The ultimate USA adventure, from New York to San Francisco

We fly from London Heathrow to New York City, one of the USA's most lively cities. We spend two nights here; the perfect introduction to the vibrant culture of the United States.

Today we're introduced to the 'Big Apple' on a sightseeing cruise around iconic Manhattan Harbour, spotting landmarks from our unique vantage point on the water including Ellis Island and the torch-wielding icon, the Statue of Liberty herself. Back on land, we take a guided city tour of New York City, seeing world-famous sights including Central Park, the open, leafy space set amongst the city's glittering skyscrapers.

Boarding a train south today, we travel to the nation's capital and political powerhouse, Washington D.C. We spend two nights here, immersing ourselves in the country's rich and fascinating political history. This afternoon, we head out on a guided tour that takes in many famous landmarks. We see the White House, the official residence and workplace of the president of the United States. We also visit Capitol Hill - the seat of the U.S. government, and Georgetown, a historic cobblestoned neighbourhood.

On Day 4, you're free to explore the city at your own pace.

Late this afternoon we leave the capital on Amtrak's Capitol Limited service. The service runs daily between Washington D.C. and the exciting city of Chicago, following the historic B&O line through the Potomac Valley. Our overnight journey takes in the vast and beautiful scenery of the United States, as we pass historic Harpers Ferry and the Allegheny Mountains on the way to Pittsburgh. We cross into Ohio and head north to Cleveland across Indiana as the train continues through the night.

We arrive in Chicago after breakfast. Known as the 'Windy City', Chicago is the capital of the state of Illinois and is set on the sea-like shores of the vast Lake Michigan. We take a city tour here that revisits the 'dry and lawless years' of the 1920s and 30s. We take in the site of the St Valentine's Day Massacre as well as Al Capone's headquarters and some of the city's famous landmarks and architecture, including Willis Tower and Millenium Park.

You're free to explore Chicago in your own time today. The city boasts a stunning skyline along with many highly-rated museums, restaurants and cafés. You could climb the 110-storey Willis Tower, which, upon its completion in 1974, was the world's tallest building. On a clear day, from the observation deck, it's possible to enjoy views over four states - Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Indiana.

After a free morning on Day 8, we board the California Zephyr for an overnight journey to Grand Junction, that takes us across the cornfields and plains of Iowa and Nebraska. The Zephyr has a Sightseer Lounge where you can relax and enjoy the views speeding past the window.

After a night spent winding past dramatic peaks and deep ravines, we arrive in Grand Junction, in the heart of Colorado's wine region. We spend the night here, and the rest of the day is free for you to get acquainted with the town. Explore downtown Main Street, where the atmosphere is distinctly 'small-town America', with pleasant cafés and restaurants, and characterful gift shops.

On Day 10, we make our way to Silverton for a journey on the Durango & Silverton Railroad. This is a wonderfully nostalgic rail journey that seemingly takes us back in time to the bygone 'Wild West' era famous from Hollywood movies. We travel through breathtaking canyons, past emerald-green rivers, and across the remote wilderness of the National Forest, finally arriving in Durango, where we spend the night.

After breakfast, we depart Durango. Familiar from a hundred westerns, the rugged landscape of Utah's Monument Valley is one of America's defining images, and we discover it today as we pass through en-route to Flagstaff.

On Day 12, we head along the legendary Route 66 to the town of Williams, where we join the Grand Canyon Railway. We travel in carriages hauled by historic locomotives on our way to 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 long, up to 18 miles wide, and a mile deep. We arrive at the South Rim and the main viewpoint of the Canyon, where the views across the natural wonder are breathtaking.

Travelling along iconic Route 66 today, we make our way to Las Vegas, a city synonymous with indulgence, glitz and glamour and famed for its neon lights, famous casinos and lively shows. With an afternoon free in 'Sin City', it's the perfect time to enjoy a spot of shopping at one of the great shops on The Strip, or perhaps sit down to a delicious meal at one of the many world-class celebrity restaurants. We spend tonight in the city.

On Day 14, we continue across the desert to Los Angeles, another of the USA's most famous destinations. As the home of America's movie industry, the city is home to many of the worlds most rich and famous, something reflected in its sophisticated modern homes, chic restaurants, and exclusive boutiques. Our guided tour this afternoon introduces us to some of the most well-known spots in the city, including Hollywood Boulevard, where golden stars set into the pavement honour Hollywood's most famous names on the iconic Walk of Fame. We check into our hotel where you could enjoy a relaxed evening, or if you'd prefer, you could head out into LA to explore further.

Leaving the bright lights of Los Angeles, we head to San Francisco on the Coast Starlight service, checking into our hotel for two nights upon arrival. San Francisco is a city rich in culture, where streets are lined with colourful Victorian buildings that lead down towards the attractive harbour.

On Day 16, we begin the day with a transfer to Pier 39, a popular shopping district filled with arcades and restaurants. Here, we meet our tour guide who introduces us to the impressive sights of the city. We see the world-famous Golden Gate Bridge and Fisherman's Wharf, an area famous for its sea lions, on our sightseeing tour. Later, we board a ship for a memorable sunset cruise, taking in the sights of the city as darkness begins to fall - the perfect way to bid farewell to San Francisco.

