Best of the West Road Trip: California, Utah & Vegas Bright Lights

What's Included

• Accommodation
  Camping (10 nts), hotel (1 nt), hostel (1 nt).

• Welcome Moment

  Meet your CEO and group for a welcome moment.

• Discover Moment

  Experience Yosemite National Park.

• National Park Fees

  All national park fees are included.

• Los Angeles Sightseeing

  Enjoy sightseeing in Los Angeles with your CEO.

• Coastal Free Time

  Enjoy free time on the coast in Avila.

• Guided Yosemite Visit

  Guided visit and hikes in Yosemite National Park.

• Yosemite Sightseeing

  Sightseeing in Yosemite through Tioga Pass, Tuolumne Meadows, Lembert Dome, Tenaya Lake, and Mono Lake.

• Death Valley Visit

  Visit Death Valley National Park.

• Las Vegas Free Time

  Enjoy free time in Las Vegas.

• Bryce Canyon Visit

  Visit and hike in Bryce Canyon National Park.

• Zion National Park Visit

  Visit and guided hike in Zion National Park.

• Horseshoe Bend Hike

  Hike to view the impressive Horseshoe Bend.

• Native Grill Stop

  Stop for lunch at Native Grill.

• Grand Canyon Visit

  Visit Grand Canyon National Park.

• Joshua Tree Visit

  Visit Joshua Tree National Park.

• Route 66 Visit

  Visit the historic Route 66.

• Santa Monica Free Time

  Enjoy free time in Santa Monica.

• Transport

  All transport between destinations and to/from included activities is provided.

What's Not Included

• Meals Not Included

  Some meals are not included and will be at your own expense.

• Personal Expenses

  Personal expenses such as souvenirs and additional activities are not included.

• Optional Activities

  Optional activities not listed in the itinerary are not included.

• Travel Insurance

  Travel insurance is not included and is recommended for all travelers.

• Sleeping Bag and Pillow

  Sleeping bag and pillow are not provided and must be brought by the traveler.

Accommodation

Experience a mix of camping, hotel, and hostel stays with 10 nights under the stars, 1 night in a hotel, and 1 night in a hostel, offering a diverse and adventurous accommodation experience.

Transport

Air-conditioned private vehicle, hiking, walking.

Meals Included

10 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 2 dinners

Group Size

Max 13

Solo Travellers

We believe solo travellers should not have to pay more to travel so our group trips are designed for shared accommodation and do not involve a single supplement. Single travellers joining group trips are paired in twin or multi-share accommodation with someone of the same sex for the duration of the trip. Some of our Independent trips are designed differently and solo travellers on these itineraries must pay the single trip price.

Meals

All included meals will be prepared from goods bought en route from supermarkets, local shops and markets. Breakfasts will generally consist of breads and cereals, if time allows a warm breakfast may be prepared. Many lunches will be provided en-route and will be light meals such as sandwiches and/or salads. All evening meals will be freshly-prepared hot meals, and will consist of a variety of continental and local dishes. If a meal is not included your CEO will provide suggested options to the group.

Mode of Transport

Travel in comfort with an air-conditioned private vehicle, complemented by hiking and walking excursions to explore the stunning landscapes and attractions along the route.

Important Notes

1. An essential part of your trip is participation - from putting up your tent (while camping) or packing it away in the morning, to helping with meal preparation and cleaning up - it is all part of your adventure and when everyone puts in a little effort the trip will run smoothly. Your CEO will do all the meal planning, but we do ask the clients to help with the preparation and washing up. Team spirit is part of the fun! All camping equipment (with the exception of your sleeping bag and pillow) is supplied. We supply dome tents and assembly/disassembly takes only 5 minutes. All tents have built-in insect nets. Comfortable, self-inflating mattresses are also provided, which are approximately 4cm thick.



2. Proper sleeping bags are necessary for this tour. Evening temperatures can reach -9°C - 0°C. Please ensure that your sleeping bag is rated to (-17°C for spring and fall trips and 0°C for trips June - Sept). If you prefer you can purchase a proper sleeping bag on the first day of the trip. Prices range from $60-$150USD. 



3. In order to cover the vast distance in North America to be able to visit several different parks and cities along our trip, we will have a couple of long driving days.



4. All walks and hikes proposed by our CEO will be easy to moderate level. You may choose to participate or not, but exploring our national parks on foot is part of our way of travelling. It’s a healthy way to discover North America’s beauty and landscape.



5. Please note that some trips could be a combination of multiple G Adventure tours. You should expect some group members to join or leave the tour between tour segments.



6. The American West is generally known for warm weather, but temperatures do vary significantly in the mountain and desert areas especially. The day time temperature could exceed 30 C, while the night time temperatures do regularly decrease to single digits, or even possible below freezing. Please be prepared for such extreme conditions.



