USA Coast to Coast

We leave London and fly to New York, where we spend two nights at the luxurious Parker Hotel, only 3 blocks from the city's iconic Central Park. A contemporary hotel with an elegant feel, the Parker Hotel boasts a superb location, within easy reach of incredible attractions including Carnegie Hall, the Theater District and 5th Avenue. The hotel features two on-site restaurants, a hair salon (payable locally), a well-equipped gym and an indoor pool.

On Day 2 we take a guided tour of the 'Big Apple', including Central Park, an open, leafy space set amongst the city's skyscrapers. Later we enjoy a cruise around Manhattan Harbour, spotting landmarks from our unique vantage point on the water including Ellis Island and the torch-wielding icon, the Statue of Liberty.

On Day 3 we take the train south to Washington, the nation's capital, where we spend two nights at the Fairfax Embassy Row, located in the Dupont Circle district. This afternoon we begin a guided tour of this elegant city, passing many of the famous landmarks including the White House, Capitol Hill, historic Georgetown and the Pentagon. Day 4 is free to explore Washington at leisure. Why not visit the world's largest art, science and history museum complex - the fantastic Smithsonian? There are many other terrifi c places to visit, including Arlington Cemetery with its 'Eternal Flame', and lively Adams Morgan and many other sights.

We leave Washington late-afternoon on the Capitol Limited. The Capitol Limited service runs daily between Washington D.C. and Chicago, following the historic B&O line through the Potomac Valley. Our overnight journey takes us past historic Harpers Ferry and the Allegheny Mountains into Pittsburgh, before crossing into Ohio and heading north to Cleveland across Indiana and eventually into the centre of Chicago. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the passing scenery from the comfort of the Sightseer Lounge before moving to the dining car to enjoy dinner - included as part of your journey.

We arrive in Chicago after breakfast on board the Capitol Limited. Here we spend the next two nights at the Cambria Hotel, located within walking distance of Navy Pier, the shops of the Magnifi cent Mile and the lake. On arrival in Chicago, we board a coach at the station for a city tour that revisits the 'dry and lawless years' of the 1920s and '30s. We take in the site of the St Valentine's Day Massacre as well as Al Capone's headquarters, and some of the city's less infamous landmarks.

Your afternoon, and Day 7, is free to explore Chicago. The Willis Tower - Chicago's equivalent of the Empire State Building - is a must-see and offers superb panoramas over the city, the lake and the landscapes beyond. The nearby Hancock Centre boasts similarly terrific views. Alternatively, you could venture down to Lake Michigan and enjoy a harbour cruise.

After a free morning on Day 8, we board the California Zephyr for an overnight journey to Denver, which takes us across the cornfi elds and plains of Iowa and Nebraska. The Zephyr has a Sightseer Lounge and dinner is served in the train's dining car in the evening.

Please note: Departure USG1904 & 1905 will stay at the Hampton Inn by Hilton in Chicago.

We arrive in Denver (nicknamed the 'Mile High City' as it is at an altitude of exactly one mile above sea level) early this morning, with breakfast served in the dining car. After our guided orientation drive on arrival, the rest of your day is at leisure to explore. Our home in Denver is the modern Magnolia Hotel.

On Day 10 we enjoy a full-day excursion to explore Rocky Mountain National Park and Estes Park. Renowned worldwide for their breathtaking scenery abundant in turquoise rivers, lush forests, majestic mountain vistas and wildlife including elk, black bears, coyotes, eagles and hawks, these parks are the jewel in Colorado's crown.

Today we embark on one of the USA's most scenic rail journeys along the route of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. Our journey takes us up into the Rocky Mountains, past dramatic peaks and deep ravines to the city of Grand Junction, in the heart of Colorado's wine region, where we enjoy an overnight stay.

On Day 12, we transfer to Silverton, for a journey on the Durango & Silverton Railroad, travelling through breathtaking canyons, past emerald-green rivers, across the remote wilderness of the National Forest, to Durango, where we spend the night at the DoubleTree Durango.

Familiar from a hundred westerns, the rugged landscape of Utah's Monument Valley is one of America's defining images, which we discover today as we pass through en-route to Flagstaff. Day 14 is free to explore.

Today we head along the legendary Route 66 to the town of Williams to join the Grand Canyon Railway. We travel in carriages, hauled by historic locomotives, to the Grand Canyon to see one of the world's most awe-inspiring sights. The canyon, created by the Colorado River over a period of 6 million years, is 277 miles long, up to 18 miles wide, and a mile deep. We arrive at the South Rim and main viewpoint of the Canyon. This evening we join the Southwest Chief for the overnight journey to Los Angeles.

We spend this morning in Hollywood. We then travel to Long Beach for one night on board RMS Queen Mary. On Day 17 we join Amtrak's Coast Starlight for a daytime journey along the Pacific coast to San Francisco.

We begin our explorations with a guided tour that includes the magnificent Golden Gate Bridge and the popular Fisherman's Wharf, home to a much-loved population of sea lions. Your afternoon is free to explore further.

We transfer to the airport for our flight to London today, arriving on Day 20.

Please note that while every departure of this tour will feature the same excursions, the order may differ from that shown above.