TakeTours > USA > West Coast Tours > California Tours > Los Angeles, CA > 3-Day San Francisco, 17-Mile Drive, Big Sur and 2 Top Universities California Highway 1 Tour from Los Angeles | 12-Guest Mercede

3-Day San Francisco, 17-Mile Drive, Big Sur and 2 Top Universities California Highway 1 Tour from Los Angeles | 12-Guest Mercede Tour Code: 175-20337

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Best For
Photography Lovers
Tour Themes
Nature & Outdoors
Tour Benefits
Small Group
  • Premium Small Group: Travel with up to 12 guests in a comfortable Mercedes Sprinter, featuring a 20% empty seat rate for extra space, with bottled water, snacks, binoculars, and daily breakfast included.
Visit San Francisco (Fisherman's Wharf, Lombard Street, Palace of Fine Art, Silicon Valley), Monterey (17-Mile Drive), Carmel, Stanford (Stanford University), Santa Barbara, Solvang, Berkeley, Big Sur.
Price In USD (Price per person based on double occupancy)
May
2026
Jun
2026
Jul
2026
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13
$548
￥3727
€465
C$750
14 
15 
16 
17
$548
￥3727
€465
C$750
18 
19 
20
$548
￥3727
€465
C$750
21 
22 
23 
24
$548
￥3727
€465
C$750
25 
26 
27
$548
￥3727
€465
C$750
28 
29 
30 
31
$638
￥4339
€541
C$873
3% Group Discount: 1. Receive 3% off when you purchase 3+ rooms on the same tour (single order only).
2. Receive 3% off when you book 3+ multi-day tours with minimum order total of $500 at once. Not valid in conjunction with any other discounts or pricing offers.
Price (/Person)
    Single
    $990
    ￥6733
    €840
    C$1354
    Double
    $638
    ￥4339
    €541
    C$873
    Triple
    $550
    ￥3741
    €467
    C$752
    Quadruple
    $500
    ￥3401
    €424
    C$684
    Child (0-12): same as adult
Price (/Person)
    Single
    $810
    ￥5509
    €687
    C$1108
    Double
    $548
    ￥3727
    €465
    C$750
    Triple
    $490
    ￥3333
    €416
    C$670
    Quadruple
    $455
    ￥3095
    €386
    C$623
    Child (0-12): same as adult
What if my dates are not available or appear as sold out? Notify Me!
3% Group Discount: 1. Receive 3% off when you purchase 3+ rooms on the same tour (single order only).
2. Receive 3% off when you book 3+ multi-day tours with minimum order total of $500 at once. Not valid in conjunction with any other discounts or pricing offers.
Winter Tour Features Winter Tour Features Winter Tour Features
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  • Overview
  • Day 1
  • Day 2
  • Day 3
Day 1 Los Angeles - Berkeley - San Francisco (387 miles)
Day 2 San Francisco - Stanford - Monterey - Carmel - Salinas (139 miles)
Day 3 Salinas - Big Sur - San Simeon - Solvang - Santa Barbara - Los Angeles (296 miles)

Day 1: Los Angeles - Berkeley - San Francisco (387 miles)

Standard Hotel: La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham San Jose or Comfort Inn and Suites San Francisco Airport North or similar
Meal: Excluded
Depart Los Angeles for the world‑renowned UC Berkeley, enjoy a scenic drive across the Bay Bridge, and stroll through Union Square. Ride the historic cable car, explore the winding Lombard Street, and discover North America's oldest Chinatown.

  • Berkeley, CA

    Berkeley, CA
    City of Berkeley, referred to as Berkeley for short, it's a hilly city on the east coast of the San Francisco bay area. Affiliated to the Alameda County, Berkeley is home to UC Berkeley, which is the world's most famous institutions of higher learning.

    UC Berkeley

    The University of California at Berkeley is the flagship branch of the University of California system. It is also the oldest, having been founded in 1868. It is considered one of the top scientific schools in the world.

    Duration: Approx. 45 Minutes

  • San Francisco, CA

    San Francisco, CA
    San Francisco, the heart of central California's Bay Area, is famous for its iconic Golden Gate Bridge, its unique culture, and its position at the forefront of technological innovation. Beautiful weather and waterfront views await visitors as well!

    San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge (Passing By)

    A complex of bridges spanning San Francisco Bay in California, carries about 260,000 vehicles a day on its two decks. It has one of the longest spans in the United States.

    Union Square

    Union Square
    This California Historical Landmark has become a popular tourist destination for both its historical significance and its shops and culture. The square itself is a public plaza, and the neighborhood extends for several blocks around it.

    Cable Cars

    Cable Cars
    San Francisco proudly boasts the last active cable car system in the world, used mostly by the city's tourist population. Only three lines remain out of the original twenty-three. The first line was established in 1873.

