Yosemite National Park & Giant Sequoias 2-Day Semi-Guided Tour | La Vacanza Travel

Yosemite National Park & Giant Sequoias 2-Day Semi-Guided Tour

Duration: 2 days
Destination: United States, California, San Francisco
from
333.56

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  • 2 days
  • San Francisco
  • E-Voucher
  • Lowest Price
  • Not-Cancellable

Overview

Maximize your experience to the wild, natural beauty of Yosemite National Park with an overnight stay in the park. This is the only Yosemite Valley tour from San Francisco where you will experience the solitude of the Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias, the largest living things on the Earth. After getting your bearings on a guided tour to Yosemite, you’ll enjoy plenty of free time during your two days and a night to hike, bike and explore at your own pace. Capture incredible photos of Yosemite, Nevada and Bridalveil falls, then move on to the granite monuments of El Capitan, Half Dome and more. Guaranteed departures 365 days a year. Arrange your hotel separately, accomodations are NOT included in the tour.

What Can You Expect?

Itinerary

Day 1: San Francisco to Yosemite

Pass By: Bay Bridge, San Francisco, CA 94111, USA
The San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge, known locally as the Bay Bridge, is a complex of bridges spanning San Francisco Bay in California. As part of Interstate 80 and the direct road between San Francisco and Oakland, it carries about 260,000 vehicles a day on its two decks.

Pass By: San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge, San Francisco – Oakland Bay Brg, San Francisco, CA, USA
The San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge, known locally as the Bay Bridge, is a complex of bridges spanning San Francisco Bay in California. As part of Interstate 80 and the direct road between San Francisco and Oakland, it carries about 260,000 vehicles a day on its two decks.

Pass By: Treasure Island, San Francisco, CA
Treasure Island is an artificial island in the San Francisco Bay and a neighborhood in the city and county of San Francisco. Built 1936–37 for the 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition, the island's World’s Fair site is a California Historical Landmark.

Pass By: Sierra Nevada, CA
The Sierra Nevada is a mountain range in the Western United States, between the Central Valley of California and the Great Basin.

Pass By: Big Oak Flat Road, Groveland, CA
Traveling the historic Big Oak Flat Road from the western entrance of Yosemite National Park across to the Tioga Pass entrance on the east, provides drivers easy access to the stunning beauty of Yosemite’s high country landscapes.

Pass By: Big Oak Flat Information Station, 6107 Big Oak Flat Rd, Groveland, CA 95321, USA
The Big Oak Flat entrance to Yosemite National Park is located on CA Highway 120 roughly 24 miles (39 km) east of Groveland, CA. CA Highway 120 is the most direct route into Yosemite National Park from the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento and Northern California locations.

Stop At: Yosemite Valley, 9035 Village Dr, Yosemite National Park, CA 95389-9912
Yosemite Valley is a glacial valley in Yosemite National Park in the western Sierra Nevada mountains of Central California. The valley is about 7.5 miles long and approximately 3000–3500 feet deep, surrounded by high granite summits such as Half Dome and El Capitan, and densely forested with pines.
Duration: 12 hours

Stop At: Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias, Yosemite National Park, Yosemite National Park, CA
Tuolumne Grove is a sequoia grove located near Crane Flat in Yosemite National Park. It is about 16 miles west of Yosemite Village on Tioga Pass Road. The grove contains many conifers, including a few Sequoiadendron giganteum as well as Abies concolor and Pinus lambertiana.
Weather permitting
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Tunnel View, Wawona Road, Yosemite National Park, CA 95389
Tunnel View is a scenic viewpoint on State Route 41 in Yosemite National Park. Visitors have seen and documented the iconic and expansive views of Yosemite Valley from the overlook since its opening in 1933.
Duration: 15 minutes

Pass By: Ansel Adams Gallery, 9031 Village Dr, Yosemite National Park, CA 95389-9912
Gallery showcasing & selling photography by celebrated landscape artist Ansel Adams, among others.

