All the camping supplies were at the campsite in a shed waiting for us when we pulled up from San Fran. The tents, sleeping bags and sleeping pads were all clean and smelled clean. Rourke, our guide for the weekend was very nice, knowledgable and patient. His personality was upbeat, informative and good at getting our group talking. The food was delicious, and plentiful. If you've ever camped before you know you are not going to have a detailed meal, that is hard to prepare, so if that is what you are expecting/like you will need to rethink how you eat for the weekend. We make chicken burritos with beans,pepper, onions with all of the fixins'. Delicious! For breakfast we had cold foods like cereal, fruit, coffee, juice, bagels option to toast them, cream cheese, ect. Tons of food, so you will not go hungry. There is a restaurant close to the site where we camped, so after a long day of hiking we went over and had a burger. The showers and restrooms were clean and within a short walking distance. Our group or the majority of us decided to do an approx 6 hour hike from the top down to see all the waterfalls. It was very challenging, but very worth it. I was so sore the next day I opted out of a short hike. LOL. The other people who did not want to do the hard hike did something else. I can't remember what it was they did, but our guide gave them options, and I remember them talking like they enjoyed themselves. I had never done anything like this before so I was not sure how it was going to all work out. Everything went off without a hitch, and I am glad I took a chance and did this tour. My family and I flew in from KS, and did a one day stent in San Fran and then got picked up from the hotel in the morning. We did not stay at the hotel where they pick you up and drop you off. We stayed in a hotel a short walking distance from there. The hotel where we were picked up was a very busy hotel and it was hard to tell if the leader was there or not to pick you up. I kept walking outside to see if I could see a van that had the company name on it. I was getting worried bc it was 15 min after the pick up time and I still had not seen our van. Finally the leader called me and he parked at a side door of the hotel. I would recommend getting the phone number of the person who will be picking you up just in case there is some problem. I would totally recommend you do this tour. If you are on the fence, don't be, just do it!
Review by: Jennifer G, November 2017
guide wasn't great, very self absorbed with stuff going on in her life, the camping was in a car park, yosemite itself is fab!
Review by: Brian H, November 2017
First I’ll just say it’s hard to blow it in Yosemite. The Park is simply amazing. I don’t regret making the trip. But... The campsite is at an RV campground/motel just outside the park in a gravel parking lot right off the road right next to several other large tour groups. I would not book again.
Review by: Keren K, October 2017
Visiting Yosemite has been on my wishlist for many many years and this adventure certainly didn't disappoint at all. The camping was fun, we had a very mixed group but everyone pitched in to help. It was extremely cold, which of course could not have been predicted, but our guide, Rourke, made every effort to make us all feel comfortable and provided extra equipment for those of us who needed it. He was a very organised, informative and accommodating guide who quite obviously has a passion for the park which showed through in his enthusiasm. For me particularly, being the oldest, of the group, and not as fit as the others, his attention to ensuring I was still able to gain maximum enjoyment from the tour, and particularly, the hikes, was very much appreciated. I loved this trip and I really thank Rourke for making my first visit to Yosemite, there will certainly be more, one that I will not ever forget. I would recommend this tour to anyone who really wants to see the best of this park and even if you are not much of a camper, you could still, as I did, really enjoy this adventure as you are well looked after.
Review by: Adeline S, October 2017
It's a great way to enjoy Yosemite for travellers esp solo travellers who have never been there before! The company arranged pick up, and take you to see many awesome places in Yosemite. The only downside was I wish we had time to do more hikes! We only did one but it was awesome to Lembert Dome.
Review by: Jessica F, October 2017
LONG REVIEW BUT WORTH READING! _br/_ I highly recommend this trip! Spending 3 days/2 nights in Yosemite was the perfect way for me to explore Yosemite without being rushed amongst the crowds. My group consisted of 7 people, in their late 20s and 30s. Some of us had previous camping/hiking experience, and the others didn't. The first day started by being picked up around 9am in SF and heading out toward Yosemite. Half way there, our tour guide stopped and gave us some time to pick up lunch at a local grocery store. Before arriving at the Yosemite Valley, we made a brief stop at a forest with beautiful giant Sequoias for a short hike. Upon arriving at the Yosemite Valley, we had the opportunity to stop and drink natural water from a creek Seamus our tour guide took us to, and had time to take a bunch of pics. Then we headed to set up camp around 6pm. It was very easy to set up the tents and sleeping bags. Then we started dinner, which was plentiful! We had both vegetarian and non vegetarian dishes, which was all worked to cook ourselves! The first night we had a taco/burrito buffet. The first night camping under the stars was beautiful, sitting by the fire and connecting with your peers. The sleeping bags were comfortable and warm. The next day, we woke up around 7:30am for breakfast, which consisted of bread, yogurt, fruit, hot and cold cereal, and coffee/tea. We packed our lunches, and headed out to hike. Our tour guide took us to May lake and close to Mount Hoffman, which was a beautiful hike. We went at an easy pace, which allowed our bodies to get used to the altitude. Then after spending a few hours exploring, we headed back to camp to make dinner. Our second dinner was a meat and vegetarian stir fry. It was delicious and plentiful. On the 3rd day, again we woke up early and headed to the Yosemite valley, after packing up. Our tour guide gave us about 4 hours to ourselves to spend at the valley. Either hiking, bike riding, or simply just exploring the tourist stores and sites. A few of us decided to hike to Vernal falls, which was a semi challenging hike, but well worth it. _br/_ I went by myself on this trip and I don't regret one minute of it! I was a bit anxious the night before, not knowing what the group dynamics would be like. However, our tour guide Seamus, did a great job of incorporating everyones personality and helped everyone feel welcomed. I definitely got my money's worth and cannot wait to go back to Yosemite one day! I will definitely use this company for related outdoor tours.
