Self-Drive: San Francisco Bay Explorer 6D/5N (from Los Angeles)

Self-Drive: San Francisco Bay Explorer 6D/5N (from Los Angeles)

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Self-Drive: San Francisco Bay Explorer 6D/5N (from Los Angeles)

6 Days Starting in Los Angeles, USA and ending in San Francisco, USA

Visiting: Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Francisco

Tour operator:

Bamba Travel

Tour code:

55540

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

1 - 16

Physical rating:

Mildly Challenging

Special diets catered:

Vegetarians, Please contact Bamba Travel with any specific dietary requirements

Tour operated in:
English
Trip Styles:

Adventure Tours

This tour is no longer available

Tour Overview

Explore the highlights of California's Central Coast departing from Los Angeles all the way to San Francisco on this 5-day self-driven adventure! Stop in at Santa Barbara, visit San Luis Obispo, and enjoy the vistas along scenic Highway 1 on your way to Monterey.

Highlights

  • Enjoy free time to explore iconic sites in Los Angeles

  • Have the chance to step inside the world-class Monterey Bay Aquarium

  • Admire San Francisco's sunset from a catamaran cruise

Itinerary

Expand All
Day 1: Los Angeles, Usa
Location: Los Angeles

Pick-up car rental and free time in Los Angeles
Welcome to California! Your tour will start with your pick-up car rental. (Meeting point will depend if you book a car or RV, we’ll send you details in your travel documents). After checking into your new accommodation, you will have time at your leisure to live it up and explore all the iconic neighborhoods like Venice Beach, Hollywood or Santa Monica. After a long day of activities, spend the evening exploring Santa Monica Pier, or stop in at Venice Beach before dark.

Day 2: Los Angeles - San Luis Obispo, Usa
Location: San Luis Obispo

Drive to San Luis Obispo via Santa Barbara
Today, you will drive up the coast. If you want so, you can stop in at Santa Barbara for fish tacos on State Street or just to get to know the city. When you arrive in San Luis Obispo, you can explore the Point San Luis Lighthouse, the old town district, and visit Bubblegum Alley before checking out the glamorous Madonna Inn. This evening you can go to a drive-in movie theater for one of the most classic American experiences. Drive: 3 hours

Day 3: San Luis Obispo - Monterey, Usa
Location: Monterey

Drive to Monterey via Big Sur
Along scenic Highway 1, you will have numerous vistas including Hearst Castle, where you can see Zebras in the distance, Elephant Seal Vista Point (aptly named), walk out to the photo-worthy McWay Falls, and stop to view Bixby Creek Bridge. Take a break from the winding cliffside road for lunch in Big Sur and to take in the pleasant forest surroundings. When you arrive in Monterey, stretch your legs with a walk along the Asilomar Coastal Trail. Drive: 4.5 hours

Day 4: Monterey, Usa
Location: Monterey

Monterey Bay Aquarium
Start the day with exploring the historical Cannery Row and have the chance to step inside the world-class Monterey Bay Aquarium. Afterwards maybe rent bicycles and go for a ride along the coastal trail. Tonight you can walk down Alvarado Street where there are breweries and restaurants at every corner.

Day 5: Monterey - San Francisco, Usa
Location: San Francisco

Guided Kayak Tour, drive to San Francisco, and Sunset Catamaran Cruise
This morning you will go on a 1.5 hour kayak tour from Cannery Row. You will likely see seals and otters among other wildlife, so be camera ready! After kayaking, you will continue your journey up to San Francisco. In your free time, be sure to walk or bike across the Golden Gate Bridge, visit the Fisherman’s Wharf, stop in for lunch at the Embarcadero, Ferry building, and explore China Town and Little Italy. This evening you will end your journey on a high note with a sunset catamaran cruise which circles around Alcatraz and under the Golden Gate Bridge. This day will finish at your drop-off car rental. (Meeting point will depend if you book a car or RV, we’ll send you details in your travel documents). Drive: 2 hours.

Day 6: San Francisco, Usa
Location: San Francisco

Check-out
Time to say goodbye! Please make your own way to the airport and have a safe trip back home!

What's Included

  • Accommodation

    5N in hostels, campgrounds, RV resorts or budget hotels

  • Transport

    Car (mid-size type) or RV Rental for days 1-5 (Minimum age to rent a car 25+)

  • Experiences

  • Activities

    City and Nature expeditions

  • Guides

    English-speaking guide in certain activities

  • Extras

    Camping option includes all the gear and equipment (1 Tent, 2 Sleeping Bags, 2 Sleeping Pads, 2 Camp Pillows, 1 Camp Table, 2 Camp Chairs, 2 Rechargeable Headlamps, 1 Electric Lantern, 1 2-Burner Camp Stove (fuel sold separately), 1 Camp Cook Set, 1 Cooler). Client must place $200 USD as a deposit at pick-up.

