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Small Group Yosemite and Giant Sequoias Day Trip from San Francisco
Badge of ExcellenceSan Francisco, United States
Likely to Sell Out
From $209.00
Select Date and Travelers
Free cancellation
Up to 24 hours in advance.
San Francisco Tours
Attractions
Recommendations
- 14 hours (approx.)
- Hotel pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Overview
Travel by minibus from San Francisco to Yosemite National Park on a small-group day trip to one of the most visually stunning places on earth—considered the crown jewel of America’s national parks. This full-day itinerary takes you through the orchards of the Central Valley to Yosemite Valley, stopping first for a stroll through a grove of giant sequoias. Find plenty of photo ops of Half Dome, El Capitan, and Yosemite Falls. Numbers are limited to 15 passengers to ensure a personalized experience with your knowledgeable guide.
- Yosemite National Park day trip from San Francisco with an informative guide
- Walk under ancient redwood trees and hike during free time in Yosemite Valley
- Hotel pickup and drop-off included by minibus
- Small-group tour limited to 15 passengers ensures personalized attention
- Please bring proof of COVID vaccination
What's Included
- National Park fees
- All activities
- Hotel/port pickup and drop-off (from select hotels in San Francisco)
- Food and drinks
- Gratuities
- No Pick-up/Drop-off from residential addresses or hotels outside of San Francisco
Meeting And Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Start time
06:00 AM
Pickup details
Hotel pickup time in the following zones: Fisherman's Wharf/Lombard Street Corridor: 6am - 6:20am Union Square/SOMA: 6:20am - 6:40am
What To Expect
After pickup from selected hotels in San Francisco, board a comfortable minibus for the drive to Yosemite National Park. En route, make a snack stop among the fruit and nut orchards of the San Joaquin Valley before continuing on to the Sierra Nevada foothills and California Gold Country.
Entering the national park via historical Groveland, stop for a hike among Yosemite’s giant sequoias—ancient redwood trees whose trunks span up to 40 feet (12 meters) in diameter. Your drive continues into the Yosemite Valley, stopping at Tunnel View for the quintessential photo op of that includes Bridalveil Fall, El Capitan, and Half Dome.
After a close-up look at the falls, head to El Capitan, the world’s largest exposed granite monolith. Search for rock climbers ascending its sheer face, which rises thousands of feet above the valley floor. Then it’s on to see Half Dome and Yosemite Falls, whose lower and upper cascades form North America’s tallest waterfall.
During free time to explore on your own and purchase lunch (own expense), you can hike among numerous paths, snap more photos at the base of Yosemite Falls or visit Yosemite Village. Then meet back up with your guide for the return drive to San Francisco, with another quick stop for food in the Central Valley before your full-day tour ends with hotel drop-off.
Entering the national park via historical Groveland, stop for a hike among Yosemite’s giant sequoias—ancient redwood trees whose trunks span up to 40 feet (12 meters) in diameter. Your drive continues into the Yosemite Valley, stopping at Tunnel View for the quintessential photo op of that includes Bridalveil Fall, El Capitan, and Half Dome.
After a close-up look at the falls, head to El Capitan, the world’s largest exposed granite monolith. Search for rock climbers ascending its sheer face, which rises thousands of feet above the valley floor. Then it’s on to see Half Dome and Yosemite Falls, whose lower and upper cascades form North America’s tallest waterfall.
During free time to explore on your own and purchase lunch (own expense), you can hike among numerous paths, snap more photos at the base of Yosemite Falls or visit Yosemite Village. Then meet back up with your guide for the return drive to San Francisco, with another quick stop for food in the Central Valley before your full-day tour ends with hotel drop-off.
San Francisco Bay Bridge (Pass By)
Drive across bridge on the way to Yosemite
Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias
See some of the biggest trees on the planet.
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Car seat required for children 8 years old and under; not provided
- Infant seats available
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- The trip is accessible for most of the tour. However, at the end of the day, we go on a hike to see the giant sequoias. This is NOT advised for people with back, heart or knee problems. It is also not wheelchair accessible. Unfortunately, this is only way to see the sequoias.
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
- 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.
Traveler Photos
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Traveler Tips
It is a long day but definitely worth every penny!
Overall it was a good trip, well worth having to get up early in the morning.
Excellent - It is a long day but well worth every second of it.
Reviews
5.0
1,259 reviews
Reviews by Viator travelers.
