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Golden Gate Bridge San Francisco in California

Ultimate California

13 nights from £3,995pp

Ultimate California

California really packs a visual punch. Landscape diversity is second to none, a place where a day’s drive can take you from the ocean via vineyards and orchards to snow-capped mountains. This itinerary showcases many highlights of the Golden State in an action-packed fortnight, taking in the two great cities of San Francisco and Los Angeles, Sonoma and Napa wine country, Yosemite National Park and the stunning Big Sur coastline… but it’s not all go, we’ve factored in plenty of downtime too.

Your Journey

Start your epic California road trip in this iconic city with its bustling harbour, famous golden bridge, legendary island prison, historic cable cars, world class shopping, culinary delights and a buzzing nightlife. Spend 2 nights at Hotel Zetta, just steps from Union Square and a short cable car ride from Fisherman’s Wharf.

Collect your hire car from downtown and head north over the Golden Gate Bridge – an impressive start to your monumental road trip. On your way to the bridge, it’s great fun to drive down Lombard Street’s winding red brick road before navigating the network of one way streets towards the harbour. Once north of the bridge, swing into the lookout area for wonderful views across the water to San Fran’s skyline. Whether there’s perfect blue sky or the famous fog rolling in from the ocean, the vista is spectacular from this vantage point. Just over an hour’s drive north from here, you’ll venture into California’s premier wine country – the valleys of Napa and Sonoma. Spend 2 nights of luxury in the gorgeous Farmhouse Inn in Sonoma County, just moments from award-winning vineyards, great hiking, biking and kayaking. Or head out to see the enormous Redwoods at Armstrong State Reserve and the dramatic Sonoma coast further west. Or just hang out at Farmhouse Inn, eating S’mores and enjoying a spa treatment or two.

Distance from San Francisco: 60 miles / Driving time: 90 minutes

Accommodation -

A fountain set in one of a path connecting cottages at Farmhouse Inn, Sonoma, USA

Farmhouse Inn

Brother and sister duo, Joe and Catherine Bartolomei, are the vision and passion behind the idyllic and highly claimed Farmhouse Inn, a family run,…

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A big drive today as you leave wine country behind and head towards the mountains. Be sure to fill your car as you approach the outskirts of Yosemite as fuel stops are limited once you’re in the park. Take plenty of snacks too to avoid paying park prices for those hunger busters when you’re out exploring the wonders of Yosemite. Spend 2 nights just outside the park’s Big Oak Flat entrance at Rush Creek Lodge – a stylish eco retreat surrounded by glorious woodland. Spend a full day exploring the park (note there is a $30 entrance fee per car). Whether you opt for the easy and informative Valley Floor tour that takes you to the classic viewpoints, or drive up to Glacier Point for incredible views from way up high, or park your car and hike into the foothills of El Capitan and Half Dome, your day in Yosemite is guaranteed to take your breath away.

Distance from Sonoma: 220 miles / Driving time: 4 hours

Prepare for another big drive today as you head back to the coast. Your sat nav is essential for guiding you to the nearest gas station, snack stop and fast food joint! After your busy few days driving long distances and exploring Yosemite National Park, check into Carmel Valley Ranch for 2 nights, then relax and enjoy the fantastic array of activities on offer in this retreat’s 500 acres. From golf, tennis, yoga and guided hikes for the active to bee-keeping, garden tours, spa treatments and hot-tub stargazing for the weary.

Distance from Yosemite: 200 miles / Driving time: 4 hours

Expect plenty of coastal wow factor for the next leg of your journey as you cruise southbound along one of the world’s most impressive roads – Highway One. It’s a fairly long drive down to Santa Barbara, but you’ll be stopping every few minutes as the desire to take “just one more photo” compels you to pull over regularly, so you can stretch your legs as you gaze in awe at the cliffs plunging into the Pacific Ocean. Your 2 nights in sunny Santa Barbara gives you the opportunity to recharge your batteries in the beautiful American Riviera. Sample the local wines, enjoy a craft beer, wander the pretty paseos or relax on the beach.

Distance from Carmel : 230 miles / Driving time: 5 hours

Accommodation -

Rooftop fireplace at The Kimpton Canary Hotel

The Kimpton Canary Hotel

On the corner of West Carrillo and Chapala, just one block from bustling State Street and a mile from the beach, The Kimpton Canary Hotel is a…

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By the time you reach Los Angeles, you’ll feel like a local… with hundreds of miles behind the wheel and some epic destinations ticked off the bucket list, you’ve probably seen more in the last two weeks than most Californians! The last few days of your holiday will be spent in the vibrant beachside city of Santa Monica where your home will be the chic and sophisticated Viceroy Santa Monica, just one block from the beach. From here, you can explore everything on offer in sprawling Los Angeles from the Hollywood sign to Disneyland and everything in between. Or simply hang out in Santa Monica with its wonderful restaurants, hip local bars, great shopping area and cool coffee shops, not to mention the broad sandy beach, famous pier, beachside bike paths and people-watching at nearby Venice Beach.

