2-Day VIP Highlights Tour from Los Angeles【Max 14 Pax Small Group /w Coast Starlight Scenic Train+Ocean View Hotel】: Pacific Coast Highway, Point Piedras Blancas

What you'll experience

Highlights

2 days

Day-by-day itinerary

1. 1

   Day 1 — Los Angeles - Amtrak Coast Starlight - Santa Barbara - Hearst Castle - Point Piedras Blancas

   The California Highway 1 road trip is the most popular self-driving route in North America, without a doubt! Almost everyone who visits the U.S. has to take this iconic drive. Along this nearly 1,000-kilometer stretch of road, there are countless breathtaking spots, and without experience, many of these scenic views might be missed without even realizing it.

   We'll begin our journey in the morning, greeted by the rising sun, and head to Union Station, the starting point of the most scenic stretch of the famous "Coast Starlight" train route. From Union Station to the Santa Barbara station lies the renowned "Coastline Train." The tracks perfectly follow the coast, with California's stunning, charming beaches right at your side. The ride lasts about 2.5 hours, passing through the famous Malibu, where you can enjoy the majestic views of the California coastline and experience the peace and comfort of a train journey. We will disembark at the Santa Barbara station to explore the unique sights and beauty of Santa Barbara, followed by lunch in the area. After lunch, we'll head to Hearst Castle to visit the luxurious estate of the former media mogul. Before wrapping up our tour, we'll stop by Point Piedras Blancas to see the sea lions. The day will end with an overnight stay at a seaside hotel.

   • Amtrak Coast Starlight Train
   The Amtrak Coast Starlight is a well-known long-distance train that runs along the West Coast of the U.S., connecting Seattle's King Street Station with Los Angeles' Union Station. The full journey takes over 35 hours, with the California stretch offering breathtaking views along Highway 1.
   • Santa Barbara
   Located 150 kilometers north of Los Angeles, Santa Barbara is nestled between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. The city features charming Spanish and Mexican-style architecture, with red-roofed, white-walled buildings. In the hillside and coastal neighborhoods, houses are surrounded by lush lawns and gardens, giving Santa Barbara its well-deserved reputation as a "garden city." The area has long been a favorite for wealthy businesspeople, political figures, and celebrities. President John F. Kennedy honeymooned here in 1953; President Ronald Reagan's villa in the northwestern mountains hosted world leaders like Mikhail Gorbachev and Queen Elizabeth II between 1981 and 1989; and President Bill Clinton vacationed here shortly after his election in 1992. On weekends and holidays, tourists flock to Santa Barbara from Los Angeles and the nearby desert cities, driving along Highways 101 and 154.
   • Hearst Castle
   Hearst Castle, located on a 500-meter-high hill in San Simeon on California's central coast, offers stunning views of the coastline and the Pacific Ocean. The castle is a mix of Spanish, Mexican, European, and Mediterranean styles, but it truly embodies the spirit of America. The owner, media tycoon William Hearst, was inspired by European architecture during his childhood travels to Greece and Italy and influenced by the Mexican culture of California (which was once Mexican territory). Using his vast wealth, he created this lavish palace, a symbol of American luxury. At the age of 83, the Hearsts donated the estate to the U.S. government, giving visitors a chance to experience the grandeur of this private American mansion firsthand.
   • Point Piedras Blancas
   The beach at Point Piedras Blancas is a spectacular sight, often covered with elephant seals. Occasionally, younger seals can be seen playing and sparring in the water. While the Chinese name translates to "Walrus Beach," the correct name is "Elephant Seal Rookery." These large seals, distinguished by their large noses and massive bodies, started migrating here in the 1990s after nearly being hunted to extinction. Thanks to conservation efforts, their population has steadily grown.
   Tour Duration:
   Coast Starlight Train: 2.5 hours
   Santa Barbara: 1 hour
   Hearst Castle: 2 hours
   Point Piedras Blancas: 0.5 hours
    

   

   Santa Barbara

   

   Hearst Castle

   

   Piedras Blancas

   Meals: B: Excluded, L: Excluded, D: ExcludedStay: The Morgan Hotel San Simeon, Oceanpoint Ranch, Cavalier Oceanfront Resort, Cambria Pines Lodge, White Water Inn, Fireside Inn on Moonstone Beach
2. 2

   Day 2 — 17 Mile Drive - Monterey Bay - Apple - Google - Fisherman's Wharf - Golden Gate Bridge - San Francisco

