Day : 1
Arrive Los Angeles
Number of Days : 1
Welcome to Los Angeles, the City of Angels. Get acclimated and relax at your hotel, located in the heart of the famous Sunset Strip, or explore on your own. At 6 p.m. meet your Travel Director and travelling companions for a Welcome Reception at your hotel. Welcome Reception
Day : 2
Los Angeles – Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks (2 Nights)
Number of Days : 1
Head north through the Los Padres National Forest and the agriculturally rich San Joaquin Valley. Join the Majestic Mountain Loop, linking Sequoia, Kings Canyon and Yosemite National Parks. Ascend the spectacular Sierra Nevadas toward Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, a stunning area near the southern end of California's famous mountain range. Today, these two National Parks protect nearly half of the remaining sequoias in the world. . Stop at the Kings Canyon Visitor Center and stretch your legs on a short hike to the General Grant Tree, the second largest tree in the world. Arrive at Wuksachi Lodge, a beautiful property crafted of cedar and stone, offering wonderful views of the forest and Sierra Nevada peaks. This evening, after dinner, immerse yourself at a star gazing program as a naturalist and Local Specialist guides you through the star spangled sky, far away from the city lights. Full Breakfast, Dinner
Day : 3
Sequoia National Park Excursion
Number of Days : 1
Explore this "Land of Giants" further with a walk along the General Sherman Tree Loop trail which culminates at the base of the General Sherman Tree-the world's largest living thing, estimated to be over 2,200 years old.Stop at the Giant Forest Museum, where you learn about the history and ecology of the giant sequoias and enjoy a short movie presentation the giant sequoia ecology and fire inside the replica of a burned-out giant sequoia. Walk the Big Trees Trail while enjoying the fresh air of the giant redwood forest. Use the park's complimentary shuttle system to explore further on your own. Perhaps climb up Moro Rock, a massive granite formation right in the center of Sequoia National Park. Old West grilling doesn't get any more authentic than at lunch today as you enjoy an alfresco, all-you-can-eat barbecue and Regional Meal in beautiful Wolverton Meadow while a living-history re-enactor, a Local Specialist, tells stories of early life in the mountains. The rest of the day is yours to explore at your own pace. Full Breakfast, Regional Meal
Day : 4
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks – Yosemite National Park
Number of Days : 1
Continue along the Majestic Mountain Loop, winding through groves upon groves of majestic sequoias. Stop at Kings Canyon Lookout for a bird's eye view of the canyon. Later, enter Yosemite National Park, one of the crown jewels in the National Park system, and stop at one of the most photographed vistas in the world. It provides a panoramic view of Yosemite Valley, including El Capitan, Half Dome, Sentinel Rock, Cathedral Rocks, and Bridal Veil Falls. Your accommodation tonight is at the Yosemite Valley Lodge, located inside the National Park, giving you more time to enjoy the park when the day visitors have left. Full Breakfast
Day : 5
Yosemite National Park – Mammoth Lakes (2 Nights)
Number of Days : 1
Discover the natural wonders of Yosemite National Park aboard a special open-air vehicle, with opportunities to explore on foot. Led by a Park Ranger and Local Specialist, you'll get to see all of the valley highlights, as you learn about the natural history, indigenous peoples, the first non-indigenous settlers, flora and the fauna throughout the park. As you prepare to leave Yosemite, drive past Tenaya Lake and Tuolumne Meadows and travel across the Tioga Pass. Heading south, you now drive on the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and arrive in Mammoth Lakes late in the afternoon. Full Breakfast, Dinner
Day : 6
Mammoth Lakes and Devils Postpile Sightseeing and Free Time
Number of Days : 1
Enjoy a full day in Mammoth Lakes, California's premier mountain resort. The Sierra Nevada Mountain Range offers some of the most spectacular scenery in the world and Mammoth Lakes is right in the heart of it all. See for yourself with a ride up the Scenic Gondola to the top of Mammoth Mountain, where you'll enjoy 360-degree views of the Sierras. Next is Devils Postpile National Historic Monument, resembling a tidy 60 foot (18 metre) tall lumber pile created by giants. Continue on a short trail down to Rainbow Falls and indulge in the beauty that this area has to offer. The rest of the day is yours to do as you please-explore the town, go hiking, or relax by the swimming pool at your superb resort. Full Breakfast
Day : 7
Mammoth Lakes – Death Valley National Park – Las Vegas
Number of Days : 1
Today, discover North America's lowest, hottest and driest point as you enter Death Valley National Park, the largest National Park in the contiguous United States. Learn about the valley's unique geological features, and enjoy sweeping views of desert gorges, striking peaks, and miles of sand dunes as your Travel Director shares fascinating facts about the area's unique history and intriguing weather patterns. See if you can spot wild burros, bighorn sheep or lizard while taking in the views. After lunch at the historic Inn at Furnace Creek Resort, dip 282 feet (86 metres) below sea level at the Badwater Basin, the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere. No putter required at Devil's Golf Course-a massive saltpan of jagged spires-where "only the devil could play golf on such rough links." Enjoy scenic views at Zabriskie Point over the inferno that is Death Valley and continue through the desert to arrive at the self-proclaimed "Entertainment Capital of the World", Las Vegas. Tonight, join your Travel Director and newfound friends for a Farewell Dinner.Full Breakfast, Lunch, Farewell Dinner
Day : 8
Depart Las Vegas
Number of Days : 1
Today a transfer is provided to McCarran International Airport; or perhaps extend your stay in Las Vegas, or choose to connect with our popular The Trailblazer program on selected departures.Full Breakfast
