Travel Kuoni

Ultimate California Road Trip

A full-on exploration of the Golden State, from San Francisco to San Diego.

This trip hits the famous Pacific Coast Highway but nips inland to visit Californian jewels like Napa, Yosemite, and Palm Springs. You’ll experience the best that the state has to offer, from its contrasting cities, ginormous national parks, world-class wine regions, and beautiful stretches of coastline. As you drive from north to south, the weather gets warmer and sunnier, and when you eventually reach San Diego, a thousand miles on the clock, it’s the perfect moment for a classic beach break.

Self drive

Itinerary overview

Days 1-3

Your trip starts in style, exploring San Francisco and its many neighbourhoods. It’s an instantly...

Day 4

Wine buffs rejoice (or at least clink your cabernet-charged glasses together) – adventures in Cal...

Day 5

Drive onwards – your wine exploration continues in the beautiful Napa Valley. Looking for oysters...

Days 6-7

After exploring Wine Country, your first long drive awaits. It’s around a four-hour drive to Yose...

Days 8-9

Leaving Yosemite in the rearview mirror, you’ll take the four-hour drive to California’s Central ...

Day 10

Take Highway 1 and stop in Big Sur for big sights, including Bixby Bridge, giant redwood groves, ...

Days 11-12

Plan to set off early from Carmel – the drive to Santa Barbara will take you all day if you want ...

Days 13-14

LA is only a couple of hours from Santa Barbara. But it’s worth taking it slowly and planning to ...

Days 15-16

A hundred or so miles east of Los Angeles, Palm Springs is a sun-baked, sepia-toned, cacti-strewn...

Extend your holiday

It feels like the further south you travel down the coast of California, the more easy-going life...

Days 1-3

San Francisco

Your trip starts in style, exploring San Francisco and its many neighbourhoods. It’s an instantly recognisable city, not least for the Golden Gate Bridge. But its steep hills, including the zany Lombard Street, the row of Victorian homes known as the Painted Ladies, and views of the infamous island prison, Alcatraz, are other sights you’ll almost certainly already know – now’s your chance to see them up close. After getting to know the city, pick up your hire car – the road trip begins, although it begins with just a short hour-long drive north to Sonoma over the Golden Gate Bridge. A Hop-On Hop-Off Official City Tour takes you to all the must-see locations – perfect if it’s your first time in the city. Make time for Golden Gate Park and its museums, including the California Academy of Sciences and the striking de Young Museum. You could bike the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito, mooch around Fisherman’s Wharf eating saltwater taffy and watching the antics of the resident sea lions, or take a spooky night tour of Alcatraz.

Major League Baseball Tickets
Miami

Enjoy the excitement of a thrilling Major League Baseball game. Subject to availability, we can arrange tickets for games which take place across the United States and Canada throughout the season which runs from March to November. Watch as the pitcher throws the ball as the batter takes aim to hopefully score a run. No matter which team you are cheering for, being in the crowd can be just as exhilarating as watching the game.

National Basketball Association (NBA) Tickets
Miami

If you are travelling to the United States or Canada between October and June, you may wish to include tickets to see a National Basketball Association (NBA) game. Subject to availability, we can arrange tickets so you can witness the speed of the game as the players power across the court to shoot at the hoop. As each quarter unfolds, the atmosphere being part of the crowd can be electrifying.

Bay Catamaran Sailing - Bay Sail
San Francisco

This 90-minute catamaran sail is an easy way to appreciate San Francisco from the water. Once you’re out on the bay, the views open up quickly. You’ll pass Alcatraz Island, follow the city skyline, sail under the Golden Gate Bridge, and head towards the edge of the Pacific. It’s well-suited to first-time visitors who want a simple overview of San Francisco, and to return travellers who fancy doing something a bit different. In the summer months, it’s a perfect way to spend time outdoors without the crowds, though trips run year-round.

