Grand Tour of California: San Francisco to Los Angeles

10 days
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Group Tour
From San Francisco’s Painted Ladies and Yosemite National Park to Monterey’s Cannery Row and star-studded Los Angeles, there’s plenty to love about California. Marvel at the Golden Gate Bridge. Visit the vineyards of Napa Valley. Drive along the stunning coastline of Big Sur, and see what makes the Golden State one of a kind.
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Overview

Trip type
Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

    • The Golden Gate Bridge, an engineering marvel
    • Half Dome and El Capitan, icons of the Yosemite Valley
    • The world-famous Monterey Bay Aquarium
    • Stunning scenery in Big Sur and the glamorous Hearst Castle
    • Spanish history in Santa Barbara
    • Los Angeles’ star-studded Walk of Fame and iconic Hollywood sign

What's this trip about?

    From San Francisco’s Painted Ladies and Yosemite National Park to Monterey’s Cannery Row and star-studded Los Angeles, there’s plenty to love about California. Marvel at the Golden Gate Bridge. Visit the vineyards of Napa Valley. Drive along the stunning coastline of Big Sur, and see what makes the Golden State one of a kind.

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Details

Itinerary focusOff the Beaten Path
Group sizeGroup - max of 35 people
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportAll internal ground transport included
Start CitySan Francisco
End CitySan Diego

Travel Themes

  • Culinary & Wine
  • Cultural
  • National Parks
  • Nature & Wildlife
  • Religious

Destinations

  • North America
  • United States

Attractions

  • California
  • Golden Gate Bridge
  • Los Angeles
  • Monterey Peninsula
  • San Francisco

Activities

  • Culture
  • History
  • Mountaineering
  • Nature

Trip includes

    • 9 nights in handpicked hotels
    • Breakfast daily, 4 three-course dinners with beer or wine
    • Expert Tour Director
    • Private deluxe motor coach
    • Guided sightseeing and select entrance fees

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Itinerary

SAN FRANCISCO 3 nights

Day 1: Arrival in San Francisco

Included meals:
Dinner Welcome to California! Arrive in San Francisco and transfer to your hotel. Then, meet your fellow travelers at an included welcome dinner.

Day 2: Sightseeing tour of San Francisco

Included meals:
Breakfast Today’s guided tour introduces you to the highlights of San Francisco, the “City by the Bay.” Ride up Twin Peaks, the hills near the center of San Francisco, and take in spectacular panoramic vistas Pass the iconic Haight-Ashbury neighborhood, location of ...
Day 3: Free day in San Francisco

Included meals:
Breakfast Spend a free day exploring San Francisco on your own or add an excursion.

Optional Excursion - Sonoma & Napa Valley Wine Tasting $115pp*

With over 600 wineries between Napa and Sonoma Valley, California’s wine country stands out among the world’s ...

YOSEMITE REGION 2 nights

Day 4: Transfer to Yosemite National Park

Included meals:
Breakfast, Dinner Travel through the Central Valley on the way to Yosemite. In the afternoon, enter the national park for a discussion on Yosemite, led by a park ranger.

Day 5: Sightseeing tour of Yosemite Valley
Learn about the Yosemite Valley’s history and geology on a guided sightseeing tour with a park ranger. View Bridalveil Fall, named for the ethereal mists that surround the falls Drive up Inspiration Point for phenomenal photos of Half Dome and El Capitan, icons of t...
MONTEREY 1 night

Day 6: Transfer to Monterey

Included meals:
Breakfast

Drive from Yosemite to Monterey, a coastal city brimming with rich history and cultural diversity. Spend free time exploring Cannery Row before visiting the world-famous Monterey Aquarium.

SANTA BARBARA REGION 2 nights

Day 7: Hearst Castle via Big Sur

Included meals:
Breakfast, Dinner Journey south alongthe Pacific Coast Highway, a cliffside roadway boasting exhilarating views, crossing the mountainous region of Big Sur. Stop for a guided tour of Hearst Castle, the storied hilltop mansion of publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst, before arriving in the Santa Barbara region.

