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Southwestern Panoramas

Tours and Cruises11 days

San Francisco, USA

San Francisco›Visalia›Las Vegas›Bryce Canyon National Park›Moab›Page (Lake Powell)+3 more

Available departures

Languages

Jun

Aug

Sep

Guaranteed

Characteristics

Group tour with local courier / guide
in English only
breakfast and some of the meals included
departures are guaranteed (subject to availability)
starting from 35 days before departure, availability is on request
minimum age: 8 years
the journey involves changes in temperature and altitude,

Itinerary

Day 1 — San Francisco

Arrival and independent transfer to the hotel, San Francisco’s iconic streets twist up and down its many hills and scenic bridges connecting it to the mainland – chief among which the red Golden Gate. San Francisco is a charming, multi-faceted city, regarded as a liberal, enlightened oasis in a rather conservative America.. Accommodation,

Day 2 — San Francisco

Breakfast, morning orientation tour of the city, appointment in the hotel lobby by 7.45, your guide will hold a sign saying “Travalco” in red; or will be wearing a red T-shirt with the Travalco logo, departure from hotel at 8.15, Highlights: Union Square, Chinatown, Golden Gate Park, and Fisherman's Wharf, from which the island of Alcatraz with its infamous prison can be seen, afternoon at leisure for optional activities. Accommodation,

Car

Day 3 — San Francisco → Visalia

Breakfast, appointment in the hotel lobby by 7.30. Make sure you have your baggage ready., Please be on time. Consider how long you need for breakfast, and the line at the reception for check-out, appointment with the guide and departure at 8.00, Continue towards Sierra Nevada, where the landscape, deep valleys giving way to vast forests, varies as much as the climate., famous for their giant sequoias, soaring mountains, deep canyons, and roaring rivers, this tandem set of parks have plenty to see, even though they are less well known than Yosemite, roughly 75 miles/120 kilometers north., continue to Visalia. Accommodation Makis Studios & Apartments,

Car

Day 4 — Visalia → Las Vegas

Breakfast, departure to Las Vegas, From the wooded tops of the Sierra to the to the moon-like desert of Death Valley., Death Valley takes you back to what Earth looked like millions of years ago. In the summer the weather is especially scorching, reflecting on the names of the places in the area: Funeral Mountains, Furnace Creek, Dante's View, Coffin Peak, Devil's Golf Course ..., Crossing the Death Valley might be dangerous when the temperature raises above 35°-40° – if need be, an alternative road will be chosen. A detour can also be made in May and June in the event of sudden floods., arrival at Las Vegas, Las Vegas is beyond words. It shines like a diamond the middle of the desert, dazzling with its extravagant luxury hotels, bustling with all sorts of shows and revelry. A place – but can such a place even exist? – without equal in the whole world.. Accommodation,

Car

Day 5 — Las Vegas → Bryce Canyon National Park

Breakfast, departure to, On the Scenic Byway UT-12, among the pines of Dixie National Forest, you will find Red Canyon, a miniature Bryce Canyon, with its characteristic red hoodoos, rocks, and whimsical-shaped spires., arrival at Bryce Canyon National Park, Bryce Canyon is, in fact, not a canyon: it’s a breathtaking natural amphitheatre full of spires and arches and pinnacles, jutting out in dazzling colours against the sky, moulded by the rain and frost in bizarre shapes to create a unique mountainscape., Walk along a dirt road, offering several gorgeous landscapes. Accommodation,

Car

Day 6 — Bryce Canyon National Park → Moab

Breakfast, another stunning variety of landscapes will unfold before you today, Proceed through Capitol Reef National Park, its red sandstone precipices and marbled pinnacles., panoramic tour of, Canyonlands is the vastest, wildest of the American parks – a maze of canyons, most of which are beyond reach., Dead Horse Point is a jaw-dropping viewpoint, overlooking a boundless expanse of canyons and the many meanders of the Colorado river., free afternoon. You can go for an optional excursion (not included), departure to Moab, accommodation zzz Comfort Inn Phoenix North,

Car

Day 7 — Moab → Page (Lake Powell)

