My first solo trip ever and first trip to the US in over a decade... I was able to arrange a 2-night stay at Yosemite and for safety reasons I decided to join a guided hike, so that someone could pace me and I can see as much as possible without getting lost!
Booking with Lasting Adventures was smooth; they were very responsive and helpful over email. With that out of the way, there was nothing else to do but wait eagerly for the day.
I don't do much hiking normally so was admittedly a bit nervous about the length of this hike... it's not a relaxing option. The day started with the bus ride to Glacier Point at 8.30am which took about 1.5 hours (but you meet with the guide earlier at 8am), have a toilet break at Glacier Point (no toilets for a while afterwards), take a lot of photos, and then start the hike proper... and we came to the end of the trail at the Happy Isles shuttle station around 5+pm. The hike, while long, is fortunately mostly downhill and quite doable if you're in decent shape... There was a section of incline along the Panorama trail where I struggled a bit, and coming down the very steep Mist trail (thank god for trekking poles, which were provided) my legs got wobbly towards the end... but I had an amazing time!! The scenery was stunning from start to end, and I could not get enough of the breathtaking nature that surrounded us as we made our way. Photos simply can't do justice to the grandeur and majesty of Yosemite... I didn't really know what to expect with Yosemite and being there in person absolutely surpassed all expectations. I had Nick as my guide... he was charming and professional, provided me with a lot of information about the park, and obviously very fit as he glided along the trail without so much as a pant.
I felt it was a good decision to get a guide as someone there for the first time; although the trails are marked, at some parts it wasn't obvious where to go and we encountered people along the way who were a little lost.
An incredible experience, and totally worth the muscle soreness that came after that! I have no hesitation in recommending Lasting Adventures, and a noteworthy mention is that they are a non-profit company and part of the proceeds from the tour fees go towards organising camps and outdoor education for youths... so it's money spent on a good cause as well.