America Gap Year Tours

The Grand Trek - 42 Days

This tour is ideal for travellers who want to see as much of America as possible in 6 weeks. You will spend the first 3 weeks travelling from the East Coast to the West Coast through the Southern USA. You will then travel back across the USA travelling through the northern states. From mountains to beaches; from the top of skyscrapers to the bottom of canyons, this tour highlights the best of America.

Your tour will begin in New York City. You will first travel to the nations capital, Washington DC. In this great city you will have the opportunity to visit the Smithsonian Museum and the stunning monuments. The tour next heads south through Virginia, Tennessee and Alabama. On the way through these southern states you will have a chance to stop for a white water rafting trip before reaching the “Big Easy” New Orleans.

After two fun filled days and nights in New Orleans we continue west into the great state of Texas. Crossing the largest of the continental 48 states you will have time to visit the historic Alamo. We will spend 2 nights in San Antonio, one of the biggest cities in America.

We continue our journey west through New Mexico. Here you can experience Carlsbad Caverns National Park before reaching the tribal lands of Monument Valley. From here we journey to the awe-inspiring Grand Canyon.

We visit Lake Powell and have the opportunity to hike in Zion National Park before hitting the bright lights and strip of Las Vegas. During our 2-night stop in Las Vegas you will have a chance to visit the clubs and perhaps try your luck in the casinos. Upon leaving Las Vegas we journey to the coast and “Tinsletown” Los Angeles. Here we make a stop at Universal Studios for a chance to see the stars.

Next, we cruise up the West Coast on our way to the most beautiful, liberal and funky city in America, San Francisco. We will spend 2 days in this great city and give you an opportunity for a sunset cruise in the bay.

Now our journey heads back across the USA with our first stop in Yosemite Valley. Here we will spend 2 nights soaking up the beauty of this great American National Park. We continue with a visit to the stunning Lake Tahoe. Here you will again have ample time for hiking and gorgeous photographs.

Crossing the Western states, we head for the cowboy town of Jackson Hole Wyoming complete with its rodeo and wild-west shootout. Our next stop is Yellowstone National Park where bison, bear and wolves all exist in their natural habitat. Yellowstone is the worlds first national park and is absolutely amazing with the wildlife and geothermal features it contains.

We will then journey through Sioux Indian lands and stop at a work in progress the Crazy Horse Monument, the native Americans version of Mt Rushmore. We will stop at Badlands National Park, South Dakota and Minnesota before hitting Chicago.

To complete our memorable trip we will visit the powerful Niagara Falls. Here you can take the Maid of the Mist into the base of the falls to feel the power of this majestic waterfall.
Having nearly completed our journey we head back to the Big Apple, New York City.

Included in tour

Services of the tour leader, camping fees / equipment and transportation
Illumination Tour of Washington Monuments
Admission to Disneyland
Admission to Carlsbad Caverns
Admission to Universal Studios
Crazy Horse Monument
Admission to Mount Rushmore National Memorial
Niagara Falls Maid of the Mist cruise
Admission to Monument Valley
Admission to all National Parks & Monuments

Not Included

International Flights
Hotel Accommodation on nights noted (H)
Travel Insurance
Spending Money
Food (Kitty will be collected USD$9 per day)

Accommodation & Meals
This is a camping tour. Camping or unpaid Hotel (H) when noted. You will contribute to a food kitty of $9 per day. This will provide for 3 meals a day usually. While on the tour you will take turns cooking meals. Eating fresh food that we purchase as we travel to satisfy the international flavour of the group- a healthy way to travel at an unbeatable price.

Stops
Depart New York at 0730 hrs

1 Washington DC
2 Washington DC
3 Virginia
4 Tennessee
5 Alabama
6 New Orleans (H)
7 New Orleans (H)
8 Texas
9 San Antonio
10 San Antonio
11 Del Rio
12 Carlsbad Caverns NP
13 Arizona/New Mexico
14 Monument Valley
15 Grand Canyon NP
16 Grand Canyon NP
17 Zion NP
18 Las Vegas (H)
19 Las Vegas (H)
20 Los Angeles
21 Los Angeles (H)
22 Pacific Coast
23 Monterey
24 San Francisco (H)
25 San Francisco (H)
26 Yosemite NP
27 Yosemite NP
28 Lake Tahoe
29 Idaho/Nevada
30 Jackson
31 Yellowstone NP
32 Yellowstone NP
33 Sioux Indian Lands
34 Badlands NP
35 South Dakota
36 Minnesota
37 Chicago (H)
38 Chicago (H)
39 Ohio
40 Niagara Falls
41 Finger Lakes
42 New York

This trek operates in either direction, with departures from New York and Los Angeles. Tours departing from Los Angeles are 43 days in length, with two hotel nights in New York City, that are not included in the price.

For Los Angeles departures, please read itinerary with day one starting on the "Pacific Coast", or in "Los Angeles" for the reverse direction.

Optional Extras

Chicago Museums
San Francisco cable cars
Natural Hot Springs
New Orleans jazz clubs
Mississippi steamboat tours
San Francisco Bay sunset cruise
Aquarium visit
I-MAX theatre
Southern mansion tour
Indian museum
Wet n Wild water slides
Louisiana Swamp Tours Horseback riding
Whitewater rafting (in season)
Wilderness canoeing
Mountain biking
Las Vegas clubs and casinos
Chicago Blues clubs
Grand Canyon scenic flight
Limos in Las Vegas
Western rodeo (in season)
Monument Valley guided jeep tour
Smithsonian National Museums
Excellent hiking opportunities

Dates & Prices
The Grand Trek tour price varies according to the time of year. Please contact us for exact dates and prices.