“Exploring Yosemite Valley is a must for anyone traveling to Yosemite, and this tour is the perfect way to begin your visit. With our expert guides to advise the best trails and views, your first day in this park is sure to be a success.”
– Jess Wray Business Development
Tour Highlights
Included Yosemite National Park Entrance Fee, no day-use permit needed
Transportation to/from select Highway 140 hotels
Interpretive information on Yosemite & recommended hiking trails
Photo stop of iconic El Capitan—the world’s largest granite monolith
Free time to explore beautiful Yosemite Valley on your own, by foot or bike (rentals available)
* Rates based on double occupancy, and may vary seasonally. Child rates may be available. Please see booking page for exact rates for your chosen tour date and options.
Leave your car outside the park and take our eco-friendly guided transportation instead.
With pickups from select hotels on Highway 140, we will drive approximately 45 minutes to Yosemite Valley. On the way, you’ll hear about the history and geology of Yosemite National Park before stopping for photos at El Capitan. Before being set free for a day of hiking and exploration, our expert guides will provide a park orientation & hiking briefing so you’ll be prepared to hit the best trails and find the best viewpoints.
Need lunch while you’re in the park? Spend more time on the trail and add our Trail Lunch Snack Pack for $15 per person to your booking. Including salami & cheese (hummus substitution upon request), crackers, trail mix, nuts, cookies, gummy bears and a sparkling water, you’ll be set for a full day of hiking or exploration.
Itinerary
Both morning departures follow the same itinerary.
Morning Tour #1:
7:00am. Depart Cedar Lodge
7:15am. Depart Yosemite View Lodge
7:15-8:30am. Narrated park history and geology while traveling the scenic mountain road into Yosemite National Park. Stop for photos of iconic El Capitan. Park orientation & hiking briefing by your guide.
8:30am. Arrive at Curry Village in Yosemite Valley (drop-off #1)
8:45am. Arrive at Yosemite Valley Lodge (drop-off #2)
8:45am-1:45pm. Free time to walk, hike or bike your way around Yosemite Valley! Your guide will recommend the best nearby trails and point you in the direction of bike rentals. Bring a bathing suit too. There’s nothing better than a dip in the nearby Merced River after a long day of exploration.
1:45pm. Depart Curry Village (pick-up #1)
2:00pm. Yosemite Valley Lodge (pick-up #2)
2:45pm. Arrive at Yosemite View Lodge
3:00pm. Arrive Cedar Lodge
Morning Itinerary #2:
9:30am. Depart Cedar Lodge
9:45am. Depart Yosemite View Lodge
9:45am-11:00am. Narrated park history and geology while traveling the scenic mountain road into Yosemite National Park. Stop for photos of iconic El Capitan. Park orientation & hiking briefing by your guide.
11:00am. Arrive at Curry Village in Yosemite Valley (drop-off #1)
11:15am. Arrive at Yosemite Valley Lodge (drop-off #2)
11:15am-3:45pm. Free time to walk, hike or bike your way around Yosemite Valley! Your guide will recommend the best nearby trails and point you in the direction of bike rentals. Bring a bathing suit too. There’s nothing better than a dip in the nearby Merced River after a long day of exploration
Enjoy a short hike to Sentinel Dome and witness sunset on top of the world. Indulge in champagne & various appetizers as you watch the sun go down over the Sierra Nevadas.
Best of Yosemite Tour: Giant Sequoias & Glacier Point | from El Portal
On this small-group tour, come explore the most awe-inspiring spots of Yosemite National Park including Giant Sequoias, Glacier Point, Tunnel View, Yosemite Falls & more.
Yosemite National Park High Country Tour | from El Portal
Join us for a day of exploration along the highest highway pass in California! Hike to the top of Pothole Dome, explore Tuolumne Meadows and enjoy lunch at Tenaya Lake.
