Visit the west coast of the United States in 14 days

Nicknamed "the city on the bay", San Francisco is a must for any roadtrip along the west coast of the United States. A 20-minute drive from the airport, the mythical Lombard Street and its 27° gradient plunge visitors straight into the American way of life. It also offers a lovely view of the surrounding area, enough to fill the front of your travel photo album!

Chinatown and its hustle and bustle combine to create a complete change of scenery. Here, not a word of English comes out of the mouths of the locals. A lunch break with the seafood at Fisherman's Wharf and a stroll around the old fishermen's port complete the programme for this walking tour of San Francisco. For the full experience, we recommend you take the Cable Cars, the city's iconic trams.

A morning trip to the Twins Peaks for a panoramic view of the city and its bay. This quiet, residential area is the perfect place to recharge your batteries early in the day, when the city is still asleep.

Then it's time to get as close as possible to the symbol of San Francisco: the Golden Gate Bridge. More than 2,700 metres long, this bridge with its orange hues and remarkable architecture requires a good deal of time to admire before setting off in the direction of Yosemite.

Yosemite National Park is a natural jewel of flora and fauna. Set in the high mountains of the Sierra Nevada, its cliffs, waterfalls, redwoods and thousands of species make it a must-see on your journey along the west coast of the United States.

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Visitors can explore the Tunnel View, Yosemite Falls and Glacier Point on a variety of more or less complex hikes. By car, the road to Tioga passes through a variety of landscapes, each more spectacular than the last. A truly rejuvenating break in the middle of the mountains.

This invigorating getaway to Yosemite National Park comes to a leisurely close before setting off for Death Valley. It takes several hours by road to reach this arid place, where temperatures have broken records: up to 56.7°C in 1913!

Following the road to Badwater, there are many points of interest, but be careful: you'll need to adapt your visit according to the weather, and always bring plenty of water with you. The landscape of salt, sand and rock contrasts with the lush green of Yosemite Park.

If the previous day's heat proved too overwhelming, the morning 'coolness' allows for a visit or two to Death Valley Park. The pretty colours of Golden Canyon, where the red cathedral is revealed at the end of the road, are a good illustration of the many facets of this unique valley.

Lunch break and refuelling at Furnace Creek for a smooth journey to Las Vegas. After dropping off your luggage, the night-time discovery of the city of a thousand lights can begin. Photo obligatory at the start of the Las Vegas Strip, where the famous "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign stands. Discover this boulevard by letting yourself be guided into the unknown, between casinos, majestic hotels and activities of all kinds.

A city of excesses, entire buildings are dedicated to reproducing some of the world's cities! You'll need to set off on a journey of discovery to see the architecture that has been copied around the world, all within the same city...

The 'Big Apple' can be found at the Hotel New York New York. Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, Chrysler Building... it's all there on the outside of this hotel on the Strip. Inside, the casino takes in other emblems of the city, such as Central Park and Greenwich Village. The same goes for Paris a little further on, with the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe and the Louvre. Venice and its gondoliers take centre stage at the Bellagio, famous for its fountain show every 30 minutes.

On the outskirts of Las Vegas, the Red Rock Canyon is well worth a visit. For 7 dollars a car, the region and its rocky viewpoints, such as Calico, stand out from the city. Along the 21-kilometre route, there are short walks with breathtaking views of the reddish cliffs.

This nature break has left us keen to see more, so let's set off in the direction of Zion National Park. Long inhabited by Amerindians, it was the Mormons who colonised the area in the 19th century. A hundred years later, the first tourists visited the park, and since then many have taken the time each year to discover new areas.

Rich in flora and fauna, Zion National Park also offers visitors a variety of landscapes. Dive to the bottom of the canyons carved out by the Virgin River, stroll through desert and wooded areas... all within the same park. Wildlife lovers will have the chance to discover hundreds of animal species in this environment, and in particular an incredible variety of birds.

Not far from there, the town of Kanab allows travellers to immerse themselves in the western world of the American West and its film sets. If your visit takes place in August, bingo! You'll be able to attend the Western Legends Roundup, a festival centred on cowboys and their world, many of whom turn out for the event.

The folly of grandeur! It's time to continue on to Glen Canyon and its gigantic dam, as well as Lake Powell, which the dam helped to create. A protected area, you are on the land of the Najavos Indians, so this is the perfect opportunity to take a boat trip or take one of the guided tours. The Visitor Centre also offers a tour of the dam, for those curious enough to find out more about the secrets behind its construction.

GPS programmed for the famous Monument Valley; it's THE film set! By car or on horseback, accompanied by an Amerindian guide, let's set off to discover this site, which is also protected by the Najavos, who charge an entrance fee of $8 per person. You won't want to miss the sunset, a true spectacle of nature!

For the more courageous, waking up to watch the sunrise over Monument Valley completes the sunset spectacle with a different eye and changing colours. The roadtrip has reached its most easterly point, heading back west to the popular Grand Canyon, after a 3-hour drive.

Once you arrive at the Grand Canyon, it's best to take the shuttle bus, as many places are not accessible by car. The end of the day lends itself well to the orange shuttle tour, which ends at Yaki Point, a panoramic viewpoint of the canyon's rock layers and colours.

The red shuttle allows you to get off and on again at any stop you like, so you can take your time wandering around and admiring the viewpoints. 9 of the most beautiful spots in the Grand Canyon are on this route! A short stroll through the forest at the Monument Creek Vista stop to reach Prima Point on foot, while admiring the splendid panoramas. Grand Canyon National Park is the perfect place to discover and enjoy these natural gems.

It takes a long day's drive to get to Los Angeles, but the road is legendary! Crossing a large part of the United States, Route 66 was considered the "holiday route" before the advent of motorways. Motels and diners catered for the needs of holidaymakers, some of which are still in existence today. Tourists will be immersed in the America of a few decades ago on this journey!

Culinary immersion in one of the roadside "diners" for a delicious Tex-Mex dish. Listen to your tastes and stop wherever you like - that's the American Way of Life! After arriving in Los Angeles, you can go as far as the Santa Monica Pier before setting down your luggage at the last destination on this itinerary.

Without doubt the best-known stars in the world, let's take a look at those that bear the name of a star of the cinema, television, radio, music or theatre and which litter the Walk of Fame. Let's go in search of Michael Jackson, Chuck Norris or Tom Cruise!

The tour continues on THE street, where you can pose in front of a number of tagged walls... Melrose Avenue! Angel wings, blackberry bushes, quotations and strong messages are all part of the art of this avenue. It's a great spot for a lunch break or just a coffee, in a remarkably well-designed setting.

Then, let's dream a little, in Beverly Hills, in front of the luxurious properties of this quiet, chic little town.

Originally a temporary sign with the name "Hollywoodland", the Hollywood sign is now the emblem of Los Angeles. Hikes take you up the hill where the 9 14-metre white letters stand, but you can't get too close.

Let's get back on the road for a short stretch of one of California's most famous roads, Highway 1. Running along the coast through redwood forests, vineyards and mountains, it is considered to be one of the most beautiful roads on the planet, and we approve! Those wishing to complete the loop of this itinerary can take this route all the way back to San Francisco, bringing the photo album to a fitting close.