7. Please note that the legal drinking age in the United States is 21 and in Canada, 19 (with Alberta and Quebec at 18). Many bars and clubs will ask for ID at the door, therefore listening to live music in certain bars or spending a night out in Las Vegas or New Orleans is not possible when you are under the legal age, even if you don't plan on consuming alcohol. Drinking laws in both countries are strictly enforced and our CEOs are unable to help those under age obtain alcohol of any kind.



While this should not stop those under legal drinking age from booking a tour, it is important to note that if a traveller is under-age there are certain optional nighttime activities that they may not legally be able to participate in. When trying to book the right trip, we recommend that travellers under legal drinking age take this into consideration when booking a tour that visits several big cities.



8.ANGELS LANDING

Please note that while the trail to Angels Landing is not included in this itinerary, it is available to be done independently. If you’re interested in continuing to the top, you must apply ahead of time for a permit via the National Park’s lottery system at this website.

Group Leader

This G Adventures group trip is accompanied by one of our group leaders, otherwise known as a Chief Experience Officer (CEO). The CEO will be the group manager, leader and sometimes the driver - this person is knowledgeable in the routes travelled and will organize and lead the meal preparations and has experience in cooking a variety of local and international dishes for large groups.



As the group coordinator and manager, the aim of the CEO is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. While not being guides in the traditional sense, you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. They will also offer suggestions for things to do and to see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends.



While our CEOs are trained and have resources to assist them along the way, the United States is the fourth largest country on the planet, and it is impossible for them to know everything about this massive country. We recommend local guides where we think more specific knowledge will add to the enjoyment of the places we are visiting - we think it's the best of both worlds.



Please note that specific tour guide licenses are required to guide in certain cities and regions, and as such, our CEOs will oftentimes provide brief orientation walks or drives to point out useful places like supermarkets, main squares and ATMs but for more specific or in depth destination information, an official guided tour is recommended.

About Accommodation

Accommodation will be varied throughout your adventure. We use a combination of hotels and hostels, but most of the nights on tour are spent camping in tents in public and private campgrounds.



Please be aware that American campgrounds have various sites available and because of this there will likely be RVs, camper-trailers, popups and tent camping all on one property.



Multi-share accommodation, on a single-sex basis (typically 4-6 people per room), is common in the U.S. and is the way you will be spending your hostel night. We have specifically chosen unique accommodations to give local flavor to your trip.



Couples: Please note that due to the types of accommodation used in the U.S., couples will likely be split into separate rooms where we use multi-share hostels. Pending availability, couples may be able to pay extra while on tour to have their own room in some destinations.



All camping equipment (with the exception of your sleeping bag and pillow) is supplied, including comfortable camp mattresses. We supply dome tents that take only 5 minutes to assemble/disassemble. They are good quality, durable, industry-standard, oversized 2-person tents, each with 2 separate and convenient zip-up doors, so that each person has his/her own entrance.



We use 2 types of campgrounds in North America:

1. Private campgrounds: These are privately run sites, usually with all services such as fire pits, picnic tables, drinking water, toilets & shower buildings. Some have small outdoor swimming pools and laundry facilities. These campgrounds are typically located near national park entrances or towns.



2. Public campgrounds: These are park-run sites, usually with basic facilities such as fire pits, picnic tables, and drinking water. In some cases, this type of campground doesn’t have showers, only pit toilets and a lake! In other locations, toilet and shower facilities may be located outside the campground, or at times in another location a drive away. Some may have shower fees for onsite facilities ($2-6/shower).

What to Take

You will be on the move a lot, so our advice is to pack as lightly as possible.



For days in the outdoors, we recommend the use of lightweight, breathable, moisture-wicking fabrics made of wool or synthetic fibers. Cotton is not recommended for days spent hiking as it does not allow for heat or moisture to enter or escape, and it will not dry easily once wet.



We recommend using a backpack for your convenience, or a medium-sized suitcase if you prefer. Heavy luggage is not recommended for the health of the CEO, who will take a lead in loading the storage trailer. Due to space in the trailer, we will not be able to accommodate more than one piece of main luggage per person. A good size day-pack (20-35L) is also essential to carry your personal gear for the day, as access to luggage between destinations will be limited. This daypack will be used to carry your personal gear for the day, your lunch and a water bottle.



The American west is generally known for warm weather, but temperatures do vary significantly in the mountain and desert areas especially. The day time temperature could exceed 30 C, while the night time temperatures do regularly decrease to single digits, or even possible below freezing. It is therefore important to pack clothes for warm days and cool evenings - a light jacket is necessary.



Seasonal temperature ranges:

March - May ; September to December: -7 C to +30 C

June – August: 0 C to + 35 C



Additionally, a set of smart casual clothes is also advisable.

Spending Money

Every traveller is different and therefore spending money requirements will vary. Some travellers may drink more than others while other travellers like to purchase more souvenirs than most. Please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, shopping and tipping. Please also remember the following specific recommendations when planning your trip.