Up for a cross-country journey? Then sign up for the Sunshine Trail - from San Francisco to New York City with plenty of exciting stops in between. Discover some of America's greatest national parks, live it up in Vegas, feel dwarfed by the Grand Canyon and discover a vibrant blend of musical traditions in New Orleans, Memphis and Nashville. From sprawling cities and iconic sights to remote desert ruins and natural phenomena, this epic trip promises fantastic experiences and grand adventures by the bucket load.
Day 1 San Francisco
Get acquainted with America's majestic bay city and perhaps visit the infamous Alcatraz.
Days 2-3 Yosemite National Park
Discover huge cliffs, sparkling waterfalls and iconic wildlife in one of the USA's most scenic parks.
Day 4 Sierra Nevada
Spy unearthly tufa towers rising from the waters of Mono Lake like sand castles. Pitch a tent among the towering mountains and racing streams that characterise the dramatic Sierra Nevada.
Days 5-6 Las Vegas
Travel through desolate Death Valley en route to Sin City.
Days 7-8 Grand Canyon
Discover one of the Seven Wonder's of the Natural World, the awe-inspiring Grand Canyon. Up to 1,600 m deep, this fissure in the earth is a lifetime must-see. With photo opportunities galore and the option of a scenic flight, the Grand Canyon will knock socks off.
Day 9 Monument Valley
Home to over 200,000 Indians of the Navajo tribe, the Navajo Indian Reservation is the largest of its kind in America. Meet members of the Navajo tribe.
Day 10 Mesa Verde National Park
See the sombrero-shaped rock formation of Mexican Hat and travel to Mesa Verde, best known for its cliff dwellings.
Day 11 Santa Fe
Explore the sandstone kiva of the Aztec Ruins National Monument.
Day 12 Carlsbad Caverns
As the sun sets, witness a noisy exodus of bats from these gigantic caves.
Day 13 San Antonio
Why not choose to visit the Alamo, a reconstructed 18th century fort.
Day 14 Houston
Sign up for an optional trip to the NASA Space Center.
Days 15-16 New Orleans
Straddling the Mississippi, this city is known for its cuisine, architecture and as the birthplace of jazz.
Day 17 Memphis
Perhaps visit Elvis' Graceland.
Day 18 Nashville
From jazz to blues and now to country - explore Nashville.
Days 19-21 Washington DC
Travel through the soaring Appalachian Mountains, en route to the capital. Admire DC's grand avenues, parks and architecture.
Day 22 New York
Visit Philly, where Thomas Jefferson declared Independence in 1776, before ending the adventure in New York. Life moves fast in NYC, where big sights, sounds and smells exist in harmony with small treasures. Peruse giants at the Museum of Natural History, gaze over a wealth of artworks in the Met or find a quiet corner in Central Park.
meals included: The kitty covers some breakfasts & dinners on this trip. The kitty is an optional payment of US$50 per week of your trip and is used to pay for some group meals. important notes: Please bring your own sleeping bag. Recommended earliest possible flight departure time is 8:00pm on day 22.
