Los Angeles + 17-Mile Drive + Highway 1 + Big Sur + Napa/Marin + Sonoma Winery + San Francisco City Tour + Yosemite National Park 4-Day Tour

Day 1: Los Angeles → 17-Mile Drive → San Francisco

17 Mile Drive

Pebble Beach

Departing Los Angeles in the morning, we'll journey through the fertile Central California Plains, home to over half of the nation's fruits, vegetables, and nuts, making California the nation's largest agricultural state. In the afternoon, we'll arrive in Monterey Peninsula. We'll then travel along the world-renowned California Highway 1, enjoying breathtaking views of 17-Mile Drive, before arriving in San Francisco in the evening.

Itinerary:

Los Angeles → 17-Mile Drive → The Lodge at Pebble Beach (60 mins) → San Francisco

Transportation: Drive from Los Angeles to 17-Mile Drive

Distance: 330KM

Time: 6h

17-Mile Drive

The west and south sides of 17-Mile Drive border the Pacific Ocean, while the east side winds through the Del Monte fir forest. Along the way, you'll see not only beaches but also spectacular luxury villas and golf courses.

Pebble Beach

A renowned resort destination, it's home to Cypress Point Club, Monterey Peninsula Country Club, and the Pebble Beach Golf Links, where Tiger Woods once practiced golf.

Transportation: Drive from 17-Mile Drive to San Francisco

Distance: 130KM

Time: 2h15m

• Wild Palms Hotel - JDV by Hyatt / Wyndham Garden Newark/Fremont Silicon Valley

Day 2: Highway 1+Big Sur+Silicon Valley 1-Day Tour

Stanford University

Carmel-by-the-Sea

Bixby Bridge

Depart from San Francisco in the morning to Stanford University. Walk the red‑tile campus, visit Stanford Memorial Church and appreciate its Byzantine‑Romanesque architecture, soaking in the century-old academic atmosphere. Then head to Apple Park Visitor Center to experience the tech giant’s innovation and futuristic design. Continue south to Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, enjoying vintage rides, sunshine and beach leisure. Drive along the scenic Pacific Coast Highway (Route 1), with cliffs and mountains on one side and the vast Pacific on the other. Explore the charming town of Carmel-by-the-Sea, then proceed to Big Sur and visit the iconic Bixby Creek Bridge. Finally return to San Francisco, ending the wonderful trip.

Itinerary:

San Francisco → Stanford University → Memorial Church (70 mins) → Apple Park Visitor Center (30 mins) → Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk (80 mins, including self paid lunch time) → Highway No.1 (Pass By) → Carmel-By-The-Sea: Carmel shopping mall and ocean Ave (45 mins) → Big Sur → Bixby Bridge (25 mins) → San Francisco

Transportation: Drive from San Francisco to Stanford University

Distance: 20KM

Time: 1h

Stanford University

Stanford University is a privately owned research-based university in Stanford, California. The campus occupies 8,180 acres (3,310 hectares) and is among one of the largest in the United States and ranked as one of the top in the world.

Memorial Church

The Stanford Memorial Church is located on the campus of Stanford University. Built during the American Renaissance by Jane Stanford, one of the university's founders, it was constructed in honor of her husband Leland Stanford, who co-founded the university with her. The church's exterior was designed by renowned architect Charles A. Platt, earning it the title "the crown jewel of Stanford University's architecture." The interior is exceptionally ornate, featuring large murals and stained-glass windows of remarkable artistic merit.

Transportation: Drive from Stanford University to Apple Park Visitor Center

Distance: 15KM

Time: 30m

Apple Park Visitor Center

The Apple Park Visitor Center is located in Cupertino, California and is an important part of Apple's headquarters, attracting numerous technology enthusiasts and visitors. Its architectural design is modern and minimalist, fully reflecting Apple's innovative spirit. There is a display area within the center, showcasing Apple products for visitors to experience their functionality and design charm firsthand. One of the highlights is the augmented reality experience area, where visitors can use iPad devices to explore virtual models of the Apple campus and gain a deeper understanding of its architecture and environmental concepts. The shopping area offers a variety of apple products and accessories, as well as unique souvenirs suitable for tourists to purchase and keep as souvenirs. The caf within the center provides visitors with a comfortable leisure space, offering coffee and snacks, making it an ideal place to relax and unwind. Whether you are a technology enthusiast or a general tourist, this place can bring unforgettable experiences and profound impressions.

