California Classics

California Classics

142 Views
10 Days From

$4065

$3752

California Classics

10 Days Starting in San Francisco and ending in Los Angeles

Visiting: San Francisco, Sausalito, Sonoma, Yosemite National Park, Monterey, Carmel-by-the-Sea, 17-Mile Drive, Pebble Beach Golf Course, Big Sur, San Simeon, Solvang, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles

Tour operator:

Globus

Tour code:

AA-2025

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

0 - 36

Physical rating:

Low

Age range:

5-99

Special diets catered:

Please Advise Request

Tour operated in:

English

Interests:

Cultural

From: $4065 $3752 Operator discount: -$313

NB: Prices correct on 24-Dec-2024 but subject to change.

Tour Overview

From the City by the Bay to the City of Angels, this ten-day tour takes you to the top California sights that earned the Golden State its name. Yosemite’s Cathedral Spires, Big Sur’s rugged coastline, 17-Mile Drive’s spectacular views, and San Simeon’s Hearst Castle are just a few memorable Classic California experiences. Between the bright lights of Hollywood and the high style of Beverly Hills to the grapevines in wine country and farm-to-table cuisine in the Central Valley, this encompassing California vacation weaves in plenty of kickback time with visits to a Sonoma vineyard, the quiet Danish village of Solvang, and the tony resort zip codes of Monterey, Carmel, and Santa Barbara. Don’t forget your shades! [p]

Highlights

  • Enjoy guided tours of San Francisco, Yosemite National Park, Monterey, and Los Angeles, including iconic locations like the Golden Gate Bridge, El Capitan, and Hollywood

  • Experience unique moments such as a wine tasting in Sonoma, exploring the Danish town of Solvang, and visiting the Getty Museum in Los Angeles

  • Visit the breathtaking Yosemite National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its stunning natural beauty

  • Explore the charming town of Sausalito and the resort town of Carmel with a scenic drive along the famed 17-Mile Drive

  • Journey south through Big Sur to San Simeon and visit Hearst Castle

  • Explore the Danish town of Solvang and enjoy a Danish specialty at a local bakery

Places You'll See

San Francisco Marriott Marquis

Tenaya Lodge At Yosemite

Hyatt Regency Monterey

Hotel Corque

Westin Bonaventure

Golden Gate Bridge

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1: Arrive In San Francisco

Location: San Francisco

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: San Francisco Marriott Marquis

At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions for a welcome drink.

Day 2: San Francisco

Location: San Francisco

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: San Francisco Marriott Marquis

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

SAN FRANCISCO City by the Bay Enjoy morning sightseeing in one of the world’s most beautiful cities. [LF] Visit the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, including the Golden Gate Bridge and the Presidio. Free time this afternoon to explore the city. Ride the world-famous cable cars, shop in Union Square, or visit the Museum of Modern Art. Dinner at a local restaurant this evening. (B,D)LOCAL FAVORITECULTURE & TRADITION As the song goes, you’ll leave your heart in San Francisco with a stroll through the exquisite Japanese Tea Garden. Walk the beautiful landscapes in the oldest public Japanese garden in the United States. Learn about the history of the park and enjoy time to explore the five acres of native Japanese plants, serene koi ponds, pagodas, and more.

Day 3: San Francisco,Excursion To Sausalito & Sonoma

Location: San Francisco, Sausalito, Sonoma

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: San Francisco Marriott Marquis

Meals Included: Breakfast

SAN FRANCISCO–EXCURSION TO SAUSALITO & SONOMA Vineyards & Views Travel across the Golden Gate Bridge this morning to Sonoma for a local vineyard tour and tasting. Continue to the charming town of Sausalito for lunch on your own before returning to San Francisco. Consider a Gold and Ghost Tour optional excursion this evening to explore San Francisco after dark. (B)TOUR HIGHLIGHTTASTES & TRADITIONS Cross San Francisco Bay on the iconic Golden Gate Bridge to spend time in Northern California’s wine country. Venture to Sonoma with its wealth of verdant vineyards for a wine tasting. Continue to Sausalito to enjoy waterfront views and breathtaking scenery in the charming village with a large variety of shops, restaurants, and art galleries.

