California’s Natural Wonders

Ker & Downey’s exclusive Northern California luxury holiday exposes all of the state’s natural wonders, from the vineyards of Sonoma to the granite cliffs of Yosemite. Rife with private transfers and five-star accommodations, this journey straight out of a “California dream” begins on San Francisco’s iconic Golden Gate Bridge and ends along the sanctuary waters of Monterey Bay.

Suggested Itinerary-at-a-glance:

• Day 1:

  Arrive San Francisco / Four Seasons San Francisco

• Day 2:

  Sonoma / Farmhouse Inn (B)

• Day 3:

  Sonoma / Farmhouse Inn (B,L)

• Day 4:

  Yosemite National Park / Chateau du Sureau (B,L)

• Day 5:

  Yosemite National Park / Chateau du Sureau (B,L)

• Day 6:

  Yosemite National Park / Chateau du Sureau (B,L)

• Day 7:

  Monterey / Intercontinental The Clement (B)

• Day 8:

  Monterey / Intercontinental The Clement (B)

• Day 9:

  Monterey / Departure (B)

Itinerary Description:

Your California luxury holiday commences in the state's northerly metropolis of San Francisco. Take time to explore this eclectic urban area and its many highlights before transferring across the iconic Golden Gate Bridge to the birthplace of the California wine industry, Sonoma County. Your luxury, farmhouse-style accommodations at the Farmhouse Inn provide the perfect base from which to taste some the finest vintages from the region's first wineries. A scenic drive along the breathtaking Coastal Highway 1 will lead you to the estuaries of Pt. Reyes National Seashore and the redwood giants of Armstrong Redwood State Park, home to some of the world's tallest trees.

Continue onward to central California, passing through Gold Country to reach one of the country's premier national parks: Yosemite. Nestled near the park's entrance is your luxury European country inn, Chateau du Sureau, an Old World fairytale castle-hotel that offers not only impeccable service but also unique access to the granite cliffs, dramatic waterfalls, and old-growth forests of Yosemite National Park. Enjoy multiple guided hikes through Yosemite's high country and dome trails, eventually allowing "John Muir" himself to share his plans and dreams for Yosemite yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Your Sierra Nevada experience concludes in Mariposa Grove among the largest living things on earth, the Giant Sequoias.

The final stop on your California luxury holiday is along the sapphire waters of Monterey Bay and the waterfront accommodations of Intercontinental The Clement Monterey. Experience California's quintessential coastal charm in Point Lobos and Big Sur, stopping along the way at the Condor Sanctuary to learn how this endangered species is being rehabilitated. The crowning excursion during your Monterey stay is a private marine wildlife cruise through the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, the country's largest federally protected marine sanctuary. After witnessing first-hand the diverse ecosystem of humpback whales, sea otters, sea lions, harbor seals, kelp forests, and pelicans, you will understand why this corner of the world is considered the "Serengeti of the Sea" and an ideal end to your journey through California's natural wonders.

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