Pass By: Bridalveil Fall, Yosemite National Park, CA
Bridalveil Fall is one of the most prominent waterfalls in the Yosemite Valley in California, Yosemite National Park.

Pass By: El Capitan, Yosemite National Park, CA
El Capitan, also known as El Cap, is a vertical rock formation in Yosemite National Park, located on the north side of Yosemite Valley, near its western end. The granite monolith is about 3,000 feet from base to summit along its tallest face, and is a popular objective for rock climbers.

Pass By: Half Dome, Yosemite National Park, CA
Half Dome is a granite dome at the eastern end of Yosemite Valley in Yosemite National Park, California. It is a well-known rock formation in the park, named for its distinct shape.

Pass By: Horsetail Fire Fall, Northside dr, Yosemite National Park, CA 95389
Horsetail Fall, located in Yosemite National Park in California, is a seasonal waterfall that flows in the winter and early spring. The fall occurs on the east side of El Capitan. Around the second week of February, the setting sun hits Horsetail Fall at just the right angle to illuminate the upper reaches of the waterfall.
Can only be seen at certain time of year

Pass By: Mist Trail, Happy Isles, Yosemite National Park, CA
The Mist Trail is one of the most popular short hikes in Yosemite National Park, California, USA. The steep hike follows the Merced River, starting at Happy Isles in Yosemite Valley, past Vernal Fall and Emerald Pool, to Nevada Fall.

Pass By: Nevada Fall, TUOLUMNE MEADOWS, CA 95389, USA
Nevada Fall is a 594-foot high waterfall on the Merced River in Yosemite National Park, California. It is located below the granite dome, Liberty Cap, at the west end of Little Yosemite Valley.

Stop At: Lower Yosemite Fall Trail, Yosemite National Park, CA
A quarter-mile (one way) hike to a spectacular mist-blown view from the base of 320-foot Lower Yosemite Falls. Lower Yosemite Falls Hike is a must visit for its accessibility and proximity to this massive waterfall and has spectacular views of both falls.
Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Merced River, Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, CA 95389
The Merced River in the central part of the U.S. state of California, is 145 miles (233 km) long. Tenaya, Yosemite, Bridalveil and Pigeon Creeks join the Merced River in Yosemite Valley.
Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Yosemite Falls, Yosemite National Park, CA 95389
Yosemite Falls is the highest waterfall in Yosemite National Park, dropping a total of 2,425 feet from the top of the upper fall to the base of the lower fall
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Valley Visitor Center, 9035 Village Dr, Yosemite National Park, CA 95389-9912
The Valley Visitor Center is located in Yosemite Valley and is the largest and most comprehensive in terms of displays, books, postcards and maps. The Valley Visitor Center is open year round and offers natural history displays, audiovisual programs and is staffed with individuals who are happy to answer all your questions.
Duration: 30 minutes

Pass By: Yosemite Valley Lodge, Yosemite National Park, 9006 Yosemite Lodge Dr, TUOLUMNE MEADOWS, CA 95389, USA
Yosemite Valley Lodge is a favorite choice for families and large groups. Its close proximity to Yosemite Falls makes it the perfect base camp for exploring Yosemite National Park.

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: No accommodation provided

Day 2: Yosemite to San Francisco

Pass By: 9010 Curry Village Dr, Yosemite Valley, CA 95389, USA
Beneath the grandeur of Glacier Point, Half Dome Village is known for the same warm, hospitable feeling that was instilled by its founders, David and Jennie Curry in 1899.

Pass By: Yosemite Valley Lodge, Yosemite National Park, 9006 Yosemite Lodge Dr, TUOLUMNE MEADOWS, CA 95389, USA
Yosemite Valley Lodge is a favorite choice for families and large groups. Its close proximity to Yosemite Falls makes it the perfect base camp for exploring Yosemite National Park.

