2021 & 2022 Globus Guided Tours - Globus® Vacation Packages

California Classics with San Diego (AAE)

13 Day Tour from San Francisco to San Diego

2025 Tour Details

From the City by the Bay to the City of Angels, this ten-day tour takes you to the top California sights that earned the Golden State its name. Yosemite’s Cathedral Spires, Big Sur’s rugged coastline, 17-Mile Drive’s spectacular views, and San Simeon’s Hearst Castle are just a few memorable Classic California experiences. Between the bright lights of Hollywood and the high style of Beverly Hills to the grapevines in wine country and farm-to-table cuisine in the Central Valley, this encompassing California vacation weaves in plenty of kickback time with visits to a Sonoma vineyard, the quiet Danish village of Solvang, and the tony resort zip codes of Monterey, Carmel, and Santa Barbara. Don’t forget your shades! Surf’s up at the 70 miles of beaches along Southern California’s most laid-back city. Hang ten at the beach or hang out with wildlife at La Jolla Cove or Balboa Park, ferry to timeless Coronado Island, enjoy San Diego’s museums then shop, stroll and dine in San Diego’s historic Gaslamp Quarter or at the Liberty Public Market.

Small-Group Discovery Dates Available

Select Globus 2021 North America tours are limited to an average of just 24 guests per tour. There’s always room to roam with extra space between you and other travelers—while still getting up close and personal to the experiences you’ve been dreaming of. Small-Group Discoveries include all the features of a traditional Globus North America tour, complete with expert Tour Director, Driver, and Local Guides who ensure that your health and safety is our top priority. A Small-Group Discovery Europe vacation is the perfectly sized tour—without the crowds.

We’ve packed everything you need for the perfect tour—from hand-selected hotels and dining to the friendly expertise of Globus Tour Directors and Local Guides, to seamless transportation between destinations and VIP access to the world’s most iconic sites! Touring by private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach with free Wi-Fi. Enhance your free time with your GlobusGO mobile app!

PLUS, your tour includes your choice of excursions in Los Angeles so you can plan your day your way.

Dates & Prices Book Online
800.268.3636
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
California Classics with San Diego map
National Park Tours – National Park Foundation

 Photo Highlights

 Meals

 Meals & Itinerary

Breakfast daily, 3 Dinners


Notes:

The Big Sur visit and coastal route are dependent on current weather and road conditions on Pacific Coast Highway 1.

 Itinerary

Day 1 ARRIVE IN SAN FRANCISCO

Welcome to San Francisco! At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions for a welcome drink.

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Day 2 SAN FRANCISCO

City by the Bay Enjoy morning sightseeing in one of the world’s most beautiful cities. Globus Local FavoriteGlobus Local Favorite Visit the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, including the Golden Gate Bridge and the Presidio. Free time this afternoon to explore the city. Ride the world-famous cable cars, shop in Union Square, or visit the Museum of Modern Art. Dinner at a local restaurant this evening.

LOCAL FAVORITE
CULTURE & TRADITION As the song goes, you’ll leave your heart in San Francisco with a stroll through the exquisite Japanese Tea Garden. Walk the beautiful landscapes in the oldest public Japanese garden in the United States. Learn about the history of the park and enjoy time to explore the five acres of native Japanese plants, serene koi ponds, pagodas, and more.

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Breakfast Breakfast
DinnerDinner

Day 3 SAN FRANCISCO–EXCURSION TO SAUSALITO & SONOMA

Vineyards & Views Travel across the Golden Gate Bridge this morning to Sonoma for a local vineyard tour and tasting. Continue to the charming town of Sausalito for lunch on your own before returning to San Francisco. Consider a Gold and Ghost Tour optional excursion this evening to explore San Francisco after dark.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
TASTES & TRADITIONS Cross San Francisco Bay on the iconic Golden Gate Bridge to spend time in Northern California’s wine country. Venture to Sonoma with its wealth of verdant vineyards for a wine tasting. Continue to Sausalito to enjoy waterfront views and breathtaking scenery in the charming village with a large variety of shops, restaurants, and art galleries.

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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 4 SAN FRANCISCO–YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK

The Mountains are Calling Travel eastward through the Sierra Nevada Mountains to Yosemite National Park. A guided tram tour provides an introduction to the history and highlights of Yosemite National Park. Free time this evening.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
NATURAL WONDERS Yosemite has innumerable lakes, meadows, ice-sculpted domes, forests, waterfalls, and unspoiled alpine scenery. Descend into the 4,000-foot valley for an open-air Valley Floor Tram to explore the famous sites of El Capitan, Cathedral Spires, Yosemite Falls, and Half Dome. Here, John Muir realized, “The mountains are calling, and I must go.” We think you’ll agree.

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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 5 YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK–MONTEREY

Giants of the Land and Sea Before departing Yosemite National Park, visit Globus Local FavoriteGlobus Local Favorite Mariposa Grove, home to many old-growth sequoias. Stand in awe as you look skyward at these massive giants, one of the Earth’s largest and longest living organisms. Then, on to the California coast to Monterey, home to the famed Cannery Row.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
HISTORY & HERITAGE
Immortalized by John Steinbeck in his novel of the same name, Cannery Row is filled with history and vibrant sights along the waterfront of Monterey Bay. Once a bustling district of sardine factories, the street is a brightly painted avenue of eateries and shops that harken back to a heritage of fishermen and rich stories. In the morning, stroll along the wharf for the chance to see whales, otters, and other sea creatures in the kelp forests of the Pacific Ocean shore.

