Discover the best of California on a journey that combines iconic cities, spectacular coastal scenery, and some of the state's most celebrated natural landscapes. Begin in San Francisco, where sightseeing includes the Golden Gate Bridge, Chinatown, and Fisherman's Wharf.Then explore Yosemite National Park, home to towering granite cliffs, waterfalls, forests, and giant Sequoias, the world's largest living trees. Continue to Monterey's historic waterfront and Cannery Row before traveling along the scenic 17-Mile Drive, passing the Lone Cypress, Pebble Beach Golf Links, and dramatic Pacific coastline en route to Carmel-by-the-Sea.Drive along Big Sur on California's Pacific Coast Highway for unforgettable ocean views, Visit Pismo Beach, the Danish village of Solvang and Santa Barbara before arriving in Los Angeles. Guided sightseeing features Hollywood, the TCL Chinese Theatre, the Dolby Theatre, and the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Continue to San Diego to see city highlights including the historic Hotel del Coronado and have the opportunity to go on an optional excursion to the world-famous San Diego Zoo.Before returning to Los Angeles, visit Mission San Juan Capistrano, called the “Jewel of the Missions’ for its beautiful Spanish buildings and gardens. Coastal landscapes, world-famous cities, a magnificent national park and more, this value-minded tour offers the best of the Golden State.
The world is within reach with everything you need for perfectly affordable touring. Cosmos includes hand-selected accommodations, guided sightseeing, and seamless transportation between destinations—with value-minded travel lovers in mind. Explore with expert Cosmos Tour Directors and Local Guides, and private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach with free Wi-Fi (where available). Your Tour Includes:• Guided city sightseeing in San Francisco and Los Angeles, featuring iconic landmarks and neighborhoods• Orientation tour of San Diego, California's coastal city known for its waterfront, beaches, and near-perfect year-round climate• Admission and guided sightseeing in Yosemite National Park, home to Half Dome, El Capitan, and spectacular waterfalls• Entrance fee and guided sightseeing along the scenic 17-Mile Drive, featuring dramatic Pacific coastline views and the famed Lone Cypress• Admission and self-guided tour of Mission San Juan Capistrano, one of California's best-known Spanish missions
Meals
Meals & Itinerary
1 Breakfast
Notes:
- The drive along the coast to Big Sur is dependent on the current road conditions and regulations on Pacific Coast Highway 1.
Itinerary
Day 1 SAN FRANCISCO
Welcome to San Francisco! Your Tour Director is available from 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. to answer any questions.Once settled, perhaps venture out and start exploring this vibrant city. Walk to Union Square or to Chinatown, the largest Chinatown outside of Asia, or seek out some of the city’s renowned culinary scene.SAN-FRANCISCO-CITY-VIEW-GOLDEN-GATE.jpg
Day 2 SAN FRANCISCO
Today, tour the “City by the Bay.” Guided sightseeing includes the Golden Gate Bridge, Nob Hill, Chinatown, and Fisherman’s Wharf. This afternoon is yours to explore. Perhaps take an iconic cable-car ride, visit Golden Gate Park or tour Alcatraz Island Prison. Or take the optional guided e-bike tour across the Golden Gate Bridge and down into the lovely waterfront town of Sausalito before returning by ferry to Fisherman’s Wharf.NOTE:Advance ticket purchase through the National Park Service is recommended for Alcatraz Island. SAN-FRANCISCO-CABLE-CAR.jpg
Day 3 SAN FRANCISCO-YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK–OAKHURST
This morning, travel east through California’s Central Valley and enter Yosemite National Park, one of the most visited national parks in the United States. See iconic landmarks such as El Capitan, Half Dome, and Yosemite Falls, the tallest waterfall in North America, as you explore a landscape of soaring granite cliffs, spectacular waterfalls, and lush forested valleys. Overnight in nearby Oakhurst.YOSEMITE-NATIONAL-PARK-VIEW.jpg
Day 4 OAKHURST-YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK–MONTEREY
Return to Yosemite to see the giant Sequoias, among the largest trees on Earth. Then head west to Monterey on California’s Pacific Coast. Visit historic Old Fisherman’s Wharf in Monterey Harbor, where sea lions and otters are often spotted, and explore Cannery Row, the waterfront district made famous by John Steinbeck’s novel Cannery Row. YOSEMITE-NATIONAL-PARK-SEQUOIAS.jpg
Breakfast
Day 5 MONTEREY–17-MILE DRIVE-CARMEL-PISMO BEACH
Travel along California’s Pacific Ocean on scenic 17-Mile Drive. See the iconic Lone Cypress and stop at the Pebble Beach Visitor Center to learn about the history of Pebble Beach Golf Links. Continue to Carmel-by-the-Sea, a coastal village known for its cottages, galleries, and white-sand beach. Journey through Big Sur, where the dramatic coastal cliffs, redwood forests, and stunning ocean views make this California’s most scenic drive. Overnight in Pismo Beach.NOTE:Travel along the coast to Big Sur is dependent on the current road conditions and regulations on Pacific Coast Highway 1.CARMEL-17-MILE-DRIVE.jpg
Day 6 PISMO BEACH-SOLVANG-SANTA BARBARA-LOS ANGELES
Continue down California’s Central Coast to Solvang, a Danish-inspired village known for its windmills, half-timbered buildings, and bakeries. Enjoy free time to stroll the village streets and sample traditional Danish pastries. Continue to Santa Barbara. where Spanish Colonial architecture, palm-lined waterfronts, and a Mediterranean climate define the city’s character. Take a walk along Stearns Wharf pier or browse the shops and galleries in downtown Santa Barbara before arriving in Los Angeles for a two-night stay.SOLVANG.jpg
Day 7 LOS ANGELES