    Duration: Approx. 35 Minutes

    Lombard Street

    Lombard Street
    Lombard Street is a famous road in San Francisco that is known for having eight steep, hairpin turns climbing up a one-block stretch between Hyde and Leavenworth Streets. The strange-looking stretch of road is a famous Bay Area spot.

    Duration: Approx. 45 Minutes

    San Francisco Chinatown

    San Francisco Chinatown
    San Francisco's incredibly famous Chinatown neighborhood in the oldest Chinatown in North America and the largest Chinese community outside of Asia. Established in 1848, this once-small enclave has grown to over 100,000 residents and draws tons of tourists annually.

Day 2: San Francisco - Stanford - Monterey - Carmel - Salinas (139 miles)

Standard Hotel: Super 8 by Wyndham Salinas or Steinbeck Lodge or Howard Johnson by Wyndham Salinas or similar
Breakfast: Included (Limited to two guests per room. Additional surcharge for 3rd and 4th people.)|Lunch: Excluded|Dinner: Excluded
Start at San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf with a bay cruise for close-up views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz. See the Palace of Fine Arts, take in the Golden Gate Bridge from afar, and head to Twin Peaks for panoramic city views. Drive through Castro Street and pass by City Hall. In the afternoon, visit Stanford University, the Apple Visitor Center in Silicon Valley, and the Birthplace of Silicon Valley. End the day with a stroll through Monterey Bay and Carmel-by-the-Sea, followed by a scenic stop at 17-Mile Drive.

  • San Francisco, CA

    San Francisco, CA
    San Francisco, the heart of central California's Bay Area, is famous for its iconic Golden Gate Bridge, its unique culture, and its position at the forefront of technological innovation. Beautiful weather and waterfront views await visitors as well!

    Fisherman's Wharf

    Fisherman's Wharf
    This San Francisco neighborhood is a popular tourist area due to its lovely scenery and abundance of shops, restaurants, museums, and other attractions. The area also hosts several annual events, such as a July 4th fireworks show.

    Duration: Approx. 1 Hour 30 Minutes

    San Francisco Bay Cruise

    Palace of Fine Art (Outside Visit)

    Palace of Fine Art
    The grandiosely-named Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco, California is a huge, ornate outdoor structure that is part of the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. Its amazing architecture has made it popular for weddings and photography.

    Duration: Approx. 20 Minutes

    Twin Peaks

    Twin Peaks
    San Francisco's Twin Peaks are two prominent hills near the center of the city. Each one stands at about 922 feet tall, and they offer amazing views of the Bay Area all the way down to the water.

    Duration: Approx. 20 Minutes

    The Castro District (Passing By)

    This neighborhood in San Francisco, CA's Eureka Valley is a hub of LGBT activities in the Bay Area. Street fairs, parades, bars, shops, and restaurants define this upscale neighboorhood, which is renown for its nightlife and good times.

    San Francisco City Hall (Outside Visit)

    The City Hall you see today took two years to build. Steel, granite, and four floors of white marble interiors make up San Francisco's symbol of resilience, built after the previous City Hall was destroyed in the Great Earthquake and Fire of April 18, 1906.

    Duration: Approx. 30 Minutes

    Silicon Valley

    Silicon Valley
    Today we visit the world famous Silicon Valley where we will visit Google, Apple, Intel, HP and Facebook, top technology companies.

    Duration: Approx. 30 Minutes

  • Stanford, CA

    Stanford University is recognized as one of the world's leading research and teaching institutions. It covers an area of 35 square kilometers. It is the second largest university in the U.S..

    Stanford University

    Located in northwestern Silicon Valley, this famous research institution is not just one of the best schools in the United States, but one of the top universities in the world. Its large campus is a sight to behold.

    Duration: Approx. 40 Minutes

  • Monterey, CA

    Monterey, CA
    Monterey was the capital of Alta California under both Spain and Mexico. It was the only port of entry for taxable goods in California. In 1846 the U.S. flag was raised over the Customs House, and California became part of the United States after the ensuing Mexican-American War.

    Monterey Bay

    The famous Californian Monterey Bay is world-renown for its beauty and wildlife. In addition to the scenic routes that huge the bay's shorelines, visitors can see animals like otters, bottlenose dolphins, and if they're lucky, even humpback whales.

    Duration: Approx. 30 Minutes

    17-Mile Drive

    17-Mile Drive
    This breathtaking stretch of coastline along California's Monterey Peninsula takes visitors through a maze of beautiful scenery, unique wildlife, and amazing mansions. Enjoy shopping and dining along the way in addition to taking in the vistas.

    Duration: Approx. 35 Minutes

  • Carmel, CA

    Carmel, CA
    Officially called Carmel-by-the-Sea, this coastal Southern California town is known for its amazing scenery as well as its art scene past and present. Former mayors include Clint Eastwood, Perry Newberry, and Herbert Heron, among other artistic icons.

