Duration: 9 Days
Southern California may be known for its stars, but northern California is the home of true legends. Despite the absence of paparazzi, you’ll hear countless shutters click as you enjoy a scenic tram ride through stunning Yosemite and coast along Monterey’s jaw-dropping 17-Mile Drive. From the hilly streets of San Francisco to the towering-tree-lined slopes of Sequoia and King Canyon National Parks, there are endless highpoints included in this nine-day tour through northern California. Visit a a a family-owned winery in the serene Sonoma Valley to see how their award-winning wines are made. Other stellar experiences to toast on this northern California holiday? Stargazing under the sequoias and bidding the moon goodnight in two signature stone and cedar national park lodges. Sweet dreams.
Traveller Notes
We’ve packed everything you need for the perfect holiday—from hand-selected hotels and dining to the friendly expertise of Globus Tour Directors and Local Guides, to seamless transportation between destinations and VIP access to the world’s most iconic sites! Touring by private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach with free Wi-Fi.
Please note: Itinerary is based on 2024, and is subject to change. Full details will be confirmed in 2024.
Welcome to San Francisco!
At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome drink.
FREE TIME TIPS
EXPLORE MORE in San Francisco with a walk on Fisherman's Wharf, a bowl of clam chowder with famous sourdough bread, or a Ghirardelli chocolate or two in the stunning city by the bay. Your Tour Director has suggestions for your night, and your GlobusGO mobile app puts all the possibilities right at your fingertips.
The City by the Bay
This morning, enjoy a sightseeing tour of San Francisco to take in its famous sights. Enjoy free time to explore the Golden City before dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
CITY SIGHTS San Francisco is a city to be loved. Maybe that's why so many visitors really do leave their hearts here. From Golden Gate National Recreation area and the stunning Japanese Tea Gardens to the iconic and incredible Golden Gate Bridge to the historic Presidio, you'll also soak in the sea air with sights of Fisherman's Wharf, Union Square, and more.
Bridge to Bountiful
Travel across the Golden Gate Bridge to Sonoma for an orientation tour and free time for lunch on your own. Delight in a tasting at a [LF] family-owned winery. Continue to the capital of California, Sacramento, for a sightseeing tour and a free evening. Tonight, venture out to explore one of the many restaurants, craft breweries, and wine-tasting rooms. (B)
LOCAL FAVOURITE
LOCAL TASTES Visit the beautiful family-owned winery, where estate-grown, sustainably farmed wines have flowed for over a century. Taste the California vintages that thrive here with a tradition of generations.
Treasures of the High Sierras
Travel south through the Sierra Nevada Mountains to Yosemite National Park. Best known for its waterfalls, but with nearly 1,200 square miles, you can also find grand meadows, ancient sequoias, and much more. Continue to the Tenaya Lodge for a memorable 2-night stay. (B,D)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
ACCOMMODATION SPOTLIGHT Tenaya Lodge is nestled among towering Sugar Pines in the Sierra National Forest offering an elegant stay with access to multiple eateries, a world-class spa, three swimming pools, and refined guestrooms with deluxe amenities. You can even head to the fire pit with a s'mores kit. The pinnacle of Yosemite-area lodging, Tenaya Lodge offers Globus travellers something special.
Nature's Cathedral
Today, descend into the 4,000-foot valley for an open-air Valley Floor Tram to explore the famous sites of El Capitan, Cathedral Spires, Yosemite Falls, and Half Dome. Enjoy free time for the balance of the day in Yosemite National Park. (B)
FREE TIME TIPS
EXPLORE MORE in Yosemite National Park. The place which Theodore Roosevelt described as a "great solemn cathedral, far vaster and more beautiful than any built by the hand of man." After camping with naturalist John Muir, the president was so moved by the natural and sacred beauty of this pristine land that he established the National Forest Service, followed by hundreds of national monuments, protected parks, and wildlife sanctuaries-preserving more than 200 million acres of wilderness for generations to come. Your Tour Director will be able to offer recommendations on how to fill your day.
Forest Giants & Heavenly Objects
Travel to Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks. Tonight, enjoy dinner followed by a [LF] stargazing experience. (B,D)
LOCAL FAVOURITE
NATURAL WONDERS Explore the "Land of Giants" in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks to discover a land of stunning diversity and beauty with soaring mountains, deep canyons, vast caverns, and the world's largest trees! This natural region is also blessed with some of the darkest night skies (free from city lights) that offer an amazing opportunity for spectacular stargazing. As you look skyward to the glittering heavens, hear ancient and cultural legends about the constellations you'll witness in the night sky.
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
ACCOMMODATION SPOTLIGHT Feel like you're dreaming with a stay at the wonderful Wuksachi Lodge in the heart of Sequoia National Park. Its beautifully crafted cedar and stone architecture offers panoramic views of the surrounding forest and High Sierra peaks from its spectacular alpine setting in the Sequoias.
Old-Growth Trees & Ocean Tides
Spend more time this morning exploring these magnificent parks, which now protect nearly half the remaining sequoia groves in the world. See the General Sherman Tree, spend time at the Visitors' centre, or simply relax in one of the most beautiful settings you'll find. Continue across the farmlands of California to the coastal town of Monterey, home to the world-famous Cannery Row, for a 2-night stay. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
HISTORY & HERITAGE Immortalised by John Steinbeck in his novel of the same name, Cannery Row is filled with history and vibrant sights along the waterfront of Monterey Bay. Once a bustling district of sardine factories, the street is a brightly painted avenue of eateries and shops that harken back to a heritage of fishermen and rich stories. Tomorrow morning, stroll along the wharf for the chance to see whales, otters, and other sea creatures in the kelp forests of the Pacific Ocean shore.
The Rocky Shores of Pebble Beach
This morning, spend your free time visiting historic Cannery Row. Other highlights today include a journey along scenic 17-Mile Drive and the seaside town of Carmel-by-the-Sea. Return to Monterey, where your Tour Director hosts a special farewell dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
CULTURAL GEMS Feel the windswept spirit of the Pacific Ocean with a spectacular drive along 17-Mile Drive to the charming haven of Carmel-by-the-Sea. See its crooked cottages and twisted trees in the popular haunt of writers, artists, and celebrities. You'll pass by sweeping sea views and rocky shores, visit the world-famous Pebble Beach Golf Course for a walk on the fairway, and see the iconic Lone Cypress clinging to its rocky perch.
Safe travels until we meet again!
This morning, travel back to San Francisco for your homebound flight. Please schedule flights after 1 pm. (B)
