Today, the time has come for you to travel to the United States. After arriving, you pick up your luggage and pass through immigration. In the arrivals hall, follow the signs for your preferred mode of transport into the centre of San Francisco, where you’ll be staying. It’s up to you how you get to the hotel, but there are many easy options. You might want to take the train that departs from the terminal or take an Uber/Lyft or a regular taxi.

After check-in at your hotel, you have the rest of the day to yourself. It’s up to you whether you want to relax after the long journey, or whether you want to head into town for a bite to eat at one of the many local restaurants.

Frisco, San Fran, Fog City… there are many different names for it, and today you’ll be visiting what is perhaps the world’s most charming metropolis, San Francisco. Well-preserved town houses line the city’s steep hills beautifully, providing the finest backdrop for a city where you really feel a sense of history.

Today, you can look forward to a hair-raising encounter with the world-famous prison, Alcatraz, which from 1934–1963 housed America’s most hardened criminals, including the gangster Al Capone. Today, the prison is a popular museum which you can explore at your own pace with headphones on, while former inmates talk about their time on the prison island. It is up to you how long you spend here, but you should set aside 3–4 hours including sailing to and from the island (the start time appears on your voucher.)

To make the most of your time and to make it easy for you, we’ve included a Hop-On Hop-Off bus that stops at all the popular spots in the city, which you can use for the next few days. You activate the ticket at the starting point at 99 Jefferson Street, and the bus operates from morning to late afternoon.

Don’t miss out on a trip over the Golden Gate Bridge, where you can enjoy the unforgettable sight of the iconic red bridge and the city’s rooftops in the background.

You can also look forward to visiting the city’s distinctive areas such as the iconic Victorian, pastel-coloured houses of Alamo Square, a stroll through the beautiful Golden Gate Park or a look at the famous sea lions fighting for space at Pier 39.

Today, you’re free to explore the city on your own.

We highly recommend that you allow time for a tour of San Francisco’s Chinatown, one of the world’s oldest and largest outside of Asia. Or rent a bike and enjoy a beautiful ride along the waterfront with views of the Golden Gate and Alcatraz. If you are up for a trip high up, you can cross the Golden Gate Bridge and possibly take the ferry back from Sausalito. The biggest choice of bike rental companies can be found around Fisherman’s Wharf.

If you want to taste local produce, visit the charming indoor market Ghirardelli, which is right on San Francisco Bay. Here, you will also find the turning point for the Powell/Hyde Cable Car, which has been conveying people gently up and down the city’s steep hills since 1878.

Again today, you can use your Hop-On Hop-Off bus ticket and explore the places you didn’t get to yesterday or go on one of the exciting excursions you’ll find below.

The time has come to leave San Fran. After breakfast, you’ll pick up your rental car, which is located a short distance from the hotel (details appear on your voucher).

Your Californian “road trip” is starting in earnest, and the first stop will be one of the most unforgettable: Yosemite National Park.

Glacier-sculpted mountains tower on the horizon, while the icy, rushing Merced River cuts scenically through Yosemite Valley.

The park extends over an area of more than 3,000 km2 and offers a host of special nature experiences. Waterfalls, giant trees and fir cones, as well as hikes in unique surroundings await you here. And you might be lucky enough to see one of the insect- and berry-eating black bears, which are quite wary of humans and prefer to stay far away from busy areas. However, it is more common to see deer in the valley.

There are hiking trails of every level of difficulty, and it’s a good idea to seek advice about suitable routes in the park’s Visitor Center.

The day’s mileage: approx. 300 km

There is an option to upgrade your rental car. Get in touch with your travel specialist if you want more information.

Reservations are required to enter Yosemite National Park on selected dates – especially in high season. As places are limited, you should make your reservation as soon as possible. Follow the instructions here.

Today, even more vantage points await you, and you set the pace.

In the summer months, when the snow has melted, Glacier Point is one of the vantage points you simply mustn’t miss. You can drive up here by car and you can also book a bus trip here (booked at the park on a first-come, first-served basis). If you’re up for a hike from the vantage point, you can also take a shuttle up and hike down via the Four-Mile-Trail. From Glacier Point, you’ll also enjoy a very unique sunset – the moment when the sun casts an orange glow on the massive Half Dome mountain.