• Duration: 90 minutes
• Daily departures 
• Operates daily
• Group experience

Napa & Sonoma Wine Tour
San Francisco

Wine connoisseurs, this one's for you. Board a luxury coach as you make our way to the postcard-perfect Napa Valley for a sun-splashed tour of America’s famous wine country. This full-day tour begins with a picturesque drive over the Golden Gate Bridge before arriving at Napa Valley and Sonoma Wineries for the ultimate tasting experience. With plenty of fun, facts and souvenirs thrown in for good measure, this elegant tasting experience welcomes you to wrap your mouth around the finest wines Napa has to offer before swapping sips for snacks with a luscious lunch in Sonoma Square Plaza.

• Duration: Eight hours
• Daily departures
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

Good to know
Timings available upon request. Luxury coach transfer is included. Wine tasting is included. Additional tastings and purchases can be made on the day.

San Francisco City Tour & Alcatraz
San Francisco

Hop on a luxury motor coach for a fun-filled wander around San Francisco’s winding city streets. Uncover a profusion of famous landmarks and hidden marvels as you flit between The Golden City’s colourful neighbourhoods and be sure to seize every photo opportunity that comes your way. The endless rows of Victorian homes are enriched with character, while buzzing Chinatown is peppered with top tier eateries to grab an authentic Asian bite.

Cravings curbed, it’s time to swap the hustle and bustle of the city for the bay as  you cruise to the ghostly enclave of Alcatraz Island for a tour of the maximum-security prison.

• Duration: Four hours
• Departs: Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

Good to know
City tour stops with photo opportunities include: Golden Gate Bridge, Palace of Fine Arts, Twin Peaks, Land’s End Ocean Beach (Sutro Baths), Mission San Francisco de Asis (Mission district). Alcatraz audio guide included. Guests must be aged 5 years or older.

Big Bus San Francisco Hop-On Hop-Off: 1- or 2-Day Ticket (Incl. walking tour)
San Francisco

Hop on board a Big Bus Sightseeing Tour of the City by the Bay and catch the best views of its distinctive landmarks and hear live commentary about its history as you go. There are 20 stops all around spectacular San Francisco. You'll see the beautiful parks, architecture you'll recognise from the big screen, and pretty views from an open-top bus. Hop on and off to create a customised journey around the city. Your ticket also includes a choice of four walking tours.

Explore either Chinatown, North Beach, Barbary Coast, or Fisherman's Wharf on foot - don't forget to check what time they start. The fun doesn't stop at night - your ticket includes a Night Tour of the city, a panoramic bus tour that starts by climbing historic Nob Hill for a magnificent close up of Grace Cathedral. The bus then makes its way across the Bay Bridge to Treasure Island to view the skyline. Back in the city, the tour concludes along the Embarcadero.

Golden Gate Seaplane Tour
San Francisco

This short but utterly fabulous seaplane flight takes off from the calm waters of Richardson Bay in Sausalito, just north of San Francisco. You’ll fly in a beautifully restored DeHavill and Beaver seaplane, a classic aircraft designed for water landings and low-level flying, with wide windows that make every seat a good one.

Once you’re airborne, the Marin coastline begins to fall away. Ahead, the Golden Gate Bridge comes into view. From the air, its red-orange arches stretch wide across the mouth of the bay and flying past them gives you a sense of scale and drama that’s impossible to get from the road or the pavement below.

The route traces the edge of the city, revealing San Francisco from angles most people never see. Alcatraz appears below as a compact, unmistakable silhouette in the water, while nearby Angel Island looks greener and quieter, layered with its own history. Along the shoreline, Baker Beach and Crissy Field unfurl where the city meets the Pacific, all open space and wind and light.

Further across the bay, you’ll spot the sweep of the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge, the rugged headlands of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and the Point Bonita Lighthouse clinging to the cliffs at the water’s edge. Throughout the flight, your pilot adds context and stories, helping connect what you’re seeing to how the city grew, moved, and defined itself around the water.

