The Trans-American Rail Tour 2012 

We depart from London for San Francisco where our base for three nights is the Holiday Inn Golden Gateway. Our sightseeing tour on Day 2 includes the inspiring Golden Gate Bridge and the popular Fisherman's Wharf. We also visit the infamous island of Alcatraz, once a federal penitentiary housing notorious criminals such as Al Capone and the 'Birdman of Alcatraz'. You are free to continue exploring at leisure on Day 3. Explore the vibrant streets of Chinatown and the intriguing Golden Gate Fortune Cookie factory, or ride the trams (cable cars) up and down the hilly streets and visit the famous winding Lombard Street, which has the distinction of being 'the crookedest street in the world".

We travel by train on the San Joaquin route through California's Central Valley, bordered by the coastal mountain ranges and Yosemite National Park. At Merced we transfer by coach to Yosemite itself to enjoy a tour of the Valley Floor, taking in views of Half Dome, the 3,000 foot vertical monolith of El Capitan and the spectacular Bridal Veil Falls. Heading back to Merced, we spend the night at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel.

Our journey on the San Joaquin continues southwards on Day 5. Arriving in Bakersfield, we depart eastwards by coach through California and across the Mojave Desert into Nevada, with the terrain getting progressively more mountainous towards the Nevada border. We spend two nights at the Hampton Inn Tropicana Las Vegas. On Day 6 you are free to explore wonderful Las Vegas at leisure. The Las Vegas monorail is a great way to explore the amazing sights and spectacles of the Las Vegas Strip and its variety of resorts, which offer something for everyone, with top class shows and an extraordinary selection of entertainment choices on your doorstep, including the world-famous casinos.

Today we head across Nevada to Arizona, via the Hoover Dam. Entering Arizona we arrive on the legendary Route 66 and Flagstaff, where we spend two nights at the Little America Hotel, set amidst 500 acres of ponderosa pine forest.

We travel in vintage carriages hauled by historic locomotives on the Grand Canyon Railway to see one of the world's most awe-inspiring sights, the Grand Canyon. The canyon, created by the Colorado River over a period of 6 million years, is 277 miles (446km) long, up to 18 miles (29km) wide, and a mile (1.6km) deep. We arrive at the South Rim and main viewpoint of the Canyon where we take in the dramatic vistas. You have the option of taking a spectacular flight over the Canyon (payable locally) - a fantastic way to see the scale of this natural wonder!

Today we drive through Navajo country and Utah's Monument Valley - both familiar as the rugged landscape setting of America's Western movies. Monument Valley is one of America's defining images. The whole region has the imagery and feel of a bygone age, where cowboys still spend lonely months herding cattle across miles of untouched hills and Native Americans still perform rituals passed down through the generations. We arrive in Durango where we spend the night at the Doubletree Hotel.

On Day 10 we board the Durango and Silverton Railroad* for a journey across the remote wilderness of the National Forest, through breathtaking canyons, past emerald-green rivers, to Silverton. We continue by coach to Grand Junction and stay at the Hampton Inn. On Day 11 we travel on one of the USA's most scenic rail journeys along the route of the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad. Our journey takes us up into the Rocky Mountains, past dramatic peaks and deep ravines and through the heart of the Colorado wine region. Our destination is Denver, where we spend two nights at the Warwick Hotel Denver.

*During the early part of the season the Durango and Silverton Railroad operates a winter timetable. During this period we enjoy an alternative journey from Durango to Cascade Canyon.

You have a free day to explore Denver's sights. The city boasts a mile-long promenade lined with cafés and shops and a mountain view down every street. On Day 13 we leave the city by coach to explore the natural attractions of the Rocky Mountain National Park and Estes Park, with majestic mountain vistas and a wide array of wildlife including elk, bighorn sheep, black bears, coyotes, eagles, and hawks.

On Day 14 we complete the journey to Chicago, arriving mid afternoon for an introductory sightseeing tour, spending one night at the Affinia Hotel Chicago. Day 15 is free to explore Chicago and perhaps climb the Sears Tower for a magnificent view. We board the Lake Shore Limited this evening for the overnight journey to Buffalo.

We arrive in Buffalo and transfer to Niagara Falls. We overnight at the Sheraton at the Falls, located within walking distance of the attractions on the US side of the spectacular falls. You have the opportunity to explore the falls from the water on a river tour. At lunchtime on Day 17, we travel on the Maple Leaf service to New York City, where our hotel for three nights is the Beacon Hotel, located close to Central Park, just a short metro ride from Times Square.

We 'wake up in the city that never sleeps' today and begin our time in the Big Apple with a sightseeing tour including Central Park and glamorous Fifth Avenue, before enjoying a harbour cruise around Manhattan past the Statue of Liberty. You have plenty of free time to explore this exciting city, perhaps visiting bustling Grand Central Station, poignant 'Ground Zero', unsurpassed art galleries and museums or see a show on Broadway. We transfer to the airport on Day 20, flying overnight to London arriving on Day 21.