Wild West Self-Drive Tour

(Driving day 1: 212 km/132 miles)

When you are ready on your bike you embark on your 4.400 km long journey. LA disappears behind us as your head south for a unique adventure full of history, excitement and fun! This first driving day will bring some city, some highway and a wonderful drive along the legendary Pacific Coast Highway 1 towards fun San Diego. You start slowly to tune into California’s driving conditions and temperatures. In approx. 30 min your first stop is Long Beach, where you make an extra security check of the bike & equipment before your tour begins for real.

Get ready for a tasty lunch at Ruby’s Diner in Laguna Beach. Milkshakes the old-fashioned way = highly recommended! Thereafter, you head straight to San Diego, where you drive to Historic Old Town, check in to the hotel, and spend the rest of the day on everything this fun city has to offer: the USS Midway, Maritime Museum, Little Italy, Old Town.

(Driving day 2: 362 km/225  miles)

You leave beautiful and fun San Diego to spend the day driving on fantastic motorcycle roads; Historic Route 94 and 98, plus Old Hwy 80. The roads are curvy and pass through spectacular scenery. Enjoy + have your camera ready!

During most of the day, you will drive along the Mexico border, which is well guarded by the U.S. Border Patrol. You can eat a Mexican lunch at a popular local diner in Calexico.

After your stop in Calexico, you continue northeast through the Imperial Sand Dunes, which is a very special experience. It’s like driving through a sandy desert with sand dunes on each side of the road. Guaranteed a very rare experience. You make a stop in the middle of the “desert” before continuing to Blythe. In the evening, you can go to a local steakhouse and eat a real American steak.

(Driving day 3: 386 km/240  miles)

You start the day with a transport stage through the dry prairie landscape, before you start riding the spectacular motorcycle roads to Prescott, where you will enjoy a great lunch buffet.

You continue driving on curvy & fun motorcycle roads on your way to Jerome ghost town. Thereafter, your drive to the breathtaking natural preserve Oak Creek Canyon, where you will be surrounded by spectacular scenery and rock formations. This natural paradise might look familiar since many famous cowboy movies have been recorded here. Oak Creek Canyon is the second most popular tourist attraction in Arizona, after the Grand Canyon. Your last stop is Sedona, in the heart of Oak Creek Canyon, a unique Indian city with dramatic natural surroundings from another world. Sedona is known for its spiritual energy and a thriving cultural community.

(Driving day 4: 306 km/190 miles)

This is the tour’s highlight for many. Welcome to the Grand Canyon! You start the day by driving fun & curvy motorcycle roads on your way out of Oak Creek Canyon, passing Flagstaff, touching by Historic Route 66, before continuing through beautiful scenery. Just before the “entrance” to the Grand Canyon is the helicopter base. If you have pre-ordered the helicopter tour you will get an experience they you’ll never forget. To hoover in the air over one of the world’s seven wonders and experience this natural wonder up close is almost magical. Highly recommended! NB: Helicopter rides must be booked in advance.

After the helicopter tour, you ride a short trip to the visitor center, where you see the world’s most-watched Imax movie. When you see the film it feels almost like standing inside the Grand Canyon. You can also eat lunch here. Then, your drive into the Grand Canyon and spend the rest of the day here. Finally, your set course towards another very famous natural phenomenon; Monument Valley, but make an overnight stop in Tuba City.

(Driving day 5: 398 km/247 miles)

You start the day by driving to Monument Valley, one of the world’s most photographed natural phenomena. Monument Valley cannot be described in words; it must be experienced. Up close, you experience the classic wild west landscape of sandstone rock formations. Everything has a reddish shade and is beautiful to look at. It is only when you are in Monument Valley that you will understand how much this area has influenced your perspective on the wild west. These natural surroundings are also other places, but not as perfect as exhibited here. When your ride amongst these majestic rock formations, you are in the middle of the Navajo Indians’ area, so you just have to get the spiritual mood up.

You continue to Mexican Hat, another natural phenomenon. Is it a sombrero or stone formation?  Then your head north to Lake Poyourll and Utah’s national parks. This will be a driving distance you never will forget. You are surrounded by amazing rock formations and have a three-dimensional height perspective. All-day you drive through exceptional beautiful and spectacular scenery, with fun motorcycle roads. Today’s driving one of the tour’s absolute highlights! Your drive through Goosenecks State Park, Natural Bridges National Monument, Glen Canyon, Lake Poyourll, Goblin Valley, and Horseshoe Canyon. Enjoy!

(Driving day 6: 428 km/266 miles)

We continue our amazing and spectacular drive through Utah. The national parks come one after another like beads on a string; Goblin Canyon, Capitol Reef, and Otter Creek State Park. Best of all is our ride up and down the elevations of the Escalante staircase. We believe you will not be able to stop smiling! One of the tour highlights is the magic of Bryce Canyon. Bryce Canyons’ rock formations are difficult to describe, an experience on par with the Grand Canyon.

We continue through Dixie National Forest to another great National Park; Zion. Besides seeing some of the world’s finest rock formations, the roads are particularly curvy here – “the switchbacks of Zion”! Compared to Yosemite and Grand Canyon, Zion radiates a more aesthetic appreciation of nature.

(Driving day 7: 274 km/172 miles)

Get ready for another amazing day! We start by driving through spectacular Zion. Besides seeing some of the world’s finest rock formations, the roads are particularly curvy here – “the switchbacks of Zion”! Compared to Yosemite and Grand Canyon, Zion radiates a more aesthetic appreciation of nature.

When we come out of Zion, it’s straight ahead to the neon-lit gambling oasis Las Vegas. We arrive at lunchtime, park the bikes and spend the rest of the day exploring this exciting city. This evening you can explore the famous “Sin City” on your own. Enjoy! You are in one of the most fun cities in the world.