Distance from Santa Barbara: 85 miles / Driving time: 2 hours

Accommodation -

Pool deck at Viceroy Santa Monica

Viceroy, Santa Monica

Beachside elegance shines bright at the fresh and contemporary Viceroy Santa Monica, located just a short stroll from the breathtaking stretch of…

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What's Included

13 nights from £3,995 per person

• International flights included from the UK

• Includes return airport and in-destination car hire

Package price shown is based on travel in xxxx 2027. Exact pricing is dependent on exact departure dates and availability at the time of booking. Please contact our team of experts for further information and your bespoke quote.

Best time to travel

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Coastal California is best visited from May to October, when the weather is generally warmer, drier and sunnier. The spring and autumn months can offer pleasant temperatures and fewer crowds, while summer brings excellent conditions for enjoying the region’s beautiful beaches, coastal drives and charming seaside towns.

FAQs

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Why Choose Turquoise?

Family Owned & Run

We are one of the few remaining family owned and run operators of our size. We have direct relationships with every single destination, island, resort and hotel we work with, in order to deliver exceptional and truly personalised service.

Our Passion Runs Deep

We are - and always have been - mad about travel. For almost 25 years we've been scouring the globe for the best places to stay, the newest routes to take, the perfect people to meet. No-one will care more about your holiday.

Definition of Luxury

Luxury means something different to everyone. Whether you are seeking the silence of vast spaces, the isolation of a private island, the buzz of a new city, the adrenaline of a safari or anything in between, we listen, we learn, we advise.

Fun & Refreshing

We endeavour that every Turquoise experience is unique, fun and refreshing. Travel is all about experiences, about serendipitous moments and endless smiles. It is a joy and an honour to plan each and every Turquoise holiday.

