Monterey & Carmel Explorer

Overview

This tour traverses the breathtaking scenery on the famous Pacific Coast Highway. Upon arriving in historic Monterey, you will have time to explore the fascinating sea creatures at the Monterey Bay Aquarium and stroll among the shops on Cannery Row. The tour will follow the coast through the beautiful little town of Pacific Grove on the way to the 17 Mile Drive. The drive finishes up at the enchanted town of Carmel-by-the-Sea where you’ll can explore the boutique shops on Ocean Avenue or be dazzled by the white sandy beach.

City: San Francisco

Sat 29 Mar

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $134.00

Make a reservation

Sat 29 Mar

Starting at $134.00

Make a reservation

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What's Included

17-Mile Drive admission fee

Expert guide and commentary

Pickup and drop-off at a convenient location in Union Square and Fisherman's Wharf

Free Wifi on vehicle

Additional Info

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Meals are not included but available for purchase throughout the day.
California law requires tour guests to bring a car safety seat for all children under 8 years and under 4' 9" (1.4 meters) in height. Any guest that does not provide their child's safety seat at the time of the tour and does not inform the tour operator in advance may not be allowed to board the tour and will not be subject to refund.
Exact destinations & itinerary may differ due to weather, road conditions, and the guide's discretion.

What To Expect

Monterey Bay

Monterey Bay is a bay of the Pacific Ocean located on the coast of the U.S. state of California.

Monterey Bay Aquarium

Admission only included if option added upon checkout. Monterey Bay Aquarium is a nonprofit public aquarium in Monterey, California. Known for its regional focus on the marine habitats of Monterey Bay, it was the first to exhibit a living kelp forest when it opened in October 1984.

Cannery Row

Cannery Row is the waterfront street in the New Monterey section of Monterey, California. It is the site of a number of now-defunct sardine canning factories. The last cannery closed in 1973. Today it has many restaurants and hotels, several of which are located in former cannery buildings, and a few historic attractions. Some privately owned fishing companies still exist on Cannery Row, housed on piers located a short distance from the historic district frequented by tourists.

17-Mile Drive

Although the route has changed since it opened in 1881, 17-Mile Drive is still exactly 17 miles long. More than 1.5 million visitors pass through 17-Mile Drive every year. Iconic Landmarks along famous 17-Mile Drive include The Lone Cypress, as well as Spanish Bay and Pebble Beach Golf Links.

Pebble Beach Golf Links

Pebble Beach Golf Links is a public golf course on the west coast of the United States, located in Pebble Beach, California.

Lone Cypress

The Lone Cypress is a Monterey cypress tree in Pebble Beach, California. Standing on a granite hillside off the 17-Mile Drive, the tree is a Western icon, and has been called one of the most photographed trees in North America.

Bird Rock Vista Point

Bird Rock Vista is stop #7 on 17-Mile Drive and a wildlife hot spot.

Carmel Beach Boardwalk

Beautiful white sandy beaches.

Cypress Point Lookout

Stop #10 on 17-Mile Drive is the wonderful Cypress Point Lookout which looks out, to the southwest, over a small, white sand beach making for an excellent sunset spot.

Lovers Point

Lovers Point State Marine Reserve is one of four small marine protected areas located near the cities of Monterey and Pacific Grove, at the southern end of Monterey Bay on California’s central coast.

Monterey Visitor Center

Tourist information center in Monterey, California.

Seal Rock Creek beach

Seal Rock Creek Beach is a small sandy beach along the 17 Mile Drive in Pebble Beach, CA. This white sand beach is at the mouth of Seal Rock Creek which flows intermittently. Just offshore is Seal Rock and a little to the north is Bird Rock.

Show 9 more stops

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews (63)

Marlene_H

Mar 2025

Good trip to see the scenery and cities along the coast south of SF. Driver/guide not willing to answer questions and did not have control of the number of people on the tour. Driver left one man at Monterey, but turned around to pick him up again since other passengers insisted he was on the bus. Driver was driving very fast in the left lane (fast lane) all the way back from Monterey (2,5h drive in dark and rain). This felt very unsafe. We would not take this tour again due to the insane driving. The driver/guide shall be more responsible and have full control of his passengers and make sure they are on the bus. He shall also drive safe rather than fast, considering he is responsible for the life of 20 passengers. Tour company to take action to make this trip a safe experience.

857glenna

Jan 2025

The California coast is beautiful overall it is a wonderful experience, but, the reason I did not give it a five star rating is because the itinerary stated that we would spend 3 hours in Monterey, I even called and spoke to someone and was told that we would spend 3 hours in Monterey, we only spent 2 hours there, we had plans to do more, but because it was only 2 hours we had to revise our plans, get your ads inline, so your customers get the right information……… Thank You

Response from Host

Jan 2025

Thank you for your feedback! We’re glad you enjoyed the beauty of the California coast, but we’re sorry to hear that the time in Monterey did not meet your expectations. We strive to ensure our itineraries are accurate, and we appreciate you bringing this to our attention. We’ll review the details to ensure our communication is clear and aligns with the experience. Thank you for choosing us, and we hope to provide an even better experience in the future!

Gary_M

Nov 2024

Our guide Danny was excellent and was very knowledgeable and he shared lots of information about San Francisco and the surrounding areas. The tour made lots of stops for pictures and places to eat and was very well organized! We would highly recommend this adventure!!

Response from Host

Nov 2024

Thank you for the wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that you had such a great experience with Danny. His knowledge and passion for the area truly make the tour special. We're glad you enjoyed the stops and the overall organization of the trip. We appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you again soon!