Begin the day with a sightseeing tour of Hollywood including the historic TCL Chinese Theatre and the Dolby Theatre, home of the Academy Awards ceremony. Visit the Hollywood Walk of Fame, where more than 2,700 terrazzo and brass stars honor achievements in film, television, music, radio, and live performance. Continue to the Santa Monica Pier and Santa Monica Beach, one of Southern California’s most popular coastal destinations. The remainder of the day is at leisure. Perhaps join the optional excursion to the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures to explore the history of filmmaking and the art of cinema.LOS-ANGELES-WALK-OF-FAME.jpg
Day 8 LOS ANGELES–DANA POINT-SAN DIEGO
Today, travel south along the California coast to San Diego, with a stop in Dana Point, known for its harbor and Pacific Ocean views. Continue to San Diego for a city tour that includes a visit to the historic Hotel del Coronado, a National Historic Landmark featured in films such as Some Like it Hot. Check into your downtown hotel for a two-night stay. This evening, perhaps explore the city’s waterfront and vibrant dining scene.DANA-POINT-HARBOR.jpg
Day 9 SAN DIEGO
Enjoy a day at leisure. Explore the city by bike along the waterfront, take a harbor cruise, or spend time discovering neighborhoods such as the Gaslamp Quarter and Little Italy. Or join an optional excursion to the world-famous San Diego Zoo, a 100-acre wildlife park that is home to more than 12,000 rare and endangered animals and one of the largest botanical collections in the United States. SAN-DIEGO-SKYLINE.jpg
Day 10 SAN DIEGO- MISSION SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO-LOS ANGELES
Travel north to Los Angeles, stopping to visit Mission San Juan Capistrano, the “Crown Jewel of the California Missions”. Founded in 1776, the Mission is a monument to California’s multi-cultural history, embracing its Native American, Spanish, Mexican and European heritage. Continue to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), where your vacation ends. Please schedule departing flights for 5 p.m. or later. You may also choose to extend your vacation with extra nights to further explore Los Angeles.MISSION-SAN-JUAN-CAPISTRANO-XGTY.jpg
Tour Director
With COSMOS, there’s no better way to get to know your destination than through the eyes of a Tour Director. We’d like you to meet one of our Tour Directors, who average over a decade of experience and are representative of the type of expert that will be with you on your vacation.
KEN HARTFORD
Escorting tours for more than 15 years
Escorting tours for more than 15 years
“The West has been my home since I was born, and its incredible diversity has kept me engaged since my earliest memories. It is a world of iconic places and undiscovered gems waiting to be explored. Experience the bustle of its cities and the serenity of its open spaces, hear the stories of its people, and embrace the wonder of its beauty. No matter who you are or where you come from, there is something about the West that will never leave you.”
Optional Excursions
No matter what you’re into: food, wine, history, art, music or anything else,
we give you the freedom to personalize your vacation with optional excursions that speak to your interests.
When you book your excursions with us, you can be assured that every optional excursion that we offer coordinates with the free time that you'll have in your destination,
so you'll never have conflicts between included and optional activities.
Our team of travel experts carefully selects each optional excursion that we offer to ensure that you receive the highest quality at a great value.
Our tried-and-true partners have a finger on the pulse of the city in which they operate so they deliver the very best experiences.
We offer experiences you cannot create on your own and because you’re booking with us, we coordinate all your transportation and timing needs.
The following optional excursions are examples only for this vacation. These may or may not be offered, and availability is subject to days of operation and seasonality. Please select a departure date to view optional excursions and pricing for a specific date (due to currency fluctuation, pricing shown is subject to change until purchased). Optional excursions are available for purchase on our MyCosmos site 90 days prior to the tour start date.
Price Ranges
$ ($50 CAD and under)
$$ ($51 - $100 CAD)
$$$ ($101 - $150 CAD)
$$$$ (Over $150)
San Francisco
Los Angeles
San Diego
San Francisco
San Francisco Bay Cruise
This fully narrated one-hour cruise sails under the majestic Golden Gate Bridge. Experience the thrilling history of San Francisco Bay with all the sound and glory it deserves.
Price Range: $$
Muir Woods Tower Tours
Venture north over the Golden Gate Bridge to an isolated canyon filled with ancient coastal redwood trees, also known as Muir Woods National Monument.
Price Range: $$$
E-Bike the Bridge
Ride with your guide along San Francisco's stunning waterfront, across the Golden Gate Bridge and with free time in Sausalito, and take the ferry back to Fisherman's Wharf. This beginner-friendly e-bicycle tour is perfect for anyone seeking an up-close & personal look at famous landmarks.
Price Range: $$$$
Los Angeles
The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures
Step into the spotlight with a visit to the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, the world's premier institution dedicated to the art and science of film. This visit offers a curated journey through Hollywood history, from the Golden Age to today's groundbreaking cinema.
Price Range: $
San Diego
San Diego Zoo
The famous San Diego Zoo is home to more than 3,500 rare and endangered animals representing more than 650 species, and offers visitors various opportunities and experiences to learn about the animals and conservation efforts.
Price Range: $$$
The “Starting at” or listed price is based on the lowest price available to book. Price is per person based on twin occupancy and any applicable port charges, non-commissionable taxes and fees and intra-vacation flight are included in the price shown. Any included overnight stay in Canada, applicable GST/HST is also included in the price shown. International airfare, however, is not included. If price is crossed out, the new price shown includes a limited time promotional offer(s). Please review current promotions or deals for additional information.