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California's Great National Parks

Operated by: Trafalgar

8 Days from $3,565 per person
MAY - OCT 2023
Californias Great National Parks

Countries Visited

United States ...more United States

Locations Visited

Las Vegas, Death Valley, Mammoth Lakes, Yosemite National Park, Sequoia National Park, Los Angeles ...more Las Vegas, Death Valley, Mammoth Lakes, Yosemite National Park, Sequoia National Park, Los Angeles
  1. Day 1 Soar Above the Neon Lights of Vegas

    Begin your exploration in Las Vegas. This evening, meet your Travel Director and fellow travellers for a Welcome Reception at The LINQ before you head out to the Las Vegas Strip. In the evening you will find yourself soaring 550 feet above the center of the Las Vegas Strip on the High Roller, the world’s tallest observation wheel.

    meals Welcome Reception
    hotel Horseshoe Las Vegas
  2. Day 2 Travel Through Stoic Death Valley National Park

    Immerse yourself in the solitude and desolation of Death Valley—UNESCO World Heritage Site and barren, yet unexpectedly lively land of extremes which we will have an opportunity to explore for part of today. Admire scenic views of the undulating rocky landscape at Zabriskie Point and learn about the valley's unique geological features, history and intriguing weather patterns. Descend below sea level to the Badwater Basin. After lunch at 1849 Restaurant at The Ranch at Death Valley, we continue through the desert landscape of Death Valley ascending to Mammoth Lakes, our home for the night.

    meals Breakfast, Lunch
    hotel Mammoth Mountain Inn
  3. Day 3 Dine in the Clouds at Mammoth Mountain Stays With Stories

    Take a scenic Gondola ride to the peak of Mammoth Mountain (seasonal) and enjoy the stunning views while you enjoy a tasty breakfast. Take advantage of a photo stop for your first peek at the bright blue waters of June Lake at June Lake Overlook before a scenic drive on the June Lake Loop. The alpine scenery of Aspens and willows is a feast for the eyes along this winding road before lunch at Lee Vining. Touch the clouds through the Tioga Pass (seasonal) and enter the UNESCO-listed Yosemite National Park. Driving past Tenaya Lake and Tuolumne Meadows, journey to Yosemite Valley. Our Stays With Stories accommodation tonight includes a cosy lodge atmosphere and is located just a stone’s throw from Yosemite Falls.

    meals Breakfast
    hotel Yosemite Valley Lodge
  4. Day 4 Stroll or Hike in Yosemite Make Travel Matter

    Explore Yosemite National Park, famed for its ancient sequoia trees, grand meadows and iconic rock formations. Enjoy a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience as you meet a naturalist through the Yosemite Conservancy who will delve into the dynamic history of climbing in Yosemite, sharing fascinating stories, photographs, demonstrations and a look at climbing gear. Learn about the science behind the emotions climbers feel when inching up a wall. Afterwards, you can explore Yosemite Valley's El Capitan, Cathedral Rocks or Bridalveil Falls at your leisure. The rest of the day is yours in Yosemite where the possibilities are endless.

    meals Breakfast, Dinner
    hotel Yosemite Valley Lodge
  5. Day 5 Enjoy the Night Sky Under Sequoias and Stars Stays With Stories Make Travel Matter

    After departing Yosemite, stretch your legs in Kings Canyon National Park and gaze towards the sky as you greet the giant boughs of General Grant Tree. Enjoy a bird’s-eye view of Kings Canyon before you continue along the Majestic Mountain Loop. Towering redwood trunks frame your journey to Sequoia National Park where we’ll spend the night in our Stays With Stories accommodation surrounded by forest and soaring Sierra peaks. Enjoy a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience and spend the evening gazing upwards at the star-spangled sky as a local naturalist guides you through the constellations.

    meals Breakfast
    hotel Wuksachi Lodge
  6. Day 6 Meet the World's Largest Living Tree Dive Into Culture

    Tread in the footsteps of giants, walking beneath the soaring sequoia canopy to see first-hand the world’s largest living tree, General Sherman. Learn about the Giant Forest and its history during a stop at the Giant Forest Museum, then enjoy a leisurely walk along the Big Trees Trail, connecting with the invigorating natural surroundings before meeting up with a Local Specialist and Old West pioneer reenactor for an insightful lunch. Spend the rest of the afternoon exploring the park on your terms, using the complimentary shuttle system (seasonal).