Breakfast, departure to, Monument Valley is arguably the most famous landscape of the American West – and possibly the most breathtaking one. The red sandstone crests, jutting out from the desert, were the iconic setting of numberless blockbusters – above all “Stagecoach” (1939). The park stretches over the land of the Navajo Nation, between Utah and Arizona., Stop at the observation deck of the visitor center and enjoy a spectacular all-around view, continue to Page (Lake Powell), Lake Powell was formed when the Glen Canyon Dam was erected on the Colorado river. The reservoir, surrounded by an immense desert, makes for a striking landscape – its turquoise water clashing with soaring cliffs made of red sandstone., Visit the Glen Canyon Dam to enjoy a magnificent view of the lake, Horseshoe Bend, on the Colorado River, is a picturesque arc worn down by the river in the shape of a horseshoe. It’s one of the most photographed places in the Southwest.. Accommodation,

Car

Day 8 — Page (Lake Powell) → Williams

Breakfast, free morning. You can go for an optional excursion (not included) to Antelope Canyon, Just a few kilometers away from Page, a rift formed by the wear of water carving through the rock in peculiar shapes created a spectacular slot canyon called Antelope Canyon. The canyon is divided in two: the Upper Antelope Canyon, which is easily accessible; and the Lower Antelope Canyon, equipped with ladders. Both parts of the canyon are equally scenic - depending on the time of the day and the season, otherworldy light tricks will take your breath away., departure to, Enter Navajo Nation land and Painted Desert, see the old Cameron Trading Post on the way., The Grand Canyon is the most famous and most spectacular example of river erosion - an inconceivable abyss formed by the wear of the Colorado River. The Canyon is 1,500 m deep, 450 km long and 16 km wide. Its layers disclose the geological history of the last 2 billion years and its rocks change color according to the time of the day - your first glimpse of this majestic landscape will leave you speecheless. The Grand Canyon, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a truly unforgettable sight., Stop-offs at the main scenic spots, possibility to take a helicopter flight over the Grand Canyon (not included), continue to Williams, A pleasant village amid the pines of the Kaibab Forest, standing at the end of the line of the Grand Canyon Railroad. The iconic Route 66 crosses this nostalgic old town.. Accommodation Full Day Premier Wildlife Tour - T3,

Car

Day 9 — Williams → Palm Springs

Breakfast, Stop off at, continue to, arrival at Palm Springs, Palm Spring is known as an elegant vacation resort for wealthy retirees, Hollywood intellectuals, and Baby Boomers pining for the ’50s and ’60s – the bygone days when celebrities like Frank Sinatra and Kirk Douglas, and even Presidents like Truman, Eisenhower and Kennedy, came to Palm Springs on their holidays. Futuristic constructions like the Tramway Gas Station and the Coachella Savings and Loans building date back to the same period. The idyllic atmosphere of Palm Springs evokes the peacefulness of a Greek island.. Accommodation Best Western Plus Harbor Plaza And Conference Center,

Car

Day 10 — Palm Springs → Los Angeles

Breakfast, departure to Los Angeles, Los Angeles – the land of Hollywood, Disneyland and Universal Studios, where life is as carefree as can be. With its ever-shining sun, palms in the breeze, movie stars with their fancy houses in Beverly Hills, wonderful museums, futuristic buildings, and surfing spots, Los Angeles truly makes for an unforgettable destination., arrival, then panoramic tour, Highlights: Santa Monica, Beverly Hills; walk along Hollywood Boulevard, past the legendary Grauman’s Chinese Theatre and along the famous handprints left in the concrete by Hollywood's greatest stars ; Los Angeles Downtown, the business district and its skyscrapers; Olvera Street, the original Mexican heart of the city. Accommodation Fjærland Fjordstove Hotell,

Day 11 — Los Angeles

Breakfast, Rooms have to be vacated in the morning, independent transfer to the airport. You can use the free hotel shuttle.. End of the tour,

