12-Nights Best of the West Road Trip: California, Utah & Vegas Bright Lights - Roamies by Hostelworld & G Adventures

Best of the West Road Trip: California, Utah & Vegas Bright Lights
Want the the ultimate U.S. road trip? Coming right up. Spend 13 days seeing the best of the west as you travel through four states, six national parks, and along historic Route 66. Treat your eyes (and your soul) to stunning views of the Pacific Ocean. Chill out with the laid-back beach vibes of Santa Monica. Look way, way, way up at the towering granite rocks in Yosemite. And explore the infamous Death Valley and the legendary Joshua Tree National Park. Just under two weeks is all you need for this quintessential U.S. adventure — ready to hit the open road?

Highlights
Cruise through the dazzling neighbourhoods of LA, Sleep along the Pacific Coast in Avila, Stargaze in Yosemite National Park, Hike through the harsh landscapes of Death Valley, Witness the grandeur of Zion, Wander through the hoodoos of Bryce Canyon, Hike to view the impressive Horseshoe Bend, Stare in awe at the utter vastness of the Grand Canyon, Walk among the giant boulders in Joshua Tree, Travel along historic Route 66, Sit back and relax near the Santa Monica Pier

Accomodation
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).

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.

Group Size Notes
Max 13

Meals Included
10 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 2 dinners

What's Included
Your Welcome Moment: Meet Your CEO and Group
Your Discover Moment: Yosemite National Park.
All national park fees. Los Angeles Sightseeing With CEO. Coastal free time in Avila. Guided visit and hikes in Yosemite National Park. Sightseeing in Yosemite through Tioga Pass Tuolumne Meadows Lembert Dome Tenaya Lake, and Mono Lake. Death Valley National Park visit. Free time in Las Vegas. Bryce Canyon National Park visit and hike. Zion National Park visit and guided hike. Horseshoe Bend hike. Grand Canyon National Park visit. Joshua Tree National Park visit. Visit Route 66. Free time in Santa Monica. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities.