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

Fri 25 Oct

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $179.00

Make a reservation

Fri 25 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)

kestevez88

Jan 2020

We had a wonderful time on our small group day trip to Yosemite. We were lucky and is had snowed two days prior, and as a result we got to see snow covered mountains. We saw the must sees and were awed by the natural beauty of the park.

Response from Host

Jan 2020

We are so glad you enjoyed your trip to Yosemite! It is a beautiful place to visit anytime of the year, but in the winter, blanketed in snow it is truly magical.

dianat795

Jan 2020

Nice landscape, but too far from San Francisco just for one day. My son is a rock climber and he loved it. For me was 9 hours of bus, one hour for lunch and one hour of side visit. Not worth it at all

Response from Host

Jan 2020

Thank you for taking the time to leave a review for us. I am sorry that you did not enjoy your time at Yosemite. It is a fair distance from San Francisco, but we find guests enjoy the journey and stunning landscape! We aim to give guests about 3 hours of free time in the Valley after an introduction to the park by our guides. One could spend much longer in Yosemite, but if you want to see the park, in a day, this is the best way we are able to do it.

Adriana_C

Jan 2020

The tour is very well organized in terms of pick up and drive there and back, with regular stops for bathroom breaks and food. In fact, the organizers are very considerate and they always stop in a place that has a supermarket as well, so you are not stuck with just your usual fast food options, which I thought it was a nice touch. The main thing to take into account about the tour once you reach Yosemite is that it is a self guided one. Matt, our driver, gave us all maps, explained to us the paths which we could explore and how to reach them, and then left us to our own devices to enjoy what the park has to offer. Most trails are well signposted, but you do require a bit of spatial orientation to figure out where you are/where you're going. The tour makes for a fairly long day, but the transportation there and back is quite comfortable and you do get good views of the area. I would definitely recommend this tour as a taster for Yosemite. Cause chances are, you will want to go back and stay for longer!

Response from Host

Jan 2020

Thank you for taking the time to leave a review for us. We are glad you enjoyed your time with Matt and that provided you with maps and explained the lay of the land. This is a great tour for an introduction to Yosemite for those with limited time, but Yosemite will be there for those that wish to return. We even offer overnight tours and 3 day camping trips, that give guests a more in depth look at the park. These are great options for people looking to explore and enjoy more of what Yosemite has to offer.