Day 4: San Francisco,Yosemite National Park

Location: San Francisco, Yosemite National Park

Accommodation Name: Tenaya Lodge At Yosemite

Meals Included: Breakfast

SAN FRANCISCO–YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK The Mountains are Calling Travel eastward through the Sierra Nevada Mountains to Yosemite National Park. A guided tram tour provides an introduction to the history and highlights of Yosemite National Park. Free time this evening. (B)TOUR HIGHLIGHT NATURAL WONDERS Yosemite has innumerable lakes, meadows, ice-sculpted domes, forests, waterfalls, and unspoiled alpine scenery. 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. Here, John Muir realized, “The mountains are calling, and I must go.” We think you’ll agree.

Day 5: Yosemite National Park,Monterey

Location: Yosemite National Park, Monterey

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Tenaya Lodge At Yosemite

Meals Included: Breakfast

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK–MONTEREY Giants of the Land and Sea Before departing Yosemite National Park, visit [LF] Mariposa Grove, home to many old-growth sequoias. Stand in awe as you look skyward at these massive giants, one of the Earth’s largest and longest living organisms. Then, on to the California coast to Monterey, home to the famed Cannery Row. (B)TOUR HIGHLIGHT HISTORY & HERITAGE Immortalized 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. In the 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.

Day 6: Monterey. Excursion To Carmel

Location: Monterey, Carmel-by-the-Sea, 17-Mile Drive, Pebble Beach Golf Course

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Hyatt Regency Monterey

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

MONTEREY. EXCURSION TO CARMEL Cottages & Cypress Trees This morning, spend your free time visiting historic Cannery Row. Other highlights today include a visit to the resort town of [LF] Carmel with a scenic drive along the famed 17-Mile Drive. Return to Monterey for free time before dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D)TOUR HIGHLIGHTCULTURAL 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.

Day 7: Monterey,Big Sur,San Simeon,Solvang

Location: Monterey, Big Sur, San Simeon, Solvang

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Hotel Corque

Meals Included: Breakfast

MONTEREY–BIG SUR–SAN SIMEON–SOLVANG California Gold Journey south through Big Sur to San Simeon and visit Hearst Castle. Continue to Solvang for a free evening. (B)TOUR HIGHLIGHT LEGENDARY LIVES Visit the opulent mansion of legendary newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst, which houses splendid antiques, art treasures, and exotic possessions purchased at an estimated $50 million. Your guided tour shows off the highlights of the impressive 123-acre estate.

Day 8: Solvang,Santa Barbara,Los Angeles

George Vidalis

Location: Solvang, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Westin Bonaventure

Meals Included: Breakfast

SOLVANG–SANTA BARBARA–LOS ANGELES Treasures & Traditions Explore the Danish town of Solvang and enjoy a [LF] Danish specialty at a local bakery. Then, travel through the Santa Ynez Mountains to beautiful Santa Barbara to visit the Old Mission Santa Barbara. Continue to metropolitan Los Angeles, the motion picture capital of the world. (B)LOCAL FAVORITECULTURAL GEM Stroll the streets of Solvang and feel as though you’ve entered a charming Danish town with picturesque buildings and shops, restaurants and windmills that create a taste of Denmark in California’s Santa Ynez Valley. Enjoy a traditional Danish pastry at Mortensen’s famous bakery. TOUR HIGLIGHTHISTORY & HERITAGE Experience the beauty and history of California’s mission trail with a visit to Old Mission Santa Barbara. Soak in the stunning Spanish influence of the 1786 “Queen of the Missions” with its wrought iron, terra cotta, and carved wood. Feel the serenity amid its whitewashed walls and tile-roofed buildings below its chiming twin bell towers ringing out on the Camino Real above the beautiful Pacific Ocean.

Day 9: Los Angeles

Fred Gichohi

Location: Los Angeles

Accommodation: Hotel

Accommodation Name: Westin Bonaventure

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

LOS ANGELES Spend Your Day Your Way in L.A. Morning sightseeing of this gigantic metropolis takes you from Olvera Street—the oldest thoroughfare in the city—to Hollywood. See the Sunset Strip and Beverly Hills. This afternoon, explore more of Los Angeles with your choice of included excursions. This evening, your Tour Director hosts a special farewell dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D)TAKE YOUR PICK Explore your way today with your choice of excursions: ART HISTORY After lunch, visit the Getty Center & Museum to see a vast collection of art housed within its modern hilltop complex above Los Angeles. Here, a treasure trove of masterpieces is displayed with art from the Middle Ages to the present. OR: BEACHY KEEN Take a self-guided walk along the Santa Monica Pier; ride the Pacific Park Ferris Wheel for spectacular panoramic views of the Southern California coastline.

