Western Wonders (8510)

12 days from Los Angeles to San Francisco

2025 Tour Details View 2026 Tour Details »

From the gorgeous national parks to the thrilling cities, this western U.S. tour through California, Arizona, and Nevada features natural wonders, scenic drives, deep canyons, and sparkling waterfalls—not to mention fun in some of the world’s most famous cities. Your tour starts in Los Angeles, ends in San Francisco, and overnights along the way in Palm Springs, Scottsdale, Williams, Las Vegas, Selma, Sonora, and San Francisco. You’ll visit two of the West’s most famous and beautiful national parks, Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, and Yosemite National Park in California. Stroll the Grand Canyon’s South Rim and stand in awe as you look out at the stunning vistas. In Yosemite National Park, have your camera ready for the giant granite domes, cascading waterfalls, lush forests, and more. But that’s not all…you’ll also witness spectacular scenery along the way. Between Scottsdale and the Grand Canyon, you’ll see Arizona's Oak Creek Canyon, known as one of America’s most beautiful drives and home to brilliantly hued cliffs and rugged spires of sandstone, and you’ll stop in Sedona, with the massive red-rock formations that make the area famous. Between Williams and Las Vegas, watch for Joshua trees, a member of the Yucca family, which can grow to be more than 40 feet tall and live to be 300 years old. Between Las Vegas and Selma, you’ll see the vast Mojave Desert. Enjoy included sightseeing in Los Angeles and San Francisco. Free time in each city—including Las Vegas—gives you time to explore on your own or to take optional excursions. Perhaps consider a ride on San Francisco’s historic cable cars, enjoy an outing to Alcatraz Prison, the federal penitentiary that once housed Al Capone and other notorious criminals, or take an optional excursion to walk through the soaring 600-year-old redwoods of Muir Woods —the choice is yours! Breathtaking scenery, exciting cities, scenic drives, and more…this western U.S. tour is a perfect vacation for savvy, value-minded travelers.

The world is within reach with everything you need for perfectly affordable touring. Cosmos includes hand-selected accommodations, guided sightseeing, and seamless transportation between destinations—with value-minded travel lovers in mind. Explore with expert Cosmos Tour Directors and Local Guides, and private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach with free Wi-Fi (where available). Enhance your free time to explore like a local with your CosmosGO mobile app!

Multiple Vacation Discount: Save up to an additional $100 per person when you book more than one Globus, Cosmos or Avalon Vacation for the same travel year
Western Wonders map
National Park Tours – National Park Foundation

 Photo Highlights

 Meals

 Meals & Itinerary

3 Breakfasts


Notes:

On vacations that include an overnight stay in Las Vegas, at least one member of the traveling party must be 21 years of age or older.

 Itinerary

Day 1 LOS ANGELES

Welcome to Los Angeles! Your Tour Director is on hand late this afternoon to answer any questions.

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Day 2 LOS ANGELES

Begin the day with a sightseeing tour of Tinseltown. Drive through Hollywood and see the world-famous TCL Chinese Theatre. An historic gem, this cinema (formerly, Grauman’s) has hosted some of the most exclusive movie premieres in Hollywood history. See the Dolby Theater, the first permanent home of the glamorous Academy Awards, and the Hollywood Walk of Fame where iconic terrazzo stars grace block after city block of Hollywood Boulevard. Explore The Original Farmers Market, with more than 80 shops and restaurants then head to the Santa Monica Pier and the ultimate Southern California beach. The remainder of your day is at leisure; your Tour Director will have suggestions for further exploration of the city.

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Day 3 LOS ANGELES–PALM SPRINGS

Journey to the desert oasis of Palm Springs. Ever since Hollywood stars first came here in the 1930s, laying claim to ranch-style estates and holding up in elite hotels, the clean, dry air and sunshine have made Palm Springs irresistible.