What Our Travellers Say

“As enthusiastic retirees with a serious case of wanderlust, my wife and I now travel abroad at least four times a year.We'd been subscribed to The Turquoise Holiday Company mailing list for years, but it wasn't until we spotted a special offer for Thailand in November 2019 that we finally booked our first holiday with them.Interestingly, a few months earlier, while waiting for a flight to the Maldives in June 2019, we noticed another couple travelling with a Turquoise travel bag. At the time, we thought little of it, but looking back, it was perhaps an early sign that we were about to discover a travel company that would become our go-to specialist for luxury holidays.Our first experience with Turquoise was excellent and gave us the confidence to book a Maldives holiday for June 2020. Then, of course, COVID struck and brought the travel industry to a standstill. What impressed us most was the way Turquoise handled an incredibly difficult situation. Rather than leaving us in limbo, they worked tirelessly to rearrange our holiday multiple times, adapting to constantly changing restrictions and circumstances. Eventually, in November 2020, despite flying with a different airline and staying at a different hotel than originally planned, we were able to enjoy a much-needed Maldives escape when many other travel plans around the world had simply been cancelled altogether.That experience cemented our trust in The Turquoise Holiday Company. Since then, we have booked many holidays through them and now use them for the vast majority of our trips abroad.What consistently sets Turquoise apart is the quality of its people. Every member of staff we have dealt with has been knowledgeable, professional, friendly and exceptionally thorough. Their expertise, attention to detail and willingness to go the extra mile give us complete confidence that every aspect of our holiday is being carefully managed.In an age where genuine customer service can be hard to find, The Turquoise Holiday Company continues to deliver it in abundance. We would have no hesitation in recommending them to anyone looking for a travel agent that combines expert knowledge, outstanding customer care and absolute professionalism. They have played a major part in some of our most memorable travel experiences, and we look forward to booking many more adventures with them in the years ahead.”
“Right from first contact, Bethany & colleagues were great. Bethany adjusted the holiday offered several times to get it just how we wanted it, & it was everything she said it would be. We went to Coco Bodu Hithi & it was amazing, I thoroughly recommend it. Turquoise have a great app which was really useful & they were there for us all along the way, even sending me updates on flights. I recommend them 100%.”
“Everything was so efficient from our very first contact. We are not seasoned travellers so the support/help/advice we received from Lucy all the way through was so reassuring. Even the daftest question was never too much trouble. Looking forward to booking again for 2028 - we wouldn’t dream of looking forward alternative travel agents. Thank you so much 🥰”
“I am so thankful we used Turquoise Holidays! From start to finish they were exceptional. A shout out to Martha who designed and organised our honeymoon for us - she took the stress out of planning, understood the vision and put together our dream holiday. She was a pleasure to work with and it was beyond anything we could have imagined. I can’t tell you how relieved we were to have all of our transport and transfers sorted the other side. Especially for a trip like ours with lots of flights and travel, using Turquoise Holidays made it so much easier. We also used the concierge services to book activities and they were so helpful and kind. Will definitely use Turquoise again, I can’t wait for our next holiday!”
“Sophie was brilliant from start to finish. From the very first email she was professional but also had that friendly touch. Any amendments I wanted to our honeymoon plans she came back with the updated itinerary. Even after 5 iterations she was still incredible with the responses. I would highly recommend using turquoise travel and we will definitely be using them again”
“Amazing Family Holiday and just what we asked for! We wanted a resort and location that was approriate for small kids but had all the luxuries for adults, and Turquoise holidays provided a great service. Commincation was great and they took all the pain out of the small details and provided an excellent service and the value was outstanding!”
“Just got back from a fantastic Holiday in Mauritius with which I booked the Holiday with Turquoise Holidays. This is my first time I have booked with this company and I will have no hesitation in booking again, from start to finish the correspondence I had with Milly and the rest of the team at Turquoise as been outstanding. Thankyou Neil & Jane”
“Enjoyable trip to Canada.Jonty made excellent recommendations as always, hotels were great in every respect.Highly recommend Turquoise for their advice and insight into places and hotels at a very good price point. We have used many times in the past and will continue do use again in the future.”
“Mrs Stone organised all my flights details and extra help extremely well.”
“This was the best travel agent experience we have ever had. We went on a bespoke 5 week trip to Australia. Our agent, Stuart, designed a trip exactly matching our requirements and really listened to us when we described the brief. What came through strongly during the course of the trip was Turquoise’s ability to not just source the best properties/accommodation, but the best rooms in those properties. Likewise with the tours and activities that they organised — everything felt highly curated and considered. When any queries arose or we wanted to change the bugs, the team was super-responsive through the app. We will definitely use them again have recommended them to many friends.”
“We had a really good time and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The blend of activity and adventures in Sri Lanka mixed with the relaxation and tranquility of the Maldives, worked extremely well and the itinerary put together by Turquoise was excellent.Overall we were very impressed with Sri Lanka and whilst hectic at times enjoyed our busy agenda. We found all the accommodation wonderful and food was plentiful and enjoyable. We were pleased to have climbed the two rocks to see the sunset/sunrise albeit a bit daunting when we realised the climbing challenge ahead.Special mention has to go to our driver/guide Mahesh who was excellent and really helped make our trip run smoothly. He was knowledgeable, practical and always prompt.In fact our only hiccup occurred when trying to leave the Notary House to fly to Male. We had booked a 4am alarm call, bags to be picked up at 4.20am and “breakfast to go” ready for 4.30am. Fortunately we had used our own phone alarms as we awoke to a completely silent hotel, no alarm call, no bags collected and no breakfast, and no driver.We did however just about hear a car hooting and on seeing some lights at the end of the long drive to the hotel set off and found Mahesh. However, the gates were padlocked shut and Mahesh was locked out and we were locked in! Fortunately Mahesh had a number for the hotel and after ringing several times, an apologetic staff member appeared and unlocked the gate and off we went. Phew !After making our plane we successfully arrived in Male and took the speedboat to Velassaru. We thought the island was impeccably well kept and had obviously been recently modernised in many areas. Our room - 205 - was perfectly positioned close to the Chill Bar, and ideal for drinking cocktails and watching the sunset, yet only a small walk from all other amenities including the buffet restaurant where we ate all our meals. We found the breakfast plentiful and varied but thought the offerings for dinner were less extensive than on other islands( maybe we were a bit spoilt at Six Senses last year ! ). We were also disappointed that given we were half board had we wished to use any of the other 3 à la carte restaurants for dinner then this was additionally chargeable albeit with a 30% discount.And yes, sadly the view from our villa of Thilafushi was certainly not ideal or romantic but overall we still agreed that Velassaru was a lovely island with everything you would expect from a trip to the Maldives.Overall we were very satisfied and would consider doing a similar trip again and definitely using Turquoise albeit I think we would allow for a longer journey from Male and take the seaplane even if that did eat into a bit more of our holiday time.Thanks again to Anthony for listening to our requirement and tailoring our trip to suit our needs.Steve ( and Cathy )”
“Always so helpful, professional and efficient, thank you once again!”
walkway at soneva jani

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