Day 10: Los Angeles

Switzerland HMD Advertising Group

Location: Los Angeles

Meals Included: Breakfast

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. You may choose to extend your time in Los Angeles and explore more on your own. Extra nights are available for purchase.

What's Included

  • Accommodations

    Stay in comfort at selected hotels including the San Francisco Marriott Marquis, Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite, Hyatt Regency Monterey, Hotel Corque in Solvang, and the Westin Bonaventure in Los Angeles.

  • Guided Tours

    Enjoy guided tours of San Francisco, Yosemite National Park, Monterey, and Los Angeles, featuring iconic locations like the Golden Gate Bridge, El Capitan, and Hollywood.

  • Special Experiences

    Experience unique moments such as a wine tasting in Sonoma, exploring the Danish town of Solvang, visiting the Getty Museum in Los Angeles, and more.

  • Small Group Option

    Option for Small-Group Discoveries on select dates, limited to an average of just 24 guests per departure.

  • Meals

    Breakfast daily, 3 dinners.

What's Not Included

  • Travel Insurance

    Travel insurance is not included and is recommended for all travelers to ensure protection against unforeseen events.

  • Airfare

    International and domestic airfare to and from the starting and ending points of the tour are not included.

  • Personal Expenses

    Personal expenses such as laundry, telephone calls, mini-bar, room service, and other discretionary spending are not included.

  • Optional Excursions

    Optional excursions and activities not listed in the tour itinerary are available at an additional cost.

  • Gratuities

    Gratuities for tour director, drivers, and local guides are not included and are at the traveler's discretion.

Meals

Breakfast daily, 3 dinners

Small Group

Globus offers Small-Group Discoveries on select North America dates. A Small-Group Discovery is limited to an average of just 24 guests per departure. There’s always room to roam with extra space between you and other travelers—while still getting up close and personal to the experiences you’ve been dreaming of. Small-Group Discoveries include all the features of a traditional Globus escorted tour, complete with expert Tour Director, Driver, and Local Guides who ensure that your health and safety is our top priority. A Small-Group Discovery trip is the perfectly sized tour—without the crowds.

UNESCO Sites

Yosemite National Park

Accommodation

San Francisco:San Francisco Marriott Marquis
Yosemite National Park:Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite
Monterey:Hyatt Regency Monterey
Solvang:Hotel Corque
Los Angeles:Westin Bonaventure

Mode of Transport

Travel across California in a comfortable coach, with scenic drives through iconic locations such as Big Sur, 17-Mile Drive, and the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

Notes

The Big Sur visit and coastal route are dependent on current weather and road conditions on Pacific Coast Highway 1.

Explore more in Southern California on the California Classics with San Diego Extension Tour! (Tour AAE)

Check out our Q&As

  • What type of accommodations can I expect during the California Classics tour?

    Accommodations range from upscale hotels in major cities like the San Francisco Marriott Marquis and the Westin Bonaventure in Los Angeles to cozy lodges such as the Yosemite View Lodge in Yosemite National Park.

  • Is wine tasting included in the tour itinerary?

    Yes, the tour includes a visit to a local vineyard in Sonoma for a tour and wine tasting experience.

  • Are meals included in the tour package?

    9 Breakfast, 3 Dinner is included.

  • How much free time will I have during the tour?

    As detailed in the itinerary

  • Are children permitted to take part in the tour?

    Yes, 5 years and above

  • Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?

    Yes, English speaking local guide available on this tour.

  • Will there be an escort accomanying this tour?

    Yes

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    For over 90 years.

  • Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?

    Yes

  • What policies are in place for Covid-19?

    Please contact us for latest Covid-19 policies

  • What documents will I receive before I travel?

    Travel documents, including any air tickets, itineraries, and other information, are available approximately two to three weeks prior to departure provided full payment has been received.

  • What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?

    The Globus Lighthouse Project - an illuminating initiative where we can all come together to tread lightly and give generously for the globe's greater good. Globus, along with sister companies Avalon Waterways and Cosmos, invite our travellers and partners to help us in supporting causes that provide for a more sustainable planet and a brighter tomorrow.

