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-offfor more information.

DAY2 Disneyland

Disneyland

Today we will conclude our tour by visiting a choice of three of the most thrilling, exciting, and fun theme parks in the country! The first is Disneyland,** where we will enjoy the fun and charm of Sleeping Beauty 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. After a fun-filled day we will return to Los Angeles, dropping off at the airport.

OR SeaWorld San Diego

As an alternative, a group will also depart at 8:00 am for San Diego, arriving around 9:30 at the second-largest city in California for a brief city tour, where we will enjoy the thriving city life and breathtaking scenery of the Gold Coast. At noon we will visit SeaWorld,** a theme park, oceanarium, and marine mammal facility, with thrilling rides and entertaining animal shows. Its roller coasters and water rides like Manta, Journey to Atlantis, and Shipwreck Rapids will put your heart in your throat, while feeding the dolphins at Dolphin Cove and watching other marine mammals such as penguins, sea lions, and even killer whales will be an unforgettable experience. Before returning to Los Angeles in the evening, we’ll see a stunning performance by Shamu the killer whale, a fantastic way to cap off the day’s adventures.

DAY3 Los Angeles - Solvang - Hearst Castle - San Francisco (381 miles)

This morning we will drive along the Pacific Coast Highway on the way to Solvang, a quaint little Danish town in the Santa Ynez Valley. While exploring the city, don’t forget to try some of their famous Danish pastries! From here we will continue north to 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, the Hearst Castle embodies a fascinating combination of both history and opulent living. From here we will make our way to our hotel near San Francisco.

DAY4 San Francisco City Tour

Today we will take a tour of San Francisco, first visiting the world-famous Golden Gate Bridge, the 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 the twisting, shop-lined Lombard Street. Finally, our tour of San Francisco would not be complete without a visit to the city’s Chinatown, the oldest and largest Chinatown in North America. We will have the afternoon to explore and shop in the city or to 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. After this, join us aboard a San Francisco Bay Cruise,* from which we will have a stunning view of the city from the water.

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

We begin the day by visiting Yosemite National 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 - Grand Canyon West Rim (510 miles)

In the morning we will depart for the West Rim of the Grand Canyon,** arriving at 4:00pm. After checking in at tonight’s hotel, the Hualapai Ranch, which is only a thousand feet away from the Canyon, we will visit Eagle Point and enjoy an Indian Culture Show, which features traditional Hualapai singing and dancing. From here we will move on to the famous glass-bottomed Grand Canyon Skywalk,* which extends over 4,770 feet of empty space above the Colorado River. 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. Now we will proceed to Guano Point for a 360 degree view of the canyon, where we will enjoy the beautiful sunset. After we return to the ranch, a dinner of BBQ ribs will be served along with a live country and western music show. After dinner, join us for a campfire party in front of the Grand Canyon, followed up with Karaoke to top off the evening!

DAY7 Grand Canyon West - Las Vegas (296 miles)

In the morning, don’t pass up the opportunity to watch the sun rise over the canyon, a spectacular sight that will fill you with awe. After breakfast, we will take a thirty minute wagon ride around the West Rim of the Grand Canyon and watch cowboys take part in mock gun fights and stunt shows. Then join us in a fun horse ride* with the cowboys! We will depart the Grand Canyon and continue on to Las Vegas, the gambling capital of the world. Once we arrive at 1:00pm, you will be free to explore the city at your leisure. If you can break yourself away from the shopping, fine food, and casinos which the city is known for, 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.

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

Today we will depart once again 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! We will arrive in Los Angeles around 6:00 pm.

DAY9 Universal Studios Hollywood (213 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. Please book a return flight departing Los Angeles after 10:00pm.

Itinerary may vary depending on the day of departure.

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

** Mandatory admission fee not included in tour price. See “Exclusions” for cost details.