• Duration: 30 minutes 
• Daily departures 
• Operates year round
• Group experience

The Best of San Francisco Electric Bike Tour
San Francisco

San Francisco looks compact on a map. Then you meet the hills. And that’s where the e-bike earns its keep. This guided electric bike tour is a brilliant way to get your bearings in a city. Over around four hours, you will roll through some of San Francisco’s most characterful neighbourhoods while a local guide fills in the stories. The famous ones, the strange ones, and the ones you would never stumble across on your own.

You’ll start near Fisherman’s Wharf at Ghirardelli Square, once a working chocolate factory and now a very scenic place to begin. From there, the route heads through Hayes Valley, a favourite with locals thanks to its independent shops and excellent coffee culture. Then it is on to Alamo Square for the classic Painted Ladies view, instantly recognisable from films and TV like Vertigo, Mrs Doubtfire, The Rock and Full House.

There is time to pause in Haight Ashbury, the heart of the 1960s counterculture scene and former home to Janis Joplin and the Grateful Dead. These days, it’s more vintage trainers than flower power, but the history is still very much part of the place. The ride finishes with an easy glide along the Panhandle of Golden Gate Park, a long green stretch that shows off San Francisco’s love of open space right in the middle of the city.

Day 4

Sonoma

Wine buffs rejoice (or at least clink your cabernet-charged glasses together) – adventures in California’s wine country await, starting in Sonoma. But delectable vino is not all this region has going for it. Throw in a few majestic redwood trees, add the Pacific Ocean to the views, and pepper it with some charming towns, and you have a pretty special place on your hands. Sonoma County is one of the most diverse counties in all of California. But, as it's the wine most people come for, it's appealing to find a base here and linger a little longer, especially as the wineries tend to be a bit more dispersed and diverse than the concentrated viticulture you find in nearby Napa Valley.

Day 5

Napa

Drive onwards – your wine exploration continues in the beautiful Napa Valley. Looking for oysters, bubbles, and farm-based bites? Local favourite Oxbow Market hits the spot. Downtown Napa is also renowned for art galleries, swanky shops, and paddleboarding from the docks. Hop from vineyard to vineyard, tasting wines in castle-like estates, in hillside boutiques with spectacular views and high-tech subterranean tasting rooms. But wine isn’t the only thing this Californian enclave has going for it – there’s an impressive art scene, and it’s an excellent place for foodies to indulge in restaurants helmed by celebrity chefs.

Days 6-7

Yosemite

After exploring Wine Country, your first long drive awaits. It’s around a four-hour drive to Yosemite, depending on where in this 1,100-square-mile area you’re headed. Yosemite Valley, just seven miles long, is the heart of this incredible wilderness. Pull on your hiking boots – Yosemite is best explored on foot, following miles of trails ranging from easy walks to challenging hikes. You can also explore the Yosemite Valley by bike, horseback, or rafting down the Merced River. If all that exhausts you, drive to Glacier Point for panoramic park views. And don't forget to visit the famous giant Sequoias, some of the largest and oldest living things on earth.

Days 8-9

Carmel & Monterey

Leaving Yosemite in the rearview mirror, you’ll take the four-hour drive to California’s Central Coast and pretty Carmel-by-the-Sea and Monterey. There’s an incredible lifestyle here – yours to enjoy for as long as you choose to stay – and plenty to do, whether you’ve got the world-famous Monterey Bay Aquarium in mind or you fancy strolling through Carmel’s galleries and finishing up on its glorious beach. If you take the 17-mile drive through Pebble Beach and Pacific Grove, you’ll see the sea life in the waters here, including the harbour seals. It may inspire you to get out onto the water and take a whale-watching tour from Fisherman’s Wharf in Monterey. In the evening, Carmel spoils you with its restaurants and cellar choices.

Chris' Whale Watching Tour
California's Central Coast

This whale watching trip explores Monterey Bay, where marine life gathers unusually close to shore. Thanks to the bay’s underwater geography, boats don’t need to travel far offshore to find activity, which means more time with wildlife and less time in transit. You head out with experienced skippers, follow sightings as they develop, and see whatever turns up on the day, from humpbacks and grey whales to dolphins and sea lions.

