California Split

We depart on our flight for San Diego. Upon arrival we are met and transferred to our centrally located hotel.

A full day tour of San Diego and the surrounding area, which will take in Point Loma, Cabrillo National Monument, Mission Bay, Balboa Park and the Old Town. Dinner this evening is at a local restaurant.

This morning we hop on the trolley in Old Town and ride down to the waterfront, where we board a narrated cruise on one of the local pleasure crafts touring San Diego Harbour and Shelter Island. On the cruise we will see Point Loma, North Island Naval Station, the Submarine Base, as well as the Coronado Bridge and much more.

At leisure, and there is much to see and do, especially since your hotel is located in Old Town. With an included trolley pass for the next two days, you may want to take the trolley across the border to Tijuana, for an authentic Mexican experience.

This morning we visit the world famous San Diego Zoo, with its renowned 100-acre botanical gardens which is home to more than 777 species of 3,200 animals. A guided bus tour covers most of the zoo grounds and aerial trams allow you to view the animals from a higher altitude. The zoo is classified as a must-see, and one of the world’s finest.

You may want to return to Balboa Park's art galleries, museums, theatres and restaurants, or Seaport Village - a charming area with a boardwalk, horse-drawn carriages and an 1890 carousel.

We leave San Diego, and make our first stop and visit in the quaint historic town of Temecula. The town is in an area known as “Southern California’s Citrus and Wine Country”, as there have been hundreds of award-winning wines produced by the 35 wineries in the area. After some free time in town we’ll visit a winery for a Tour and Tasting, as well as a picnic lunch. After our visit we proceed to Palm Springs.

On our morning guided orientation tour we experience the world of the ‘rich and famous’. Relive Hollywood’s golden era as you pass by the former homes of such stars as Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, Clark Gable, Bob Hope, Liberace and Frank Sinatra, to name a few. We’ll also enjoy a casual nature hike into the famous Indian Canyon - a lush oasis located within desert scenery. Since the Coachella Valley here is known as the Date Capital, later we will visit a Date Garden!

A morning at leisure to enjoy the spa, shop in town, take a swim in the heated pools or just relax. In the afternoon we’ll enjoy an entertaining performance at one of the local theatres, followed by dinner at a local restaurant.

Another free day to enjoy Palm Springs. One evening per week there is a weekly colourful street fair with craft stalls and food stands.

We visit the Living Desert Museum, where we will enjoy a guided tram tour through this unique wildlife and botanical park. Lunch included today.

Today we visit the stunning Joshua Tree National Park - a veritable treasury of wildlife and plants. The wildflowers, palm groves, colourful canyons, surreal geological features and breathtaking vistas make this one of the world’s richest living museums. Lunch is included.

A final day at leisure in Palm Springs.

As we leave behind the desert and mountain scenery, a spectacle of over 4,000 windmills appears in the San Gorgonio Mountain Pass. These windmills provide enough electricity to power Palm Springs and the entire Coachella Valley. Upon arrival in Los Angeles we will have some free time at the Farmer’s Market prior to our city tour. We’ll pass by famous sights Rodeo Drive, Sunset Strip, Beverly Hills, Hollywood and more. Our walking tour will take us into the heart of Hollywood to see the famous celebrity hand and foot prints on the Walk of Fame, and also Awards Walk - home to the Academy Awards. Tonight is our Farewell Dinner!

It's a sad farewell to the West Coast as we transfer to the airport for our flight home.