   After breakfast, we will head to the breathtaking 90-mile Big Sur coastline to take in the magnificent natural scenery. We will then drive along the picturesque 17-Mile Drive. Our next stop will be the famous Monterey Bay and its aquarium, home to California sea otters and a variety of marine life. After lunch, we will make our way to Silicon Valley to visit the Apple and Google campuses, where you can learn more about these world-leading tech giants. In the evening, we will arrive in San Francisco, where you can explore Fisherman's Wharf and take iconic photos with the stunning Golden Gate Bridge. 
   • 17-Mile Drive
   The 17-Mile Drive is a scenic loop that circles the famous Pebble Beach Resort. The west and south sides of the drive run along the Pacific Ocean, while the east side passes through the Del Monte forest. Along the way, you'll see not only famous beaches but also luxurious villas and golf courses. A landmark of Pebble Beach, the Lone Cypress, stands near the beach. Many seabirds, sea lions, and seals also call this area home, with Bird Rock and Seal Rock being popular attractions.
   • Monterey Bay
   The Monterey Bay Aquarium, established in 1984, is ranked sixth in the world and second in the U.S. The aquarium is home to California sea otters and, more recently, seahorses. It also houses various tropical fish and marine life. The aquarium offers daily performances and feeding times, where visitors can watch the keepers interact with the animals and learn more about their environments and current conditions.
   • Silicon Valley
   Silicon Valley emerged in the mid-20th century as microelectronics technology rapidly developed. It is home to renowned research universities like Stanford University and the University of California, Berkeley. The region hosts thousands of high-tech companies, including industry giants like Cisco, Intel, HP, Apple, and Google. This tour will take you to visit the global headquarters of Apple and Google, two of the most influential companies in the world.
   • Apple's Headquarters
   Apple's headquarter, Located near the circular building is the Steve Jobs Theater, which hosts major events like product launches and can accommodate up to 1,000 people. The theater's exterior features a 20-foot-high glass curtain wall and a 165-foot diameter. The roof, made of carbon fiber, is the largest of its kind, weighing 80 tons and composed of 44 panels. The headquarters, with its ring-shaped building and large central courtyard, has been compared to a "landed spaceship" by Jobs and a "giant glass doughnut" by the media. The visitor center has four sections: an Apple Store, a café, an observation deck, and an augmented reality experience of the entire Apple Park campus.
   • Google Headquarters
   Google's headquarters, located in Mountain View, is a sprawling corporate campus. Visitors can see a variety of Google's high-tech products on display and even try some for themselves. The campus also offers free bicycles, which are painted in Google's signature colors. Visitors can take photos with Android robots scattered around the campus. The headquarters, called Googleplex, is situated near other tech hubs like the Mozilla Foundation and Microsoft's Silicon Valley Research Institute.
   • San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf
   Fisherman's Wharf is one of San Francisco's most famous landmarks. It stretches from Ghirardelli Square to Pier 35 and features bustling shops, restaurants, and street performances, particularly around Pier 39. From here, you can enjoy views of Alcatraz Island, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Bay Bridge.
   • Golden Gate Bridge
   The Golden Gate Bridge is a world-famous symbol of San Francisco and one of the most iconic bridges in the world. Spanning the 1,900-meter Golden Gate Strait in California, the bridge was built over four years using more than 100,000 tons of steel at a cost of $35.5 million. Opened in 1937, the bridge is 2 kilometers long and has six lanes, making it one of the largest single-span suspension bridges in the world. The bridge's striking vermilion color contrasts beautifully with the blue sea and white waves, especially at night when the city lights illuminate it like a giant dragon soaring in the sky. During the California Gold Rush, the bridge served as the gateway to the goldfields, giving it the name "Golden Gate Bridge."
   Tour Duration:
   17-Mile Drive: 1.5 hours
   Monterey Bay Aquarium: 1 hour
   Apple: 0.5 hour
   Google: 0.5 hour
   Golden Gate Bridge: 0.5 hour
   Fisherman's Wharf: 0.5 hour
   *The tour has concluded. In San Francisco, we have three drop-off locations: downtown, Silicon Valley, and the airport. If you require a departure on the same evening, it is recommended to book a flight that departs after 10:00 PM.
    
    

   

   17-Mile Drive

   

   Monterey Bay Aquarium

   

   Monterey Bay

   

   Silicon Valley

   

   Silicon Valley Apple Park

   

   Fisherman's Wharf

   Meals: B: Included, L: Excluded, D: Excluded

What's included

Meeting & drop-off

Cancellation policy

Important info

Tour operator