Transportation: Drive from Apple Park Visitor Center to Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

Distance: 35KM

Time: 50m

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is a mile-long boardwalk and amusement park just south of central Santa Cruz. Operating for more than a century, the boardwalk boasts a plethora of rides, two of which – the Giant Dipper and the Looff Carousel – are National Historic Landmarks. The boardwalk also touts a bevy of carnival fare, including corn dogs, deep-fried artichokes and deep-fried Twinkies. You'll also find an arcade, a two-story miniature golf course and a laser tag arena, among other attractions.

Transportation: Drive from Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk to Carmel-By-The-Sea

Distance: 50KM

Time: 1h

Carmel-By-The-Sea

For decades, the stunning natural beauty of Carmel-by-the-Sea has inspired artists, sparked romances, and attracted world travelers. Rated a top 10 destination in the United States year after year, Carmel-by-the-Sea is a unique, European-style village nestled above a beautiful white-sand beach where everything is walking distance. From performing arts to hundreds of shops, art galleries, and restaurants, you can do everything or nothing at all.

Carmel Plaza

Nestled in the heart of downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea, Carmel Plaza is home to one-of-a-kind fashion finds and specialty national brands, distinctive restaurants, gourmet shops, wine tasting rooms, wellness studios, and more— in a relaxed yet sophisticated setting.

Transportation: Drive from Carmel-By-The-Sea to Bixby Bridge

Distance: 15KM

Time: 30m

Bixby Bridge

Built in 1932, Bixby bridge is a picturesque sight in stunning Big Sur and one of the most photographed bridges on the Pacific Coast Highway. But it's not just a photo opportunity; the area offers fantastic hiking and wildlife sightings as well. If you're looking for the best view of the bridge, park at the Castle Rock viewpoint on the north side, or head half a mile inland to the Bixby Bridge vista point. If you're planning to visit during golden hour, prepare for heavy traffic and scarce parking available, especially in the warmer months.

Transportation: Drive back to San Francisco from the Bixby Bridge

Distance: 110KM

Time: 3h

• Wild Palms Hotel - JDV by Hyatt / Wyndham Garden Newark/Fremont Silicon Valley

Day 3: San Francisco City Tour

The Golden Gate Bridge

Palace of Fine Arts

Lombard Street

Fishermans Wharf

San Francisco Bay Cruise

San Francisco Civic Center Plaza

Twin Peaks

In the morning, we'll travel to San Francisco, a city surrounded on three sides by the sea and composed of over 50 hills. We'll visit the Golden Gate Bridge, an iconic bridge on the West Coast of the United States, often called the "Impossible Bridge." We'll also visit Fisherman's Wharf, a bustling area. We'll also take an optional boat tour of San Francisco Bay. We'll also be captivated by the Palace of Fine Arts, a site of the 1915 World's Fair gifted by the Panamanian government, and Lombard Street.

Itinerary:

Golden Gate Bridge (45 mins) → Palace of Fine Art (30 mins) → Lombard Street (45 mins) → Fisherman's Wharf (2.5 hours, optional for Bay Cruise) → San Francisco In-depth Tour (optional)

San Francisco In-depth Tour detail: Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption (30 mins) → Civic Center Plaza (25 mins) → Twin Peaks (25 mins) → Treasure Island (pass by)

Transportation: Drive from hotel to San Francisco

Distance: 50KM

Time: 1h

Golden Gate Bridge

The Golden Gate Bridge is one of the world's largest single-span suspension bridges and is considered a symbol of San Francisco. Spanning 2.7 kilometers, it spans the entire San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate Strait in the Pacific Ocean, serving as a vital transportation hub connecting San Francisco with cities to the north. American blockbusters such as "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" and "X-Men" have also been filmed here.