Stop At: Valley Visitor Center, 9035 Village Dr, Yosemite National Park, CA 95389-9912
The Valley Visitor Center is located in Yosemite Valley and is the largest and most comprehensive in terms of displays, books, postcards and maps. The Valley Visitor Center is open year round and offers natural history displays, audiovisual programs and is staffed with individuals who are happy to answer all your questions.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Yosemite Falls, Yosemite National Park, CA 95389
Yosemite Falls is the highest waterfall in Yosemite National Park, dropping a total of 2,425 feet from the top of the upper fall to the base of the lower fall
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Merced River, Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, CA 95389
The Merced River in the central part of the U.S. state of California, is 145 miles (233 km) long. Tenaya, Yosemite, Bridalveil and Pigeon Creeks join the Merced River in Yosemite Valley.
Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Lower Yosemite Fall Trail, Yosemite National Park, CA
A quarter-mile (one way) hike to a spectacular mist-blown view from the base of 320-foot Lower Yosemite Falls. Lower Yosemite Falls Hike is a must visit for its accessibility and proximity to this massive waterfall and has spectacular views of both falls.
Duration: 15 minutes

Pass By: Half Dome, Yosemite National Park, CA
Half Dome is a granite dome at the eastern end of Yosemite Valley in Yosemite National Park, California. It is a well-known rock formation in the park, named for its distinct shape.

Pass By: El Capitan, Yosemite National Park, CA
El Capitan, also known as El Cap, is a vertical rock formation in Yosemite National Park, located on the north side of Yosemite Valley, near its western end. The granite monolith is about 3,000 feet from base to summit along its tallest face, and is a popular objective for rock climbers.

Pass By: Bridalveil Fall, Yosemite National Park, CA
Bridalveil Fall is one of the most prominent waterfalls in the Yosemite Valley in California, Yosemite National Park.

Pass By: Ansel Adams Gallery, 9031 Village Dr, Yosemite National Park, CA 95389-9912
Gallery showcasing & selling photography by celebrated landscape artist Ansel Adams, among others.

Stop At: Tunnel View, Wawona Road, Yosemite National Park, CA 95389
Tunnel View is a scenic viewpoint on State Route 41 in Yosemite National Park. Visitors have seen and documented the iconic and expansive views of Yosemite Valley from the overlook since its opening in 1933.
Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Yosemite Valley, 9035 Village Dr, Yosemite National Park, CA 95389-9912
Yosemite Valley is a glacial valley in Yosemite National Park in the western Sierra Nevada mountains of Central California. The valley is about 7.5 miles long and approximately 3000–3500 feet deep, surrounded by high granite summits such as Half Dome and El Capitan, and densely forested with pines.
Duration: 12 hours

Pass By: Big Oak Flat Information Station, 6107 Big Oak Flat Rd, Groveland, CA 95321, USA
The Big Oak Flat entrance to Yosemite National Park is located on CA Highway 120 roughly 24 miles (39 km) east of Groveland, CA. CA Highway 120 is the most direct route into Yosemite National Park from the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento and Northern California locations.

Pass By: Big Oak Flat Road, Groveland, CA
Traveling the historic Big Oak Flat Road from the western entrance of Yosemite National Park across to the Tioga Pass entrance on the east, provides drivers easy access to the stunning beauty of Yosemite’s high country landscapes.

Pass By: Sierra Nevada, CA
The Sierra Nevada is a mountain range in the Western United States, between the Central Valley of California and the Great Basin.

Pass By: Treasure Island, San Francisco, CA
Treasure Island is an artificial island in the San Francisco Bay and a neighborhood in the city and county of San Francisco. Built 1936–37 for the 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition, the island's World’s Fair site is a California Historical Landmark.

Pass By: Bay Bridge, San Francisco, CA 94111, USA
The San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge, known locally as the Bay Bridge, is a complex of bridges spanning San Francisco Bay in California. As part of Interstate 80 and the direct road between San Francisco and Oakland, it carries about 260,000 vehicles a day on its two decks.

