Take time out for a day trip into the wild beauty of Yosemite National Park from San Francisco. You'll spend 5 – 6 hours inside the park with a combination of hikes, breathtaking vistas and free time to explore on your own. See giant sequoias of the Sierra Nevada and discover the raw beauty of California's most famous national park, including a scenic stop at Inspiration Point to see Half Dome and El Capitan.
Your journey begins with a convenient pickup at your hotel. You'll cross the San Francisco Bay Bridge en route to the Sierra Nevada mountain range, driving through gold rush towns as your guide carries you back to the era of the old West.
In the late morning, enter Yosemite National Park where you'll take a guided walk. Visit the Tuolumne Grove (weather permitting) and be amazed by the size of the redwood trees in Yosemite's largest grove. Let the serene surroundings of the forest recharge your energy. Stop at the “Fallen Monarch” and "Grizzly Giant" and walk through the “California Tunnel Tree” to get a close-up look at Mother Nature's wonders.
Continue your journey through Yosemite with a stop at Inspiration Point for a bird’s-eye view of the whole valley. Gaze up at the massive granite formations of Half Dome and El Capitan, watch for rock climbers as they daringly make their way to the summit. In the springtime, marvel at the tallest waterfall in the park, Yosemite Falls.
After, you may explore Yosemite Valley on your own. For lunch, enjoy a picnic next to the Merced River or visit one of the restaurants at Yosemite Lodge (own expense). With an additional 1 – 1.5 hours of free time to spend, you can engage in a variety of activities available within the park. Hike to one of Yosemite's waterfalls and perhaps spot a black bear; rent bikes for a leisurely cycle on the flat bike paths throughout the valley; cool off in lovely river pools in summer; or simply relax at the Valley Visitor Center or peruse the Ansel Adams Gallery — sure to inspire any amateur photographer.
When it's time to head back to San Francisco, sit back and enjoy the scenic ride through the Sierra Nevada and into the sunset.
Please note: The weather in Yosemite is highly variable and includes rain and snow in winter and high temperatures in summer. The itinerary may be adapted to make the most of Yosemite during different seasons and times of the year.
The Giant Sequoias are best visited between May and October. During the rest of the year, snow and ice conditions may prevent access to roads and trails. In this event, other activities may be substituted in its place.
A must do. We will visit again but stay overnight or a few days as this is a spectacular part of the world. Long day but fantastic tour guide with a passion for this part of the world. Tip- bring snacks and water for in the bus and stop few and far between.
Review by: sukhjinder s, May 2018
that was really a wonderful masterpiece of nature preserved and maintained by usa government so well . one must get one day to travel to see the beauty around
Review by: Maria V, May 2018
A bit overpriced. At least one meal should be included in the price. Other than that it was ..ok..
Review by: Terry H, May 2018
Wow what a day this was. it was so great to see some of america that isn't cities
Review by: Norm B, May 2018
Gino was a great tour guide/driver how he keeps his energy all day long amazes me. Great stop points for pics.
Review by: Lionel K, May 2018
Sights are amazing but do be warned that the travel time is quite lengthy and there is traffic depending on the time of the year. It'll still be worth it!
Review by: How Leong S, April 2018
Long drive to YNP with Extranomical tour, cant recall driver/guide name...he likes to keep his microphone on all time, so you can hear his yawning etc. Time at the attractions are sufficient, some may feel rush.
Review by: German Felipe r, April 2018
good and good
Review by: Sarah W, April 2018
A great day trip to manage to get to Yosemite, see the Sequoias and stop for photos with the bridge. Had enough time to wander to not feel rushed - excellent organisation of the day, given the distances involved.
Review by: Toni O, April 2018
Denise was super. She made each traveler feel safe, informed and important. Her knowledge of the area was outstanding and informative. I would give her a raise if I were her employer !!!!!! Denise was professional and comfortable to adventure with. Highly recommend this trip to others and high praise to Denise for an awesome experience.
Review by: Ana C, April 2018
We had an amazing day in Yosemite. Our guide Denise was very knowledgeable about the park and the state of California and made us feel safe and well informed. The tour is well organised and we were given enough time on our own to explore the park. I highly recommend this tour and our guide Denise.
Review by: marissabyrd, April 2018
If you have any reservations about this trip, don't! It was wonderful! Some of the negative reviews had me worried, but the trip far exceeded our expectations. Phil was our guide and I couldn't imagine anyone better. He has the best sense of humor and made the trip even better. Unfortunately we weren't able to do the hike to the Giant Sequoias because of ice, but we were able to spend extra time in the park. My sister, my cousin and I traveled together and none of us had been to Yosemite, so we weren't quite sure what to expect but it was everything that we wanted it to be. Phil knew where to take us to get the best views and get the most out of our time.
Review by: Hans N, April 2018
We had the most amazing day on our trip to Yosemite. It sure was a long day from 06:00 to 22:00 but we enjoyed every minute of the tour. The views we got to see were just so awesome that they are hard to describe. _br/_ Our guide Denise, five stars to her was fantastic and really made the tour extra special with all her knowledge._br/_ We can really recommend all of you who visit San Francisco to do this trip.
