Why We Love this Tour
“This trip is great for those who are pressed for time but still want to experience Yosemite’s majesty.”
– Sam Brogdon
Tour Guide
“This trip is great for those who are pressed for time but still want to experience Yosemite’s majesty.”
– Sam Brogdon
Tour Guide
Price: $159
Get 10% off all winter tours!
Use code IAWINTERWONDERLAND for tours departing before June 1, 2020.
*child rates available for those under 12. Rates for tours beyond this season may have adjusted pricing; see booking page for exact rates.
Explore glacier-formed cliffs, enjoy the soft, wildflower-speckled meadows, and wonder at the towering sequoias in the heart of Yosemite’s dynamic wilderness.
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, totaling more than 5 million visitors in a year.
Immerse yourself in our day-long tour with our exceptional guides. Capture the endless skylines, rock formations, and waterfalls as you enjoy an overview of how Yosemite Park’s unique landscape was formed, who came before, and how the park became the nation’s first ever protected national park.
Wander through the fields, bike the trails, and 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.
6:15 – 7:15am: 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!
7:15 – 10:00am: 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.
10:00 – 11:30am: 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!
12:00pm: The climb through Yosemite Valley offers breathtaking views as we wind our way up to 4,500 feet above sea level. We’ll stop at Tunnel View and take in the eastern expanse of Yosemite Valley .
12:45pm: The suspense is over! Once we reach the drop off location, you’ll have around 3 hours of free time to explore. Want to hike or bike around? Your guide will point out the best spots on your map. You’ll have options to meander or bike down paved paths, hike the trails, 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 three hours you get on your own is enough time to understand why Yosemite is one of America’s most popular national parks.
3:30pm: 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.
**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. **
Spend more time taking in the natural wonders of Yosemite National Park!
– Julie S. Traveled July 2019 Yosemite Day Tour
read more– John Traveled October 2017 Yosemite Day Tour
read moreI had a wonderful trip, and want to particularly thank our guide Tim. He ensured that we all saw everything there was to see in a limited time, and also had good answers to all our questions about the park.
– Robin S. Traveled 2011 Yosemite 1 Day Tour
read moreMy tour yesterday to Yosemite was a good experience, although I now realize that just a single day is too short a time to fully enjoy the park, especially the trails. I’m writing to put in a few words of appreciation for our driver-guide, Mitch. Not only does the guy know his stuff, he’s super-friendly and completely puts you at ease with his disarming conduct. He pointed out everything on the way, handing out little gems about the various points and vistas I for one would probably never have found out myself.
– Aditya N. Traveled January 2012 Yosemite 1 Day Tour
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