You might also consider taking the car to one of the most stunning vantage points in the park, Tunnel View, from which you have a view of Yosemite Valley, Bridalveil Falls and the famous mountains El Capitan and Half Dome.

It is also possible to rent a bicycle in Yosemite Valley, so you can cycle around to all the nice places in the valley itself. A good place to enjoy a snack is by the small stretch of sand at the Sentinel Beach Picnic Area, overlooking Bridalveil Falls.

Today, it’s time to leave Yosemite National Park and head back to the coast. But in the US, driving is rarely just getting from A-B. There’s always something to see along the way, and today is no exception.

When you leave your hotel, you should set the GPS to drive via Mariposa Grove, a grove with some of the world’s largest trees, the giant Sequoia trees, which are easy to get to via the established paths. You’ll feel really small here among the enormous trunks, and not least at the California Tunnel Tree, which you can actually walk through.

When you arrive in Monterey later in the day, you’ll probably want to visit the city’s port area, which was originally the headquarters of the country’s leading sardine industry. Today, there are fine, restored sardine factories and fishermen’s houses, which have been converted into cafés, restaurants and small shops, where you can buy everything from salt, cheese and coffee to ceramics and paintings.

We recommend starting at the Old Fisherman’s Wharf, where a “shrimp dog” is a local classic to satisfy light hunger. From here, you can follow the path along the waterfront to Monterey Harbor. You end up at the popular Cannery Row, the main street made famous by author John Steinbeck’s work of the same name.

End the day with a superb clam chowder right on the waterfront overlooking the pelicans diving for dinner right there in Monterey Bay.

During the summer months, you can use the free shuttle bus service that runs between Fisherman’s Wharf, Cannery Row and Monterey Bay Aquarium.

The day’s mileage: approx. 300 km

Highway 1 – also called the world’s most picturesque stretch of coast – is precisely what you should spend the day on. Fill up the car and have some snacks with you, so you can enjoy the day at a leisurely pace and make the stops you want to along the way. And there are quite a few of them.

The rugged California coastline is home to a multitude of animal species, and it is not uncommon to spot otters, dolphins, eagles, pelicans and even zebras. And although it might sound strange to find zebras here, it is nevertheless true. They belong to the tycoon’s estate, Hearst Castle, located in the small town of San Simeon and can be spotted from the road when you drive by. San Simeon is also known for its enormous elephant seals, which fight and roar at the water’s edge on San Simeon State Beach.

One of the hidden gems on the route is undoubtedly the small city of Morro Bay. The quiet life is lived here by the sea, and the city has an eternal view of the beautiful volcanic rock formation in the bay, Morro Rock. If you fancy stretching your legs, you can drive out to the rock and take a walk around it.

Shortly before arriving in Santa Barbara, you’ll pass the Santa Ynez Valley, where the so-called “Danish city” of Solvang is located. Windmills, thatched houses, clogs and confectioners are a common feature of the city. In Santa Ynez Valley, you’ll also find a large number of wineries, which are worth visiting if you’d like to take a bottle of the local Californian grapes home with you.

The last stop of the day is beautiful Santa Barbara, known for its Spanish-inspired houses, white sandy beaches and cosy downtown with shops and restaurants around State Street. This is the perfect place to end the day with a good dinner.

The day’s mileage: approx. 370 km

If you’d like a shorter driving day, you can spend the night in Morro Bay, Pismo Beach or Solvang instead. Ask your travel specialist about your options.

Your route is not that long today, so you have most of the day to explore. Start the morning in beautiful Santa Barbara with a walk along the waterfront, from which you might like to go kayaking or do like the locals do and jump on a paddle board.

On your way to Los Angeles, there’s plenty of opportunity to jump into the Pacific Ocean at one of the many beaches you pass on today’s route. Carpinteria and Malibu Beach are two of the popular beaches worth a mention.

The day’s mileage: approx. 160 km

You wake up in the City of Angels itself, as Los Angeles is also called. A big city with a lot to see – and large distances. Much of the city’s identity stems from the film industry, which flourished at the beginning of the 20th century, putting Hollywood on the map.

Gone are the glamorous feather boas and cigarette holders of old, but Hollywood is still considered the centre for “showbiz” celebrities, and you might be lucky enough to spot one of them on this morning’s guided tour.

