This trip traverses the wild landscapes of California, Utah and Arizona. It includes time in Yosemite, Zion and Bryce National Parks and the magnificent Grand Canyon. Certain 'Yosemite & Grand Canyon' departures will be accommodated in hotels rather than camping. The route will be restaged to allow for this as detailed below; the main highlights remain the same.

San Francisco & Lakes Area
Pausing to enjoy the vibrant atmosphere and sites of San Francisco, we absorb the rich cultural mix and breathe in the fresh bay air, before heading east toward the Sierra Nevada.

Yosemite & Death Valley
Reaching Yosemite, we'll explore its rushing rivers and scented forests on foot. Here we find the sheer granite slabs of El Capitan and Half Dome - nearly vertical and rising 1219m above the valley floor. We'll see a forest sanctuary where giant Sequoias are preserved. Next we visit Bodie, a ghost town from the Gold Rush period, before driving south in the shadow of the Sierra Nevada. Crossing the barren landscapes of Death Valley we head for the surreal and flamboyant city of Las Vegas.

Zion, Bryce & Grand Canyon
We'll hike beneath the cathedral-like cliffs of Zion National Park and through the eroded moonscape of Bryce Canyon. We explore Arches and Canyonlands National Parks before visiting the Navajo Reservation area to see the sandstone buttes of Monument Valley. We'll also spend time at the Grand Canyon in awe of the vast size of this wondrous chasm, created millions of years ago by the turbulent Colorado river. Finishing our journey, we drive via Joshua Tree National Park to Los Angeles.

Itinerary:

Day 1 Join San Francisco. 2 San Francisco. 3 to 5 Yosemite NP. 6 Sonora. 7 Lone Pine. 8 Las Vegas. 9 & 10 Springdale (Zion). 11 Bryce Canyon. 12 & 13 Moab. 14 Kayenta. 15 Grand Canyon. 16 Williams. 17 Laughlin. 18 & 19 Los Angeles. 20 End Los Angeles.

Accommodation: 19nts hotel.
Transport: Maxi-wagon/On foot.
Comment: A hotel based adventure into the great outdoors. Some activities are demanding but these are optional.
Group: Approx. 9 to 12.
Staff: Explore Tour Leader plus driver.
Trip Reference: YSH