Showing 1-10 of 1,259 reviews
Seat/ride can be improved
Erick_K, Mar 2023
The day trip provides good value for a visitor and tourist alike.
The transportation can be improved tremendously, specifically the seating in the minivan. Seat was really slippery with very little leg room. This is especially painful for a ride that's ~9+ hours ride, causing aches and pain due to an uncomfortable ride.
Otherwise, Phil (our guide/driver) is good.
Amazing Tour with Phil in Yosemite
HeiTung_K, Mar 2023
This is a very fun trip! Phil is very friendly he is like your friend who also knows a lot about Yosemite. He takes really good pictures and knows where to get the best picture. Definitely recommend this tour!
A day out with Alberto
Graham_G, Mar 2023
Excellent tour, good and informative guide, probably should do the trip in summer as well.
Long day with long drives there and back, some very scenic. Well worth it though. Not much wildlife seen hence you should probably go in summer too.
A Must Do Experience
Tom_L, Mar 2023
Brian is one of the most well prepared, presented and personable guides I’ve ever encountered in my years of travelling. What was already an incredible experience was enhanced by his tour. Highly recommend for anyone visiting San Fransisco
Rushed but awesome experience
valentinapierangeli, Mar 2023
Long distance to cover by car and not enough time to properly see Yosemite, but spectacular park and knowledgable guide.
Had a minor car accident on the way back.
Response from Host, Mar 2023
We are sorry you did not feel that you had enough time in the park. We do as much as we can to offer a the most we an in a one day trip.
As safety is our highest priority, we take all appropriate actions in the rare case of a minor accident, which we did on the date of your tour. We are sorry that this affected your experience.
Excellent fast track
Desmond_K, Feb 2023
A fast track of Yosemite! Thanks to Brian, our guide and also the driver, we were able to see the beautiful sights of Yosemite in a day.
AMAZING EXPERIENCE!
Sarah_V, Feb 2023
Yosemite National Park is a must see! it is an incredible place with amazing scenery. This tour was absolutely fantastic. It covered everything we needed to see within the park and our tour guide (Steven) was amazing; he knew his stuff. He showed us all the cool spots, took our photos, explained the history and gave us some really cool facts/information about each location in the park. He made the tour so much fun. We highly recommend this tour. You really need someone who knows their way around the park to show you it, otherwise you will get lost and miss out on amazing spots.
PS: Don't stress about food and drinks because you will stop off at a cool supermarket to get foods and drinks on the way there and back. The supermarket is huge and it has everything you will be after.
Above average day which leaves you wanting for more during the time
Raunak_K, Feb 2023
It is a long drive out with stops only at a grocery store. We couldnt see the trees. I had called them 2 days before and they had confirmed that it would depend on the weather. The day of the tour or 2 days before that, it was sunny. So not sure why they couldnt confirm that we wouldnt be able to see the tress 2 days before.
Rest of the tour was ok. Even though our guide had been on this route 100s of times, he was not aware of the firefall, which is strange given that over 1000 people were there at the park to see it. When we learnt about it, we requested to wait for it. But since it was not in the itinerary, it couldnt be included.
Somehow we felt rushed at all stops and then suddenly we were given 3 hours at the park. So not sure why we were being rushed all along.
I have been on 50+ trip through viator. This was the 1st time when our guide was always late.
I was told that the guide will call me the night before the trip to confirm the time and pick up place. But i didnt receive any call. I made 3 calls to the tour company to get an answer, which was still not a confirmation.
Response from Host, Feb 2023
Thank you for your feedback.
The park services determines if it is safe enough to hike to the trees. If it’s too dangerous with ice, we cannot go.
Our stop on the way to the park at a; grocery store is an opportunity to purchase snacks, breakfast and use the restroom.
We regret that the guide was late and we will address it.
FIrefall happens if February at sundown so we do not include it in the tour so our guests won't return until after midnight.
Awesome day tour
Lynda_W, Feb 2023
Awesome day tour. It is a long day but that’s expected given how far Yosemite is from San Francisco. Steven was an excellent guide, and went above and beyond. We were unable to visit the Sequoias due to weather (it was winter) but it was still a really great day and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, marvelling at all the natural beauty of the park.
Very enjoyable
s_k, Feb 2023
Very relaxed and enjoyable. Alberto was knowledgeable and entertaining. Saw most of the sights and took great pictures
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