Northern California Self-Drive
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Today you begin your journey by boarding your international outbound flight to San Francisco.
Enjoy a full day exploring San Francisco. You may wish to take a boat trip out on the bay, visit Chinatown with its quirky shops and decorative gate, take a stroll along Fisherman's Wharf and see the sea lions at Pier 39 or take a trip on one of the city's iconic cable cars.
Take a boat trip out to the former prison island of Alcatraz. Here you can enjoy an audio tour of the old prison, learning about the lives of former inmates and ways in which they attempted to escape. Afterwards, you may wish to cycle over the Golden Gate Bridge, have lunch at Fisherman's Wharf, or take a ferry to the lovely bayside suburb of Sausalito.
Collect your hire car and drive around north over the Golden Gate Bridge to the rolling vineyards of Sonoma County, around an hour away. This afternoon you could visit some of the area's vineyards to sample locally produced wines and indulge in an al fresco lunch.
Spend a full day exploring Sonoma at your own pace. You could visit some more vineyards and join a wine tasting tour to sample wines tailored to your preferences. Alternatively, visit Sonoma Barracks to learn about the Bear Flag Revolution of 1847, when California sep...
Journey north along the beautiful coastline of northern California to Trinidad. The drive takes around five hours, but there are many scenic state parks to stop at on the way. Highlights include Point Arena Lighthouse, the Victorian town of Mendocino with its pastel-p...
Leave Trinidad behind this morning and drive for around four and a half hours north to Mount Shasta. Along the way you pass through the beautiful scenery of Trinity National Forest and Whiskeytown National Recreation Area, where you could stop for a stroll and a picni...
There is time to relax and enjoy the area's natural beauty this morning before you make your way north, through dramatic mountain scenery, to Crater Lake National Park in southern Oregon. The journey takes around three hours and takes you through the Winema National Forest.
Enjoy a full day at this dramatic volcanic lake, where the bright blue waters contrast sharply with the verdant rocky scenery. We recommend taking a boat trip to Wizard Island in the middle of Crater Lake. This miniature cinder cone supports a variety of plant and ani...
Leaving Oregon behind, travel five hours south back into California, arriving into Redwood National Park. The journey takes you through the Rogue River National Forest and the Cascade Mountains provide an impressive backdrop. You may wish to stop to explore the caves ...
Spend the day on a guided tour to learn about the enormous redwood trees of Redwood National Park. Some of the trees here can grow up to 100 m (328 ft) in height and are over 2,000 years old. Your guide will talk about the trees and their history, as well as the park's wildlife - look out for herds of elk, which thrive in these coastal forests.
Drive for around two and a half hours to the pretty Victorian town of Mendocino on the coast. Here you can explore its old painted houses and art shops, as well as cafes and wineries. You may wish to visit the nearby Montgomery Woods State Park to admire more ancient redwoods, or head to Mendocino Bay for incredible coastal views.
Make your way south along the coast and back to San Francisco - a drive of around three hours. Once at the airport you can drop off your hire car before boarding your onward flight.
Arrive home today to complete your journey.
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The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.
Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.
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