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Day 4 PALM SPRINGS–SCOTTSDALE AREA

Travel through cacti-covered desert toward Old Town Scottsdale, where Western storefronts create an aura of the past. Afterward, enjoy free time to explore a taste of the Old West with Western bars, wooden beams, wagon wheels, and abundant cowboy hats, you’ll feel like you’ve traveled back in time to the era of outlaws and saloons.

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Day 5 SCOTTSDALE AREA–SEDONA–GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK–WILLIAMS

First stop today is a visit to the red rocks of Sedona, a center for Southwestern and New Age arts. Climb through Oak Creek Canyon with its weather-sculpted formations of dramatic, color-tinted crags. Then pass by the San Francisco Mountains and beautiful pine forests to the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park and be awed by the grandeur and stunning vistas of this natural wonder of the world. See the canyon from the sky aboard an optional helicopter flightseeing excursion for thrilling views of the canyon’s flame-colored walls plunging 6,093 feet into the Colorado River. Stay overnight in Williams, a picturesque mountain town with Route 66 as its main street.

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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 6 WILLIAMS–LAS VEGAS

Cross the old Mojave, that still has traces of century-old ghost towns set in the natural beauty of the desert. Look out for Joshua trees, a species of the agave family that grows to 40 feet high and can live for more than 300 years. Arrive in the man-made oasis in the Nevada desert that is Las Vegas, a fantastic city of feverish gambling, neon lights, and entertaining shows. An orientation tour upon arrival shows off many of the themed casino resorts along the colorful “Strip.” This evening, consider a night on the town with an optional Brazilian steakhouse dinner and find your inner Rat Pack at “Vegas! The Show,” to relive the iconic performances of Sinatra, Elvis, and more legends who made Las Vegas the “Entertainment Capital of the World.”

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BreakfastContinental Breakfast

Day 7 LAS VEGAS

The day is free for exploring on your own. Perhaps try your hand at the blackjack table, check out some of the over-the-top hotel lobbies, or lounge by the pool. Your Tour Director will also have plenty of activities to choose from and will recommend favorite restaurants and shopping areas.

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Day 8 LAS VEGAS–SELMA

Departing the neon lights of Las Vegas, we continue across the desert landscape of Nevada before crossing into California. See the vast Mojave Desert, which covers one-fifth of California. Pass through some of the state’s most productive agricultural land and overnight in Selma in the central San Joaquin Valley.

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Day 9 SELMA–YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK–SONORA

This morning, we enter Yosemite National Park, a wonderland of spectacular lakes, giant granite domes, towering pinnacles, cascading waterfalls, and lush forests. See magnificent Half Dome, El Capitan, and Bridal Veil Falls. Afterward, drive to Sonora.

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Day 10 SONORA–SAN FRANCISCO

This morning, we continue west to the “City by the Bay” San Francisco, famous for its cable cars. After lunch, included sightseeing takes in the spectacular Golden Gate Bridge, Nob Hill, and bustling Fisherman’s Wharf.

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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 11 SAN FRANCISCO

The day is free for you to explore more of this fascinating city. Perhaps visit legendary Alcatraz Island, explore bustling Chinatown, or go on an iconic cable car ride. Take your adventures higher with an optional walk through the soaring 600-year-old redwoods of Muir Woods or view the stunning cityscape on a scenic San Francisco Bay Cruise.

NOTE:
Consider advance ticket purchase for Alcatraz Island with the National Park Service.

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Day 12 SAN FRANCISCO

Your vacation ends this morning. You may choose to extend your vacation with extra nights and explore San Francisco further.

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 Tour Director

With COSMOS, there’s no better way to get to know your destination than through the eyes of a Tour Director. We’d like you to meet one of our Tour Directors, who average over a decade of experience and are representative of the type of expert that will be with you on your vacation.

JOHN PLOSZAJ

Escorting tours for more than 20 years

My favorite things to do include travel and meeting wonderfully interesting people from around the world. Luckily, I get to do both as a Tour Director! What I love most about my job is the chance to be an ambassador for the United States. To see the smiles on my travelers' faces at the end of a tour and to know they had a great time and learned a little something about our country is priceless.