    meals Breakfast, Lunch
    hotel Wuksachi Lodge
  7. Day 7 Get a Taste of Hollywood

    Discover local secrets stopping at McKellar Family Farms for a fun and enlightening Be My Guest experience. Meet Bob McKellar for a private tractor-pulled wagon tour and hear stories of the land's development before your farm-to-table lunch. Next, travel to Los Angeles where you'll enjoy a visit to Hollywood, the entertainment capital. As our encounter with California’s epic natural beauty comes to an end, join your Travel Director and newfound friends for a Farewell Dinner.

    meals Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
    hotel Beverly Hills Marriott
  8. Day 8 Farewell California

    After our tremendous journey through California's national parks, the time has come for us to say goodbye. Prepare to leave Los Angeles International Airport or consider extending your stay.

    meals Breakfast
Californias Great National Parks Guided Tour Map
Price Includes

Whats Included

  • An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
  • Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
  • All porterage and restaurant gratuities
  • All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
  • Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
  • Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
  • Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
  • All transport and transfers shown
  • Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
  • Optional Experiences and free time

Dining Summary

  • 1 Welcome Reception (WR)
  • 7 Breakfast (B)
  • 3 Lunch (L)
  • 2 Dinner (D)

Be My Guest

  • Fresno: Visit McKellar Farm for an insider experience with farmer Bob McKellar. Bob will take you on a private, tractor pulled wagon tour of the farm followed by a fascinating Q and A session. Cap off your visit with a farm-to-table lunch, where you will learn how the farm was started by Bob’s family members in 1927 and has grown a variety of produce, including Thompson grapes, olives, oranges, and mandarins.

Dive Into Culture

  • Sequoia National Park: Immerse yourself in the pioneer history of the Old West, joining a living-history reenactor and Local Specialist for a barbecue lunch and stories of early life in the mountains.

Iconic Experience

  • Las Vegas: Get a glimpse of Las Vegas from the sky as you hop on the High Roller, North America's tallest observation wheel standing 550 feet tall. The 30-minute ride offers breathtaking, 360-degree views of the glittering lights and neon of the Strip below.
  • Death Valley: You’ll truly feel the solitude and vastness of Death Valley today as you head out on a guided tour of the park’s most famous sites. You’ll discover the unique geological features of Death Valley, a land of sand dunes and volcanic craters, intriguing weather-patterns, and the highest-recorded temperatures in the United States.
  • Mammoth Lakes: Ascend Mammoth Mountain by gondola and enjoy the stunning views over a tasty breakfast.

MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®

  • Yosemite National Park: Meet a climber and naturalist that will delve into the dynamic history of climbing in Yosemite. Enjoy storytelling, photographs, see the old and new climbing gear, as well as ask questions about how they help improve trails, restore habitat, protect wildlife, and inspire the next generation of nature-lovers, and more.
  • Sequoia National Park: Meet your Local Specialist and enjoy stories and the latest astronomical news under one of California's most brilliant skies. The Milky Way galaxy spills out across the broad Sequoia sky, an explosion of stars, planets and infinite questions. Spend the hour touring constellations, galaxies, planets, and the history of human space and exploration.

Must-see Highlights

  • : Visit Yosemite National Park, Sequoia National Park, Kings Canyon National Park, Mammoth Lakes, Death Valley National Park, Giant Forest Museum, McKellar Family Farms
  • : View Zabriskie Point and Badwater Basin in Death Valley National Park, General Grant Tree in Kings Canyon National Park, General Sherman Tree in Sequoia National Park
  • : See El Capitain, Half Dome, Bridalveil Falls
  • : Scenic Drive Along Tioga Pass
  • : Tickets Included Mammoth Mountain Scenic Gondola

Trafalgar Difference

  • Yosemite National Park: Stay at the Yosemite Valley Lodge located close to Yosemite Falls in the middle of the national park.
  • Sequoia National Park: The Wuksachi Lodge in the heart of Sequoia National Park surrounded by forest and soaring Sierra peaks.

Whats Included

  • : An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
  • : Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
  • : All porterage and restaurant gratuities
  • : All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
  • : Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
  • : Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
  • : Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
  • : All transport and transfers shown
  • : Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
  • : Optional Experiences and free time

Dates & Prices

Prices shown are per person based on two people sharing a twin room. To request a personalized travel quote, click "Request Quote" and a Travel Specialist will send your custom quote including airfare if requested.

