Tour Map

Day 1 • San Francisco, California
See the best of California on a fun-filled vacation that includes two nights in a national park lodge at the base of Yosemite Falls. Your Golden State adventure begins in San Francisco, the romantic city by the bay. Enjoy a relaxing two night stay at your hotel near Fisherman’s Wharf. Rooms are available for check-in after 3:00 p.m. Join Caravan for a 6:00 p.m. welcome briefing. Evening is at leisure to explore San Francisco.

Day 2 • Wine Country
After breakfast, enjoy a morning sightseeing tour of San Francisco highlights. See Union Square, Chinatown, Nob Hill, and Golden Gate Park. Then, head over the Golden Gate Bridge, an engineering masterpiece. Continue to Sonoma wine country. Enjoy a wine tasting at a local vineyard. On your return to San Francisco, stop at the Golden Gate Bridge Overlook. Afternoon and evening at leisure. You may wish to ride a historic cable car, cruise on San Francisco Bay, or dine and shop on Fisherman’s Wharf.
Meals: Breakfast

Day 3 • Monterey, Big Sur, Carmel
This morning, head south along the California coast. Enjoy a train ride through coastal redwoods. Continue to Monterey, home of John Steinbeck, who chronicled the adventures of this colorful fishing village. Free time at Cannery Row. Next, wind along the coast on Pacific Grove’s Sunset Drive. Then, enjoy Monterey’s famous Seventeen Mile Drive. See natural wonders, including Seal Rock and the Lone Cypress. Drive by the Pebble Beach Golf Course. Next, a spectacular drive on the Big Sur, one of the world’s most awe-inspiring coastal drives. On one side is the sparkling turquoise Pacific Ocean with its pounding surf, dramatic cliffs and endless horizon, and on the other is the Santa Lucia Mountain Range. Photo stop at a Big Sur scenic viewpoint. Return north via the Big Sur for a second opportunity to see dramatic vistas. Drive through charming Carmel By The Sea. Overnight on Monterey Bay.
Meals: Breakfast

Day 4 • Yosemite National Park
This morning, pass through the fertile San Joaquin Valley and by the San Luis Reservoir, part of the vast California irrigation project. Arrive at Yosemite National Park for a relaxing two night stay. Your lodge is inside Yosemite Park, and is the closest lodging to the base of Yosemite Falls. Established in 1890, Yosemite’s 1,000 square mile park is an enduring legacy to the conservation efforts of naturalist John Muir, founder of the Sierra Club. Brief orientation drive upon arrival. Overnight in Yosemite National Park.
Meals: Breakfast

Day 5 • Yosemite National Park
Enjoy a valley floor orientation drive showcasing the wonders of Yosemite Park. Look for waterfalls, including Yosemite Falls and Bridalveil Falls, and marvel at the two towering granite monoliths known as Half Dome and El Capitan. The rest of your day is at leisure to explore Yosemite Park. Hike the nature trails through giant cedar, pine, and fir trees or just simply relax in the splendor of Yosemite Park. Your two night stay inside Yosemite allows time for a comprehensive visit. Overnight in Yosemite National Park.
Meals: Breakfast

Day 6 • Hearst Castle, Central Coast
Head south through California’s Central Valley. Stop and look for Elephant Seals resting along a Pacific Ocean beach. Then, enjoy a visit to Hearst Castle. During the 1920’s and 1930’s, politicians and Hollywood movie stars were frequent guests at William Randolph Hearst’s castle. Movie star Cary Grant considered the pool one of the most romantic spots on earth. Continue south. Photo stop at Morro Bay, the Gibraltar of the Pacific. Overnight along California’s Central Coast.
Meals: Breakfast

Day 7 • Santa Barbara, Santa Monica
Morning visit to the historic Santa Barbara Mission. Sightseeing drive of downtown Santa Barbara. Photo stop at the Santa Barbara waterfront. Continue south along the Malibu coastline to Santa Monica. Photo stop overlooking Santa Monica Pier, a backdrop for many Hollywood films and TV shows, including “Baywatch.” Continue to your hotel, for a relaxing two night stay. Your hotel is in the fashionable West Side of Los Angeles, near Rodeo Drive and Beverly Hills. Evening at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast

