The Great American Crossing Across the USA

Welcome to New York City! You can meet your tour guide at the ATI’s Hospitality Desk if your arrival is between the hours of 2:00 pm – 8:00 pm. If arrival is after 8:00 pm, please ask the front desk when checking in for messages and refer to the information poster found in the hotel lobby for the next day’s instructions. Until then, feel free to roam the famed streets of New York like a local or rest up for our great adventure ahead!

(All tours operate with a minimum of 20 participants. For groups below 20, tours may operate with guiding in 2-3 languages).

We depart New York for Philadelphia, where we spend the morning exploring the gorgeous historic district of the “City of Brotherly Love” and the birthplace of a nation. See landmarks such as the Liberty Bell, and stroll through Independence National Historic Park and Mall. Then continue to the nation’s iconic capital, Washington, D.C.

Ready to explore the capital inside out? Tag along your expert guide to learn all about the marvellous sights such as the U.S. Capitol Building, Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, the White House and Arlington National Cemetery, site of the JFK Memorial. Enjoy your personal leisure time in the afternoon, perhaps visit some of the many museums including the famous Smithsonian Institute or simply stroll the banks of the Potomac River.

Continuing our journey northward, we visit the Gettysburg National Military Park. It is here that the most decisive and largest battle of the American Civil War took place, as well as Abraham Lincoln’s famous address in 1863. We then travel through upstate New York to Buffalo and finally cross the international border into Canada, where the thundering noise and intense mist of Niagara Falls permeates the air.

• Canadian Border Crossing – Passports Required

Start this unforgettable morning with the breath-taking scenery of the world-famous Niagara Falls. Stroll along Table Rock and view the thundering waters of Horseshoe Falls with your Tour Leader. Returning to the United States in the late afternoon, we continue to our hotel in a suburb of Detroit, also known as “Motor City USA”.

This morning we find out why Detroit is named the Motor City with visits to the The Ford River Rouge Factory and the Henry Ford Museum. After some time to explore the plentiful exhibits, we will visit the nearby Ford plant to watch how modern vehicles are produced at the ever-busy factory floor. We bid farewell to Detroit and ride inland to the south of Lake Michigan, reaching Chicago to rest up for the night.

Start the day with a short tour of the city’s highlights including Lake Shore Drive, the Magnificent Mile and Navy Pier. Enjoy your personal leisure time for the rest of the day to explore the ‘Windy City’ Chicago on your own terms. Freely marvel at the fascinatingly bold architecture of downtown Chicago or the inspiring artworks in one of the famous museums in town.

Travel through the Midwest along farms abundant in corn and wheat fields and dairy farms. Crossing the mighty Mississippi River, we ride into the state of Iowa to arrive just as Lewis & Clark Expedition did two centuries ago on the banks of the Missouri River. We make our way to Sioux Falls for a refreshing rest.

Travel westward through the vast and lush grasslands of South Dakota and onwards to Badlands National Park. This natural wonderland, once home to the buffalo and antelope, is filled with amazing colorful natural rock formations. Then we continue on to the Black Hills, sacred to the Native Indians and home to the famous Mount Rushmore. After we finish soaking in the unforgettable views, we depart for Rapid City to spend the night.

Badlands National Park – Please click here to view the details

We continue our journey towards the wondrous lands of Wyoming, home to twelve mountain ranges intermixed with vast deserts and rolling grasslands. We will be resting for a big day tomorrow in Cody. In case overnight in Cody is not possible due to poor weather or adverse road conditions in Yellowstone, we will be spending the night in Billings Livingston, Montana.

Drive past the mountains of Wyoming to Yellowstone, America’s first National Park! Tag along your expert guide to enjoy an in-depth tour of this immense geothermal wonderland which includes waterfalls, geysers, canyons, colourful wildlife and more! Some of the incredible highlights will be Yellowstone Lake, Old Faithful, Yellowstone Canyon’s majestic falls, and the beautiful Hayden Valley.

Yellowstone National Park – Please click here to view the details

Today we travel through Grand Teton National Park, as long as the weather permits, to witness magnificent mountain peaks towering over 4,000 metres and the local wildlife. Visit the Snake River Outlook and try your eye at capturing the stunning landscape made famous by Ansel Adam’s iconic shot in black and white. Arriving in Utah, known for its Mormon Community, embark on a short tour of its capital, Salt Lake City. See how the Mormon followers of Brigham Young built one of the best-planned cities in the country. We visit the State Capital building, famed Temple Square and the Tabernacle before arriving at our hotel for the evening. May we suggest an optional dinner at the Rooftop Restaurant for panoramic views of Temple Square?

Grand Teton National Park – Please click here to view the details

Embark for a journey to the spectacular Bryce Canyon and follow your guide on a tour through a multi-coloured world of sandstone spires and pinnacles, also known as “hoodoos”, that dazzle the eye. This evening, weather permitting, make sure to gaze upon the enchanting night-sky with sparkling stars & breath-taking constellations.

Bryce Canyon NP – Please click here to view the details

Departing Bryce Canyon, we ride onwards to the stunning Lake Powell, where canyon walls of red-rock tower over crystal blue waters. Lake Powell is the second-largest man-made lake in America, part of a series of lakes formed after the damming of the Colorado River. Our next stop will be the world-famous Grand Canyon National Park, one of the seven great natural wonders and most impressive sceneries of the world! Pause at the rim of the Canyon to fully experience and appreciate this mile-deep canyon and all its plunging gorges, rising spires, extinct volcanoes, and the snaking Colorado River. Riding on the Historic Route 66, Flagstaff will be where we dream of the sights of the day.

Grand Canyon National Park – Please click here to view the details

Viva Las Vegas! In the morning, we hit the road for Las Vegas, the dazzling “Entertainment Capital of the World”. On the way, we will pass through the authentic town of Seligman on the famed Route 66, which looks as if it froze in time sixty years ago. Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure exploring the world-renowned Las Vegas Strip.

Riding towards the western coast to Los Angeles, enjoy views of the scenic Mojave Desert with characteristic Joshua trees clustered on the mountainous backdrop. Arriving in L.A., join your guide for a tour through the “City of Angels” including famed spots as Hollywood, Sunset Strip and parts of Beverly Hills, before reaching our hotel.

The day is yours is to shape to your wishes! We would recommend an optional full-day tour to Universal Studios, the world’s largest theme park and movie studio! Capture an inside look at the movie sets and reveal behind-the-scene secrets of iconic films, or enjoy some of the Studios’ thrilling feature rides.

Leaving Los Angeles in the morning, we ride north through one of California’s favorite vacation spots, Santa Barbara. Soak in views of palm-lined streets bordering vast white sandy beaches. The city is known for its mission and Spanish heritage. Along the way, we will make a stop at an iconic California lifeguard tower, particularly made famous by the TV series “Baywatch”. We continue to Santa Maria along the Central Coast for a rejuvenating night’s rest.

We continue our journey further north to Carmel, boasting fairytale-like cottages and galleries, and home of the world-famous actor/director Clint Eastwood. Freely browse the shops and galleries of the acclaimed artists’ colony. Traveling further north, we make a stop at Monterey’s Old Fisherman’s Wharf. Stroll along the Pier to Cannery Row, well-known thanks to John Steinbeck’s timeless novel. Passing lush valleys of Castroville and Santa Clara, we arrive in San Francisco, the “City by the Bay.” Knock off some of the cities’ famous sights off your list at your leisure.

Our trip will end in San Francisco after we say goodbye to our new friends and check-out of the hotel by 11:00am.