Back to trips
The road into Monument Valley seen from above at sunset
Western USA

West USA

Western USA →
5.0317 Google reviews 13days Group of 1818in the crew From Athens

Overview

Route 66, Death Valley, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, and Sequoia National Park are just some of what we'll see. Get ready for a dream roadtrip with the Altervan van through the best of the West Coast.

The West USA Roadtrip is more than a journey, it's an experience that blends the freedom of the open road, the most iconic landscapes of the USA, and moments that will stay with you forever. From the bright streets of Los Angeles to the vast desert expanses, and from spectacular canyons to the lush forests of giant sequoias, every day is a new adventure.

Coming solo. Will I fit in? 75% come solo. By day two, that has changed.
At a glance
DestinationWestern USA
Dates28 Apr 2027 → 10 May 2027
Duration13 days
Group sizeup to 18 people
Price€2,790 / person
AvailabilitySold out, join the waitlist

Included

Round-trip flights from Athens with ITA Airways
Airport taxes
Public liability insurance
Transfers by 9-seater van
Local taxes
Fuel
2 guides from our team
Accommodation in double hotel rooms, except for 1 night in four-bed houses
Entrance to the national parks we visit
4 hotel breakfasts

Not included

Personal expenses
Meals
Entrance to Antelope Canyon
Entrance to Alcatraz prison
Entrance to Universal Studios
ESTA fee (~€40)

Before you get in the van for the West...

Most people come soloBy day two, that has changed.
We will rack up a lot of kilometresLos Angeles, desert, Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, sequoias, San Francisco. One of our longest roadtrips in kilometres. You just settle into the van.
A different place almost every night11 nights in 8 different places, twin hotel rooms and one night in four-bed houses. Coming solo? You share with someone of the same gender.
A small suitcase and a backpackYou are allowed 23 kg, but the van has 9 seats and the bags travel with us every day. A small suitcase up to 12 kg and a backpack.
Desert, fog and everything in between, in one weekHeat in Death Valley, cool air in Yosemite and among the sequoias, fog in San Francisco. Dress in layers.
The optional extras and the ESTA are on youUniversal, Antelope Canyon, Alcatraz and the ESTA (about 40 €) are not in the price. Neither are meals, except the breakfasts listed.
Good to know

If you have travelled to Cuba since 12/01/2021, or to Yemen, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or North Korea since 01/03/2011, you cannot travel on an ESTA.

It does not mean you cannot join the trip, you will just need to apply for a US visa.

It is for you if…

  • you love the road: music, random conversations and a landscape that changes every hour outside the window
  • you do not mind early starts and sleeping in a different town every night
  • you want the West like in the films, but not from a coach
  • you are up for coming in as strangers and leaving as a new crew

It is probably not for you if…

  • long hours in the van wear you out
  • you want to unpack once and stay put
  • you want all-inclusive hotels and comforts
  • you are expecting a classic organised tour with a guide and a coach

Moments

376 moments from 12 previous departures
Altervan trip leaderSecure your seat with a depositEasy cancellation

Itinerary · day by day

The group in front of the Hollywood Sign1

Arrival in Los Angeles

The group in front of the Hollywood Sign
We arrive in Los Angeles around 13:30 and the city welcomes us with its signature golden light. We drop our things at our hotel in Hollywood and head out for a first, relaxed stroll. We pass beneath the towering palms of Beverly Hills, and the Hollywood Sign winks at us from the hill. Then we walk the Walk of Fame.
Palm trees and sunset on Santa Monica beach2

Universal vibes, Santa Monica & Hollywood

Palm trees and sunset on Santa Monica beach
We start the morning with options: optionally, anyone who wants can spend a few hours at Universal Studios. From midday on, we're all together at L.A.'s beaches, Santa Monica Beach & Pier. We continue to Venice Beach, the city's most colorful spot. In the evening we head back up to Hollywood.
The group with the Altervan banner on the Route 66 shield, from above3

Route 66

The group with the Altervan banner on the Route 66 shield, from above
Today we begin one of the most iconic stretches of any American roadtrip: Route 66. The road keeps changing its face: old signs, retro gas stations, small towns. We make stops at classic points along the way and continue all the way to Seligman, perhaps the most authentic piece of Route 66.
Morning at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon4

Grand Canyon

Morning at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon
In the morning we head for the imposing Grand Canyon South Rim. The landscape opens before us like a giant book. We wander from viewpoint to viewpoint, taking photos. Later we continue north and end up in Page, the quiet town that will become our base.
The Horseshoe Bend loop from above5

Antelope, Horseshoe Bend & Lake Powell

The Horseshoe Bend loop from above
Second day in Page. We begin with Antelope Canyon (optional). We continue to Horseshoe Bend, the famous spot where the river forms an enormous horseshoe. In the afternoon we head for Lake Powell.
A selfie above the Las Vegas Strip at night6

Las Vegas

A selfie above the Las Vegas Strip at night
We set off for Las Vegas. We stay at the spectacular Luxor, the massive pyramid with its beam of light. In the evening we head out to the Strip: themed hotels, music, lights everywhere.
The group walking down the road in Death Valley7

Death Valley

The group walking down the road in Death Valley
We enter Death Valley, a landscape that feels almost otherworldly. Sand dunes, heat shimmering in the air. We make stops at iconic spots and, of course, the classic Altervan surprise stop. We end up in Bakersfield to rest.
The group inside a fallen sequoia trunk8

Sequoia National Park

The group inside a fallen sequoia trunk
Today we step into the world of giants. The sequoias look like towering natural columns. We visit the park's museum, walk a wonderful forest trail, and of course reach General Sherman, the largest tree on Earth.
The group in front of El Capitan in Yosemite9

