Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Los Angeles - Palm Springs
100% customisable for you
Your epic Californian adventure starts today. Head to the airport, whizz through security and enjoy some nibbles and refreshments in the airport lounge as you await the departure of your 11-hour flight to Los Angeles. Hop off the plane at LAX, pick up your rental car and make your way to the lively Koreatown district. Here you’ll check into your first hotel: a trendy property near the Hollywood hills, where you’ll be staying for the next five nights. After freshening up, head out and spend your first evening strolling around the neighbourhood and settle in for a drink at one of the local bars.
Rise and shine, it’s your first full day in the ‘City of Angels’ and there’s not a moment to waste. Today you’ll be cruising round the most exclusive spots in a vintage 1960s Cadillac. From Beverly Hills to Hollywood via Bel Air and Sunset Trip, it is quite the ride. Featuring palm tree-lined promenades and a litany of palatial villas, this is a great way to get a feel for lavish LA. We could also arrange for you to visit the Arts Center of Los Angeles, home to the largest community of artists in the country.
On today’s agenda: a visit to the Eames Foundation, a workshop house in the heart of Santa Monica, considered one of the masterpieces of modern architecture. Initiated in the 1940s by Charles and Ray Eames, this program often attracts many visitors eager to experience and marvel upon this architectural wonder. Enjoy the rest of the day at your own leisure. If you fancy stretching your legs, you could head into the Hollywood Hills and embark on the popular hiking trail to the iconic Hollywood sign.
The next two days are yours to spend further soaking in the many scenic and cultural offerings of Los Angeles at your own pace. You can head up to the Griffith Observatory for an epic panoramic view of the city; enjoy an afternoon of cycling along serene Santa Monica beach; take a ride on the Pacific Wheel, the iconic Ferris wheel on Santa Monica Pier; explore Venice Beach, with its many namesake canals; catch a basketball game at the fabled Staples Centre, where the legendary LA Lakers play; shop ‘til you drop on Rodeo Drive, a chic shopping district home to famous boutiques, designer labels and haute couture fashion; or see an exhibition at the Getty Centre in Bel Air and enjoy incredible views over the city. We could also arrange for you to enjoy a private surf lesson on Manhattan Beach or visit the world-famous Warner Studios.
Today you’ll be bidding a warm farewell to the City of Angels and heading two hours inland to Palm Springs, a true green oasis situated between the San Jacinto Mountains and Coachella Valley. The drive is seriously scenic: the skyscrapers of LA gently give way to an impressive forest of wind turbines overlooked by sweeping mountains. Your home for the next three nights is a warm and welcoming hotel in the heart of the city, where you’ll be hanging up your hat for the next three nights. After settling in and freshening up, head down to the hotel bar for a nibble and a cocktail before enjoying an afternoon stroll through Hollywood’s desert playground.
After breakfast this morning you’ll be met by a friendly driver-guide, who’ll be taking you on a private tour of some of the sleekest villas Palm Springs has to offer. Modern architecture truly reached its zenith here from the 1940s to the 1960s, with the construction of lavish villas designed some by of the greatest architects of the 20th century. Richard Neutra, Donald Wexler, Albert Frey, E. Stewart Williams, William Krisel and William Cody are just some of the notable names that attract architecture enthusiasts. You’ll also have tickets waiting for you at the hotel for the funicular, which climbs over the Chino Canyon and up to the summit of Mount Jacinto.
Located just an hour’s drive from Palm Springs is Joshua Tree Park, a magnificent desert landscape nestled between Colorado Desert and the Mojave Desert that houses a species of Yucca that can stretch as high as 30ft. From hiking to Barker Dam to the discovery of the old Lost Horse gold mine to Skull Rock (a rock shaped like a skull), the park has some great surprises in store.
Sadly it’s true what they say: all good things must come to an end. Today you’ll be heading two hours back to the airport ready for your 11-hour flight home. Take the scenic route back to LA, drop off your rental car, whizz through security and enjoy one more slice of luxury with some nibbles and refreshments in the airport lounge. Most direct flights depart in the late afternoon or early evening, so you can enjoy one final sunset from the sky before touching down in the UK tomorrow.
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
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Our team of destination experts will get to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday
We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from fast-tracking you through airport check-in and security to our network of local Concierges