Review by: Lorenzo S, April 2018
Very nice overall! Unfortunately we could not visit the giant sequoias because of the snow but we spent more time in the park so it balanced out! Also, our guide Jake stopped on the way back to let us have a nighttime sight of the skyline! Really nice!
Review by: Monica M. S, April 2018
This tour was worth every cent and every minute! In addition to an outstanding tour guide, the tour itself was the right balance of necessary travelling and on-our-own experiences. The stops were timed very well. The tour guide was exceptionally knowledgeable, attentive to our needs and gave GREAT tips on photos, food options, and explore-on-your-own options. I have taken many day-tours around the world and this was by far the best one ever! Not to mention the scenery was gorgeous!
Review by: emmadooley, April 2018
The tour to Yosemite with Denise was unbelievable. Denise really knows what she is doing. She is a wealth of information which she shares throughout the bus ride which makes the hours fly by. She made us feel safe and have the best trip. She takes her time to ensure best customer service. Brilliant!
Review by: wanda m, April 2018
This was a amazing tour very beautiful scenery our guide Travis was professional friendly and had a good sense of humour he made this trip great. Its a long day but well worth it
Review by: jkdouglass, March 2018
Amazing! Spectacular! Highly recommend! We missed out on seeing the sequoias because of the snow, but wow, Yosemite is beyond breathtaking! I would absolutely book again for end of winter/early spring._br/_ Our guide Denise, what a wonderful woman! She made a long drive easy and added to the experience!
Review by: Desislava F, March 2018
Highly recommended! Unfortunately the hiking trail to the sequoia woods was closed due to snow and ice. Our driver was amazing! He knew so much about the area and was really amazing!
Review by: tina.thakur.acc, March 2018
Had a great time on this tour - our tour guide Denise was very knowledgeable and full of energy! Even though we did not get to see the Giant Sequoias due to 10ft of snow the Yosemite part of the tour was amazing.
Review by: brighteyeddia, March 2018
Gorgeous country and great tour guide! This trip was totally worth the time and money. Denise was our driver, guide, photographer, and friend. She was welcoming, personable, knowledgeable, and genuinely cared about our experience. We truly enjoyed getting to know her and hearing about all the things she knew and recommended. The trip was long, but stops were spread out so that we did not feel uncomfortable. I enjoyed all of the photo ops along the way. Yosemite is gorgeous and majestic. We will remember this for the rest of our lives.
Review by: Alex Anna, March 2018
The trip was amazing. We got the best care and safety during the trip with so much interesting information about San Francisco and Yosemite history, culture, where to eat, what to try. Thank you very much for such a nice guide.
Review by: Andrew J, March 2018
Constantine was an amazing guide and the trip was the highlight of our time in San Francisco
Review by: beba, December 2017
Amazing tour we really loved it we love nature and being in touch with giant sequoias was amazing
Review by: Ricardo F, December 2017
Awesome Trip!!! The departure is a little early but it is worth it to be able to do all the stuff at the park, since it is 4 and half hours from San Francisco. The driver, Constantine, pick us up at hour hotel on time, and he was the best. Through the way to Yosemite he was explaining everything as we were going out of the town, things about the Valley, the produce, the fog, the Gold Rush Towns, he was a very knowledgeable guy and pretty good driver. We had a stop for restrooms and pickup something to it before getting to the park. Once we got to Yosemite, Constantine took us to the Tuolumne Grove of the Giant Sequoias, where we did walk the trails, which are very steep, but we had enough time to go all the way down and back in time to take the bus. The forest here is magical, those giant trees, and you can get to the one with the hole that fits a car through it. Afterwards, the driver took us through the park stopping at 2 or places like Inspiration Point where you can grab the best pictures of El Capitan, Half Dome, Bridal waterfalls and more, until you get to the Visitor Center where you can decide what to do, which trails to go, there is a restaurant where you can get food there and there's actually signal there, since in other parts of the park there's 0 cellphone signal which is good since it allows you to enjoy the forest without the phone constantly bleeping, lol. There's a lot of things to do there, we saw black tailed deers, and went to the lower waterfalls trail, although there are many other trails to do. On the way back , we had again a stop for restrooms and food. _br/_ Overall this was a very good tour that we will recommend and will definitely do again if we have the chance. It's a little bit long but worth it all the way!!! And will recommend Constantine as your driver/tour guide for sure.
Review by: John M, November 2017
This was a great day out. _br/_ Early rise for our pick up and about a 200 mile drive from SF. Was worth it though for the fantastic scenery._br/_ Our driver/guide was very knowledgable with handy tips for the day too.
Review by: Mays J, November 2017
I highly recommend it. Beautiful nature .make sure you wear comfortable cloth and shoe. also I cannot forget to mention the driver that took us on the tour was very nice guy and patient .
Review by: Kok Seng T, November 2017
The trip was amazing! Especially the tour guide, name Aoka, who is really nice, friendly, and helpful! Highly recommend this tour!
