One Week from Vegas to LA

Welcome to Las Vegas, home to all things over-the-top! You’ll have a welcome meeting tonight at 6 pm to meet your local leader and fellow travellers. If you arrive early, the day is yours to explore – food-focused travellers might want to check out one of the celebrity chef restaurants around town (Roy Choi, Gordon Ramsay and Wolfgang Puck all have places here). See the Eiffel Tower of the USA, check out the Bellagio Fountains or visit one of the city’s many museums. Tonight, maybe chat to your leader for the lowdown on sin city's best shows, clubs and restaurants. You might as well go all out in Las Vegas, right?

This morning, you’ll drive from Vegas to Zion National Park – a nature preserve in Utah famous for its steep red cliffs and scenic drive that leads to forest trails along the Virgin River. When you arrive, join your leader for a guided hike in the park to get your bearings, then head to your campsite near the park. After the bright neon lights of Vegas, this is a good opportunity to unplug, go star gazing and listen to the sounds of nature.

This morning, you’ll head out on a scenic drive from Zion to Bryce Canyon National Park. The park is a favourite among travellers for the crimson-coloured hoodoos (spire-shaped rock formations) that give it the landscape an alien feel. As you drive around the rim of the park, you’ll stop in at some incredible viewpoints and have plenty of time to snap away. Later, settle into your campsite near the park.

This morning you’ll drive to Grand Cayon National Park – a must-see for any USA adventure! When you arrive, get ready to admire a natural wonder formed by over six million years of erosion by the Colorado River. The canyon’s dimensions – 450 km long, 630 km wide and 1600 m deep – it really does warrant the ‘grand’ title. You’ll spend two nights here, which allows for a full day of exploration tomorrow. Tonight, maybe check out the park’s massive scale on a walk around the rim, watching sunset from one of the many viewpoints.

Continue exploring the national park today, starting with a leader-led tour of the Grand Canyon’s South Rim. You’ll be taken to some incredible viewpoints and see a couple of famous sights, like Granite Rapids and Monument Canyon, before finishing at Hermit’s Rest. You’re then free to choose your adventure for the rest of the day! You might like to hire a bike for an easy and efficient way to see as much of the national park as possible.

This morning, leave the canyon behind and travel along the famous Route 66, stopping in Seligman along the way – a quirky small town that features a vibrant slice of retro America. After wandering around the shops and old-school diners, cross the border back into California toward Joshua Tree National Park. Famous (and named) for its spectacular desert plants, there are also plenty of bizarre rock formations and palm-fringed oases to encounter. 

Bid farewell to Joshua Tree National Park as you make your way to Los Angeles, where your trip will come to an end at approximately 4pm. If you plan to spend more time here, maybe wander along Venice Beach or head to Santa Monica Pier and watch the sun go down tonight. Speak to your booking agent ahead of time if you’d like to extend your stay.