Ultimate Western Explorer with Hawaii add-on

Day 1: UK/Los Angeles
Depart on your scheduled flight to Los Angeles. On arrival, transfer to your hotel for a two-night stay in this exciting city.

Day 2: Los Angeles
Enjoy a day of leisure in Los Angeles. Take an optional morning tour through luxurious Beverly Hills and downtown LA before visiting the famous Farmers’ Market. In the afternoon, explore this buzzing metropolis at your own pace, or join an optional visit to Santa Monica and Venice Beach.

Day 3: San Diego
Begin your day in LA, where you can explore at your leisure or join an optional visit to Universal Studios – a thrilling theme park packed with movie memorabilia, big rides and exciting attractions. This afternoon, we drive to the seaport of San Diego for our two-night stay.

Day 4: San Diego
Your stay in San Diego starts with an included morning tour of this delightful Spanish-influenced city. Then spend the rest of your day enjoying the splendours of San Diego at your own pace – perhaps on a boat trip around the harbour, visiting Old San Diego or taking in a marine show at the renowned Sea World.

Day 5: Scottsdale
Drive through the spectacular desert, crossing the border at Yuma into the state of Arizona. Continue to the ‘Valley of the Sun’ and Scottsdale, a fashionable resort on the outskirts of Phoenix. There’s an optional visit to Rustler’s Rooste, a traditional western steakhouse, this evening.

Day 6: Flagstaff
We leave Scottsdale and drive into Northern Arizona, where our first stop is the fashionable artists’ township of Sedona. Join an optional jeep ride to admire the stunning rock formations that surround the town, or simply explore at your leisure.

Later, we drive through the spectacular Oak Creek Canyon before arriving at the former Wild West town of Flagstaff for a two-night stay.

Day 7: Grand Canyon
Today, we visit a natural wonder that’s a must-see on any traveller’s list: The Grand Canyon. This spectacular 14 mile-wide gorge is even more stunning when viewed from the air, which is why there’s the option to take a scenic flight over the Canyon if you wish. However you choose to view this vast, majestic panorama, you won’t be disappointed.

Day 8: Las Vegas
Depart Flagstaff for the drive westwards to Las Vegas for a two-night stay. Join the optional Las Vegas by Night tour this evening to enjoy the lights and sights of this spectacular desert city.

Day 9: Las Vegas
Explore Las Vegas at your leisure today – an oasis of fun and sparkling nightlife. Visit the famous Strip, with its lavish hotels and casinos offering 24-hour entertainment. It has to be seen – and experienced – to be believed.

This evening, enjoy some free time in Las Vegas – there are plenty of star-studded shows to choose from, or you could try your luck in one of the casinos.

Day 10: Selma
Today, you will be following in the footsteps of the early settlers as we drive through the arid landscape of the Mojave Desert, before crossing the border back into California for an overnight stay in Selma.

Day 11: Yosemite National Park
Today you’ll travel north to the vast Yosemite National Park, with its abundance of waterfalls, lakes and dramatic mountain peaks. We will stop for lunch in the park before travelling on to San Francisco for a two-night stay.

Day 12: San Francisco
San Francisco, the ‘city by the bay’, is one of the world’s most beautiful cities. Home of the Golden Gate Bridge, street cable cars and the buzzing Fisherman’s Wharf waterfront, it is a cosmopolitan city with a distinctly European flavour.

This morning, you will cross the Golden Gate Bridge and take in the breathtaking view from the city’s Twin Peaks, before visiting a host of other attractions including Golden Gate Park and Chinatown.

There’s plenty of time for shopping, too. San Francisco boasts an array of fantastic shopping destinations, including a branch of Macy’s that is a whole block in size. And of course, the famous cable cars are a great way of exploring the city.

Day 13: San Francisco/Honolulu
You will be transferred from your hotel to the airport for a flight to Honolulu on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. On arrival, transfer to your hotel, where you will stay for six nights.

During your stay we include a city tour including a visit to Pearl Harbour, where you’ll see a film about the events leading up to the Japanese attack during the Second World War before visiting the museum.

Days 14 – 18: Oahu
You are free to relax and enjoy the beautiful island of Oahu. While you are here there will be a selection of optional excursions available (at extra cost). These will include:

Royal Circle island tour
This is the perfect way to explore the beautiful scenery and highlights of Oahu. You will be taken to Diamond Head Crater where you can admire the view before moving on to Hanauma Bay, where you’ll discover the North Shore surfing beaches and exotic pineapple and sugarcane fields. This full-day tour also includes an escorted walk through tropical gardens, a stop at the Macadamia Nut Hut, where you will be able to sample the produce, and a visit to a magnificent fish pond.

Polynesian Cultural Center
You can tailor your full-day visit to this fascinating cultural centre by choosing one of the following options:

Explore the island villages at your own pace, enjoy the IMAX theatre where you can learn about the “Ha Breath of Life” show and join a virtual canoe and tram tour. There are plenty of restaurants and snack bars in which you can dine before the show commences.