Online Booking Process

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September 2023
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Sep 23 Sat
Sep 30 Sat
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Guaranteed Departure This departure is guaranteed
DOUBLE OCCUPANCY PRICE/PERSON
$3,892
AARP Members Save up to $100
Sep 30 Sat
Oct 7 Sat
AARP Members Save up to $100
Guaranteed Departure This departure is guaranteed
DOUBLE OCCUPANCY PRICE/PERSON
$3,892
October 2023
AARP Members Save up to $100
Oct 7 Sat
Oct 14 Sat
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DOUBLE OCCUPANCY PRICE/PERSON
$3,667
AARP Members Save up to $100
Oct 14 Sat
Oct 21 Sat
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DOUBLE OCCUPANCY PRICE/PERSON
$3,565
Reviews
Service
Vacation
Independent Reviews
Lesline Wildman
Review date: Monday, October 10, 2022
Service
yes, they were always helpful&kiind
Response from Grand European Travel:
It sounds like you had a great time on your tour of California's National Parks. They are certainly a sight to behold! Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We appreciate your feedback!
Tuesday, October 11, 2022
Vacation
our driver our tour guide and our health care person was the best
Michael Pikelny
Review date: Tuesday, August 31, 2021
Service
The booking experience went smoothly and most of the payment procedures could be done online.
Vacation
The travel director, wellness director and driver were all very professional and friendly. The only negative issues such as understaffing at some restaurants and lodges and certain places on the tour being closed were all due to covid and not to Trafalgar.
Steven Tolf
Review date: Monday, June 28, 2021
Service
Everyone was very helpful when I rebooked my canceled trip. They reached out to make sure we knew the trip was occurring and to see if we had any questions.
Vacation
I have given this trip 5 stars because any issues that we encountered were a result of post COVID travel. Great itinerary and the tour director, wellness director and bus driver were excellent. Lack of enough help at some restaurants caused major delays in getting food in a timely manner. Yet , you were expected to be on the coach at the predetermined time. A little more flexibility would have been appreciated and caused less stomach distress! Mother Nature was waiting for visitors to return and I am so glad that we were able to enjoy her beauty.
Response from Grand European Travel:
Thank you so much for sharing your experience. We are so glad that you could enjoy the beauty of the National Parks while taking the COVID changes in stride. We will however share your suggestions with our operations team for upcoming trips and appreciate you bringing these issues to our attention.
Thursday, July 1, 2021
Leslie Weldin
Review date: Saturday, September 21, 2019
Service
It was easy. The guide and bus driver were outstanding. Local guides in the areas expanded our knowledge of the vicinities. Accommodations were comfortable and authentic to the areas. We would book from GET again.
Vacation
Excellent choice of places to visit. Great variety also. We didn’t feel pressured to do all that was offered. It was a majestic experience.
Thomas Brown
Review date: Saturday, September 21, 2019
Service
you are treated as if you are very special. I would and will recommend and am looking forward to our next trip.
Vacation
Well organized trip, we were blessed with great weather, great tour guide, great bus driver. The Sierra Nevada mts are fantastic.
Trusted Customer
Review date: Saturday, June 29, 2019
Service
Excellent service
Vacation
Awesome sights. Great weather
Janis - Rozena Peri
Review date: Tuesday, September 25, 2018
Service
Yes, I would buy again and recommend to others. My only reservation is the cost: this trip was a little more expensive that other companies going to the same destinations. But it was definitely worth it.
Vacation
A wonderful experience. The food and food service at the next to last lodge (Wasaki? I'm not looking at the brochure at the moment) was not up to the standard of the rest of the trip, but the overall trip was wonderful.
Bruce Grundish
Review date: Tuesday, September 26, 2017
Service
All arrangements made for you, Tour Guide was excellent, Very informed and knowledgeable about all aspects of the parks and surrounding areas and local culture. Really injoyed his talks along the way and what to do when we arrive at daily destinations.
Vacation
Wanted to see these parks without the hassle of driving, finding places to stay or what to see.
Deborah Campbell
Review date: Sunday, June 4, 2017
Service
Excellent excellent service, not a problem came up, not a complaint to be made!
Vacation
Loved the parks, the accommodations, the people; had a wonderful guide, Mark, and a fabulous bus driver, Tim.
Response from Grand European Travel:
Wow! Thanks for sharing your gorgeous pictures of Yosemite National Park.  Looks like you had great weather for your trip.
Friday, June 9, 2017
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