It’s no wonder California’s High Sierra is so well known. There’s something here for everyone, whether it’s outdoor adventure, sightseeing, or just enjoying the natural beauty of this high altitude paradise. The Sierra Nevada mountain range is an expanse of majestic peaks offering seemingly limitless activities. This suggested itinerary will take you on a loop through the mountain range taking in Lake Tahoe, Mammoth Lakes, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks and Yosemite, with a little side trip to Death Valley National Park – The hottest, driest and lowest National Park.
All of our road trips are fully customisable and can be tailor-made to suit your own individual requirements. Please let your Discover North America travel specialist know if you would like to start in a different destination, use specific hotel accommodation or simply want to add an excursion or two. Do you have more or less than 15 days for your road trip? No problem, we can add extra nights to allow more time to explore or shorten the number of destinations as required.
As we can offer you such a extensive choice of flights & car rental and prices vary per departure date, we don’t include these elements as standard within the headline fare displayed on our website, unless stated otherwise in the `What’s Included’ section. When requesting your initial quote, your Discover North America Travel Specialist will take the time to understand your own individual requirements with regards to international flights and car rental and will tailor the quote specifically to your needs.
Find out more about the process we follow here.
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Start your adventure in San Francisco, in northern California. Known for its year-round fog, iconic Golden Gate Bridge, cable cars and colourful Victorian houses, this city is also famed for its steep streets - the most famous being Lombard Street. Located in the upscale Russian Hill neighbourhood, Lombard Street is the famous crooked road that’s goes one way (down) past gorgeous Victorian mansions. During your time here, see major sights such as Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge and Fisherman’s Wharf.
Welcome to California’s beautiful jewel in the mountains, Lake Tahoe. This year-round destination is a dream come true. There’s fresh mountain air, brisk turquoise water, scenic short hikes, and epic sunsets. It’s actually the largest alpine lake in all of North America. There’s nothing much better than a few days in the mountains of Lake Tahoe
Unreal. There is no better way to describe Mammoth Lakes, California. This destination offers impressive scenery, with its spectacular Sierra Nevada mountain landscapes, dense forest and magnificent lakes. It's a place so majestic where otherworldly landscapes of craters and hot springs and alpine lakes and tufa towers exist side by side. It is a true paradise for outdoor enthusiasts offering activities such as mountain biking, hiking and fishing. Whilst in the area, make sure to pay a visit to Devils Postpone National Monument, Hot Creek, Hilltop Hot Springs and Mono Lake.
Take a slight detour east to the lowest elevation in North America, Death Valley National Park. Here, the Mojave is at its most magnificent with geological history on full display in this rugged, severe, sublime section of California. Enhance your desert experience with a stop at Zabriskie Point offering spectacular views of the wildly eroded and vibrantly coloured badlands. Don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy some of the world’s best stargazing during your time here.
Sequoia National Park and adjacent Kings Canyon National Park are located in California's southern Sierra Nevada mountains. Drive your car through “Tunnel Log,” a fallen sequoia on Crescent Meadow Road. Stop for a quiet picnic amid colourful wildflowers and walk along the Big Trees Trail, an interpretive 0.6-mile paved loop through a sequoia grove. Look for General Sherman, the largest known sequoia in the United States.
In Kings Canyon you'll find deep valleys, skyscraping trees, and distinctive rock outcroppings, Located next to Sequoia National Park, Kings Canyon Park is composed of two distinct areas - Grant Grove (home to the General Grant tree, also known as "the Nation's Christmas Tree") and Cedar Grove. Kings Canyon is also home to Redwood Canyon, the largest remaining grove of sequoia trees in the world.
Drive into majestic Yosemite National Park where you'll stay for the next 2-nights. The Park enthrals visitors with its diverse terrain, abundant wildlife, and incomparable scenery. 750,000 acres of soaring cliffs, cascading waterfalls, and lush meadows make Yosemite one of the world’s natural wonders. Yosemite Falls, North America’s tallest waterfall, cascades 2,425 feet to the Valley floor far below. Light dances across the sheer granite faces of El Capitan and Half Dome, a natural performance unlike any in the world. A shuttle system, a web of paved walking paths and trails, and plentiful dining and accommodation options make a trip to the Valley effortlessly easy.
Your tour ends when you return your rental car to the agreed drop-off point. Alternatively, speak with your Discover North America Travel Specialist about possible trip extensions.