Alternatively, you can choose to experience a traditional meal by joining the Ali’l Luau tour, where you will witness the uncovering of the traditional ‘imu’ underground oven where a kalua pua’a (roast pig) will have been cooking for most of the day. You will be served a sumptuous feast and enjoy preferential seating for “Ha Breath of Life” – a show which incorporates dance, music and spectacular special effects.

Paradise Cove Luau
This truly cultural evening begins with a traditional Mai Tai greeting and live Hawaiian music. You will then enjoy a stroll through the traditional village where you can admire the locals’ arts and crafts skills. You may even get the chance to have a go at some Hawaiian games.

Your excursion includes a “hukilau on the beach”, where you will observe traditional net fishing techniques, witness the pageantry of the Royal Court Procession and experience imu underground cooking. The highlight of your evening will be a feast of Hawaiian dishes, local specialities and continental cuisine.

Navatek sunset buffet dinner cruise
Watch the sun set while dining at sea on the sleek and modern vessel, Navatek I, whose hi-tech equipment guarantees guests a smooth cruise.

Your route takes you along Waikiki Beach and beyond Diamond Head to the hidden shores of the Kahala Coastline – home to Hawaii’s rich and famous. You will dine in the ocean-themed Blue Hawaii room with an accompaniment of Hawaiian and contemporary music. After dinner, enjoy music and dancing late into the evening.

Volcano tour and lava walk – full-day tour
This exciting day of exploration is a real adventure, allowing you to see nature at work. A picturesque ride gives way to the vistas of dormant volcanoes, lava beds, steam vents and craters. You will hear the legends of Pele, ancient Hawaiian goddess of the volcano, who settled in the crater of Halemaumau at the summit of Kilauea. You will also visit the many wonders of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, such as Rainbow Falls State Park, Mauna Loa Mac Nut Factory, Kalapana Black Sand Beach, Chain of Craters Road, Devastation Trail/Lava Tube, Kilauea Iki Overlook and the Jaggar Museum. Please note: Route may be modified due to National Park advisories.

Day 19: San Francisco or Los Angeles/UK
Today you’ll transfer to the airport for your flight back to the UK via San Francisco or Los Angeles.

Please note

Accommodation throughout is in hotels of a comfortable standard, typical of the hotels you will stay in are:

Best Western Carriage Inn in Los Angeles
Sheraton Mission Valley in San Diego
Hospitality Suite Resort in Scottsdale
Radisson Woodlands Hotel in Flagstaff
Stratosphere Hotel in Las Vegas
Swan Court Hotel in Selma
Radisson Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco
Guest rooms feature en suite facilities, air conditioning, TV and telephone. There is a restaurant and bar in most locations, and often extra facilities, such as a swimming pool and shop. The Stratosphere Hotel in Las Vegas features its own cabaret, casino, restaurants, bars, shops and its ‘Top of the World’ restaurant 800ft above the Strip.

For your Hawaii add-on, you will stay in the comfortable:

Miramar Hotel or similar on the island of Oahu
Situated within easy walking distance of Waikiki Beach, the hotel features a choice of restaurants, bar, fitness centre, swimming pool and a range of shops. Guest rooms feature air conditioning, en suite facilities, hairdryer, coffee-maker, TV and safe.

Hotels will be confirmed in your final documentation.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Included excursions and visits

San Diego city tour (half day)
Grand Canyon (full day)
Yosemite National Park
San Francisco sightseeing tour (half day)
A traditional lei greeting
City tour including Pearl Harbor

Optional excursions

Los Angeles city tour (half day)
Santa Monica and Venice Beach
Universal Studios, Los Angeles
San Diego bay cruise
Rustler’s Rooste dinner
Red Rock Jeep ride
Grand Canyon flight
Las Vegas night tour
San Francisco bay cruise
San Francisco night tour with dinner

Your holiday includes

Scheduled flights
Overseas transfers and other transportation
18 nights’ accommodation on a room-only basis
The services of a Travelsphere Tour Manager and Local Guides (main tour)
Services of a local representative in Hawaii
Hotel porterage (one bag per person)
All airport taxes and security charges
UK Airline Passenger Duty
All state and local taxes

With 50 years’ experience in arranging escorted tours to exciting destinations across the globe, Travelsphere have built an excellent reputation founded on quality and value.

By choosing a Travelsphere escorted holiday you can travel with confidence, knowing that every aspect of your holiday has been carefully planned and arranged from start to finish. Further to this they are ATOL bonded and members of ABTA.

Travelsphere’s thorough planning of travel arrangements, itineraries and accommodation combined with the unique insight of their knowledgeable Tour Managers and Local Guides will enable you to experience the culture, traditions and hidden away places less accessible to other travellers.

Our Opinion
“Travelsphere are one of the biggest names in the Escorted Tour market. Finely tuned over the last 50 years their tours have been tried, tested and refined by thousands of customers.”