens. The gilt-lined Neptune and Roman Pools, fed by mountain water, are surrounded by Roman style pillars and statues. Visited by some of the world’s most famous figures, including Hollywood stars, Hearst Castle embodies a fascinating combination of both history and opulent living. After spending two hours exploring the mansion and grounds, we will travel to tonight’s hotel near San Francisco, arriving at 6:00pm.

DAY4 San Francisco City Tour

Today we will take a tour of San Francisco, first visiting the world-famous Golden Gate Bridge, which was the longest suspension bridge in the world when it was first built in 1937 and has become an iconic international symbol of San Francisco. From there we will move on to Fisherman's Wharf, the historic base of San Francisco’s fishing fleet, the enormous Oakland Bay Bridge, and Treasure Island, an artificial island in the San Francisco Bay. Finally, our tour of San Francisco would not be complete without a visit to the city’s Chinatown, the oldest Chinatown in North America and the largest Chinese community outside of Asia. We will have the afternoon to explore, shop in the city, or visit relatives. Alternatively, you may participate in a more in-depth city tour,* which will take us to the Castro District (America’s largest gay neighborhood), Saint Mary’s Church, the Twin Peaks, and the San Francisco City Hall.

DAY5 San Francisco - Yosemite National Park* - Los Angeles (544 miles)

We begin the day by visiting Yosemite National Park, arriving at noon at the park, world-renowned for its spectacular granite cliffs, waterfalls, clear streams, glaciers, and Giant Sequoia groves. Breathtaking scenes like Bridalveil Fall, with its stream of water shooting over a high granite cliff to hover with the breath of mist below, and El Capitan, the immense stone monolith, will strike you with their sheer natural power. The Merced River, which meanders through Yosemite Valley, the enormous Half Dome granite formation, and Yosemite Falls, the highest waterfall in the United States, add to the spectacular natural wonders of the park. After our visit, we will return to Los Angeles, arriving around 6:30 pm.

*The visit to Yosemite National Park will be replaced by a 17 mile drive along Monterey Bay during the winter months (12/15/2012 - 2/27/2013).

DAY6 Los Angeles - Tanger Outlet - Las Vegas (265 miles)

Today we will kick off our tour by traveling through Nevada to Las Vegas, stopping on the way at the Tanger Outlets to enjoy great discounts on popular brand names. From here we will travel on to Las Vegas. Once we arrive in the mid-afternoon, you will be free to explore America’s entertainment capital at your leisure. Don’t pass up the opportunity to enjoy the city’s thriving night life or even try your luck at a casino!

DAY7 Hoover Dam - Grand Canyon - Las Vegas (590 miles)

Today we’ll visit the Hoover Dam, the largest dam in the United States, built in 1935 in an experimental and unprecedented effort that was monumental at the time and remains so to this day. After arriving at the Grand Canyon around 2:00pm, we will stand at the promontory of Lipan Point on the South Rim of the canyon and feel ourselves dwarfed by one of nature’s great masterpieces. We will also have the opportunity to see an IMAX film* about the history of the Grand Canyon and those who have braved its rapids and sheer walls. After a 1.5 hour stay, the group will return to Las Vegas. Tonight, join us on a night tour* where we will explore the city’s night life and watch the best-selling Jubilee Show!* A visit to Las Vegas would not be complete without this attraction.

OR *West Grand Canyon

After a morning departure, we’ll arrive at noon at the West Rim* of the Grand Canyon, with its famous glass-bottomed Skywalk,* which extends over 4,770 feet of empty space above the Colorado River. Carefully designed for the safety of all visitors, the Skywalk allows a fantastic and unmatched view of the Canyon that you cannot miss! You will also have the opportunity to take a combined Colorado River Cruise and helicopter tour* of the Grand Canyon, which will give a spectacular view of the canyon from below and above, or to go horseback riding* in the canyon! After a 3.5 hour stay, we will arrive back in Las Vegas to enjoy our night tour* and Las Vegas show.*

DAY8 Las Vegas - Ethel M Chocolate Factory - Botanical Cactus Garden - Los Angeles (265 miles)

Today we will depart for Los Angeles, stopping at the Ethel M Chocolate Factory and its Botanical Cactus Gardens in Nevada, which are open to the public. In the factory we will learn how this company produces their chocolate and visit their branch of M&M’s World, as well as tour the gardens, which display many fascinating varieties of cacti that will complete your trip through the deserts of Nevada! After arriving in Los Angeles around 6:00 pm, you will have the night to enjoy the city at your leisure.

DAY9 San Diego Sea World (241 miles)

This morning, we will depart at 8:00 am for San Diego to enjoy the thriving city life and breathtaking scenery of the Gold Coast as we take a brief tour of the second-largest city in California. From there we will visit SeaWorld San Diego,** one of the most extensive marine life parks in the world, to enjoy its thrilling rides and entertaining animal shows. Performances by penguins, dolphins, sea lions, and Shamu the killer whale promise an afternoon full of amazement and laughter. In the evening we will return to our Los Angeles hotel.

DAY10 Universal Studios - Departure (223 miles)

Today we will conclude our tour, departing at 9:00 am for Universal Studios Hollywood,** home to a theme park and the biggest film studio in the world. On a behind-the-scenes tour of Hollywood's busiest backlot, we will learn how the studio’s movies and TV shows are filmed. From the thrilling simulator rides like Jurassic Park, Revenge of the Mummy, and King Kong: 360-3D to stunning cowboy stunt demonstrations, simulated earthquakes, and the famous WaterWorld show, it promises to be an exciting and entertaining visit. Afterwards, we will return to Los Angeles, dropping off at the LA International Airport around 6:30 pm.

Please book a return flight departing from Los Angeles after 10:00pm.

Itinerary may vary depending on the day of departure.

Los Angeles City tour is available for group of 4 or more people. You can change one of theme park tours to the City Tour. Please email us your LA City tour request after you finish booking.
Morning Proceed to Downtown, Visit the Music Center where the Oscar Award ceremony was held, and you can also view the 73-story Bank Building, the Bureau of US Citizenship and Immigration Services Building, the Department of Water & Power and City Hall. Continue to Olvera Street (the oldest remaining building in Los Angeles). In the afternoon visit Santa Monica Pier, follow by the famous Hollywood area; visit Mann’s Chinese Theater and The Hollywood Bowl (the largest open air amphitheater in the world). Proceed to Sunset Blvd., Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. Then proceed to famous NBA basketball teams’ home court- Staples Center, as well as L.A. "Times Square" - L.A. Live.

*Optional activity, fee not included in tour price. See “Exclusions” for cost details.