Yosemite

The group in front of El Capitan in Yosemite
Yosemite is like a painting spread out at full scale. Valleys, waterfalls, rocks rising into the sky, cool air, trails, endless beauty. Here every stop is one for the camera.
The whole group in front of the Golden Gate10

San Francisco

The whole group in front of the Golden Gate
We arrive in San Francisco and the energy shifts. More artistic, more laid-back, more human. We pass over the Golden Gate. We see the Painted Ladies and climb a hill with a view over the whole city.
Sea lions at Pier 39, Alcatraz behind11

Alcatraz, Wharf & Chinatown

Sea lions at Pier 39, Alcatraz behind
We start from Fisherman's Wharf, continue to Pier 39 with its sea lions, and walk all the way to Chinatown. Anyone who wishes can hop on the boat in the morning to Alcatraz, the famous island prison.
Morning coffee on a San Francisco hill12

Coffee, a stroll and goodbye California

Morning coffee on a San Francisco hill
Our last morning on the West Coast. We grab a coffee, stroll at an easy pace, take our final photos, and say goodbye to the city. Departure for the airport. The trip ends the way it should: beautifully, fully, with a sense of completeness.

The route

Route map: Los Angeles → Laughlin → Grand Canyon South → Page → Las Vegas → Death Valley → Bakersfield → Kingsburg → Oakhurst → San FranciscoLOS ANGELESLAUGHLINGRAND CANYON SOUTHPAGELAS VEGASDEATH VALLEYBAKERSFIELDKINGSBURGOAKHURSTSAN FRANCISCOUNITED STATES OF AMERICA · 10 STOPS · ROADTRIP · 2.560 KM

Open the route in Google Maps ↗

Gallery · Western USA

25 photos
The group in front of the Hollywood SignPalm trees and sunset on Santa Monica beachThe group with the Altervan banner on the Route 66 shield, from aboveBurgers and milkshakes in an old Route 66 dinerA stop with the van on an empty Mojave desert roadMorning at the South Rim of the Grand CanyonThe group above Horseshoe Bend before sunsetLight inside Antelope CanyonThe group under a rock arch in ArizonaSunset at Lake PowellOur vans at the Utah welcome signA selfie above the Las Vegas Strip at nightThe Las Vegas signThe group walking down the road in Death ValleyDeath Valley sand dunes at sunsetThe group inside a fallen sequoia trunkAt the base of a giant sequoiaThe group in front of El Capitan in YosemiteTunnel View in YosemiteThe whole group in front of the Golden GateFog around the Golden GateThe Painted Ladies in San FranciscoSea lions at Pier 39, Alcatraz behindMorning coffee on a San Francisco hillLos Angeles from Griffith Observatory

Answers to your questions

Do I need a visa for the USA?

Not with a Greek passport, the ESTA is enough: an electronic travel authorisation for tourism of up to 90 days. You apply online at esta.cbp.dhs.gov, it costs about 40 dollars, it is valid for 2 years (or until your passport expires) and it is usually approved within minutes. It must be completed at least 72 hours before the flight, and the cost of the ESTA is not included in the price. No stress: before the trip we guide you through the application step by step.

I have travelled to Cuba, Iran or another "red" country. What do I do?

If you have been to Cuba since 12/01/2021, or to Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Yemen or North Korea since 01/03/2011, you cannot travel on an ESTA. The same applies if you also hold citizenship of Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Syria or North Korea. It does not mean you cannot come: you apply for a US tourist visa (B-2) at the US Embassy in Athens, with an appointment, a fee and an interview. Interview waits run into months, so start as soon as you book.

What documents do I need?

A biometric passport that is valid, ideally for at least 6 months after your return, for peace of mind. An ID card is not enough. At the airport you may be asked to show where you are staying and your return ticket, and you will have all of that from us.

What luggage do I bring?

Your ticket includes a 23 kg suitcase, but the van has 9 seats and the bags travel with us every day. So you come with a small cabin suitcase of up to 12 kg and a backpack. Come on, do not make that face. It all fits.

Where do we sleep?

11 nights in 8 different places. Hotels with twin rooms, and one night in four-bed cabins with two twin rooms each. Coming solo? You share with someone from the group of the same gender. We sort out the pairing, or small groups form at the airport and you decide.

How do I book my seat?

With a deposit of 850 € per person. You pay the rest in instalments, up to one month before departure.

What if I need to cancel?

Everything about cancellations is in our General Terms of Participation, section 5. If anything is not clear, ask us before you book.

Am I insured?

Our office provides public liability insurance for all its trips. It is not health insurance, though. In the USA a hospital visit costs a lot, so make sure you take out private travel health insurance before you leave. It is cheap compared to what it covers.

What is not included in the price?

Meals (except the breakfasts listed), your personal expenses, the ESTA and the optional extras: Universal Studios, Antelope Canyon and Alcatraz. We talk it all through together in the Viber group we set up, and you decide later.

What weather should I expect and what should I pack?

Late November into December, all in the same week: heat in Death Valley, cool air in Yosemite and among the sequoias, fog in San Francisco and cold nights in the desert. Dress in layers, bring a warm jacket and comfortable shoes.

Card or cash? Do I need an adapter?

Card everywhere, you will hardly see cash. A few dollars for tips. Sockets are Type A/B at 110-120 V, so bring an adapter. For internet, check what your provider offers for the USA or get an eSIM. We send you the details before we leave, so no worries.

How many hours will we spend in the van?

A lot. It is one of our longest roadtrips in kilometres, with days that take us from the desert to the mountains. You just settle in, look out of the window, sing along and ask for toilet stops. If long hours on the road wear you out, read “Before you get in the van for the West” first.

What travellers say · Western USA 5.0 · 317 Google reviews
Waitlist 28 APRIL → 10 MAY 2027
Join waitlist