Small-Group Yosemite Day Tour from San Francisco | La Vacanza Travel

Small-Group Yosemite Day Tour from San Francisco

Duration: 15 hours
Destination: United States, California, San Francisco
from
259.16

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  • 15 hours
  • San Francisco
  • E-Voucher
  • Lowest Price
  • Not-Cancellable

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.

Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Pass By: San Francisco Bay, San Francisco, CA

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.

Stop At: Oakdale, Oakdale, California

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.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Tunnel View, Wawona Road, Yosemite National Park, CA 95389

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. 

Duration: 20 minutes

Stop At: Yosemite Valley, 9035 Village Dr, Yosemite National Park, CA 95389-9912

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.

Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Yosemite Falls, Yosemite National Park, CA 95389

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.

Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Ansel Adams Gallery, 9031 Village Dr, Yosemite National Park, CA 95389-9912

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.

Duration: 5 minutes

Pass By: San Francisco, San Francisco, California

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.

Inclusions
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off from select SF hotels
  • Full-time professional, knowledgeable guide
  • Transport by biofueled mini-coach
  • Yosemite National Park entrance fee
  • Narrated in-coach tour of Yosemite (1.5 hrs)
  • 3 hours of free time in the Valley
  • Entry/Admission - Yosemite Falls
  • Entry/Admission - Tunnel View
  • Entry/Admission - Yosemite Valley

Exclusions
  • Meals (stops will be made to purchase food)
  • Bike rental (available for purchase)
  • Guide gratuity
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Stroller accessible
  • Near public transportation
  • Infant seats available
  • Most travelers can participate
  • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
  • This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 23 travelers
  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Departure Point

Traveler pickup is offered
Pick-up details and times are as follow:

6:35am from Riu Plaza Fisherman's Wharf (2500 Mason St) on NORTH POINT street side.
6:50am Hilton San Francisco Union Square (333 O'Farrell St) Meet on Mason Street Side
7:10am InterContinental San Francisco, 888 Howard Street, San Francisco
7:45am from Dublin BART Station - Hacienda Exit - 5835 Owens Dr, Pleasanton, CA 94588


Departure Time

06:00 AM

Voucher info

You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.

Duration

15 hours


User's Reviews

Stuart_T

24 Apr, 2024

Have tried to write this review 3 times now but when I try and post it it keeps taking me back to the beginning, probably because it’s an honest bad review so I will try once again. Be very careful when you book this tour!!!! Firstly the bus that picked us up was more like an 90’s school bus and was rather uncomfortable Secondly this tour claims San Fran pick up only, unfortunately this is not the case we actually dropped off and picked up in a place called Dublin each way which is approx 60 mins outside San Fran, think the driver was on the fiddle here Actual drive time from San Fran to Yosemite was 6 hours each way!!!!! Yes 6 hours each way and not the 3 hours claimed on the website. When you reach Yosemite you only have 3 hours which is not nearly enough to take in this spectacular place!!! Do yourself a favour and do not waste your money on this tour, do your homework and plan it properly

Nicki K

22 Apr, 2024

This was a great tour. Our guide Lisa was fantastic, very knowledgeable and chatty. Obviously Yosemite speaks for itself, beautiful. The only negative was the bus was not very comfortable for such a long journey ( 5 hours each way). The door did not close properly, so the noise was awful. Hence 4 stars.

Dreamer57644679317

17 Apr, 2024

By far the best trip of my week in San Francisco. Well worth the money and the early start. The scenery is breathtaking, the enormity of the park has to be seen to be believed. We had the best tour guide, he was fun, informative and polite. Highly recommend this trip. Don’t be put off by the price. Worth every penny.

Clare_E

16 Apr, 2024

Seeing a bear in Yosemite swimming the river the weather was fantasic. The sheer size of the trees and mountains absolute fantastic day

Erika_M

14 Apr, 2024

It was a big dream visiting from Europe and the guide was super lovely and helpful, definitely a highlight of my stay in San Francisco. Yosemiti is breathtaking and worth the long hours on the bus. The only negative thing is the quality of the bus, very old and uncomfortable for a solid 8hrs trip (and it shake the soul out of you), I thought it would fall apart at any moment.

User's Picture Gallery

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Great tour, poor transport.

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Yosemite day trip

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Breathtaking experience

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Wonderful Experience.

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My solo trip to Yosemite with incredible guides

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Pretty good, lots of free time

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It is the best choice, even I was solo traveler.

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Excellent trip

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YOSEMITE WAS AMAZING...Tour guide, not so much.

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The scenery was amazing...

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An amazing experience!

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Yosemite fun rain and shine

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Perfect short trip to Yosemite 😃

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Good but long day

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Day trip to Yosemite.

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DON’T BE FOOLED LIKE ME

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Views were amazing

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Great Trip To Yosemite

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Quick visit to a wonderful place

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Incredibly horrible Adventure

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Stunning views await at Yosemite

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Yosemite is Stunning!

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This trip is Awesome plus we have safe commute to and from.

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Yosemite is stunning

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