We set off through the arid and mountainous Mojave Desert and emerge in the 24-hour entertainment capital of Las Vegas, stopping at the famous welcome sign for photos. The hustle and bustle of Vegas is left behind as we head for Death Valley – one of the hottest places on earth – taking in the landscapes of Zabriskie Point and the visitor centre at Furnace Creek Ranch, before climbing into the Sierra Nevada mountains to the former gold mining town of Mammoth Lakes, now an Alpine ski resort.

From there, it’s through the Tioga Pass (weather permitting) and into the spectacular wilderness of Yosemite National Park, with its peaks, waterfalls and wildlife. Watch out for bears and cougars! We then travel back to the ocean and San Francisco to enjoy the city’s many sights before a scenic jaunt takes us down the coast to the beautiful Monterey Peninsula and cosy Carmel-by-the-sea. There’s still time to savour the typically Californian delights of Santa Barbara, Malibu, Santa Monica and the stars’ enclave of Beverley Hills before concluding this unforgettable tour.