Grand Tour of the USA

Flying to San Francisco

Meet the Tour Manager and group at London Heathrow before boarding a direct daytime flight to San Francisco. Arrive in the late afternoon and transfer to the hotel on Fisherman's Wharf. Evening free to dine independently.

Getting to know San Francisco

Guided tour of San Francisco including the Golden Gate Bridge and Pier 39. Free time over lunch before a cruise to Alcatraz for a self-guided tour of the former maximum-security prison. Afternoon and evening free to explore.

Meals: Breakfast

Exploring Yosemite National Park

Early start by coach to Oakland station, then Amtrak train to Merced, continuing by coach to El Portal at the entrance to Yosemite National Park. Guided tour of Half Dome, El Capitan and Bridalveil Falls. Return to Merced for the night.

Meals: Breakfast

Welcome to fabulous Las Vegas

Board Amtrak service to Bakersfield, travelling through California's Big Valley. Continue by coach through the Sierra Nevada mountains and Mojave Desert to Las Vegas. Check in for two nights at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on the Strip.

Viva Las Vegas

Free day to explore Las Vegas at your own pace. Highlights include the Fountains of Bellagio, the Luxor pyramid, the Skypod observation tower, the replica Eiffel Tower and the Venetian Resort. Wide choice of entertainment and dining.

To Flagstaff via the Hoover Dam

Depart Las Vegas by coach, stopping at the Hoover Dam viewing point. Enter Arizona and travel along the legendary Route 66 to Flagstaff. Check in for two nights at a hotel set amid 500 acres of ponderosa pine forest.

Route 66 and the Grand Canyon Railway

Drive along Route 66 to Williams, then board the Grand Canyon Railway to the South Rim. Free time over lunch to take in the breathtaking views of the Grand Canyon. Return to Flagstaff by coach in the late afternoon.

Monument Valley and Goosenecks State Park

Early coach departure through Navajo country to Monument Valley. Stop for lunch at the Monument Valley Visitor Centre. Continue to Goosenecks State Park for a scenic viewpoint stop, then drive to Durango, arriving late afternoon.

A trip on Colorado's Durango and Silverton Railroad

Board the Durango and Silverton Railroad for a journey through breathtaking canyons, past emerald-green rivers and dense forests to the Old West town of Silverton. Free time over lunch in Silverton, then continue by coach to Grand Junction.

Meals: Breakfast

An overnight journey on Amtrak's California Zephyr

Transfer to Grand Junction railway station to board Amtrak's California Zephyr. Spend the day in the Observation Car enjoying views across open plains, river valleys and rugged canyons. Settle in for an overnight journey through the Rocky Mountains towards Chicago.

Meals: Breakfast

Arriving at the great city of Chicago

The California Zephyr crosses the Mississippi River and pulls into Chicago's historic Union Station in the afternoon. Transfer by coach to the hotel in the River North district, close to the Magnificent Mile. Evening free to explore.

Chicago Architecture Cruise

After breakfast, enjoy a narrated cruise along the Chicago River, passing the Wrigley Building, Tribune Tower and Willis Tower. Afternoon and evening at leisure to explore the city, visit the Willis Tower Skydeck, Wrigley Field or shop along the Magnificent Mile.

Meals: Breakfast

A free day in Chicago

Free day to explore Chicago at your own pace. Options include museums, galleries, Millennium Park, Maggie Daley Park and lakeside paths around Lake Michigan. This evening, board Amtrak's Lake Shore Limited for an overnight journey from Chicago to Buffalo.

Meals: Breakfast

The tremendous Niagara Falls

Arrive in Buffalo and transfer by coach to the hotel on the American side of Niagara Falls. Visit Niagara Falls State Park for a first glimpse of the falls. Optional cruise boat to the base of the falls available to book independently.

Arrival in the metropolis of New York City

Transfer to Buffalo by coach, then board the train to New York via Albany and along the Hudson River into Penn Station. Transfer to the four-star New York Marriott Marquis on Times Square. Evening free to explore Times Square and Broadway.

Meals: Breakfast

New York, New York

Guided tour of New York including a harbour cruise around Manhattan Harbour passing the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Visit Grand Central Station, then an afternoon tour of Central Park, the Rockefeller Centre, the Theatre District and the World Trade Centre site. Evening free.

Homeward bound

Last morning in New York free to spend as you wish. Transfer to the airport in the afternoon for a direct evening flight to London Heathrow.

Arrival at London Heathrow

Touch down at London Heathrow this morning. Your incredible holiday comes to an end and you are free to make your way home.