Day 8: Sightseeing tour of Santa Barbara

Included meals:
Breakfast Get to know the city of Santa Barbara, the “American Riviera,” on this morning’s guided sightseeing tour. Visit Old Mission Santa Barbara, a Franciscan mission established in 1786 See Stearns Wharf, an iconic wooden pier in the Santa Barbara Harbor Pass...
LOS ANGELES 1 night

Day 9: Sightseeing tour of Los Angeles

Included meals:
Breakfast, Dinner Continue on the Pacific Coast Highway as you travel to Los Angeles, stoppingfor lunch at a West Hollywood farmers market. Then, immerse yourself in lively L.A . on a guided sightseeing tour. Ride down Rodeo Drive through glamorous Beverly Hills  S...
Day 10: Departure

Included meals:
Breakfast (excluding early morning departures) Transfer to the airport for your flight home, or continue on to explore San Diego. Add San Diego $529 pp Please note: Extension is not available on all departure dates. Discover what makes San Diego “America’s Finest City.” From its pristine beaches to the historic downtown, this coastal California hot spot delights at every turn.

SAN DIEGO 2 nights

Day 10: San Diego via La Jolla

Included meals:
Breakfast Continue on to San Diego, stopping in the seaside town of La Jolla along the way. In the afternoon, get an introduction to “America’s Finest City” on a panoramic tour. Pass through Balboa Park, a 1,200-acre urban cultural park and location of the world-famo...
Day 11: Free day in San Diego

Included meals:
Breakfast Explore San Diego on your own or add an excursion.

Optional Excursion - USS Midway Museum & Harbor Cruise $75pp* Details

Begin with a self-guided audio tour of the USS Midway, the longest-serving U.S. Navy aircraft carrier, narrated by sailors who...

Day 12: Departure

Included meals:
Breakfast (excluding early morning departures) Transfer to the airport for your flight home.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $0
Price per day$0
Last Updated: 8/2/2018

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Go Ahead Tours.

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.

Go Ahead Tours Reviews & Ratings

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Nov 2023

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Will Refuse to Refund

I made a reservation last Thursday (11/16/2023) for a trip to Iceland from 12/02/2023-12/07/2023 and then I was told that I can’t have my refund back. When I called...

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Greedy Unethical Company Keeps Your Money When They Cancel Trips

Apr 2020

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Stay Away - Class Action lawsuit for ripping off children

This greedy and unethical company is being sued for keeping money from school children and their parents after the company canceled trips due to Coronavirus. They ...

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Lousy Customer Service

Apr 2020

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Wouldn't Refund Full Payment of Tour They Cancelled

Our trip was to be in May 2020 and was cancelled by Go Ahead due to the Coronavirus after we had paid the full cost of the trip for two. When contacted about a refu...

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We're a company of passionate adventurers dedicated to creating the best journey for every traveler. As a proud part of EF Education First, we draw on 50 years of expertise to continue to add meaningful travel experiences to our portfolio of more than 100 tours. 

GLOBAL EXPERTISE

Thanks to the global EF network, we have offices all over the world—you can count on expert support everywhere you go. And since we help thousands of people see the world each year, we’re able to negotiate the best rates with our partners.

A COMMITMENT TO QUALITY

Our team carefully considers the details of every itinerary and reads every review we receive to ensure that we're offering you the best possible travel experience. Our tour groups are always capped at between 14 to 35 travelers—well below the industry average.

UNMATCHED SERVICE

Your own expertly trained Tour Consultant will help with every step of the planning process. Then, once you’re on tour, your Tour Director will give you an inside look at all the best sights and hidden local favorites. Plus, you can reach us at any time on our 24/7 support line.

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Logistics

Accommodation

,Yosemite Southgate Hotel & Suites Yosemite Southgate Hotel & Suites is located in Oakhurst, California only minutes away from the south gate entrance to Yosemite National Park on Highway 41. Best Western Victorian Inn Experience the pleasures of a seaside vacation when you stay at our boutique Monterey hotel, the Victorian Inn. Bike along scenic coastal shores, kayak in the bay, sample some of the world's best wines, go whale watching, or picnic and fly kites on sun drenched beaches. Best Western Plus Encina Inn & Suites Situated in a quaint residential area and conveniently near all the area's popular attractions including miles of amazing coastline as well as the exciting downtown area where our guests will experience unique shopping, dining, art and culture. Renaissance Los Angeles Airport Hotel Experience the sights and sounds of the city's most dynamic business, entertainment and cultural hotspots from Renaissance Los Angeles Airport Hotel. Fairfield Inn & Suites San Diego Old Town Tucked away among the birthplace of San Diego, California amid the culture and history of the city, this charming Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott San Diego Old Town provides the opportunity to experience the true birth place of California.
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Trip ID
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