We transfer to the airport today, for our flight back to London Heathrow.

You arrive back in London this morning.

Please note that while every departure of this tour will feature the same excursions, the order may differ from that shown above.

Amtrak trains provide the passenger rail services in the USA, and relaxing on board one of its comfortable long distance trains is simply the best way to discover this vast country, its great cities and ever-changing landscape.

On overnight journeys, accommodation is in a Roomette Cabin, which are comfortable but compact. Inside you have two comfortable reclining seats beside a large window, which convert to upper and lower berths at night. Each cabin has individual climate control, a fold down table, fresh towels and complimentary bottled water. WC, shower and washroom facilities are located at the end of each carriage. Roomettes are located on both the upper and lower levels of the double-deck carriages.

On some Amtrak trains a limited number of bedrooms are available at a supplement. These cabins have a daytime sofa that converts to a wide lower berth and a comfortable upper berth at night, and the added benefit of their own en suite shower, washbasin and WC. During daytime journeys we travel in comfortable seats with plenty of legroom. On tours involving journeys on overnight sleeper services, passengers enjoy a meal in the restaurant car if they are travelling during a mealtime. Passengers travelling during the day may purchase meals from the restaurant car where this service is provided. Many Amtrak trains also have Lounge, Dinette and Café cars where passengers can buy snacks, meals and beverages and take advantage of the comfy seating.

Washington to the Allegheny Mountains
Our overnight journey on board the Capitol Limited takes us 764 miles (1,230km) from Washington DC to Chicago. We begin at Washington's beautifully restored Union Station and as we leave the city we catch glimpses of landmarks such as the blue and gold dome of the largest Catholic cathedral in the US. The train soon enters the state of Maryland and we begin our climb through the Appalachians, which offers us wonderful views of the Allegheny Mountains along the way.

The full route of the California Zephyr runs from Chicago in the east to Emeryville, California in the west. During our overnight sleeper journey on the California Zephyr as part of our USA Coast to Coast holiday, we travel on just a section of this route - from Chicago to the 'mile high' city of Denver, a 17-hour 1,038 mile (1670 km) trip.

The full journey of the Southwest Chief stretches 2,256 miles (3,631km) from Chicago to Los Angeles, taking passengers on a historic route well-trodden by American Indians, Spanish conquistadors and fur trappers. We travel on just a short section of the route from Flagstaff in Arizona to Los Angeles overnight; we board the train in the evening and arrive at our destination the following morning.

The Coast Starlight runs on the 1,390-mile (2,237km) route from Los Angeles to Seattle, taking its passengers along the shores of the Pacific Ocean, through lush, green valleys and impressive mountain ranges. On our USA Coast to Coast holiday we travel just a short section of this journey from Los Angeles to San Francisco.

The Durango & Silverton Railroad has been in continuous operation since 1882 - now 133 years ago. It still operates steam engines and vintage rolling stock, and, perhaps most impressively, they are all indigenous to the line. The locomotives in use today made their first appearance there between 1923 and 1925.

The line climbs from Durango into the San Juan Mountains at Silverton, on a journey lasting 3 ½ hours. This allows plenty of time to enjoy the magnificent scenery.

Opened in 1901, the Grand Canyon Railway carried passengers and supplies over the sixty-five mile journey from the Arizona town of Williams to Grand Canyon Village at the canyon's South Rim.

A convenient means of visiting one of the USA's greatest natural phenomena, the Grand Canyon Railway remained popular with tourists until the irresistible rise of America's car industry. As the popularity of road travel boomed, the railway's passengers declined and the line became freight-only in 1968 before closing altogether in 1974. Realising that such an iconic line could not be lost, entrepreneurs Max and Thelma Biegert bought the Grand Canyon Railway in 1989, just as its rusting assets were being salvaged for scrap. Its track and rolling stock lovingly restored to its original glory, the railway re-opened in 1990.

Today, although the magnificent steam locomotives that once hauled carriages to and from the Grand Canyon only appear very rarely, the two-hours and fifteen-minute trip to and from Williams remains an unforgettable and nostalgic journey through one of the USA's most spectacular landscapes.

Located in downtown Burbank close to Hollywood and many famous movie studios, the 3-Star Hilton Garden Inn Burbank Downtown offers modern and comfortable accommodation in LA. There's free WiFi throughout the hotel, and guest rooms come well-equipped with tea & coffee making facilities, air-conditioning, flat-screen television, and a microwave.

Highly rated for its central location, the 3-star Hampton Inn is just steps away from the Magnificent Mile and close to attractions like the Navy Pier, the Water Tower and the Art Institute of Chicago. In summer you can take advantage of the rooftop swimming pool with city skyline views or visit the fitness centre. Spacious guest rooms feature a desk, satellite television, free Wi-Fi, a fridge, plus tea & coffee making facilities.

The modern Holiday Inn & Suites Durango Central is located close to the centre of downtown Durango. As well as a restaurant and lounge, the hotel has an indoor swimming pool, 24-hour gym and a spa with sauna and massage rooms. Room facilities include cable TV, Wi-Fi internet access, air conditioning, a hairdryer and coffee maker.

