About your tour
Delight in California's culinary heritage on this gourmet food and wine tour of San Francisco and the rolling vine-draped landscapes of the Napa and Sonoma Valleys.
Included highlights
San Francisco City tour
Sausalito
COPIA Tour
Mumm Napa Tour & wine tasting
Round Pond Olive Oil Company Tour & tasting
Beringer Winery Wine tasting
Calistoga
Napa Valley Wine Train Included wine tasting
Petaluma Walking tour
Lagunitas Brewery Tour & tasting
Sonoma Cheese Factory Tour & tasting
Takara Sake Tour & tasting
Included in the Price
-
Flights: UK - San Francisco - UK
-
Accommodation on tour in twin room with private facilities
-
Professional tour director on tour and local representative's assistance at other times
-
Porterage at hotels during tour (for one suitcase per person)
-
Transfers between overseas airports and hotels
-
All local and airport taxes/service charges
-
Single share option no supplement to pay
Extend Your Holiday
San Francisco
Enjoy an extra two nights in beautiful San Francisco, perhaps taking one of the city's many culinary tours around Chinatown, Fisherman's Wharf and North Beach, visiting the island prison of Alcatraz or shopping in Union Square.
On day 8, remain at your hotel, the Cathedral Hill , for the next two nights before transferring to the airport on day 10 for your overnight flight home.
Maui
Extend your holiday with an unforgettable week in the Hawaiian island paradise of Maui. With its lush rainforest-clad interior, breathtaking volcanic crater, spectacular waterfalls and idyllic palm-fringed beaches, it's the perfect place to relax after your California holiday.
On day 8 of your tour, fly to Maui and transfer to your hotel, the Maui Coast (South Kihei) , for the next seven nights. Transfer to the airport on day 15 for your overnight flight to San Francisco, where you will connect with your overnight flight to the UK.
get more info »
Your itinerary
Day 1: UK - San Francisco.
Fly to San Francisco where you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel for a two night stay.
Day 2: San Francisco. Included sightseeing.
Vibrant, colourful and friendly, San Francisco is arguably the USA's most beautiful city and offers a wealth of sightseeing and culinary delights. Today, enjoy our included tour of the world-famous landmarks and gastronomic highlights of this magnificent 'City by the Bay', revelling in its laid-back ambience and scenic setting over dozens of hills. See the spectacular Golden Gate Bridge, elegant Nob Hill and the Old Spanish Mission Dolores. Afterwards we visit bustling Ferry Plaza Farmers Market, located within the historic Ferry Building, with its plethora of colourful food stalls and restaurants. Next, it's on to famous Fisherman's Wharf and the Boudin Museum and Bakery to learn how the city's famous sourdough French bread is made and shop for gourmet gifts. This afternoon, there's time to explore this fascinating city in your own way, perhaps sampling the delectable seafood of Fisherman's Wharf, walking the hairpin bends of crooked Lombard Street or exploring the patchwork of charming neighbourhoods, each with their own distinct architecture and culinary identity. Amble along pretty sidewalks, shop at Pier 39 and take a trip on San Francisco's legendary 130-year-old tram system, as the quaint carriages trundle up and down the astonishingly steep streets.
Day 3: San Francisco - Sausalito - COPIA - Mumm Napa - Sonoma.
This morning we cross the Golden Gate Bridge to visit Sausalito, a lovely bayside village of artisans and 'free spirits', winding streets, shops and colourful houseboats, anchored in Richardson Bay. Next, travel through rolling, sun-drenched wine country to COPIA, the American Centre for Wine, Food & the Arts in the stunning Napa Valley. Your visit will reveal the story of Californian wine and American cooking. Stroll around the lovely gardens, inspired by Chateau Villandry in the Loire Valley, France and visit Julia's Kitchen, named after the patron saint of the pantry, Julia Child. Later, we stop at Mumm Napa where we take a tour and sample their fabulous sparkling wines. Make sure to visit the wine shop and stroll through the photography gallery featuring works by famous photographer - Ansel Adams. Continuing to Sonoma in the picturesque Sonoma Valley, where you will stay for the next four nights.
Day 4: Sonoma - Round Pond - Beringer - Calistoga - Sonoma.
Prepare your tastebuds for a sensual feast with a day experiencing the fruits of the Napa Valley. First stop - olive oil tasting at Round Pond Olive Oil Company, spectacularly located in Rutherford. We will tour the estate with its Italian and Spanish olive orchards and learn about olive cultivation, harvest and olive oil production, before tasting the fragrant extra virgin olive oils and red wine vinegar blends accompanied by gourmet breads, cheeses and fresh organic produce. From here, we drive to Beringer, one of Napa's oldest wineries for some wonderful wine-tasting, followed by a trip to the charming town of Calistoga to marvel at its amazing, 60-foot high California's version of Old Faithful Geyser. There is free time for lunch in downtown Calistoga.
Day 5: Sonoma - Napa Valley - Sonoma. Included Napa Valley Wine Train.
California's legendary Napa Valley is a beautiful region of celestial green valleys, vine-cloaked estates, stately wine houses, colourful towns, known for their rural elegance and undulating hills drenched in wildflowers. Today, journey through these heavenly landscapes to board the elegant Silverado Railcar for our included Napa Valley Wine Train tour. A throwback to a bygone era of rail travel, this splendid train carries you on a memorable three-hour trip to the quaint village of St Helena and back. Enjoy four fabulous tastings in its Wine Tasting Car and sit down to (an optional) 'à la carte' luncheon menu of casual cuisine as you soak up the stunning country vistas. This afternoon, return to Sonoma to stroll around leafy Sonoma Plaza, the largest square of its kind in California, which is speckled with historic adobe buildings including the Mexican Army Barracs, the General Vallejo's home, and the Mission San Francisco Solano de Sonoma.
Day 6: Sonoma - Petaluma- Lagunitas Brewery - Sonoma. Included sightseeing.
Today, experience the charms of one of California's oldest cities, with one of the best preserved Historic Downtown areas, on the National Historic Places - Petaluma. Boasting a picture-postcard centre, this riverside town abounds with graceful iron-front houses, Victorian mansions and antique shops and nestles around a lovely harbourside. After a relaxed walking tour, enjoy a tasting at the famous Lagunitas Brewery, which brews a range of richly flavoured local seasonal beers, many of which boast quirky names like 'Hairy Eyeball Ale' and 'Brown Shugga'.
Day 7: Sonoma - Sonoma Valley - San Francisco.
This morning, enjoy a visit to The Sonoma Cheese Factory, which has been hand-making cheese since 1865 and is the oldest operating cheese factory in the US. After the tour, sample award winning cheeses. Afterwards, travel to Berkeley for another treat, a visit to the splendid Takara Sake USA, Museum and Tasting Room. Learn the secrets behind the ancient art of sake, shochu and mirin making and sample some of Takara's finest sake and plum wines, which have been produced here for over 150 years. This afternoon, travel back to San Francisco for your last night in the city.
Day 8: San Francisco - UK.
Transfer to San Francisco airport for your overnight flight to the UK.
Day 9: Home landing in the UK.
get more info » book online »
