Alaska, USA

Experience the raw, untamed wilderness of Alaska independently — from the towering peaks of Denali to the glacier-carved fjords of Kenai — at a fraction of the guided tour price. This self-launched itinerary replicates the Omega Tours route using public transport, self-booked cruises and park buses, and budget-friendly lodges and hostels. Alaska is expensive by nature, but cutting out the operator markup saves you well over £1,000 per person. All costs are approximate estimates in GBP.

Travel Crew

~£1,890

Explore the jaw-dropping wilderness of Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks entirely on your own terms. This self-launched 7-day itinerary follows the same iconic route — Jenny Lake, Cascade Canyon, Mammoth Hot Springs, Norris Geyser Basin, Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, and Hayden Valley — swapping group tour pricing for budget-friendly lodges, hostels, and campgrounds, plus a rental car instead of a private coach. Entry fees, boat shuttles, and park passes are all self-bookable. Estimated costs are approximate and based on current budget traveller rates.

Travel Crew

~£750

Explore southern Oregon's stunning coastline, ancient redwood forests, and the iconic Crater Lake independently — covering the same ground as the Southwest Adventure Tours group tour at a fraction of the price. Hire a rental car in Portland (the most practical way to do this road trip solo) and follow the coast south before looping inland through redwoods and volcanic landscapes. Estimated costs below are per person based on two people sharing a rental car and accommodation; solo travellers should budget slightly more for car hire and single rooms.

Travel Crew

~£810

Same canyon country adventure, minus the guided tour price tag. This self-launched itinerary takes you from Salt Lake City through Kolob Canyons, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon, and the Mojave Desert to Las Vegas — hiking hoodoos, e-biking canyon roads, and sleeping under desert stars. You'll book your own entry permits, rent an e-bike independently, and swap the guided ranch package for a mix of budget-friendly lodges and motels — saving hundreds of pounds while keeping every highlight intact.

Travel Crew

~£570

Experience Alaska's epic wilderness — towering peaks, calving glaciers, and extraordinary wildlife — without the premium group tour price tag. This self-launched itinerary follows the same Anchorage–Seward–Talkeetna–Denali–Anchorage route as G Adventures' National Geographic Family Journey, swapping private group vehicles and upgraded hotels for budget-friendly lodges, public shuttles, and self-bookable tours. You'll still tick off Kenai Fjords, Denali National Park, the Alaska SeaLife Center, and the Alaska Native Heritage Center — just at a fraction of the cost. Costs below are estimated per adult; budget extra for children's discounts where applicable. All figures are approximate.

Travel Crew

~£2,400

Skip the coach and do America's legendary Cowboy Country on your own terms. This self-launched road trip takes you from Rapid City, South Dakota through the Badlands, the Black Hills, Deadwood, the Bighorns, Cody, and Yellowstone before finishing in Jackson, Wyoming. You'll hit every major landmark — Badlands National Park, Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Yellowstone, Grand Teton — but swap the guided group bus for a rented car and budget-friendly motels and guesthouses. Estimated costs are approximate and based on one person sharing a twin/double room where applicable, using a rental car split between two travellers.

Travel Crew

~£905

Experience the iconic wildernesses of Utah, Arizona and California under your own steam — from the sandstone cliffs of Zion to the granite walls of Yosemite, with the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Sequoia and Route 66 in between. This self-launched version follows the same Las Vegas to San Francisco route, swapping group-tour logistics for independent transport, self-booked campsites and GetYourGuide-bookable guided experiences where needed (like Antelope Canyon). Estimated costs are approximate and based on current budget traveller rates.

Travel Crew

~£1,045

Trade the guided group van for your own rental car and experience the very best of California's national parks and iconic cities at a fraction of the cost. This self-launched route takes you from the neon lights of Las Vegas through the scorched beauty of Death Valley, into the ancient giant forests of Sequoia, the jaw-dropping depths of Kings Canyon, and the thundering waterfalls of Yosemite — before rolling into San Francisco for a final urban adventure. All the same epic landscapes, self-booked activities, budget-friendly motels and lodge stays, and the freedom to linger wherever you please. Estimated costs are approximate and based on solo-traveller rates; splitting a rental car and rooms with one or two travel companions will reduce costs significantly.

Travel Crew

~£1,215

This self-launched version of Europamundo's 'Dreams of the West' tour covers the iconic American West — from Los Angeles and Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, San Francisco and the Pacific Coast Highway — all independently, at a fraction of the group tour price. Instead of a guided coach, you'll rent a car or use a combination of budget flights, Greyhound/FlixBus, and rideshares. Accommodation swaps 4-star chain hotels for well-rated budget hotels and motels. All park entries and city tours can be self-booked via GetYourGuide or direct. Costs are approximate estimates per person based on budget traveller rates (assuming two people sharing a rental car and room).

Travel Crew

~£1,025

Hit all five of Utah's iconic national parks — Canyonlands, Arches, Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon, and Zion — plus showstoppers like Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, and Kodachrome Basin, all on your own terms. This self-launched version swaps the Trafalgar motorcoach and £3,300+ price tag for a rental car, budget-friendly motels and lodges, and self-booked tours, cutting costs dramatically without cutting any of the scenery. Drive one of America's great road-trip routes from Grand Junction, CO to Las Vegas, NV and experience the full Colorado Plateau at your own pace.

Travel Crew

~£1,065

This self-guided road trip replicates Intrepid Travel's iconic 13-day San Francisco to LA journey through California, Nevada, Utah and Arizona — at a fraction of the cost. Hire a car between 2–4 friends (or join a rideshare group), book campsites and budget hotels independently, and pay your own national park entry fees. You'll hit every major stop — Yosemite, Zion, Bryce Canyon, the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Route 66 and Joshua Tree — without the group tour markup. Estimated costs below are per person based on 2 people sharing a hire car; solo travellers should budget more for transport. All costs are approximate and based on 2025 budget traveller rates.

Travel Crew

~£790

Skip the coach and do this classic Great Lakes loop on your own terms — Detroit to Chicago via Frankenmuth, Mackinac Island, Petoskey, Traverse City and Grand Rapids. You'll hit every iconic stop (Henry Ford Museum, Mackinac Island carriage rides, Grand Hotel lunch, Frederik Meijer Gardens) using rental cars, ferries and public transit instead of a guided motorcoach. Budget accommodation swaps in at hostels and mid-range guesthouses, but the experiences stay just as rich. All cost estimates are approximate and based on 2025 solo traveller rates in USD converted to GBP.

Travel Crew

~£1,065