See the largest collection of exotic wild animals in the world.. Explore Tiger River, a tropical Asian rain forest, home of fascinating species like Sumatran Tigers, mysterious Malayan Tapirs, Chinese Water Dragons, and Web-footed Fishing Cats.

The newest exhibit is the two and a half acre Gorilla Tropics - Out of Africa, filled with waterfalls, jewel-toned birds, and a troop of lowland African Gorillas. Don't forget the Children's Zoo where you can pet some of the most tame critters on earth.

Schedule Details

Departure Dates:

Daily

Departure Point:

Selected Los Angeles and Anaheim/Buena Park area hotels. If you do not indicate this at the time of booking, you will be required to call the supplier and advise them of this information directly. The supplier contact details will be on your voucher once you have a confirmed booking.

Departure Time:

Los Angeles area hotels: Between 7:50am and 8:45am

Anaheim/Buena Park hotels: Between 8:40am and 9:05am

Return details:

This tour returns approximately 11.5 hours after departure

Hotel Pickup:

Please enter the name and address of your hotel at time of booking. If you do not indicate your hotel for pick up at the time of booking, please call the tour operator and advise them of this information directly, at least 48 hours prior to tour date. The contact details for the tour operator will be on your voucher once you have a confirmed booking.

Departure Hotel List:
For a full list of departure hotels, please click on the "View Map" icon. If your hotel is not on this list - you must call VIP Tours at least 24 hours prior to tour date to arrange a suitable pick-up point.

Itinerary:

Some of the attractions at San Diego Zoo include:

Monkey Trails and Forest Tales:
The most elaborate and ambitious animal habitat history is now open, ushering in a new era at San Diego Zoo. Joan B. Kroc's Monkey Trails and Forest Tales is home to more than 30 species of African and Asian birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians, some of the world's most exotic and endangered wildlife. You can enjoy a three-dimensional journey into the depths of a tropical forest and a new understanding of the diversity of life on Earth. An elevated walkway located across from the Zoo entrance takes you directly through the tree canopy where you will encounter some of the most rare and endangered monkeys on Earth.

Giant Panda Research Station:
The San Diego Zoo has had a love affair with giant pandas ever since two of the black-and-white bears came to visit in 1987. After years of red tape and tons of application paperwork, the Zoo and China agreed on a 12-year research loan of two giant pandas, Bai Yun and Shi Shi. A brand-new exhibit area was built for the panda guests, which has since been expanded and renovated and is now called the Giant Panda Research Station. Although currently housing four giant pandas, the facility can comfortably house up to six! Next to the public panda viewing area is the building that houses the Giant Panda Team, made up of the pandas' keepers and researchers. Be sure to stroll through the Giant Panda Discovery Center, located nearby. It includes a climb-in panda den, interactive exhibits, and even a chance to find out what pandas sound and smell like!

Polar Bear Plunge:
At first thought, a polar bear in sunny San Diego seems curiously out of place. But with the San Diego Zoo's Polar Bear Plunge, you'll discover that polar bears are right at home, where every day is an Arctic summer day. From the underwater viewing room you can see how agile and playful the polar bears really are. In fact, they're known to swim right up to the glass to check out all the humans on display. Polar Bear Plunge is one of the largest polar bear exhibits in the world. It's wet and it's wild - polar bear style!

Tiger River:
Mesmerizing and gorgeous but also endangered, the Malayan tigers are always a pleasure to watch. Their exhibit was designed to closely resemble a natural jungle habitat and was built on a steep slope that gives the tigers plenty of exercise. A waterfall splashing into a pool and logs to climb on or use as scratching posts give the tigers a variety of things to do. A heated cave near a viewing window encourages the tigers to spend their nap-time close to curious tiger admirers.