You show up at the agreed place (details appear on your voucher), and from here a 2-hour tour in an “open” minibus awaits. Lean back in your seat with the wind in your hair and enjoy all the good Hollywood stories. On the way, you’ll pass sights such as the Hollywood sign, the Walk of Fame, Rodeo Drive and Sunset Blvd. as well as the homes of several celebrities. You can also look forward to spectacular views of the city when you drive along Mulholland Drive, which has been used for several “kissing scenes” in major Hollywood films.

At the end of the tour, the rest of the day is yours to do as you please.

You might like to head to Venice Beach, a gathering place for many different types of people, art, cafés and restaurants. Following on from here is Santa Monica with its funfair on the beach and a cosy, car-free shopping area at the Third Street Promenade.

We also recommend dropping by one of the city’s landmarks, Griffith Observatory, where you can both visit the observatory and enjoy the view over the city.

There are no activities planned for today, but what could be more perfect than taking a look “behind the scenes” in the film studios? You can purchase a ticket for either Warner Bros. or Universal Studios. At both places, you’ll gain an insight into the set-up and making of the films you might once have eaten popcorn to at the cinema. Below you can see what the different parks have to offer.

If art is more your thing, we recommend a visit to the Getty Center – a museum with an impressive collection of art from the Middle Ages to the present day. The architecture of the place is an equally important part of the visit here, and from the café, you’ll enjoy a unique panoramic view of the city.

Today, you’ll be setting course for San Diego, where the last part of your Californian adventure will take place. There are no planned activities for today other than the drive, which gives you the opportunity to turn onto the last stretch of the scenic Highway 1. You’ll see some of California’s most expensive, waterfront properties overlooking the Pacific Ocean here, and, not least, see the many surfers patiently waiting in the sea for the next good wave.

It’s up to you whether you want to drive straight to the hotel and relax, or whether you want to start exploring the city today.

San Diego is truly unique, a “beach town” where the pace is slow – the ideal place for days offering a good combination of relaxation and plenty of options for small excursions.

San Diego borders Mexico, and the Mexican roots are very much in evidence in the city. The city is a veritable melting pot of cultures, metropolis, history and nature, and offers a multitude of environments and atmospheres worth experiencing. The city’s charm and calm pace will leave you with the feeling that the good life is being lived here.

The day’s mileage: approx. 190 km

The next two days are yours to do as you please. It’s up to you whether you do as the locals do and hang out by the sea, or whether you head out and discover what the city has to offer.

San Diego is known particularly for life around the sea and Mission Bay. It’s nothing less than fantastic to rent a bike and follow the boardwalk along the waterfront at a leisurely pace and continue around the bay. Around the bay, there are small cafés and restaurants, making it the perfect place to enjoy a relaxing moment with the view of water and people watching.

The city offers a whole host of exciting attractions. Be inspired or purchase one of our add-on tours below.

Popular stops include the district of La Jolla, which is known for its beautiful beach around La Jolla Cove, where surfers, swimmers and sea lions share the space.

At San Diego harbour, you can visit the aircraft carrier USS Midway, a popular museum that provides an insight into life aboard an aircraft carrier, and where you can experience fighter planes at close quarters. There is also an F-16 simulator here if you want to live out your dream of becoming pilot.

You could also visit the Mexican district, Old Town, or embark on the many dishes found in the cosy restaurant areas of Little Italy and the Gaslamp Quarter.

From Coronado Island, you can enjoy the most beautiful view of San Diego Downtown, and the cosy peninsula is, among other things, known for its beautiful beaches and the historic Hotel Del Coronado, which has been used in movies starring celebrities such as Marilyn Monroe.

If you’re into shopping, you might consider Las Americas Premium Outlets, from which you can see over the border into Mexico.

Today, it’s time to head back home. You check out of the hotel and drive to the airport in San Diego, depending on what time your flight is. On your car rental voucher, it states exactly where and when the car must be returned at the latest. The process is straightforward, and you can then take your luggage into the airport. You then fly back to Europe, with connecting flight(s) on the way.

If you’ve opted to extend your stay to include either a beach holiday or a visit to an American city, you’ll continue to the chosen destination.

The day’s mileage: approx. 11 km

You land at the airport of your choice after an adventure-packed tour.