  • Meals

What's Not Included

  • Travel insurance

  • International and/or domestic flights

  • Car rental insurance, GPS or other add-ons (available to book at the counter)

  • Fuel, parking fees and tolls for rental vehicles

  • Personal expenses

  • Meals and beverages

  • Tips and gratuities

Reviews of this Operator

Jonas Nesset(Norway)  

The company is exceptional. When...

Dec 10 2019

The company is exceptional. When I had questions, I always got prompt and professional answers. The excursions that Bamba organized were fantastic! Thank you once again for everything!

Shane Alce(United Kingdom)  

For true explorers....

Aug 12 2019

For true explorers.

Marian Reder(Germany)  

To this day, this is...

Oct 2 2019

To this day, this is the best tour we've ever done together as a couple! The fun activities, great hotels and nice guides worth the money! We were always taken care of and they made sure that we had a good time. This tour is definitely worth taking.

Tanja Ottosen(Denmark)  

The Bamba Team really made...

Jan 9 2020

The Bamba Team really made my journey one of the most memorable experiences of my life! Still so nice and supportive! They handled everything and responded to each question within a few minutes. I wholeheartedly recommend it to everyone. Especially if you want to do a lot of activities and travel to a lot of different places without feeling rushed. They've also helped me with specific issues that weren't covered by the tour, as well as answering general questions. Thank you so much for making my journey so enjoyable!

Braiden Rowe(United States)  

The tour was fantastic; I...

Feb 12 2020

The tour was fantastic; I was able to visit some of Japan's most beautiful locations, and the accommodations were excellent, with convenient access to the city's best attractions. Also, our tour guide was fantastic. I will pick bamba again and recommend the tour to anyone who wants to see Japan while having a good time!!

Aaron Davies(Australia)  

I only have good words...

Oct 23 2019

I only have good words about our trip to Kenya. The entire experience was totally magical and I struggle to say how fantastic it was. We were fortunate enough to have a brilliant vehicle for ourselves, but we had great luck with David for our guide too. He was very knowledgeable, courteous and nice. Thank you for helping to create this fantastic safari experience. I Highly recommend this company.

Matteo Hoffmeister(Germany)  

Bamba Experience has been the...

Jun 5 2019

Bamba Experience has been the best tour guide I've ever had. Every tour has been a thrilling experience. There are so many things to choose from. Bamba has been extremely helpful in providing us with all of the necessary information for our departures and activities! Bamba has made this a simple and enjoyable experience. I'll certainly tell my friends and family about it! Thank you very much, Bamba!!

Melanie Liu Chang(Australia)  

We organized a trip through...

Feb 20 2020

We organized a trip through Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia on the hop-on, hop-off bus. It made the trip so much simpler for us as first-time travelers because we just had to send an email to arrange the bus, which avoided the hassle of looking for the best price and so on! We also had a number of tours included, they were all amazing and saved us the trouble of trying to find the best offers on our own; it also meant we got to see a lot of stuff we wouldn't have seen otherwise. Overall, it was a fantastic experience that I will strongly suggest and use again!

Marius Halvorson(Norway)  

Our Bamba tour of Vietnam...

Jun 25 2019

Our Bamba tour of Vietnam was fantastic. We had a lot of new experiences and all of the help we needed to make this a stress-free vacation. The well-organized accomodation and transportation were excellent. We will certainly use Bamba in the future.

Alexis Helman(Australia)  

I had booked our Uyuni...

Jun 25 2019

I had booked our Uyuni Salt Flats & Desert Adventure 3D/2N (Uyuni to Atacama) tour via an Australian travel agency, but they had made an error and refused to assist us or take responsibility. This was very difficult for us because we wanted to have a stress-free honeymoon. I contacted Bamba and I asked if we could talk on the phone so they made the improvements to our tour reservation that our travel agent declined to make. The quality of service was exceptional and they generously offered to us a complimentary gift because it was our honeymoon. I can't say enough good things about Bamba.

Book with Confidence

  • Free Date Changes

    Bamba Travel allows you to make 2 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 60 days before the start of the tour.

  • Transfer as credit to Future Tours

    Bamba Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform bamba travel, 60 days before departure.

  • Low Deposit

    Bamba Travel requires a minimum deposit of 20% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 30 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of bamba travel charges.

    Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

    At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.

    At 15 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.

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