Best of the US Express
18 days
From
$ 3649
Duration18 days
This whirlwind 18-day camping trip throughout the United States covers nearly every major cultural touchstone of this massive (and hugely exciting) destination. Experience the lights of NYC's Times Square, discover the Elvis fan in you at Graceland, mosey down noisy Bourbon Street in New Orleans, peer across the majesty of the Grand Canyon, and then walk down the crookedest street in the world in San Francisco, all the while camping out beneath a night sky that has had countless songs written about it. Come along and see the best of the USA the way it was meant to be seen.
This tour is operated by
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Duration: 18 daysService level: Camping
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Physical Grading: Average
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Ages: 18+
Tour Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1: New York City
Arrive at any time.
Please note this trip leaves the city first thing the following morning. If you wish to spend time in New York City, speak to your sales agent about booking pre-accommodation.
Day 2: New York City/Finger Lakes
Take a hike to explore this beautiful Finger Lakes region on foot, rent a kayak or paddleboard, or just relax by the lake. Opt to taste wine from one of the local vineyards.
Travel to the Finger Lakes region, and take in the natural beauty of the area. Opt to cool off in the lake, or sample wine from a local winery.
Meals: D
Day 3: Finger Lakes/Niagara Falls
An exciting adventure awaits in Niagara Falls. Feel the rushing waters of the falls taking the famous "Maid of the Mist Boat Tour." Return after darkness settles over the Niagara region and witness the Falls illuminated in a rainbow of colour!
Visit towering Taughannock Falls, before travelling to Niagara Falls. Get wet on the Maid of the Mist boat tour and be sure to check out the falls illuminated in the evening.
Opening day for Maid of the Mist is usually the end of April or beginning of May, but is dependent on ice conditions and varies year by year.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 4: Niagara Falls/Detroit
Drive along Lake Erie, through the city of Cleveland before continuing on to Detroit. Detroit is having a resurgence and is quickly transforming with new markets, distilleries, art galleries, and restaurants popping up. Enjoy a free evening to explore this up-and-coming destination.
Meals: B, L
Day 5: Detroit/Chicago
Continue west to Chicago. There's tons to do in the Windy City – walk along the river to Millennium Park, enjoy dazzling music, and stroll the boardwalk of the Navy Pier. Opt to ride to the top of the Willis Tower, or hit the town for a night out with the group.
Meals: B
Day 6: Chicago
Enjoy a free day to explore Chicago.
Meals: B
Day 7: Chicago/Louisville
Follow the Kentucky Bourbon Trail to Louisville. Home of the Kentucky Derby, this city is a foodie haven filled with lively bars and farm-to-table restaurants. Enjoy a free afternoon to explore, and don't forget to indulge in some BBQ and bourbon.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 8: Louisville/Nashville
Travel to the country music capital of the world. Head out for live music, line dancing, and cowboy nightlife tonight. Keep your eyes peeled for some of country music's biggest stars.
Meals: B, L
Day 9: Nashville
Nashville has so much unique culture to experience while visiting. No stay would be complete without trying some of the cities famous hot fried chicken, or visiting one of its many country bars or music museums.
Enjoy a free day in Nashville. Opt to visit the Grand Ole Opry, Country Music Hall of Fame, Johnny Cash Museum, or take in live music along the "Honky Tonk Highway".
Meals: B
Day 10: Nashville/Memphis
In the afternoon, opt to walk in the footsteps of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll at Elvis Presley’s home, Graceland. See how the legend lived and discover videos, pictures, stage costumes, and much more. Then hear the music in Memphis, Tennessee! Explore the birthplace of Rock 'n' Roll, Home of Blues, and the starting point of soul. Music legends, including Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and B.B. King, made their marks on Memphis.
Opt to check out the National Civil Rights Museum, located where Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated.
Opt to check out the National Civil Rights Museum, located where Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated.