Palace of Fine Art

The San Francisco Palace of Fine Arts was built in 1915 for the Panama Pacific International Exposition. After the conference, the Palace of Fine Arts gradually fell into disuse and eventually became a ruin. It was not until 1962 that the famous German architect Maybeck redesigned and renovated it, giving it a second youthful beauty.

Lombard Street

Lombard Street is known as the "world's most crooked street". Many movies such as "Venom" have filmed racing scenes here. It is one of the most popular landmarks in San Francisco. Every year, millions of tourists walk or drive through its eight sharp turns. It is surrounded by the mansions of Russian Hill, well-manicured landscapes and flowers, and is also one of the most scenic streets in the city. From the top of the mountain, you can overlook the breathtaking view of San Francisco Bay, the Bay Bridge and Coit Tower.

San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf

Fisherman's Wharf is a household name in San Francisco. Starting from Ghirardelli Square and extending to Pier 35, you can see the busiest Pier 39 with its various shops, restaurants, and street performances, as well as the views of Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Bay Bridge.

San Francisco Bay Cruise

The beautiful Golden Gate Bridge and the spectacular Oakland Bay Bridge are the faces of San Francisco. You can visit these two attractions one by one by taking a cruise. The cruise passes under the beautiful bridge, and you can feel the sea breeze on your face and feel relaxed and happy. You can also get a close look at the spectacular scenery of Alcatraz Island. Such a trip will definitely bring you very good memories.

San Francisco Civic Center Plaza

San Francisco Civic Center Plaza, also known as Joseph L. Alioto Plaza, is situated in the heart of downtown San Francisco. It stretches north to City Hall, south to Fulton Plaza, and east to the California State Supreme Court building. The area showcases a variety of architectural styles, with City Hall—constructed in 1915 in the French Renaissance design—serving as its iconic centerpiece. Additionally, the plaza functions as a cultural and artistic hub, home to premier performance venues such as the Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall.

Twin Peaks

The two hills, about 270 meters above sea level, are also the only natural hills preserved in San Francisco. They are famous for their 360-degree panoramic views. Twin Peaks are the two main commanding heights in San Francisco, and there is an 8-shaped road surrounding the two peaks. The mountaintop observation deck here has a panoramic view of the beauty of San Francisco because there are no dense trees blocking it. Looking down from the peak, the bustling San Francisco city view and the charming bay scenery will make you intoxicated.

Transportation: Drive from San Francisco to hotel

Distance: 150KM

Time: 2h40m

• Breakfast(Breakfast Included)
• Ramada by Wyndham Merced / Holiday Inn Express & Suites Chowchilla - Yosemite Park Area, an IHG Hotel / Ramada by Wyndham Modesto Yosemite Area / similar

Day 4: Yosemite National Park → Los Angeles

Yosemite National Park

Today we'll travel to Yosemite National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984. Located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of eastern California, it's one of the most beautiful and most visited national parks in the western United States. We'll then return to Los Angeles.

Itinerary:

Hotel → Yosemite National Park (Mandatory, 180 mins) → Los Angeles

Special note:

In winter, in the event of severe weather such as snow and ice, road icing and road closures, we reserve the right to temporarily change the itinerary of the day to ensure the safety of the journey: instead of going to Yosemite, you will go to Denmark City, passing through Santa Barbara returns to Los Angeles.

Transportation: Drive from hotel to Yosemite National Park

Distance: 85KM

Time: 2h20m

Yosemite National Park

The majestic granite, the magnificent waterfalls and the tranquil valleys make Yosemite look like a fairyland from any angle. The towering trees, the flowing water in the mountains, the huge cliffs carved by glaciers and the sparkling lake make you feel like you are in a paradise. The world's largest granite column - El Capitan; the Yosemite Falls with the highest drop in North America; Yosemite Valley; Half Dome; Bridal Veil Falls... the excitement will continue! You can also walk in the primeval forest and feel the sweet and fresh air.

Transportation: Drive from Yosemite National Park to Los Angeles

Distance: 300KM

Time: 6h

• Breakfast(Breakfast Included)