California Coast, LA to San Francisco

Arrive at LAX, 30-90 minutes by road depending on traffic and neighbourhood and transfer privately to your base. Time today to settle in and walk to dinner in your neighbourhood, allowing for traffic.

• Private transfer via LAX
• Settle in and walk to dinner in your neighbourhood, allowing for traffic
• Time to settle in before dinner

The Griffith Observatory and the Hollywood sign view, the Walk of Fame and TCL Chinese Theatre, and the Getty Center's collection and gardens above the 405.

• Griffith Observatory
• Getty Center
• Hollywood Boulevard

Santa Monica pier and the beach path, Venice boardwalk and canals, and Abbot Kinney's shops, with sunset from the Palisades.

• Santa Monica Pier
• Venice boardwalk and canals
• Abbot Kinney Boulevard

Drive Highway 1 along the coast; check for landslide closures before travelling. On arrival, reach your lodge before dark, as the road has no lighting.

• Drive Highway 1 along the coast; check for landslide closures before travelling
• Reach your lodge before dark, as the road has no lighting
• Timings reconfirmed locally the day before

Bixby Creek Bridge, McWay Falls dropping onto the beach at Julia Pfeiffer Burns, and Pfeiffer Beach's purple sand and keyhole rock. Sections of Highway 1 close after slides.

• Bixby Creek Bridge
• McWay Falls overlook
• Pfeiffer Beach keyhole rock

Redwood trails in Pfeiffer Big Sur park, the sea otters and cypress of Point Lobos reserve, and Carmel-by-the-Sea's galleries.

• Point Lobos State Natural Reserve
• Redwood trail walk
• Carmel-by-the-Sea

Fly into SFO or Oakland, or drive up Highway 1 from the south. On arrival, walk to the Embarcadero and the Ferry Building in the evening.

• Fly into SFO or Oakland, or drive up Highway 1 from the south
• Walk to the Embarcadero and the Ferry Building in the evening
• Timings reconfirmed locally the day before

Walking or cycling the Golden Gate Bridge, the Presidio and Baker Beach, Fort Point beneath the span, and the Marina waterfront. Fog can hide the bridge entirely in summer.

• Golden Gate Bridge crossing
• Baker Beach and Fort Point
• Palace of Fine Arts

The ferry to Alcatraz with its excellent former-inmate audio tour, booked weeks ahead, then the Ferry Building market and North Beach.

• Alcatraz cellhouse tour (book well ahead)
• Ferry Building marketplace
• North Beach and City Lights

A last bay morning before the transfer to the airport. Private transfer to SFO in good time for your onward flight.

• A last bay morning before the transfer to the airport
• Late check-out arranged where the hotel allows it
• Private departure transfer