Explore the vibrant cultural and musical melting pot of Memphis. Take an optional tour of Graceland, opt to relive history at the National Civil Rights Museum, or tour the Rock 'n' Soul Museum. Head to Beale Street at night for great food and live music.
Meals: B, L
Day 11: Memphis/New Orleans
The CEO will point out a few things on the drive in, then get out and experience the city at its best. Enjoy a night out with the group.
Crank up the jazz and drive into the home of Mardi Gras. Explore the French Quarter, and join the revellers on Bourbon Street 'til the early hours.
Meals: B, L
Day 12: New Orleans/Los Angeles
Hop on a flight to LA, and get ready to explore the highlights of the West.
Please note that there may be additional baggage fees for the internal flight if you are checking your bag.
Day 13: Los Angeles/Lake Havasu
Be on celebrity-watch while passing by a few popular sites on the way out of California's most glamourous city. Hike among the boulders and famous Joshua trees, then cool off in the crystal-clear waters of the Colorado River at Lake Havasu.
Meals: D
Day 14: Lake Havasu/Grand Canyon
In the morning, discover something unexpected, the London Bridge, in Lake Havasu City. Continue across vast desert landscapes to one of the earth's greatest on-going geological spectacles: the Grand Canyon. Take short hikes at the most spectacular gorge in the world and enjoy a pizza dinner at the rim as you view the stunning sunset.
Visit the mighty Grand Canyon. Take short hikes and enjoy sunset at the edge of the canyon.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 15: Grand Canyon/Las Vegas
For our night in Las Vegas, we stay close to the action in a hotel in the city centre.
Pre-book a bird's-eye view of the Grand Canyon with an optional helicopter flight. Travel Route 66, then explore Las Vegas along the strip and opt for a VIP party limo experience.
Meals: B
Day 16: Las Vegas/Sierra Nevadas
Visit a land of extremes in Death Valley National Park.
Meals: L, D
Day 17: Sierra Nevadas/Yosemite National Park
With a keen eye, you may be lucky enough to spot black bears, deer or coyotes.
Discover Yosemite's peaks, granite domes and giant sequoias. Marvel at majestic waterfalls, lakes and meadows.
We intend to use the Tioga Pass, a scenic a route through the Sierra Nevada mountain range that connects Bishop with Yosemite NP. In the spring and autumn seasons, there's a chance the pass will be closed due to poor weather conditions or even snow. In this case, we use an alternate route, and spend the night in Lake Isabella instead of Bishop. The status of the road is monitored daily, and our travel plan for the area will be confirmed during the trip.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 18: Yosemite National Park/San Francisco
There's a lot to see and do in San Francisco, and we recommend spending extra time here if you'd like to explore the city; speak to your sales agent to book extra accommodation. Haight-Ashbury, Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman's Wharf and the city's famous cable cars await you.
Catch a glimpse of the Golden Gate Bridge on the way into one of America's most popular cities. Trip ends upon arrival to San Francisco. Opt to take a cable car ride over the steep hills, rent a bike to explore the city on wheels, or pre book a sailing trip into the setting sun.
If you are departing on arrival to San Francisco, you will not have enough time to participate in the Sunset Sailing extra. Post-tour accommodation is required to purchase this extra.
Meals: B, L
Inclusions
Included
- Your Welcome Moment: Meet Your CEO and Group Your Discover Moment: Chicago Your Discover Moment: Nashville
- Entrance fees to all national parks with hiking and walking excursions
- Taughannock Falls visit
- Maid of the Mist tour
- Cleveland stop
- London Bridge visit (Lake Havasu)
- Sunset at the rim of the Grand Canyon
- Death Valley visit
- Free time in Detroit, Chicago, Louisville, Nashville, and Memphis
- Self-inflating mattresses and dome tents while camping
- Internal flight
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
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Transport
Air-conditioned private vehicle, Plane, Walking -
Accommodation
Hotels/hostels (6 nts, some multi-share), Participation camping (11 nts)