Review by: Glenn S, September 2017
Amazing trip! Great experience with the hikes and swimming in some of the alpine lakes.
Review by: ironlix, September 2017
We are first-time campers and were anxious before going. This tour and our awesome guide made it an easy and wonderful experience for us! That said, the only thing you should be aware of is to keep an open mind about the composition and mix of the group. Depending on others' preferences and physical abilities, you may have to compromise on your travel plans. For us, we were very lucky. We had a diverse and good mix of people from five different countries for 10 people. We thoroughly enjoyed our 3-day trip and make some new friends at the end.
Review by: Anna M, September 2017
This trip exceeded my expectations! Our guide, Sarah, was friendly, very generous with her time, and told us a whole load of interesting info about the history of Yosemite which I would never have found out if i'd been doing the trip on my own. We went to a few different places around Yosemite so got a flavour of how big and diverse it was - it was good not just staying in the valley which is very touristy. We had a really fun group, ranging from a ten-year-old to a very fit! elderly couple, and yet it worked for everyone, which is really impressive. Saw amazing views, tried smores for the first time, enjoyed learning something new from everyone in the group, enjoyed the camping. The only tiny suggestion I'd make is that the food could have been of a better quality. But these 3 days were some of the best of my whole trip! Thank you to everyone who I met there.
A brilliant introduction to this wonderful national park.
Review by: amy, August 2017
Great way to see Yosemite. Eric our guide helped in making the trip really enjoyable accomodating to the groups individual needs and interests. Hiking was varied and allowed access to different areas of the park allowing us to see as much as possible over the three days. Highly recommend.
Review by: Heather D, August 2017
We took this tour on our honeymoon and highly recommend for solo travellers/ couples alike. Eric, our guide, was really fun, informative, professional and flexible to the group needs. Importantly, you get to see the best bits of Yosemite as well as having some free time.
Review by: Jaimie C, August 2017
Eric was an awesome guide, full of knowledge and good jokes! The tour was great if you want a convenient trip to Yosemite and want to see a lot while you're there. Eric was great at customising the activities to the group, which had a variety of people. The campsite was nice and not too far outside the park, and everything except a sleeping bag was provided which you could purchase if you request one beforehand when you book. The only downside is for what you pay, not all meals and a sleeping bag is included, but besides that, I highly recommend if you want to experience Yosemite the right way if you are a solo traveller!
Review by: Lyuzhou Z, August 2017
It was an absolutely amazing experience! Our guide Emily is friendly and experienced. She's been hiking for so many years and you'll feel her passion in outdoor activities once you meet her! We've hiked up to some of the most beautiful sites in the park and it's not until I joined this hiking tour do I know how much I love outdoor adventures! If you're new to camping and hiking and want to explore more than just the Yosemite Valley, you won't regret joining this tour!
Review by: Michael R, August 2017
Absolutely perfect experience. We had the best group, and the best and most patient guide we could have ever hoped for. Not a trip to be missed. Ask for Robert! The man is truly awesome.
Review by: Francis Simon R, July 2017
Our trip to Yosemite was simply amazing and formed a fundamental part of our two week trip in the US. Various elements contributed to this being one of the best trips we have had. Yosemite itself is the most beautiful National Park I have ever been to. The hikes available explore a seemingly never-ending trail of breathtaking views and scenery from El Capitan, Half Dome and Yosemite Falls coupled with numerous lakes and passages. Secondly, we were so fortunate to have joined a such a fantastic group all of you Australians! to spend two nights camping and three days hiking with. We all bonded straight away which enhanced the trip so much more. Last and by no means least was our guide Chris Patrick. Chris picked us up from San Francisco and kept us entertained literally from start to finish. He is knowledgable, very enthusiastic and most importantly he endeavours to make the most of the trip for each person. Chris safely drove us all round the park to well-trodden and also new trails, he helped us put up tents, cooked for us and genuinely bent over backwards to make all aspects of trip an unforgettable experience. We feel very fortunate to leave Yosemite not only having had such a great time in a beautiful place but that we can also call Chris and all of the other great people we camped with as friends. This is a must do for anyone staying in California. Simon and Sophie - N.Ireland and Yorkshire
Review by: Lyndiloola, December 2016
Amazing tour with an awesome guide Leo
Review by: Ranjani A, October 2016
This trip is worth every penny! Our guide Justine was knowledgeable, funny and smart. Her passion for adventure and travel is very evident. Without revealing too much detail on where she took us you deserve the surprise she has in store, il give you a quick review to point out the pros and cons.
Review by: Geoffrey B, October 2016
My son and I had wanted to visit Yosemite for some time. This looked like a great way to see the park, and it was. Plenty of guided tour, and time to explore on our own. Guide Alex was friendly, and knowledgable. Was a great 3 days, highly recommend!
RSS Feed