Just a few hours’ drive from San Francisco, Yosemite is the ideal break from the distractions of the city. Since John Muir’s first glimpse of Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite has captivated and inspired people from all over the world.
Today, more than 5 million people visit this extraordinary place every year. And on one of our day-long Yosemite guided tours from San Francisco, you can immerse yourself in this truly extraordinary place.
One of our professional guides will lead your group through Yosemite Valley before taking in the unforgettable sight of the ancient Giant Sequoias of Tuolumne Grove.
You’ll see endless skylines, rock formations, and cascading waterfalls as you enjoy an overview of how this unique landscape was formed, who came before, and how Yosemite became the first ever protected national park in the United States.
Next, strap up your hiking boots and embark on the 2.5-mile (4 km) round-trip hike down to Sequoia Grove, which most day tour visitors do not get the chance to see.
With 1.5 hours of free time in Yosemite Valley, you’ll also have the opportunity to wander through the picturesque meadows, check out the Visitor’s Center, or just find a serene overlook to sit and reflect.
Discover the resilience and beauty of a place that has captured the hearts of visitors throughout the ages.
Do you have any pre-booking questions for us? Please don’t hesitate to make a reservation inquiry.
Located on Tioga Road just east of Crane Flat, the Tuolumne Grove has about two dozen mature Giant Sequoias. They are only visible after a one-mile hike with 500 feet of elevation loss.
It’s important to note that the one-mile hike back to the parking lot gains 500 feet and is strenuous. Water is not available; bring drinking water for everyone in your group who will be hiking this trail.
Due to the time constraints of this Yosemite guided tour from San Francisco, you must be able to complete the full hike within 1.5 hours. For most active travelers, this is not a problem.
If you feel like this hike may be too much for you, you can join our standard Yosemite Day Tour for an equally enjoyable and memorable experience!
Typically from November to May, depending on the current snowpack, our tours cannot access Sequoia Grove. For this reason, if you are booked on one of these dates, we will automatically rebook you on one of our regular Yosemite Day Tours.
Instead of visiting the grove, you will have more time in Yosemite Valley to explore the wintery sights.
For more details or to ask about current conditions, feel free to get in touch.
And for even more adventure inspiration, check out our full range of San Francisco tours!
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“I did the 1 day trip to Yosemite to see the Giant Sequoias and the National Park itself and it turned out to be an amazing decision, absolutely worth the long journey time! (minibus was super comfy) It was spectacular in every way! If you’re thinking about it, don’t hesitate, multiple bucket list items checked off in one day, Giant Sequoias, El Capitan, Half Dome, Tunnel View, Yosemite Falls, everything I wanted to see. Jonny our guide was awesome, everything was super easy and seamless, just the right amount of time in each spot to explore and take photos. Highly recommended if you have a day in SF and want to check out Yosemite.”
**Sample Itineraries: We do our best to follow our itineraries as written, but don’t control the weather (yet) and we can’t make promises about special events or traffic conditions in Yosemite. The benefit of having small groups is allowing our guides the flexibility to tailor your itinerary to best suit the needs of the group. While we guarantee that we’ll do our best to provide you with all of the highlights within this itinerary (conditions permitting), we do not guarantee them in this specific order. **
We’ll take off after we pick up the adventure crew for the day from the prearranged locations listed on the vouchers. Make sure to arrive 15 minutes early!
As you settle in for the journey, we’ll pass by some exceptional San Francisco sights. Catch views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island and the incomparable San Francisco Skyline as we head east on the Bay Bridge. You’ll taste a piece of California’s rich agricultural hub as we pass through a slice of the Central Valley famous for specialty fruits and nuts such as almonds, walnuts, cherries, and strawberries.
We’ll continue into the mountains as we connect with the rich history of California’s gold country, passing through some of the first settlements built during the Gold Rush. Take in the earthy forest smell as we make our way to the heart of the park. Your guide will pepper in stories and historical facts about the different sights. Be sure to listen for the logistics as we get ready for the day tour!
Arrive to Yosemite and make your way on a self-guided hike to Tuolumne Grove! Head down the scenic paved path to the enchanted Tuolumne Grove consisting of dozens of Giant Sequoia trees. But don’t be fooled by this moderate downhill stroll. Make sure you bring some water to sip as you enjoy your time among the giants as you have a bit of climb ahead of you to get back to the shuttle. Your hard work will be rewarded however, as we descend into the famous Yosemite Valley to take in views of Bridalveil Falls, El Capitan, Half Dome and more.
The climb through Yosemite Valley offers breathtaking views as we wind our way up to 6,200 feet above sea level. We’ll stop at Tunnel View and take in the eastern expanse of Yosemite Valley.
The suspense is over! Once we reach the drop off location, you’ll have around 1.5 hours of free time to explore. Want to hit some trails? Your guide will point out the best spots on your map. You’ll have options to meander down paved paths, hike around Yosemite Falls, engage further with the park’s history at the visitor center, or visit the Ansel Adams Gallery. Although you could spend three weeks in Yosemite, the hour you get on your own is enough time to catch just a glimpse of why Yosemite is one of America’s most popular national parks.
Once we’ve had our time to explore, we’ll come together in the late afternoon and set our course back to San Francisco, stopping for a short break before arriving back in the city. You will arrive back at your hotel by around 8:30 – 9:00 p.m. to sleep off the days’ adventures.
We understand how important quality time with your friends and family is. We also understand the hesitation some customers may have in sharing a vehicle with people they don’t know. While we love the ease of travel & new friendships that shared tours provide, we have adapted to bring our customers more options when it comes to booking a tour.
This tour is now available to book as a private excursion for up to 22 guests. You’ll receive the same itinerary and inclusions that our typical tour would provide, plus personal one-on-one attention from your guide and the ability to choose exactly who you’ll bring with you.
Feeling like making some changes or additions to the itinerary? Contact us and we can create a quote for any custom experience you’d like to partake in anywhere in the 50 states.
Reserve your Yosemite and Giant Sequoias Day Tour as a private excursion now!
Our rates are based on group size. After clicking below and choosing an available date, elect how many travelers will be in your group.
Private tour for 1-13 guests: $2,429 total
Private tour for 14-22 guests: $3,610 total
SF & International: (415) 642-7378
US & Canada toll free: 1 (800) 777-8464
info@incadventures.com