Pass By: San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge, San Francisco – Oakland Bay Brg, San Francisco, CA, USA
The San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge, known locally as the Bay Bridge, is a complex of bridges spanning San Francisco Bay in California. As part of Interstate 80 and the direct road between San Francisco and Oakland, it carries about 260,000 vehicles a day on its two decks.

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: No accommodation provided

Inclusions & Exclusions

Inclusions
  • San Francisco pick-up from most hotels
  • Transportation to Yosemite National Park
  • Drop-off at Yosemite Lodge
  • Temperature controlled vehicle
  • Accommodation included: 2 nights
  • Entry/Admission - Yosemite Valley

Exclusions
  • Accommodations are not included in this package
  • Meals
  • Transportation from Yosemite Valley Lodge to your separately-booked accommodation
  • Gratuities
  • Oversized luggage will be subject to an additional $50 fee from the local operator.

Additional Info

  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Stroller accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • Near public transportation
  • Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
  • Access to the Sequoia Grove can be difficult during winter months, generally October through May, and other activities may be substituted at the discretion of the guide.
  • During winter months, temperatures in Yosemite can vary drastically to the ones in San Francisco. Therefore, it is recommend to wear winter clothes, especially shoes or boots with rubber soles and treads.
  • The Giant Sequoias Grove is located at a higher elevation and the hike is dependent on trail conditions, especially from October through May. Ice and snow might make the trail unsafe to hike. The decision of whether it is safe to go on the hike will be made on a day by day basis. Therefore, a visit cannot be guaranteed. However, while the trail might be closed, guests get to spend more time in Yosemite Valley. There you can see all the other great sights Yosemite has to offer, including El Capitan, Inspiration Point, Half Dome, Yosemite Falls and more.
  • Since there is limited to no storage within Yosemite, please make sure to only bring what you can easily carry with you. Oversized luggage will be subject to an additional $50 fee from the local operator.
  • Tour makes stops for breakfast, lunch, and on the trip back for dinner. Meals are not included.
  • For hotel pickups, please select the Hilton Union Square if your hotel is not listed.
  • Audio guides are available in Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French, German, Korean, Chinese, and Japanese. Specify language at time of booking under special requirements.
  • California law requires tour guests to bring a car safety seat for all children under 8 years and under 4' 9" (1.4 meters) in height. Any guest that does not provide their child's safety seat at the time of the tour and does not inform the tour operator in advance may not be allowed to board the tour and will not be subject to refund.
  • Exact destinations & itinerary may differ due to weather, road conditions, and the guide's discretion.
  • 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 41 travelers
  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking

Departure Point

Departure Point

Hilton San Francisco Union Square, 333 O'Farrell St, San Francisco, CA 94102, USA
Traveler pickup is offered
For Hilton Union Square - meet at the Mason street entrance (Eastern entrance).
For other locations, please meet outside hotel main doors.
If your hotel is not listed, please select Hilton Union Square or Hotel Zephyr Fisherman's Wharf or alternatively add your hotel and we will provide the closest pick-up location.
You will be provided your exact pick-up location and time upon confirmation. Please always refer to the providers confirmation.


Departure Time

05:20 AM


Return Details

Returns to original departure point

Duration & Voucher Info

Voucher info

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

Duration

2 days

Cancellation Policy

User's Reviews

angelabU5858VA

31 Mar, 2024

Andy is awesome!! Best tour guide evvvveeerrr. Super enthusiastic, entertaining and knowledgeable. Trip was very structured with very nice views on way to Yosemite.