Monterey Bay is one of the most reliable places on the California coast for whale watching. The skippers spend most days on this water, reading swell, bird activity and animal behaviour to decide where to go. The pace is unhurried, with time to stay with sightings rather than rushing on to the next location.

What you see varies by season and by day. Humpback whales are common and often active at the surface, grey whales pass through during migration, and blue whales appear in the warmer months. Dolphins frequently ride the bow wave, with sea lions and seabirds close by.

• Start times: 10am and 1.30pm 
• Duration: 3 hours
• Daily departures 
• Operates year round
• Group experience

Day 10

Pismo Beach/SLO Cal

Take Highway 1 and stop in Big Sur for big sights, including Bixby Bridge, giant redwood groves, and waterfalls in Pfeiffer State Park. Break up your Route 1 journey and slow the pace with a night in Pismo Beach, or one of the other Slo-Cal coastal towns like Morro Bay. Watch the locals catch the waves and soak up the chilled-out vibe at farm-to-fork restaurants, cool bars and independent shops.

Days 11-12

Santa Barbara

Plan to set off early from Carmel – the drive to Santa Barbara will take you all day if you want to enjoy the best of Highway 1 as it passes through Big Sur. You’ll see the iconic Bixby Bridge, pull over to spot breaching whales and gaze skyward for a chance to see a circling condor. You’ll eventually reach Santa Barbara – one of California’s most desirable towns. If it’s time for the beach, SB has you covered with East Beach, West Beach, Leadbetter Beach, Butterfly Beach and more. You’ll want to make time to explore the main thoroughfare, State Street, where outdoor bistros are perfect for people-watching before hopping on the Trolley that makes its way up and down the street.

Days 13-14

Los Angeles

LA is only a couple of hours from Santa Barbara. But it’s worth taking it slowly and planning to stop at some beaches along Highway 1 and enter Los Angeles via Malibu. Los Angeles is big. So before choosing where to stay in this sprawling metropolis, decide what you want to do when you’re here. If you’re checking off the tourist hotspots (think Walk of Fame and Dolby Theatre), staying around Hollywood might be wise. If you’re in the mood for the beach, decide whether Santa Monica suits you or continuing a bit further south to Huntington Beach or Laguna Beach is the laid-back version of LA you’d like to experience.

Major League Baseball Tickets
Miami

Enjoy the excitement of a thrilling Major League Baseball game. Subject to availability, we can arrange tickets for games which take place across the United States and Canada throughout the season which runs from March to November. Watch as the pitcher throws the ball as the batter takes aim to hopefully score a run. No matter which team you are cheering for, being in the crowd can be just as exhilarating as watching the game.

National Basketball Association (NBA) Tickets
Miami

If you are travelling to the United States or Canada between October and June, you may wish to include tickets to see a National Basketball Association (NBA) game. Subject to availability, we can arrange tickets so you can witness the speed of the game as the players power across the court to shoot at the hoop. As each quarter unfolds, the atmosphere being part of the crowd can be electrifying.

National Hockey League (NHL) Tickets
Florida

The National Hockey League (NHL) is something of an institution across North America. Established in 1917, 32 teams compete against each other in ice hockey from October to June. Subject to availability, we can arrange tickets so that you can be rink side to witness the power and speed of the players as they attack and defend across the ice.

Go City L.A. All Inclusive Pass (Incl. Universal Studios & Knott's Berry Farm)
Los Angeles

With the All-Inclusive Pass from Go City, the more you see, the more you save. You have two, three, five or seven days to cram in as much as you can from a huge list of options, including Universal Studios, LEGOLAND, and Knott's Berry Farm. Head to Malibu for a Celebrity Homes Tour, hike up to Griffith Park to gaze at Los Angeles from the above or join the Californians on the Santa Monica boardwalk with a full-day rental of a bike or rollerblades. And you don't just have to look at the water, as a whale watching trip is yours if you want it.

Good to know

The complete list of over 35 tours and attractions is included with your Digital Pass. We endeavour to keep our descriptions up to date, however inclusions on sightseeing passes can change without our knowledge. Please check closer to your departure date for the most up to date list of included activities.