Children's Zoo:
There are more than 30 special animal exhibits and activities designed with the younger visitor in mind. The popular Petting Paddock allows kids a chance to feel the woolly coat of a sheep or comb a gentle goat's hair. The animal nursery has large viewing windows to let you watch animal babies being bottle-fed or cuddled by our caring keepers. The Children's Zoo has animals not found anywhere else on Zoo grounds, such as wombats, spider monkeys, and our ever-fascinating naked mole-rats. Best of all, about 45 of the 200 critters living here are trained as animal ambassadors, so you might get to feel how sharp a hedgehog's quills are, or hear how quietly a horned owl can flap its wings.

Sun Bear Forest:
Surrounded by the fantastic sights, sounds and scents of the Asian tropical rain forest, you may forget the hectic jungle of the city for a moment. Lose yourself in this forest in the city, where naturalistic enclosures and thousands of exotic plants combine to help animals and Zoo visitors alike experience life in an Asian forest. Bornean sun bears, the smallest bears in the world, are one of the most enjoyable animals to observe, especially in the natural setting of Sun Bear Forest. Here, the sun bears, named for the golden crescents on their chests, display their frolicsome nature. Extremely agile and often comical, sun bears are great tree climbers and make excellent use of their enclosure's climbing structures.

Flamingo Lagoon:
With their flamboyant color and amusing behaviors, flamingos make the perfect welcoming committee at San Diego Zoo! The Flamingo Lagoon features two separate viewing areas, affording a choice of vantage points. One area features an elevated walkway where you can look down into the exhibit instead of across it at eye level.

Rainforest Aviary:
The Owens Rain Forest Aviary offers bird lovers an up-close look at more than 200 feathered friends representing 60 species and about 180 birds. The free-flight aviary simulates the sights and sounds of a real Southeast Asian jungle environment. It focuses on exotic species from Southeast Asia and Australia, including flowers, ferns, and foliage indigenous to that region.

Absolutely Apes:
For decades the orangutans and siamangs at the San Diego Zoo have delighted visitors with their colorful personalities and intriguing vocalizations. Now, the two families of apes, indigenous to the same Asian rain forest ecosystem, share a habitat at the Zoo. Absolutely Apes provides a lush, naturalistic environment where arboreal orangutans and siamangs can climb, swing, and live in the same terrain as they would in the wild.

Sea Lion Show - It Began with a Roar:
This show spotlights animals that can be found around the globe and, as always, features our charismatic California sea lions.

The Wild Ones - Legends and Lore:
Delve into the legend and lore of both predators and prey from around the world and witness the mystery of their natural behaviors. You may even get a chance to participate!

Dr. Zoolittle Show:
Join San Diego Zoo's physician of fun, Dr. Zoolittle, in the Children's Zoo for an interactive and hilarious show.

Additional Information

Inclusions:

• Pick-up and drop-off at selected Los Angeles or Anaheim/Buena Park area hotels
• Admission fees to attractions as specified
• Narration by a professional driver/guide

Exclusions:

• Meals, drinks and personal items unless specified
• Gratuities (optional)

Additional Info:

• This tour must be booked at least 48 hours in advance of your travel date
• Confirmation for this tour will be received at time of booking
• Tours are also available in French, Spanish, German, Italian, Dutch, Portuguese and Japanese (with a minimum of 8 passengers per booking)
• Wheelchair facilities are available. However, passengers in a wheelchair can be accommodated only if they can get on and off the bus on their own and if the wheelchair is foldable. The driver is not permitted to assist handicapped persons due to insurance restrictions.

AIRPORT PICK-UPS
Pick-up from Los Angeles Airport is not available. You must make your own way to an airport hotel on the pick-up hotel list (eg: Hilton Los Angeles Airport, Furama Hotel, Holiday Inn - LAX or Crowne Plaza International Airport). Most airport hotels have free shuttles from the airport to the hotel departing from the red tram stop on the arrivals level. Please advise which hotel you will be traveling to at the time of booking.

 

Local Operator Information:

Complete Operator information, including local telephone numbers at your destination, are included on your Confirmation Voucher. Our Product Managers select only the most experienced and reliable operators in each destination, removing the guesswork for you, and ensuring your peace of mind.

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