Patricia_H

19 Oct, 2023

The tour was great, the park is amazing and I would highly recommend it, however the company needs to work on their communications. Their tour description is not clear on the stops--it made less than half of those listed and it wasn't clear when you made them on the tour, which would have been helpful. It also wasn't clear on the pick-up points so I changed hotels to make sure we could get picked up there and then on the ticket I saw them listing our pickup at the original hotel. I was panicking since it was late the night before the tour but the good news is that they do keep staff available at late hours and she was very helpful. Our first guide Aiden was polite and somewhat informative, but he didn't mention to the 2-day tourists like ourselves to not return to the bus after dropping us off at the park and that we weren't to return until the 2nd day. If a lady in front of us hadn't specifically asked him, we wouldn't have known. Same thing happened to a couple of guys on the 2nd day. So, in case they don't tell you, if you are on a 2-day tour, you take your bags when you are dropped off at the lodge on that first day, then you are on your own until you return to that spot at 2:00 pm the next day to complete the tour. The 2-day tourists were obviously a minority since we were the only ones who had suitcases (this tour was only a part of our longer trip). They were pretty cumbersome and seemed to cause them some problems on the buses, but the guides on both days were very helpful about it. Don on the second day was much more informative and helpful. Another problem that we confronted was that, even though they picked us up at the hotel the first day, they didn't plan to return us to that hotel on the return (something else no one mentioned) and we didn't get back until about 10 pm. Don was very helpful and arranged an Uber to pick us up at the stop where he could drop us off which we really appreciated. The office staff was also very helpful, again, in this situation. I especially want to mention Janica in particular. She was great--very helpful and even used several methods to communicate with us to make sure we got the message. So 5 Stars for the customer service staff, but I hope that they will work on communicating better in advance to avoid all the problems and confusion. You will enjoy the tour however. The park is gorgeous and it's a great idea to offer the 2-day tour. I think it would have been hard to thoroughly enjoy it in one day--you would see the major sites but only have a couple of hours of free time to just enjoy the park. Which reminds me--make sure to walk to see Yosemite Falls on your own. It's very close to the Lodge where they drop you off and I don't recall our first guide mentioning to us that we wouldn't see it on the 2nd part of the tour.

RamizahR11

19 Oct, 2023

Yosemite was amazing! Day 1 tour felt a bit rushed - we were only given about 10-15 mins at a stop, but our Day 2 tour was a great one thanks to our guide, Rob! We had a lot more time to view and enjoy each stop on Day 2, and even managed to make a couple extra photo stops as well. Rob showed us the best places to take photos and helped take our photos too! We had a minor hiccup because one person didn't show up after lunch, even after we waited for half hour. We appreciated that Rob decided to continue the tour instead of wasting our time - we only had limited amount time in Yosemite with only a few hours of sunlight remaining, and would rather not spend it waiting on an irresponsible person who can't keep to the time. Rob was also informative and funny and we enjoyed the stories he told us about Yosemite, San Francisco and other places we passed by on our way back to the city. If we could give him 10 stars, we would!

AimCoole

17 Sep, 2023

Amazing trip to Yosemite it is somewhere I have always wanted to visit. I would definitively consider the 2 day option. Day 1 felt a little rushed and you get 10mins to take a photo then move on. Day 2 was a little more relaxed and the guide Andy was great. I will 100% go back there for longer next time to enjoy the hiking.

karenhG3481EJ

03 Aug, 2023

Breathtaking views of granite formations, cascading waterfalls, hiking among giant sequoias — this Yosemite tour is one of the best organized tours I’ve ever been on, and a huge part of it was due to our guide Rob. My partner and I did a half tour on our way up, and he dropped us off at our hotel, where we spent a couple of nights. On our way back, he was right there waiting for us and we hopped on the bus and did the last half of our tour with a new group. Rob was extremely knowledgeable about the backroads and special, little known spots, in addition to the well-known landmarks. He has a vast knowledge of Yosemite the surrounding towns, and Northern California in general. But beyond his knowledge, he has a hilarious sense of humor, and was a great storyteller, weaving his personal experiences into what he was showing us. He was also very patient and at the same time managed to be prompt. This can be challenging with a bus load of people but he pulled it off. We had plenty of time along the way to do hikes, picture taking, and there were snack breaks in as well. Our entire trip was just perfect. We can’t say enough about Rob .The tour was well worth it — actually you get way MORE than your money’s worth!

User's Picture Gallery

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Breath taking and beautiful

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Perfect itinerary and guide/driver Rob !

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Amazing place, but needed more help with logistics

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