The 3-Star Little America Hotel in Flagstaff stands in 500 acres of ponderosa pine forests at the base of the majestic San Francisco Peaks, and offers a perfect base from which to explore the natural wonders of Northern Arizona. The hotel benefits from a full-service restaurant and a lounge bar. Leisure facilities include a fully-equipped gym, a heated outdoor swimming pool and a hot tub, plus a selection of sports and activities available on request. The Little America Hotel also has a gift shop and the well-appointed rooms are set in four, two-storey lodges within the grounds. Each is comfortable and spacious, featuring two queen-sized beds and a sitting area. Facilities within the room include a telephone, a flat-screen television, mini refrigerator, coffee maker, hair dryer, iron and ironing board and a safe.

Situated on historic Main Street in downtown Grand Junction, the hotel enjoys a prime location within easy walking distance of 150 shops, restaurants, museum and theatres. Facilities include an indoor and outdoor swimming pool, jacuzzi and fitness centre. Rooms are equipped with television, hairdryer and coffee maker.

A wonderful 4-Star hotel, the Park MGM Las Vegas boasts an enviable position just off the glittering Las Vegas strip. As is typical of Las Vegas hotels, there's a myriad of restaurants and bars to choose from as well as a spa, a salon, a gym and a number of swimming pools. The large rooms offer free Wi-Fi, an in-room safe and a flat-screen television.

Set in the buzzing epicentre of New York's Times Square, the 4-Star New York Marriott Marquis is ideally located to experience all of the magic of New York City. Situated just steps away from a multitude of legendary sights and attractions, including the theatres of Broadway, Radio City Music Hall, Madame Tussauds and the Rockefeller Center, the New York Marriott Marquis boasts several restaurants and bars, including the city's only revolving restaurant and lounge. There's also a Broadway lounge and terrace, offering spectacular views across the iconic street itself, a traditional American kitchen and bar and an on-site coffee house. Rooms are luxurious and feature the Marriott's signature plush bedding, stylish marble bathrooms, flat-screen televisions and tea & coffee making facilities

Boasting a marvellous location in San Francisco's Financial District, Le Meridien is our 4-Star base in the city. Overlooking the bay, the hotel is a couple of miles away from Fisherman's Wharf and the Golden Gate Bridge. On site you'll find a small gym, a number of restaurants, an al fresco bar and a gym. The air-conditioned rooms are en-suite and include a mini fridge, a television, free Wi-Fi and an in-room safe. Some also come with bay views.

Our base in Washington D.C. is the 3-Star Courtyard Washington DC/ US Capitol, situated close to many of Washington's most famous landmarks. The hotel boasts a bistro serving breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, a lobby bar and a fitness centre. The guest rooms feature coffee makers, safes, desks, seating areas, flat-screen televisions and Free Wi-Fi.

Upgrade your flight to Premium Economy from £375 per person each way

On some Amtrak trains, a limited number of bedrooms are available at a supplement. These cabins have a daytime sofa that converts to a wide lower berth and a comfortable upper berth at night plus the added benefit of their own en suite shower, washbasin and WC. On holidays involving journeys on overnight sleeper services, passengers enjoy a meal in the restaurant car if they are travelling during a mealtime. During daytime journeys we travel in comfortable seats with plenty of legroom. Passengers travelling during the day may purchase meals from the restaurant car where this service is provided. Many Amtrak trains also have lounge, dinette, and café cars where passengers can buy snacks, meals and beverages and take advantage of the comfy seating. COST from £495pp.

Spending a night in London before your tour can make such a difference to the first day of your holiday - you can arrive in the capital in good time, relaxed and ready to join your Tour Manager the next morning. You may even want to take in a show on the West End, or dine in one of London's famous restaurants. Perhaps on your return to London, you would like to break your journey with an overnight stay before continuing home.

We are able to book a wide range of hotels in central London or, for our holidays beginning with a flight, at Heathrow, Gatwick or Manchester Airport for the night before or after your holiday. The hotels listed below are some of the more popular hotels our customers book in Central London, others are available on request.

Above prices are approximate, subject to availability, and per room per night based on two people sharing. If you require a quote for single occupancy at any of the hotels please contact us on 01904 734 805. 

Buying tickets for UK train services can be a tricky business - there are so many fares to choose from, each with different rules and restrictions. As you are connecting with an international departure, we strongly recommend that you book a fully flexible ticket to ensure that should the departure times for your holiday change, your rail ticket can allow for these changes.

We can book fully-flexible UK rail tickets from your local station to join your holiday whether this be a European holiday from St Pancras or a UK holiday. The prices are competitive and tickets are not restricted to a particular train or time of day, and in most cases offer you a free choice of routes.

For an up to date quote from your local station, please ask one of our Tour Advisors.

2 for 1 upgrade from Economy to Premium Economy flight upgrade available on selected 2021 departures from £375 per person.

USG2201, USG2202, USG2203, USG2204, USG2205, USG2206, USG2207, USG2208, USG2209

Please Call for further details.

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