    Duration: Approx. 30 Minutes

Day 3: Salinas - Big Sur - San Simeon - Solvang - Santa Barbara - Los Angeles (296 miles)

Breakfast: Included (Limited to two guests per room. Additional surcharge for 3rd and 4th people.)|Lunch: Excluded|Dinner: Excluded
Travel south along California's Highway 1 through the iconic Big Sur coastline. Stop at the landmark Bixby Creek Bridge, view McWay Falls cascading into the ocean, and observe elephant seals at Piedras Blancas. Stroll through the Danish village of Solvang and the scenic Santa Barbara waterfront.

  • Big Sur, CA

    Big Sur is a rugged stretch of California’s central coast between Carmel and San Simeon. Bordered to the east by the Santa Lucia Mountains and the west by the Pacific Ocean, it’s traversed by narrow, 2-lane State Route 1, known for winding turns, seaside cliffs and views of the often-misty coastline.

    Bixby Bridge

    This iconic bridge was built in 1932 and was featured in many Hollywood movies due to its aesthetic design. It was the highest concrete arch bridge in the world at the time, soaring 260 feet above Bixby Canyon.

    Duration: Approx. 40 Minutes

    McWay Falls

    McWay Falls plunges 80 feet from a granite cliff directly into the Pacific Ocean. This iconic tidefall in Big Sur offers breathtaking views, especially at sunset when golden light meets turquoise water.

    Duration: Approx. 30 Minutes

  • San Simeon, CA

    San Simeon, CA
    San Simeon is a town on the Pacific coast of San Luis Obispo County, California. Its position along State Route 1 is approximately halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, each of those cities being roughly 230 miles (370 km) away. A key feature of the area is Hearst Castle.

    Point Piedras Blancas Beach

    Point Piedras Blancas Beach
    Piedras blancas, which means “white rocks” in Spanish, refers to the large, white, offshore rocks that served as navigational landmarks for early mariners. Piedras Blancas is a great place to view northern elephant seals, take in coastal vistas, or hike to the nearby light station.

    Duration: Approx. 30 Minutes

  • Solvang, CA

    Solvang, CA
    Antiquated windmills and Northern Europeans-style architecture punctuate the little village's skyline. Brilliant sunshine, boundless open country and rolling hills- these are the characteristics of what the original Danish immigrants called "Solvang" or "Sunny Field"

    Denmark Village

    This small city near Santa Barbara, California is a popular California tourist spot due to its historical significance. The town was settled by Danish immigrants, and today serves as a portal to the past for curious visitors.

    Duration: Approx. 1 Hour

  • Santa Barbara, CA

    Santa Barbara, CA
    "The American Riviera" in southern California is known for its year-round warm weather. It features miles of beaches as well as historic landmarks like the Mission Santa Barbara, a still-functioning church founded by Spanish missionaries in the 18th century.
Find Closest Pickup
Location Address Departure Return
Covina, CA 3223 E Garvey Ave N, West Covina, 91791 (Pacific Stay Hotel West Covina - West Covina, CA) 7:00am 8:00pm
Los Angeles, CA 303 E Valley Blvd, San Gabriel, CA 91776 (Sheraton San Gabriel) 7:30am 8:00pm
Los Angeles, CA 120 S Los Angeles St, Los Angeles, CA 90012 (DoubleTree by Hilton Los Angeles Downtown - Los Angeles, CA) 8:00am 8:00pm

*Return time is an estimate and varies based on traffic and weather conditions.

  • Return to Los Angeles and drop off at the meeting points around 8:00PM, and this time may change due to unexpected traffic or other conditions. Customers need to leave plenty time for the following activities or flights (for flights after 23:00). We are not responsible if customers miss their activities or flights.

Price Includes

  • 2 nights hotel accomodation with breakfast for two per room as listed
  • Transport: 7-seat van for 3-5 pax, 15-seat high-roof Mercedes for 6-12 pax.
  • Professional driver-guide allowance (includes meal & accommodation subsidies)
  • Commercial Vehicle Insurance with $1 million coverage

Price Excludes

  • Mandatory activities fee: $190/person Including Fuel surcharge and Parking fees to (UC Berkeley +Stanford University+17-Mile Drive+Silicon Valley+San Francisco Bay Cruise+Cable Cars+Twin Peaks)
    Early Bird Offer: Book 15 days in advance, it will be $150/person
  • Mandatory service fee: $60/person Including bottled water, snacks & guide service.
  • Please pay the full service fee and activities fee in cash to the guide on the tour day. No refunds for them if you leave mid-tour.
  • Meals and drinks unspecified during the trip.
  • Personal expenses (such as meals, phone calls, pay-per-view TV, laundry, beverages, personal travel and medical insurance)
  • Other expenses not listed in the cost description