Reviews of this operator

Lisset  

Great Value for your Money

19-Dec-2022

This is my second time travelling with Globus, would have been my third if not for COVID. The way they plan everything is super organized, the tour managers are very caring and knowledgeable. We always enjoy all the site visits planned for each trip. They start by picking you up from the airport and from then on everything is taken care of up until the last day of your trip, even dropping you off at the airport not matter the time of day or night. The hotels at every city are always great and centrally located so you can walk around during your free time or plan your own visits to different sites.

Joan Cupp (Google Reviewer)  

My go-to escorted travel Co My...

01-Mar-2024

My go-to escorted travel Co My 4th trip with Globus and the did not disappoint. The sales deals they offer make it affordable for me to travel. All of the guides are well versed in the history of the area you travel in.

David R  

What a wonderful trip, thanks Globus

10-Jan-2023

Globus is my favorite travel agency. I tried others, but always come back to Globus. It is a 100% stress free one-stop shop. Easy booking with flight, hotel, transportation and travel insurance all in one place. Great customer service at reasonable prices. Lots of information prepared for the trip to handle travel logistics. I planned and booked my trip within 24 hours. Highly recommended to everyon

Alexander Wright  

Great guide, accommodations, and tours.

28-Dec-2022

We had a fantastic guide, with a great mix of free time and guided tours.

CTRTeach 11  

Globus exceeded my expectations!

20-Dec-2022

This is my first Globus tour. I was pleasantly surprised with the depth and quality. The hotels were top notch, and the cruise on the Nile exceeded my expectations. The cabins were roomy and comfortable, and the food was very good.

Nancy Arias  

The experience was amazing!!

30-Dec-2022

The trip was amazing. Our tour guide was so kind and very knowledgeable. I needed to attend a very important meeting via zoom. She was very understanding and accommodating to my needs and made it happen. I was very grateful! Our driver was by far the best driver I’ve ever encountered! I was beyond impressed with our guide, driver and trip!! I will definitely be back for another adventure!!

Irish Beth Maddock (Google Reviewer)  

Did the Globus Highlands and...

30-Sep-2023

Did the Globus Highlands and Islands Scottish Tour with Ian and Allister. What a trip!! With his sharp wit, immense knowledge and fun humour, Ian absolutely brought Scotland to vivid life with his many tales, informative quips and total, utter passion for history. Was spellbound. Am so VERY thankful I had the opportunity to be on Ian's last bus tour before retiring with Globus. In addition, to being so hard working and helpful, with Allister our driver, I cannot tell you how safe and secure I felt in his capable driving hands. He had some very awkward traffic and interesting roads to navigate with our large bus, (especially on the islands and up north) but he handled it all expertly and without a hitch. So much so, I was able to relax and enjoy the journey. All in all, with our tour, you could tell both these kind men cared very much for those of us who needed the extra help and advice. Made my bucket list trip to Scotland so memorable and wonderful. Thank you Ian and Allister! Globus is truly fortunate to have you both.

Patty Walker (Google Reviewer)  

Specifically, Cosmos Tour of Ireland...

11-Aug-2024

Specifically, Cosmos Tour of Ireland and Scotland. August 2024. Let me begin with the positive , the Tour guide was knowledgable, personable and educated! He also was extremely professional and took a genuine interest in providing the highest quality of service to the client. The bus was clean and comfortable and well maintained. The driver was highly experienced and provided excellent transportation. The excursions were acceptable and enjoyable. The Variety of age groups on the trip made for wonderful traveling companions. But unfortunately, that is where the positive ends. The Leonardo hotels that are part of the chain and experience for this specific tour are below quality. We spent a night in a room with a leak in the ceiling. That was known before we checked in and continued to leak while we were there. Another Leonardo hotel, we could not get out of our room. Due to the carpet being ripped up and blocking the door. Most of these hotels I would have walked away from, had I been on my own individual trip. The customer service is missing, customer safety is also missing in these hotels. There is lack of concern to assist customers to their rooms even when it is there responsibility to change the room, there isn't assistance offered. Never have I experienced where you had to absolutely be your own advocate. Because there is no customer concern or care. Quality of food provided is also below standards. It is frowned upon if you request something and often denied. We even had a situation where another individual was placed in the same room we were in and it was considered a "oh well too bad for you." Again, we had to transport our own luggage and bags to a new room. Only after we were our own advocates. We said this stranger and ourselves are not going to stay in the same room. Finally, we received a good room, a room that would be found acceptable in every day normal travel, and we had to change again. Because there was a missing part in a Radiator and this was known to the hotel but yet they still booked us into a room. The radiator would not turn off and the room was steaming hot. So once again, we had to transfer all of our luggage and personal items and trudged down stairwell and elevators to once again change rooms. This is so sad for a bucket list, once in a lifetime, save your money and go on your anniversary trip. The rooms are old and out, dated with stains and tears in carpets and materials. Some of the missing items are a safety concern. Buyer beware! The communication for traveling in other countries is not to the level of customer service and satisfaction that we are used to, we did not expect this level of unacceptable accommodations, much like staying in a hostile. It is the Globus/Cosmos Travel companies responsibility to make sure their accommodations for housing is up to the level of expectations of their customers. The accommodations provided are a reflection of Globus/Cosmos business model and integrity in the global travel industry. This is not everything we experienced, but just a few examples. At this time, their brand appears to be old, outdated, without concern or care for the safety of their clients or their health and welfare as applied to accomodations.Customer service, is their lost art. Choose carefully for travel service. And I would not recommend Globus or Cosmos.

