Ultimate Southwest

Three weeks from Phoenix to San Diego, and the only one of their trips that does the whole Utah canyon circuit and the whole California coast in a single run. Flights, car and hotels are arranged together from the UK with a road book for the driving.

The first half is red rock. Sedona and Flagstaff lead to the Grand Canyon, then Monument Valley, then Page for Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend on the way to Bryce. Two nights at Zion follow, with Angel’s Landing and the Narrows, then Las Vegas for two and Death Valley and Badwater after that. Highway 395 and the Tioga Pass carry you over the Sierra into Yosemite for two nights.

Then it changes completely. Napa and Sonoma, with Bouchon and the French Laundry both in the valley and balloons over the vineyards at dawn. Two nights in San Francisco by way of Conzelman Road and the Golden Gate, then Monterey and the 17-Mile Drive to two nights at Carmel. Big Sur and Hearst Castle lead to Santa Barbara, Los Angeles for two nights, and finally San Diego for two, with Balboa Park, Coronado and the USS Midway.

Around 2,200 miles over twenty-one nights, with nine stops of two nights or more. It is also the least expensive of their three-week western trips, which is hard to explain given it covers the most ground. The itinerary is bespoke throughout and departures are arranged around your dates. It suits anyone who cannot choose between the desert and the ocean, and has three weeks in which not to have to.