California's Great National Parks

Visit United States

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 dinner before soaring 550 feet above the centre of the Las Vegas Strip on the High Roller, the world's tallest observation wheel.

Day 2

Travel Through Stoic Death Valley National Park

Immerse yourself in the solitude and desolation of Death Valley, a 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. We continue through the desert landscape of Death Valley ascending to Mammoth Lakes, our home for the night.

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.

Enjoy a scenic drive on the June Lake Loop for your first peak at the bright blue waters of June Lake. The alpine scenery of Aspens and willows is a feast for the eyes along this winding road before lunch on your own 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.   Tioga Pass: weather conditions may cause Tioga Pass to be closed to traffic, typically from mid-October to the end of May. In this case, an alternate entry point to Yosemite will be used entering through the west side of the park and Mammoth Lakes overnight will be replaced with Bakersfield or similar. This overnight change will affect sightseeing for this day.

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 through the Yosemite Conservancy hearing a climbers 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.

Day 5

Enjoy the Night Sky Under Sequoias and Stars Stays With Stories Make Travel Matter

After departing Yosemite, get ready for a Be My Guest experience with naturalist Dan Webster.

Learn how fire shapes forest ecosystems during his engaging talk, then enjoy lunch with him and dive deeper into the wonders of the Sierra Nevada. 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 you’ll spend the night in your Stays with Stories accommodation, surrounded by forest and soaring Sierra peaks. Enjoy a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, spending the evening gazing upwards at the star-spangled sky as a local naturalist guides you through the constellations.

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. Spend the rest of the afternoon exploring the park on your terms, using the complimentary shuttle system (seasonal).

Day 7

Get a Taste of Hollywood

Descend the Sierra Nevada mountain range into Southern California for an unrivalled view of the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles.

You will enjoy a visit to Hollywood, the entertainment capital of the world, for your chance to find your favourite celebrity's Hollywood Star. As our encounter with California’s epic natural beauty comes to an end, join your Travel Director and newfound friends for a dinner.

Day 8

Farewell California

After our adventurous journey through California's national parks, the time has come for us to say goodbye.

Prepare to leave Los Angeles International Airport at your leisure or consider extending your stay.

Dining Summary

2 Dinner (D)

7 Breakfast (B)

2 Lunch (L)

Be My Guest

Sequoia National Park: Get an inside look at Yosemite’s fire ecology with naturalist Dan Webster. He’ll share how fire shapes the forest and what it means for the future of these landscapes. After an engaging talk, sit down for lunch with Dan – your chance to ask questions and hear more stories about life in the Sierra Nevada. 

Iconic Experience

Las Vegas: A true must-see. Live “Viva 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 signs 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. This MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience targets United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land, improving, protecting, and conserving wildlife and/or restores natural ecosystems.

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. This experience advances United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land.

Must-see Highlights

Visit High Roller Las Vegas, Death Valley National Park, Mammoth Lakes, Yosemite National Park, Kings Canyon National Park, Sequoia National Park, Giant Forest Museum

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 Yosemite Valley's El Capitan, Half Dome, Bridalveil Fall

Scenic Drive along Tioga Pass (seasonal)

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. 

View our great airfares, hotels and travel insurance.