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 22 Oct

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $179.00

Make a reservation

Tue 22 Oct

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)

357mollyk

Apr 2022

My Dad and I booked onto this tour, we had a fantastic day. Kate was an amazing and informative guide, she willingly shared her knowledge of and love for Yosemite. Kate’s personal experiences of mountaineering and hiking were really interesting. She made sure we saw breathtaking views and that we really maximised our 3 hours of free exploration time in the park. It’s a long day but a great way to see Yosemite if you are tighter on time. I can’t wait to return again in the future.

itsdelewis

Apr 2022

I enjoyed this tour. I saw there was a tour to take you from San Francisco to Yosemite and I immediately seized this opportunity. The views were breath taking and I appreciated that we were given 3-3.5 hours to explore the park on our own. My only knock would be that while these kinds of things are out of the Tour Company’s control and it’s predicated upon the individuals apart of the tour, I wish that we stuck to our schedule. There was a couple that was 30 minutes late back to the van. Very inconsiderate. And while I’m not exactly for leaving someone behind, others have things that they may want to do and places they have to be. So in essence, I just wish that things were stricter is all and we adhere to the schedule. Nonetheless, I had a phenomenal time. Parker was my guide for the day and he was great!

Jill_M

Apr 2022

Awesome, beautiful tour! Well worth the cost. The driver, Mitch, was very experienced driving the very winding, hilly roads to Yosemite! Mitch was also very knowledgeable on history of the area and sites to see. It’s a long ride to the park, 4 hours. Stop at a half way point for washroom and to purchase snacks. We purchased sandwiches at the store and had a little picnic when we arrived. Have about three hours to walk the trails and see the waterfalls, plus several mini stops where Mitch stopped to show the beautiful views. And don’t forget to generous tip the driver!