Small-Group Yosemite Day Tour from San Francisco

Overview

Yosemite National Park is a must-visit California gem, and this day trip from San Francisco makes it easy. Leave the urban hustle-bustle behind and journey through Central Valley, Gold Country and the Sierra Nevada foothills to UNESCO World Heritage–listed Yosemite National Park. Take a 1.5-hour narrated van tour of Yosemite Valley, including Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, Bridalveil Falls and El Capitan, and then set off on your own for three hours to explore independently. Numbers are limited to 23 on this small-group tour, ensuring a more personalized wilderness experience.

City: San Francisco

Tue 24 Dec

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $179.00

Make a reservation

Tue 24 Dec

Starting at $179.00

Make a reservation

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What's Included

Yosemite National Park entrance fee

Narrated in-coach tour of Yosemite (1.5 hrs)

Full-time professional, knowledgeable guide

Transport by biofueled mini-coach

Hotel pickup and drop-off from select SF hotels

3 hours of free time in the Valley

Additional Info

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
Specialized infant seats are available
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Hand sanitiser available to travellers and staff
Social distancing enforced throughout experience
Regularly sanitised high-traffic areas
Transportation vehicles regularly sanitised
Guides required to regularly wash hands
Contactless payments for gratuities and add-ons
Face masks recommended

What To Expect

San Francisco Bay

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. The journey to Yosemite typically takes about 4 hours.

Oakdale

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. Here we will also make a stop at a grocery store for you to pick up lunch and any other supplies you'll need for the day.

Tunnel View

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 you with stories and historical facts about the different sights. The climb through Yosemite Valley offers breathtaking views as we wind our way up to 4,500 feet above sea level. Arrive at Yosemite National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site famous for its spectacular granite cliffs, waterfalls, massive sequoia trees and biological diversity. Admire famous Half Dome, depicted in famous photographs by Ansel Adams, and watch rock climbers scale El Capitan's 3,000-foot (914-meter) sheer granite rock face. Enjoy incredible vistas from the Tunnel View overlook, and end your in-coach tour near the base of Yosemite Falls, the tallest waterfall in North America.

Yosemite Valley

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.

Yosemite Falls

During your free time in Yosemite Valley, you can talk a walk or bike around the base of Yosemite Falls to take in its beauty.

Ansel Adams Gallery

During your free time in Yosemite Valley, you can choose to visit the famous photographer' gallery to view a collection of Ansel Adams' original photographs.

San Francisco

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.

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Cancellation Policy

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

Traveler Photos

Reviews (350)

Wanderinglassie

Oct 2022

i enjoyed this trip. Yosemite was amazing and we had fantastic weather. The drive up the mountain was beautiful but very twisty and I did feel sick. Our driver/narrator was pleasant. Most of the narration didn't start until we hit the mountain. On the way back he showed a movie about a guy who climbed El Capitaine free style. We did a few toilets and snack stops as it is a long drive (4 hours there and back). We still had to wear masks on the bus (Ugh! but I understand) Pinning down the actual pickup time was challenging. TripAdvisor site said 6am, then 6.30am then ticket said 6.50am. I called the Incredible Adventures office to clarify pickup and was told to be at Union Square Hilton by 6.45am. Bus arrived about 7.10am. The bus was fine with about 20 people. I was impressed with the way the driver drove those roads up to the valley (not a lot of safety guards, but a lot of shear drops.) We drove through some cute little towns, and I wished we had stopped in them versus the grocery stores and heard something about them other than they were mining towns (I guess we had time limits). We had stops in stunning spots to take pictures (about 10mins) and 3 hours to walk around Yosemite Village and falls, get some lunch and check out Museum, falls, Indian Village and Ansel Adams Gallery. The views from the valley were just amazing such a beautiful place

Travel817640

Oct 2022

Straight up it a very early and long day. However, if you only one day to dedicate to Yosemite, this is how you do it. You see all the top sights and it is breathtaking! Our guide Jay was very knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. It was wonderful to just sit back and relax while someone else drove especially after a few hours of hiking I would have hated to do that drive back to San Francisco. My 19 and 13 year old boys were not super excited about doing this tour and threw in their complaints here and there. They ended up LOVING it and had a great time! We made some great memories that day I’ll always cherish.

lenabH2136JR

Oct 2022

Went to Yosemite day trip by bus with Roman, was a really nice tour, great views (many photo stops!), enough breaks to grab something to eat and to discover Yosemite by your own! Would definetly book the trip with this nice guy again!