Small-Group Yosemite Day Tour from San Francisco

based on 531 reviews

Duration:15 hours (approx.)
Location: San Francisco, California

From $209

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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.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

WHAT TO EXPECT

1. San Francisco Bay
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.
2. Oakdale
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.
3. Tunnel View
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.
4. Yosemite Valley
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.
5. Yosemite Falls
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.
6. Ansel Adams Gallery
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.
7. San Francisco
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.

ADDITIONAL INFO

CANCELLATION POLICY

Posted By : EMMANUEL_G
Noa,Driver and guide amazing.However booked for a small group snd we were 27!!!Not good.The bus is really out of order for such a long trip!Far too old and very uncomfortable.Great park but no need for 3h in the Valley.Too much.We could have seen something else instead.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2024-05-11 14:30:03

Posted By : Joyce_H
The view are amazing from falls to valley. The tour guide not only full experience but also a licensed EMT. Incredible journey!
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Posted On : 2024-05-09 12:46:24

Posted By : Paulo_R
Always wanted to travel to Yosemite and this tour made it happen and Great ride by the mountains I Really love it
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Posted On : 2024-05-06 14:06:51

Posted By : ohlalaoz
Incredible scenic place. Wished have more time to explore whole place. Will try to come back in the future.

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Posted On : 2024-05-02 20:05:49

Posted By : longislander
Wonderful experience guide pointed us in perfect direction and the day was magnificent. Saw the falls, half dome and el captan.
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Posted On : 2024-04-29 13:05:15

Posted By : Stuart_T
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
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Posted On : 2024-04-24 23:19:51

Posted By : Nicki K
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.

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Posted On : 2024-04-22 15:51:21

Posted By : Dreamer57644679317
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.
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Posted On : 2024-04-17 16:26:37

Posted By : Clare_E
Seeing a bear in Yosemite swimming the river the weather was fantasic. The sheer size of the trees and mountains absolute fantastic day
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Posted On : 2024-04-16 18:14:00

Posted By : Erika_M
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.
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Posted On : 2024-04-14 16:37:21