East USA: Icons, History & Urban Energy

Arrive at JFK or Newark Airport and enjoy a private transfer to your hotel in Midtown Manhattan. After freshening up, step out into the electric energy of New York — walk through Times Square's neon canyon, stroll down Fifth Avenue past flagship stores and St Patrick's Cathedral, and feel the pulse of the city that never sleeps.

Welcome dinner at a celebrated Manhattan restaurant — perhaps a classic New York steakhouse, a trendy farm-to-table spot in the West Village, or sushi at a Michelin-starred omakase counter. End with a walk through the illuminated streets of Midtown.

Ferry to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Ascend to the pedestal (or crown, with advance booking) for stunning harbour views. Explore the Ellis Island Immigration Museum — the gateway through which 12 million immigrants entered America.

Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge for iconic skyline views, then explore DUMBO's cobblestoned streets and artisan shops. Return to Manhattan and visit the 9/11 Memorial and Museum — a profoundly moving tribute at the footprints of the Twin Towers. Walk the High Line — a transformed elevated railway park with gardens, art installations, and Hudson River views.

Broadway show — we'll secure premium seats for a performance of your choice, from timeless classics to the hottest new productions. Dinner at a nearby Theatre District restaurant before or after the show.

Explore Central Park — 843 acres of green space in the heart of Manhattan. Visit Bethesda Fountain, Bow Bridge, Strawberry Fields (the John Lennon memorial), and the Belvedere Castle. Afterwards, enter the Metropolitan Museum of Art for its staggering collections — Egyptian temples, European masters, American period rooms, and contemporary art.

Visit the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) or the Guggenheim Museum. Explore the trendy neighbourhoods of SoHo and Greenwich Village — boutique shopping, street performers, and some of the best coffee in the city. Walk through Washington Square Park and admire the iconic arch.

Sunset cocktails at a rooftop bar with panoramic views of the Manhattan skyline. Dinner in Chelsea or the Meatpacking District at a critically acclaimed restaurant.

Board the Amtrak train from Penn Station to Philadelphia — just 75 minutes. Arrive in the "City of Brotherly Love," birthplace of American independence and home to a thriving food scene.

Guided walking tour of historic Philadelphia. Visit Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence and US Constitution were signed. See the Liberty Bell and its famous crack. Walk through Elfreth's Alley, the nation's oldest continuously inhabited residential street (since 1702), and explore the cobblestoned streets of Old City.

Experience Philadelphia's legendary food culture — a classic Philly cheesesteak from a local institution, followed by dinner at one of the city's acclaimed restaurants in the Rittenhouse Square or Old City neighbourhoods. Explore the vibrant mural arts programme — Philadelphia has more murals than any other American city.

Visit the Philadelphia Museum of Art — ascend the famous "Rocky Steps" for panoramic city views, then explore one of America's largest and finest art museums. Browse the Reading Terminal Market — a vibrant food hall since 1893 — for Amish baked goods, fresh produce, and Pennsylvania Dutch specialities.

Board the Amtrak to Washington D.C. (under 2 hours). Arrive in the American capital and transfer to your hotel near the National Mall. Take an orientation walk along the Mall — the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, and the US Capitol are all visible in one extraordinary sweep.

Dinner in the Georgetown neighbourhood — a charming enclave of Federal-era townhouses, boutiques, and waterfront restaurants along the Potomac River. Sample Chesapeake Bay crab cakes — a D.C. culinary staple.

Guided tour of the National Mall's iconic monuments — the Lincoln Memorial (where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech), the World War II Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and the Korean War Veterans Memorial. Each one tells a powerful story of American history and sacrifice.

Explore the Smithsonian museums — the world's largest museum complex, and entirely free to enter. Visit the National Air and Space Museum (the Wright Flyer, Apollo 11 capsule), the National Museum of American History (the Star-Spangled Banner, First Ladies' gowns), and the stunning National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Drive past the White House, illuminated against the night sky. Farewell dinner at a top D.C. restaurant in the Penn Quarter or Dupont Circle neighbourhood, celebrating the history and culture you've absorbed.

Board the Amtrak Acela (high-speed train) to Boston — approximately 6.5 hours of scenic travel through Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. Watch the Atlantic seaboard unfold outside your window. Alternatively, take a short domestic flight (1.5 hours).

Arrive in Boston — America's most historic city and the cradle of the American Revolution. Check into your hotel in the Back Bay or Beacon Hill neighbourhood. Walk the Freedom Trail's opening stretch — a 4-kilometre red-brick path connecting 16 historic sites from Boston Common to the Paul Revere House.

Dinner in the North End — Boston's atmospheric Italian neighbourhood, packed with family-run trattorias, pastry shops, and espresso bars. Sample lobster ravioli, cannoli from a legendary bakery, and a glass of Chianti in a candlelit dining room.

Complete the Freedom Trail — visit Faneuil Hall ("the Cradle of Liberty"), the Old North Church (where lanterns signalled Paul Revere's ride), and the USS Constitution ("Old Ironsides"), the oldest commissioned warship still afloat. Walk through the charming red-brick streets of Beacon Hill and the Boston Public Garden, home to the famous Swan Boats.

Optional: visit Harvard University in nearby Cambridge — walk through Harvard Yard, browse the Harvard Book Store, and soak in the atmosphere of America's oldest university (founded 1636). Pick up Boston souvenirs — lobster-themed gifts, Red Sox memorabilia, and New England maple syrup. Private transfer to Boston Logan International Airport for your homeward flight.