Additional Note

  • Tour Itinerary Notice: Please be advised that the tour guide will arrange the itinerary for visiting the scenic spots inside Yellowstone Park based on the actual conditions of the day. Kindly follow the guide's instructions on the day of the tour for the most up-to-date arrangement.
  • Ticket Policy: Bringing your own national park pass or attraction tickets is not permitted. If guests bring such tickets, our company will refuse to provide transportation services for that day, and guests will need to arrange their own transportation.
  • Minors or Pregnant Women: Minors/children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult to join this tour. Unaccompanied minors/children are not permitted. For safety reasons, our company does not recommend pregnant women to join small group tours.
  • Luggage: Due to vehicle restrictions, each guest may bring one 26-inch suitcase. Excess luggage responsibility lies with the guest. Free storage is provided in departure cities for oversized bags (locks provided; key fee payable. We're not liable for lost keys).
  • Child Car Seat: For children under 8, you must notify us when booking (provide age) to pre-arrange car seats ($20/use). Unreported cases may cause delays; guests bear all costs (rentals, legal fines, license penalties, etc.).
  • Hotel Deposit: Each group must present a valid credit/debit card at check-in for deposit (amount/method per hotel policy). Refunds take 7-14(U.S.)/14-21(int'l) business days post-checkout (subject to bank processing). We assist with inquiries but don't oversee refunds.
  • Hotel Smoking & Self-Heating Food Policy: Smoking and using self-heating food are strictly prohibited in U.S. hotels. Violators will face fines of $200-$250 and may bear legal consequences.
  • Driver Overtime Policy The driver's workday is 10 hours from the scheduled start time. Overtime is charged at USD 120 per hour (prorated in full-hour increments) under the following conditions: 1) Overtime requested by guests (e.g., added stops) is shared by all passengers; 2) Overtime from individual delay is paid by that person. No gratuity refunds for mid-tour departures.

Confirmation

  • All purchases are subject to re-confirmation within 2-3 business days after booking. Please do not book the airline tickets until you received the confirmation.

Redemption

  • Complete operator information, including local telephone numbers at your destination, are included on your e-ticket. You must print and bring e-ticket(s) on your trip, as they serve as proof of purchase.

Terms & Condition

  • PLEASE READ CAREFULLY
    Booking and Reservation
    All tours are for early booking, tour operator suggests the each passenger should book tour at least 3 weeks before departure date. Passenger may make reservation via email; however, seats will not be assigned until the deposit has been paid. At time of reservation, passenger may require to provide name, phone number and address and specify designated tour and date of travel.All seats are pre-assigned with numbers; seat assignment is based on a first come first serve basis after down payment.
  • Travel Documents
    Each passenger must carry a valid travel document. (Valid visa for countries needed) (E.g. Green Card, Passport, Re-Entry Permit, and etc.) Tour operator is not responsible for lost or stolen personal items.
  • Cancellation penalties per person (request day and departure day are not counted)
    16 days or more prior to departure - - No penalty.
    11-15 days or more prior to departure - 35% of total purchase amount.
    7-10 days prior to departure - 55% of total purchase amount.
    Within 6 days prior to departure - 100% of total purchase amount.
    Day of departure no show or late - 100% per person.
    Unused features are non-refundable. No shows forfeit entire payment.
    Trips require a minimum number of participants to avoid cancellation. We reserve the right to cancel a scheduled trip to fully refund affected customers although tour companies will make every effort to maintain normal operations.
    The refund amount will be credited directly to your TakeTours wallet as credits for future use. Or the refund can also be forwarded directly to your credit card with a 6% handling fee.
    NOTE: We cannot grant any refunds more than 30 days after completion of the tour.
  • Broading Time and Location
    All passengers must arrive 15 minutes before departure time. All passengers must show photo ID and boarding pass or tickets for boarding; absolutely no boarding without tickets. Departure time and boarding location will be confirmed after reservation is made.
  • Travel Insurance
    Tour operator is not responsible for any loss of or damage to personal items, or personal injury that may occur on or during the tour. It is optional that passengers to buy travel insurance, for more information, please consult your travel agent.
  • Itinerary Variations
    We constantly strives to improve tour itineraries and features. If such improvements can be made, or unforeseen circumstances beyond our control make changes necessary - we reserve the right to vary itineraries and to substitute hotels. At certain peak periods duplicate departures may operate, and sometimes in reverse order in which case hotels may vary from those stated on the itinerary pages.
  • Tour Cancellation
    We reserve the right to cancel or re-schedule any tour departure in accordance with operating requirements or circumstances beyond its control. If cancellation is made any time prior to departure of the tour, Taketours only liability will be to refund to the passenger the amount it has received for the tour booking. We are not responsible for any other travel arrangements affected due to our cancellations.

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