Tour Director - JOHN PLOSZAJ

 Accommodations

 Optional Excursions

No matter what you’re into: food, wine, history, art, music or anything else, we give you the freedom to personalize your vacation with optional excursions that speak to your interests.

When you book your excursions with us, you can be assured that every optional excursion that we offer coordinates with the free time that you'll have in your destination, so you'll never have conflicts between included and optional activities. Our team of travel experts carefully selects each optional excursion that we offer to ensure that you receive the highest quality at a great value. Our tried-and-true partners have a finger on the pulse of the city in which they operate so they deliver the very best experiences. We offer experiences you cannot create on your own and because you’re booking with us, we coordinate all your transportation and timing needs.

The following optional excursions are examples only for this vacation. These may or may not be offered, and availability is subject to days of operation and seasonality. Please select a departure date to view optional excursions and pricing for a specific date (due to currency fluctuation, pricing shown is subject to change until purchased). Optional excursions are available for purchase on our MyCosmos site 90 days prior to the tour start date.

Price Ranges

$ ($50 USD and under)
$$ ($51 - $100 USD)
$$$ ($101 - $150 USD)
$$$$ (Over $150)


Palm Springs
Scottsdale
Williams
Las Vegas
San Francisco

Palm Springs

Palm Springs Aerial Tram

Palm Springs Aerial Tram

Ascend 2.5 miles to a pristine wilderness aboard the Palm Springs Aerial Tram, the world's largest rotating tramcar!

Price Range: $

Scottsdale

Western Dinner at Rustler's Rooste Cowboy Steakhouse

Western Dinner at Rustler's Rooste Cowboy Steakhouse

Bring your appetite and get ready for a real Western dinner experience at Arizona's legendary Rustler's Rooste cowboy steakhouse!

Price Range: $$

Williams

Grand Canyon Helicopter Flightseeing

Grand Canyon Helicopter Flightseeing

There may be no better way to uncover the sheer splendor of the incredible Grand Canyon than from the air! Choose from two helicopter tours with awe-inspiring views, a once in a lifetime opportunity!

Price Range: $$$$

Las Vegas

"Vegas! The Show"  The Story of Vegas Entertainment

"Vegas! The Show" The Story of Vegas Entertainment

Savor a hearty dinner of juicy, hand-carved meats at Pampas Brazilian Grille, then enjoy "Vegas! The Show", a toe-tapping musical tribute to the good ol' days of the "real" Las Vegas!

Price Range: $$$$

Hoover Dam

Hoover Dam

Come face to face with one of the world's Top 10 architectural wonders on this captivating tour of Hoover Dam!

Price Range: $$$

Black Canyon Raft Adventure

Black Canyon Raft Adventure

Travel through the breathtaking scenery of the Black Canyon on this exhilarating rafting trip along the legendary Colorado River!

Price Range: $$$$

Helicopter Tours

Helicopter Tours

Discover the scenery and sights of Las Vegas and beyond on this phenomenal helicopter flightseeing tour!

Price Range: $$$$

San Francisco

San Francisco Bay Cruise

San Francisco Bay Cruise

This fully narrated one-hour cruise sails under the majestic Golden Gate Bridge. Experience the thrilling history of San Francisco Bay with all the sound and glory it deserves.

Price Range: $

Muir Woods Tower Tours

Muir Woods Tower Tours

Venture north over the Golden Gate Bridge to an isolated canyon filled with ancient coastal redwood trees, also known as Muir Woods National Monument.

Price Range: $$



The "Starting at" or listed price is based on the lowest price available to book. Price is per passenger based on double occupancy and does not include International airfare; additional fees/charges are not included. If a price is crossed out, the new price includes a limited time promotional offer(s) – please review current promotions or deals for additional information. Some tours require intra-vacation flights (and in some cases intra-vacation segments must be purchased from Cosmos).