Las Vegas has it all, amazing architecture, unique shows, casinos and all kinds of entertainment. Vegas is never boring! Most attractions are within walking distance. We highly recommend taking a trip to Caesar’s Palace, Bellagio, MGM, Stardust, Treasure Island, The Venetian, Mirage, Wyatt and The Fashion Show Mall (over 200 stores). At the Mirage you will be able to enjoy the evening volcanic eruptions every 30 minutes, turning the garden into a flame show. Inside the casino are rare white tigers. The water show outside the Bellagio is also a memory for life.

(Driving day 8: 401 km/249 miles)

You head west out of Las Vegas, where the road takes us to Death Valley – the hottest place on the planet outside the Equator! There is almost no shade anywhere and the heat is extreme – yet nature is wonderful & exciting. You can eat an early lunch in the middle of Death Valley. Afterward, you drive through a series of turns and mountains and find yourselves located more than 30 meters below sea level. Your continue west, ride Sequoia National Park to Lone Pine, where your stay overnight.

(Driving day 9: 386 km/240 miles)

We start the day by driving to Bishop, where we will enjoy a coffee and some delicious pastries at the local bakery. Thereafter, we drive to Mammoth Lakes, known for mountain-biking in summer and skiing in winter. We continue north to Tioga Pass before we cross Yosemite National Park. We ride through enormous granite mountains and curvy motorcycle roads. This will require some concentration until we approach the mother of the mother of all national parks. Yosemite draws thousands of images and rises to dizzying heights. You will experience the beautiful, wild, tame and abundant nature that spreads around you. We will enjoy an outdoor lunch in the open wild Yosemite scenery.

We end the day by driving to a fun old miner village; Jamestown. On our way to Jamestown, we will ride on twisty & challenging motorcycle roads. We are confident you will have a big smile on your face. But please drive very cautiously!

(Driving day 10: 356 km/221 miles)

When we drive out of Yosemite National Park we will ride on great motorcycle roads. We are confident you will have a big smile on your face. When we are out of Yosemite, we continue west to Sausalito and Golden Gate Bridge, where we will take the time to enjoy the view of the bridge and beautiful San Francisco. Afterward, we drive across this famous bridge and into San Francisco, where we will stay near the Embarcadero and all its attractions.

(Fun and explorer day)

When you wake up in funny San Francisco you might understand why Frank Sinatra left his heart in this city. The city is a funky, individualistic and surprisingly small place – certainly the most liberal city in the US.

San Francisco really has a European feel and you have many more opportunities for sightseeing than it is possible to adapt to your short stay here. Make sure you visit Fisherman’s Wharf while dropping by small shops and street cafes famous for some of the best seafood dishes in the world. Feel free to hop on one of the city’s famous “Cable Cars” which is a moving landmark and the heart of this amazing city!  Other good options are the prison island Alcatraz (must be booked in advance), harbor cruises, Chinatown, Lombard Street (one of America’s curviest streets). Those who wish can take a road trip to Napa Valley and taste wines.

(Driving day 11: 192 km/120 miles)

Get ready for some amazing driving experiences – this day is one of the tours’ definite highlights! You will drive on the legendary Pacific Highway 1, the spectacular coastline and experience your first taste of one of the most amazing motorcycle roads in the world. Stunning views of caves and rock formations, there’ll be plenty of opportunities to take great pictures. You can also stop by the famous biker bar “Alice’s” & drive through Big Basin Redwood State Park, which is packed with curvy & narrow motorcycle roads and the famous wide Redwood trees. Make several stops along Pacific Highway 1 and the Redwood forest before your head to Monterey.

Monterey is home to the world-famous Laguna Seca Automobile (known motorcycle race track). When you arrive at this spectacular seaside city, you will spend the afternoon along Cannery Row, which is packed with beautiful hotels, shops, and restaurants. You can eat dinner at the famous Fisherman’s Wharf.

(Driving day 12: 339 km/210 miles)

We’ll say it again: it is hard to believe that nature can be more beautiful, but today’s ride will simply take your breath away. You drive the highly appraised Pacific Highway 1 with mountains on your left side and the Pacific Ocean on your right side. As you continue past the Big Sur, you will feel the warm California sun together with delicious salty sea air on your skin. There will be several miles with fantastic views and great formations where the Santa Lucia Mountains meet the Pacific Ocean, creating one of the most beautiful stretches of the California coast. Today you will feel a delicious warm breeze and take in a spectacular sunset.

You drive through the beach resort Pismo Beach to the “Danish” city; Solvang (sister town of Aarhus), where you live in a Danish Gjæstgiveri, eat at a Danish beer restaurant and eat breakfast at a Danish bakery. You can even go behind the scenes to greet the Danish baker.

(Driving day 13: 238 km/148 miles)

You say goodbye to Solvang and continue your wonderful trip to southern California, home of the Beach Boys, Hollywood and some of the most beautiful scenery in the country. You can stop for lunch in Santa Barbara, referred to by many as America’s Riviera because of its similar climate and geography to the French and Italian Riviera.

Having digested Santa Barbara, your cruise down Pacific Coast Highway 1 to the famous Neptune’s Net biker restaurant & Malibu. Thereafter, you head straight to Los Angeles. You return your bike, take off your boots and replace driving gear with light summer clothing..

Say goodbye to Los Angeles and return home. Thank you for choosing our Wild West Self-Drive Tour.

Note: Because of the time difference travelers from Europe will arrive home the date/day after departing the US.

Also: This program is a guideline for activities and experiences on the tour. Deviations may occur, we are continually working to improve the program, thus you may experience positive surprises.