Notes

LUGGAGE: porterage is included for one medium-size baggage (max. 23 kg). Due to limited storage room, we cannot assure you can bring along extra baggage on the bus. In the event of extra storage room available, a fee of $7 will be applied to any extra luggage, to be paid to the courier at the beginning of the tour. Note, however, that we cannot know in advance whether any extra storage room will be available. Due to security reasons, you cannot deposit your extra baggage at the first hotel of the tour.. ROOMS: rooms only have one or two beds. “Triple”, “quadruple”, “family” room refers to the number of the guests, who will sleep in the beds provided (max. 2). The possibility of adding a rollaway bed – even if requested at the time of reservation – is subject to availability, with a supplement to be paid on site. Likewise, special requests for double or separate beds; adjoining, high-floor, low-floor rooms etc. are always upon request and these services can never be considered as granted.. DISABLED PEOPLE: disabled travellers can take part to the tour as long as they are self-sufficient. This is because means of transport are not equipped with a wheelchair platform; in addiction, due to insurance and security reasons, neither the guide nor the driver are allowed to help passengers getting on board. Disabled passengers must thus travel with an assistant of their own, to provide them all the help they might need during the tour. All bookings are on request.. TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: before the start of the tour, all the participants must make sure they possess the required documents to enter the destination countries, and that such documents are comprehensive and valid.. OPTIONAL EXCURSIONS: a list of optional services, to be paid by credit card or in cash, will be offered to you on site. The courier is under no obligation to provide assistance to the passengers for excursions purchased before departure.. MINIMUM AGE: At least 8 years, although we recommend a minimum of 12. People younger than 18 years (21 for Las Vegas) must share their room with a traveller of age; otherwise, hotels will refuse to accept them in.. SMOKING: smoking is prohibited in hotels and on coaches.. HOTEL, CHECK IN: People younger than 18 years (21 for Las Vegas) must share their room with a traveller of age; otherwise, hotels will refuse to accept them in.. HOTEL, DEPOSIT: at the time of check-in, you will be asked to provide a personal credit card as guarantee for extra expenses. If you are using a company credit card, you must get an authorisation from your company. The hold as guarantee for extra expenses changes according to the category of the hotel. The hold will be unblocked between 3 and 10 days after check-out date; more days might be required if the credit card is linked to a non-American bank. We suggest you bring along at least two credit cards.. HOTEL / ITINERARY, CHANGES: The Organizing Body reserves the right to substitute the itinerary and/or the hotels to alternative of a similar or superior category in the event of unplanned circumstances, and if the safe and normal proceeding of the tour is threatened. Furthermore, when in the impossibility for all of the travellers to stay at the same hotel, the group will be split amidst several hotels of the same category.. START OF THE TOUR: please show up at the meeting point at least 30 minutes before departure. You are strongly advised to be punctual. No refund is provided for passengers failing to meet at designated time.. TIPS: not included – but virtually mandatory, unless service is badly disappointing. Suggested tips: $5-6/day per person for the courier; $4-5/day per person for the driver.. MEALS: not included when not specified. COACH SEATING: seats are variably assigned day by day.. TRANSPORTATION: Up to 12 passengers, a Mercedes Sprinter / Ford Transit minibus with air conditioning is used, and the driver also serves as the chauffeur.. REFUNDS: If the tour or any part thereof cannot be conducted due to Force Majeure or Vis Majeure, the Company shall not be responsible to give any refund; also, no refund will be given for any portions of the tour unused by the traveler. TRANSFERS: not included when not specified. When included, a supplement for private transfer is applied in the event of arrival/departure late in the evening/night or early in the morning (usually between 8pm and 7am). A supplement is always charged to individual passengers.

Starts from

11 days / 9 nights – from San Francisco to Los Angeles

Meals

Key: B breakfast, BL box lunch, D dinner,

Price includes

Italian-speaking guide, air-conditioned motorcoach, admissions, visits and excursions: as scheduled, accommodation at the scheduled hotel (or similar), meals: breakfasts, hotel/airport shuttle transfer upon departure (no assistance is provided),

Price does not include

Administration fees and “no-risk” coverage, trip cancellation, medical expense & baggage coverage, meals that have not been specified; beverage; any extra, tips, porterage, transfer to the hotel on the first day, air travel and taxes, everything not expressly mentioned in "The fee includes",

Optional visits

Ask your guide for suggestions on optional excursions (to be paid on site – no obligation to buy). Please find below a list of the approximate prices per person. We cannot guarantee that any of the listed optional will be provided. They will be subject to time availability and to several other factors.
Lombard Street, Sausalito, and Ferry Tour
cruise in the San Francisco Bay
Las Vegas by night
Jeep tour along the Shafer Trail
Grand Canyon airplane tour
North Canyon Tour by helicopter

Cancellation policies

35 days or more from the start of the tour, no penalty, 34-20 days 50%, 19-10 days 75%, 9-1 days or no show 100%.,