Day 8 • Hollywood, Beverly Hills
Explore behind-the-scenes Hollywood on your morning visit to Sony Studios. The studio is home to the popular shows “Wheel of Fortune” and “Jeopardy,” as well as many blockbuster movies, including “Spider-Man.” Enjoy a rare glimpse of old Hollywood’s glory days as you walk on sound stages where movie history was made. Then, continue to Hollywood. See the famous Hollywood sign in the hills above. Stop at the Chinese Theater (Grauman’s). Here you see the imprints of Jimmy Durante’s nose, John Wayne’s fist, and Betty Grable’s legs. Stroll Hollywood’s most famous sidewalk, known as the Walk of Fame, where you see the stars of Elvis Presley, Julie Andrews, Groucho Marx, Nicole Kidman, Elton John, and many more. See the dramatic entrance of the Dolby (Kodak) Theatre, home of the Academy Awards. Next, take the Sunset Strip to Beverly Hills and pass Rodeo Drive, America’s most celebrated shopping district. Return to your hotel. The rest of your afternoon is at leisure. Farewell dinner tonight.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 9 • Los Angeles
Your tour ends after breakfast. Thanks for vacationing with Caravan.
Meals: Breakfast

Caret DownCaret Up RedWhy Travel with Caravan?

Why Travel with Caravan?

Excellence Since 1952

You can trust our years of experience with tours of superb quality and excellent value. Caravan has enjoyed the same family management and ownership since 1952.

PanAm Jet
In 1959, Pan Am invited Caravan to be the very first tour company to fly their clients on its new line of Clipper Jets.
Vintage Motorcoach
In 1964, Caravan introduced the very first fleet of air conditioned motorcoaches in all of Europe.
Leather Back Turtle Park
Caravan is a proud supporter of the Leatherback Turtle National Park and Costa Rica's efforts to protect this endangered giant.
Federal Reserve Bank Of Chicago

Caravan Care

For your safety, Caravan cancelled most 2020 and all 2021 tour departures and refunded 100% of all payments received. See Caravan’s Covid-19 Terms of Travel.

Caravan's Proud History

In 1965, Roger Mudd hosted a two-hour CBS TV special on Caravan Tours. This TV production took about one month to make and was so successful it inspired the 1968 romantic comedy movie “If it’s Tuesday this must be Belgium.” In the early 50’s the Mayor of Dublin presented Caravan with the Key to Dublin for bringing the first American tour to the city after WWII. Since then, Caravan has been recognized as a pioneer in travel. You can trust in our stability, experience and dedication to quality.

Great Hotels

Stay at park lodges, scenic resorts, and excellent hotels in great locations. See hotel descriptions on each tour page.

Meals

Most meals included within Latin America. For USA and Canada tours, included meals are listed on each itinerary page. Bottled water is provided on motorcoaches in Latin America.

Complete Sightseeing

Enjoy complete sightseeing with more visits, extra features, and local guides.

Fully Guided by Tour Directors

All tours conducted from start to finish by professional tour directors, who are fluent in English, experienced, and fun.

All-inclusive

Caravan includes all activities listed in the tour itinerary page. Caravan does not sell any optional activities which can add hundreds of dollars to your tour price. Your free time is scheduled in great settings where there is no need to buy additional expensive activities.

Shopping Freedom

Caravan will not bring you to overpriced shops in exchange for payments. Caravan gives you ample opportunity and time for great shopping, and the freedom to choose where and when to shop.

Great Value, Book Early

Caravan’s strong buying power gives you great vacations at prices much lower than you can find anywhere. In a typical year, most of our tours sell out quickly. Book early for the date you prefer and the best air fare.

How does Caravan Tours sell these tours for such a low cost?

Caravan delivers volume to our suppliers, who in turn reward us with their very best prices. We in turn pass these savings on to you, and you reward us by buying our tours. As volume continues to rise, we then receive even better prices from our suppliers, and we pass even greater savings on to you. This year our tours are better than ever.

Trade Association Memberships

Caravan is a member of ASTA (American Society of Travel Advisors), NTA (National Tour Association), ABA (American Bus Association), CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association), and ACMA (American Catalog Association).

ASTA, NTA, ABA, CLIA, and ACMA