Suneetha Raja (Google Reviewer)  

I have done Newfoundland &...

06-Jul-2024

I have done Newfoundland & Labrador with Iceberg Festival tour with Globus in June 2024. It was absolute rubbish for the price I paid towards the tour. Terrible hotels, horrible meals, barely any sightseeing that is worth while the visit, most importantly, the Iceberg festival never happened. Globus sold this specific tour departure date as the only way to attend this supposed Iceberg Festival. I felt cheated after paying 3527£ for a 13 day tour considering the only reason I picked this departure date was because I wanted to attend this Iceberg festival. I could have used my time and money in a better way doing a different tour with another company. A Canadian company who did the exact same tour is doing it for £2400. I have been travelling with Globus and Cosmos tours since 2008. However, this company tours have been terrible after the covid shutdowns. They are charging more than the premium companies and not providing the equivalent service on par with the prices. Safe to say that I won't be recommending Globus and Cosmos tours to anyone. Try other tour companies that are on the market.

Lynda Bailey (Google Reviewer)  

I really enjoyed my Cosmos...

11-Jun-2024

I really enjoyed my Cosmos tour to Italy last September. However I was totally disappointed by two major things which completely changed the atmosphere of the holiday for me. One was the 'last minute' rearrangement of one of our hotels which then put us well outside of Florence on a trading estate for two nights instead of walking distance from the city walls. That completely blocked any plans or ideas of enjoying Florence in the evening. My biggest disappointment was the terrible travel arrangements and associated advice about travelling through Heathrow Cosmos put in place for me and for which they refused to be accountable despite the fact that they had made the ticket booking on my behalf and I had asked them for appropriate check in advice at all key points before I travelled. As a result I was put on standby when I should never have been (even the BA departure staff were shocked at this) and separated from my luggage which travelled on a later flight. I spent over 6 hrs of my first day in Rome in the airport waiting for my luggage and subsequent transfer to my hotel, without any assistance from Cosmos or BA airside staff. When I complained after my holiday, Cosmos would not take any responsibility at all for the fact that I lost the first day of my holiday and approx. 50% of the time I was due to spend in Rome, preferring to blame BA who in turn were uncontactable about my complaint. Very poor customer service indeed.

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1 Select your preferred date

Friday - Sunday

May 09, 2025 - May 18, 2025
$4065 $3752

Operator discount: -$313

Friday - Sunday

May 30, 2025 - Jun 08, 2025
$4093 $3779

Operator discount: -$313

Friday - Sunday

Jun 27, 2025 - Jul 06, 2025
$4140 $3827

Operator discount: -$313

Friday - Sunday

Jul 25, 2025 - Aug 03, 2025
$4679 $4366

Operator discount: -$313

Friday - Sunday

Sep 12, 2025 - Sep 21, 2025
$4093 $3779

Operator discount: -$313

Friday - Sunday

Oct 03, 2025 - Oct 12, 2025
$4632 $4318

Operator discount: -$313

Friday - Sunday

Oct 10, 2025 - Oct 19, 2025
$4093 $3779

Operator discount: -$313

Prices last published on 23-Dec-2024

Book with Confidence

  • Low Deposit

    Globus requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of globus charges.

    Up to 91 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

    At 90 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.

    At 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 80% of booking price.

    At 1 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.

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