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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 6 MONTEREY. EXCURSION TO CARMEL

Cottages & Cypress Trees This morning, spend your free time visiting historic Cannery Row. Other highlights today include a visit to the resort town of Globus Local FavoriteGlobus Local Favorite Carmel with a scenic drive along the famed 17-Mile Drive. Return to Monterey for free time before dinner at a local restaurant.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
CULTURAL GEMS Feel the windswept spirit of the Pacific Ocean with a spectacular drive along 17-Mile Drive to the charming haven of Carmel-by-the-Sea. See its crooked cottages and twisted trees in the popular haunt of writers, artists, and celebrities. You’ll pass by sweeping sea views and rocky shores, visit the world-famous Pebble Beach Golf Course for a walk on the fairway, and see the iconic Lone Cypress clinging to its rocky perch.

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Breakfast Breakfast
DinnerDinner

Day 7 MONTEREY–BIG SUR–SAN SIMEON–SOLVANG

California Gold Journey south through Big Sur to San Simeon and visit Hearst Castle. Continue to Solvang for a free evening.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
LEGENDARY LIVES Visit the opulent mansion of legendary newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst, which houses splendid antiques, art treasures, and exotic possessions purchased at an estimated $50 million. Your guided tour shows off the highlights of the impressive 123-acre estate.

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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 8 SOLVANG–SANTA BARBARA–LOS ANGELES

Treasures & Traditions Explore the Danish town of Solvang and enjoy a Globus Local FavoriteGlobus Local Favorite Danish specialty at a local bakery. Then, travel through the Santa Ynez Mountains to beautiful Santa Barbara to visit the Old Mission Santa Barbara. Continue to metropolitan Los Angeles, the motion picture capital of the world.

LOCAL FAVORITE
CULTURAL GEM Stroll the streets of Solvang and feel as though you’ve entered a charming Danish town with picturesque buildings and shops, restaurants and windmills that create a taste of Denmark in California’s Santa Ynez Valley. Enjoy a traditional Danish pastry at Mortensen’s famous bakery.

TOUR HIGLIGHT
HISTORY & HERITAGE Experience the beauty and history of California’s mission trail with a visit to Old Mission Santa Barbara. Soak in the stunning Spanish influence of the 1786 “Queen of the Missions” with its wrought iron, terra cotta, and carved wood. Feel the serenity amid its whitewashed walls and tile-roofed buildings below its chiming twin bell towers ringing out on the Camino Real above the beautiful Pacific Ocean.

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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 9 LOS ANGELES

Spend Your Day Your Way in L.A. Morning sightseeing of this gigantic metropolis takes you from Olvera Street—the oldest thoroughfare in the city—to Hollywood. See the Sunset Strip and Beverly Hills. This afternoon, explore more of Los Angeles with your choice of included excursions. This evening, your Tour Director hosts a special farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

TAKE YOUR PICK

Explore your way today with your choice of excursions:

ART HISTORY After lunch, visit the Getty Center & Museum to see a vast collection of art housed within its modern hilltop complex above Los Angeles. Here, a treasure trove of masterpieces is displayed with art from the Middle Ages to the present.

OR:

BEACHY KEEN Take a self-guided walk along the Santa Monica Pier; ride the Pacific Park Ferris Wheel for spectacular panoramic views of the Southern California coastline.

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Breakfast Breakfast
DinnerDinner

Day 10 LOS ANGELES–AMTRAK’S PACIFIC SURFLINER–SAN DIEGO

Riding the Rails Take Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner scenic train service along the coast to San Diego. Meet your Globus Local Host upon arrival before transferring to the Embassy Suites San Diego Bay Downtown Hotel. Free time this evening. Your Globus Local Host will be available to provide suggestions on how to spend your free time.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
EPIC RIDE Board the Amtrak train at Los Angeles’ historic Union Station for a scenic ride along the California Coast from LA to San Diego. During your train ride, enjoy spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean, sandy beaches, and quaint coastal towns.

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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 11 SAN DIEGO

Southern California Dreaming A full free day to explore San Diego, California’s second-largest city.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
CULTURE & TRADITION California’s southernmost city of San Diego shares the border with Mexico, as well as the blue expanse of the Pacific Ocean and the sun washed shores of the Southern California coastline. Considered the birthplace of California, San Diego is rich in culture as a true melting pot of cultures to be found in Old Town, Balboa Park, Mission Beach, Embarcadero, and the Gas Light District.

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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 12 SAN DIEGO

Pacific Pleasures A full free day to explore San Diego on your own.

FREE-TIME TIPS
EXPLORE MORE in San Diego with a day on the beach or a visit to any of its exciting attractions. Your Local Host can point you in the right direction, and your GlobusGO mobile app is always at your fingertips with maps and suggestions for the best day in Cali.

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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 13 SAN DIEGO

Safe travels until we meet again! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.

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Breakfast Breakfast

 Tour Director

With GLOBUS, 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.

KEN HARTFORD

Escorting tours for more than 15 years

“The West has been my home since I was born, and its incredible diversity has kept me engaged since my earliest memories. It is a world of iconic places and undiscovered gems waiting to be explored. Experience the bustle of its cities and the serenity of its open spaces, hear the stories of its people, and embrace the wonder of its beauty. No matter who you are or where you come from, there is something about the West that will never leave you.”

Tour Director - KEN HARTFORD

 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 MyGlobus site 90 days prior to the tour start date.

Price Ranges

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


San Francisco

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: $$



The “Starting at” or listed price is based on the lowest price available to book. Price is per person based on twin occupancy and any applicable port charges, non-commissionable taxes and fees and intra-vacation flight are included in the price shown. Any included overnight stay in Canada, applicable GST/HST is also included in the price shown. International airfare, however, is not included. If price is crossed out, the new price shown includes a limited time promotional offer(s). Please review current promotions or deals for additional information.