Afisha Life Homepage
San Francisco
Explore
Travelers recommend
Small Group Yosemite and Giant Sequoias Day Trip from San Francisco

Small Group Yosemite and Giant Sequoias Day Trip from San Francisco

Overview

Take a day trip from San Francisco to Yosemite National Park, described as the crown jewel of the country's many splendid national parks. You will be guided on a coach tour to highlights such as Bridalveil Falls, Tunnel View, El Capitan, and Yosemite Falls, with a stop for a 1-mile (1.6-km) walk into a grove of giant sequoias*.

Our vans only take 15 passengers, so we are able to stop at more places with less time for loading and unloading of passengers.

*weather permitting, and the hike is not recommended for people with health issues

City: San Francisco

Sat 12 Oct

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $209.00

Make a reservation

Sat 12 Oct

Starting at $209.00

Make a reservation

New York City Tours

Unique Activities (21) Transfers & Transportation (103) Tours, Sightseeing & Cruises (113) Entry Tickets (47) Sporting Events (1) Good for Small Groups (6) Seasonal & Holiday Tours (41) Walking Tours (697) Outdoor Activities (20) Limitied Availability Tours (6) LGBT Friendly Tours (4) Family-friendly Activities (7) Solo Travelers' Tours (147) Food & Drinks (27) Travelers recommend (73) Good for Groups (8) Top Activities (18) Guided Audio Tours (3) Art, Culture & History (135) Attractions to explore (38)

What's Included

National Park fees

Hotel/port pickup and drop-off (from select hotels in San Francisco)

Local taxes

All activities

Additional Info

Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Specialized infant seats are available
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Car seat required for children 8 years old and under; not provided
The trip is accessible for most of the tour. However, at the end of the day, we go on a hike to see the giant sequoias. This is NOT advised for people with back, heart or knee problems. It is also not wheelchair accessible. Unfortunately, this is only way to see the sequoias.
There is a possibility that the Giant Sequoia hike will not be available due to winter weather conditions.
Currently following local healthy and safety guidelines.

What To Expect

San Francisco Bay Bridge

Drive across bridge on the way to Yosemite

Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias

See some of the biggest trees on the planet.

Tunnel View

Drive to one of the most beautiful views of the Yosemite valley from above

Bridalveil Falls

Walk to the falls for photos

Yosemite Valley

Spend free time experiencing the valley

Half Dome

Stop for photos

Yosemite Falls

Walk to the 4th tallest waterfalls in the world

El Capitan

Stop to look for climbers on the granite wall

Show 5 more stops

Cancellation Policy

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

Traveler Photos

Reviews (1000)

Mary_P

Oct 2020

Expensive. Why? Compared to other tours I have been to. VAN-NOISY. Noise from the loud music, back and the doors. At one point we could not hear the guide because he did not use his mic. Noisy loose shaking door. Whistling air and noisy engine in my back. I endured this throughout the ride. You have to talk over the oldies music to be heard. Music themed in groups of COVID, FIRES, a LOT of 60's songs. 11 people 5 of whom are 20's-30's, a couple in their 30's, the rest in their 40's-50's. We are not a bunch of old people. It was annoying and made the ride uncomfortable. Silence or radio would've been better because the radio plays a variety of songs. Get those CDs and have random people of 20's50 yo listen to all of them. Ask if they would enjoy their ride listening to it all day. Accommodation offered by other tour vans this van DOES NOT have: Cup holders USB chargers on each seat Unlimited free cold water bottle Unlimited Free snacks Good time management Breakfast stop was at a grocery store. There's no cup holders in the van. IT was uncomfortable to eat. Suggestion-gas station or 7-11. Plan your lunch and dinner stops. We ate dinner in the parking lot, sitting here and there like homeless people. Prolonged stops at Half Dome, Tunnel view, El Capitan, Bridal Falls seriously. 15 min stops is all you need for photos. He gave us an hour to hike Yosemite the shortest of which is 2 miles. Our group range from fittest to very fit. A well planned trip would have given us ample time for hike, enough time for photos, and enough choices for meals. You do not need to sit and watch climbers climb at El Capitan for almost an hour. I know because I've been to other tours. Bindlestiff Tours have the best customer service and the most organize tours. Learn from them. Last-Introduce your passengers to each other. Not just to some. This is your job as a guide. What I detested was the obnoxious yellow signs taped in the van's walls saying something like this "In the US tipping is necessary. Standard rate for chauffers/guides is 20% of the total fee" EXCUSE ME? You are more expensive than Europe. I think it's rude. I would be paying $140 in this case. *Room temp water bottles was offered in the evening after the hike. But most of us already bought our own water when it was not offered to us in the beginning.

Response from Host

Oct 2020

It is very disappointing that your trip was not what you expected. There are several points to discuss, but overall: 1) This is the first time, in hundreds of reviews, that there have been complaints about the themed music. The guide offered to Bluetooth music from your phone but you declined, The guide asked throughout the day if the volume was okay and you never responded. 2) We find it unbelievable that you thought the stops were too long (and you are exaggerating when you say that we stayed more than 15 minutes). We pride ourselves in giving a complete experience to all our passengers. Unlike other companies that do a quick hop-on/hop-off photo stop, we give the chance to actually experience the grandeur at each of the incredible view stops that we make. One of longer stops, El Capitan, is NOT one hour. It is long enough to set up the telescope so you can see rock climbers (a fun bonus that other tours do not offer). The stop is 25 minutes. You are the first ever to complain about it. 3) It's odd that felt we spent too much time at El Capitan, but you wanted more time for the hike to the Giant Sequoias. You are given 75 minutes to complete the hike, mainly because most people come back from the 2-mile round trip in an hour. The guide said that you returned in 45 minutes. 4) During COVID, our dinner choices are limited. There are no restaurants on the route where indoor dining is available. 5) The posted gratuity sign is there to explain to non-Americans about the custom of tipping in the US. It is suggested and not required, The sign also says that “if you have any problems along the way, please let us know immediately.” And we are curious why you did not speak up. We are sorry that the experience did not live up to your expectations. And thank you for giving us your feedback. We have noted your comments and will take them into consideration for future tours.

jmarto1

Oct 2020

This was an easy way to get a good taste of Yosemite. If you're not looking to do an immersive trip then this is the way to go

MargaretO801

Oct 2020

This is a great tour for first time visitors, and probably for returning visitors wanting to relive some park highlights. We were concerned about being “captive” for such a long day, but it was no problem with Bay Area Tours...they provided a spacious and clean bus, a smooth and well run tour, sufficient breaks for hiking/exploring, food and comfort, and a knowledgeable, energetic, humorous guide who was attentive to the needs of the group. The pace was good, and the group diverse. I would say it left me wanting more, but that’s due to the grandeur of the park, which is deserving of more than a day visit, not due to any inadequacy of the tour, which gives you a pretty solid 5 hours of park exploration and interesting, well presented information. The park itself is everything you’d expect from a national treasure, especially in early fall when the colors start to turn, and the tour is well worth the cost.