Review by: Harriet L, November 2017
Great tour with a wonderful tour guide, she was very enthusiastic and conscience
Review by: Rosalind D, November 2017
Needed more time to see the sequoias and less time for lunch.
Review by: Bill, November 2017
Long Day but great tour
Review by: Jay's Account, November 2017
This tour was amazing!
Review by: Angela M, November 2017
Fantastic!! Amazing!! Stunning scenery!! We had a thoroughly enjoyable day walking among the sequoia's and walking around the park!! Our tour guide Roman was great and gave us plenty of suggestions / guidance about what to do and where to go!! It is a long day but well planned out :-
Review by: Jennifer L, November 2017
Full day started at 6.20am - 9.30pm long day but really worth it._br/_ Comfortable bus, _br/_ Yosemite National Park amazing, small amount of water running down cliff faces - to be expected at this time of year._br/_ the tour guide/ bus driver tried his best , pleasant fellow but so difficult to understand his English , despite his efforts in presenting an interesting tour.
Review by: Joey L, November 2017
Spoilt by Sindhu family. The tour was full with 39 people. We were the last to board. There were only two single seats left. We asked if one of the would move to the other seats so we could seat together as it was our honeymoon. The family rejected, lots of unhappy things happened to us thereafter.
Review by: Monique A, November 2017
Great tour! Amazing sights! My two teen boys loved! They normally brag about every tour we go on! This one was 4 thumbs-up!!!!
Review by: Tony H, November 2017
Roman was one of the best guides we have seen, and my wife and I been on over a dozen tours across 6 US cities in the last 3 weeks. His jokes and knowledge is so great, but he also makes sure everyone respects the schedule and time so that a wonderful trip is enjoyed by all. He went out of his way to show us climbers on El Capitan and other sceneries. Highly recommend for any group age/size!
Review by: Carlos B, November 2017
The guide was really good. I enjoyed the trip and some of the nice fun facts. If I had to say anything, it would be that we left a bit later than expected and we had only about 2 hours free in actual Yosemite park.
Review by: Sol S, November 2017
Overall experience was fantastic, felt a little of time pressure at each drop off point to see sites as quickly as possible. However this is understandable due to the length of journey to and from Yosemite.
Review by: Gary H, October 2017
Outstanding tour, the guide was very friendly and knowledgeable. A long day but worth the early start.
Review by: KARL MEDHORA, October 2017
An amazing trip!
Review by: Tom, October 2017
I took my 12 year old on a father son trip to San Francisco and this was the highlight of the trip! It was an early morning start and a long bus trip to the park, but well worth the drive. The tour guide was fun, entertaining and knowledgeable and was helpful when my son became car sick on the way up the steep, windy mountain to Yosemite. Once we got there, we toured the Giant Sequoias which were majestic and beautiful. Then we drove to an overlook for quick photo stop, and then stopped at the waterfall for lunch. The waterfall was the highlight because you could climb right up to it and take pictures like you were underneath it. It is gigantic and gushing with water from hundreds of feet up. Really intense experience. Finally, we went to El Capitain, which was truly amazing and now that photo is the screen saver of my Mac. On the way home, it was late probably 9:30pm or so the driver stopped for a cityscape view of San Francisco bay at night. Very cool pictures. Definitely recommend this trip, but prepare for a long, long day.
Review by: Karl S, October 2017
Great trip......even though a long day Travis ensured it was fun, informative and gave enough time.
Review by: Vlad, October 2017
Very intensive trip, very scenic. A lot of walking and sightseeing. Driver was passing some information while driving forward the park as well on the way back.
Review by: latanya l, October 2017
A long day but it's wonderful. The air is so clean and so many things to do. Small trails that lead to more beauty. Each moment is spectacular. It literally took my breath away. I won't lie, the road to get there was quite a swervy, highly elevated adventure but we made it. I've never seen a more beautiful places than Yosemite and the Giant Sequoias are remarkable. I do believe one has since fallen since this trip in Dec. 2016. Be prepared to drive by hundreds of dead trees damaged by fires over the years. The hike to the sequoias is not long, but steep so be in shape and prepared to walk back up. A glorious day! Can't wait to return and spend a few days in cabins, hiking and enjoying nature.
Review by: Gabrielle R, October 2017
Really enjoyed this trip! It is a long day, but it is worth it. Our guide Jacob made it seem not as long with his storytelling and corny jokes which were making us laugh even early in the morning! The hike to the sequoias is definitely challenging on the way back up - all uphill. Great pictures! Go!
Review by: Randy, October 2017
The trip to Yosemite National Park was one of the highlights of visiting San Francisco. And you know what made this trip to the national park so special? Roman, the driver and narrator. His special attention to everyone's enjoyment was great, but even more impressive was his generosity in meeting the special needs of his passengers. All of this was done with a full measure of humor and joy for life. He made the joggers from Virginia my wife and I glad we took this trip to one of America's national treasures.
Review by: Susan M, October 2017
What a beautiful p lace. So serene and interesting, nature is all her glory. Plenty to see and do. Nice cafes. some very strenuous walks if you are reasonably fit!
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