Hollywood, Griffith Observatory, Los Angeles City & Beach Tour
Los Angeles

This is a lively introduction to Los Angeles that gives you more than just drive-by views. Over the course of the day, you’ll explore the city’s most recognisable neighbourhoods and landmarks by sightseeing coach, with time to step out, look around, and get a feel for how LA actually works.

The tour begins in Hollywood, where you’ll walk along Hollywood Boulevard and the Walk of Fame, spotting the names that have shaped film, music, and pop culture over the decades. Nearby, you’ll see landmarks like the Dolby Theatre and hear the stories that give this stretch of pavement its reputation, for better and worse. At Santa Monica, you’ll have time to enjoy the ocean air and the famous pier, where beach culture, street performers, and fairground nostalgia all collide. 

You’ll also pass through Beverly Hills, known less for landmarks than for atmosphere, with its wide streets, palm trees, and carefully understated luxury. A stop at the original Farmers Market adds a welcome break, with time to browse, grab a bite, and see where locals have been eating for decades. It’s casual, varied, and a good reset before heading back out. The tour also takes in elevated viewpoints around Griffith Park, where you’ll see the Griffith Observatory and enjoy wide views across the city basin, a moment that helps pull the whole day together.

• Start time: 9.30am
• Duration: 6½ hours
• Daily departures
• Operates year round 
• Group experience

Los Angeles Hop-on Hop-off Bus with Hollywood Celebrity Homes Tour
Los Angeles

Over 48 hours, you can explore the city at your own pace using an open-top hop-on hop-off bus, with the freedom to get off where something catches your eye and jump back on when you’re ready to move on. The route links more than 40 stops across Los Angeles, covering everything from the revitalised downtown area to coastal favourites like Santa Monica. Whether you want to wander, shop, eat, people-watch, or stay on board and take it all in, the choice is yours.

The Hollywood Celebrity Homes Tour is included, a separate guided drive through Beverly Hills and the Hollywood Hills. This is your peek behind the hedges, passing the homes of well-known actors, musicians, and industry names, with context on how these neighbourhoods became so closely tied to Hollywood life. It’s more about setting the scene than pointing at front doors, and it adds a bit of insider colour to the wider city tour.

Together, the two experiences strike a good balance. The hop-on hop-off buses give you independence and flexibility, while the celebrity homes tour adds a distinctly LA layer you wouldn’t get on your own. It’s easygoing, adaptable, and ideal if you want to see a lot of the city without committing to a fixed schedule. 

• Duration: 48 hour pass
• Daily departures
• Operates year round
• Group experience

Days 15-16

Palm Springs

A hundred or so miles east of Los Angeles, Palm Springs is a sun-baked, sepia-toned, cacti-strewn landscape peppered with palm trees and colour-happy hotels. Expect swathes of honey-scented bougainvillaea, cinematic surroundings, and a touch of mid-century magic. Palm Springs is the land of sunshine and retro vibes. Brunch with blood orange margaritas, play bocce ball under the stars and float in pools dotted with candy-coloured unicorns. Taking a cruiser bike up Palm Canyon Drive (a boho version of LA's Rodeo Drive) is the way to travel in these parts. Veer off for superbly curated vintage shops and exotic botanical gardens, then spin over to The Movie Colony to glimpse the former homes of Hollywood stars.

Extend your holiday

San Diego

It feels like the further south you travel down the coast of California, the more easy-going life becomes. So, once you reach the sun-soaked depths of San Diego, within touching distance of Mexico, it’s fair to say things are pretty chilled. From Palm Springs, you may route back to the coast to Orange County – maybe stopping for some whale watching at Dana Point – before taking Interstate 5 south to San Diego. San Diego is a game of two halves. You’ve got the coastal hotspots – where La Jolla, Coronado, and Mission Bay vie for your attention. Then you’ve got the urban core, where the Gaslamp Quarter claims the lion’s share of hotels, shops, and restaurants.

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Other Itineraries

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01306 744 988

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