Yosemite National Park and Giant Sequoias Day Trip from San Francisco

Highlights

See the park’s most famous attractions, Half Dome and El Capitan
Enjoy free time to explore Yosemite Valley on your own
Ride through historic gold mining towns and into the Sierra Nevada mountains
Guided commentary helps the long bus ride fly by

Summary

Begin your day with pickup from your select San Francisco hotel or central meeting point. Head out of the city and through historic Gold Rush towns en route to the Sierra Nevada—commentary from your guide makes the drive fly by. Upon arrival, take a hike past some of the oldest and largest redwood trees in the world at Tuolumne Grove (weather permitting). Snap a photo inside a tunneled-out tree, or see how many people it takes to wrap arms around a trunk. Continue on to Tunnel View for an unbeatable view of Yosemite Valley. Look out for expert rock climbers scaling the world-class cliffs of Half Dome and El Capitan, and in the springtime, see the 2,400 foot-tall (740 meter) cascade of Yosemite Falls. Spend time dining or exploring the park on your own before reconvening with your guide for the return to San Francisco. Please note: Some itinerary items are weather dependent, and itinerary may be adapted to make the most of Yosemite during different seasons. The giant sequoias are best visited between May and October, as winter ice and snow may prevent access during the rest of the year.

Tour info

Duration

14 hours - 15 hours

Why take this tour?

Don’t let time constraints keep you from making the trip to Yosemite National Park from San Francisco. A day trip lets you visit the park’s major attractions such as Half Dome, Tuolumne Grove, and El Capitan—and still make it back to the city in time for dinner.

What’s included?

Expert guide and commentary
Hotel pickup and drop-off (most hotels in downtown San Francisco/Fisherman's Wharf area, but do not pick up outside SF city limits)
Guide Gratuities (for Private option ONLY)
Entry/Admission - Yosemite Valley
Entry/Admission - Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias
Entry/Admission - Tunnel View
Entry/Admission - El Capitan
Guide Gratuities (for Shared tour)
Child safety seat for children under 8 years old or 4' 9" (1.4 meters) required
Food and drinks, unless specified

Things to know

Before you book

Duration: 14-15 hours
Mobile tickets accepted
Instant confirmation

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

Operator Website

Operated by:

Extranomical Tours

About operator:

Extranomical Tours is an independent San Francisco sightseeing tour company that specializes in small group tours to Yosemite, Muir Woods, Wine Country & around San Francisco. Due to the small size of our groups, our tours offer a distinct "traveling with friends" feel and can visit locations that larger tour buses cannot, like the Giant Sequoia Grove on our 1-day Yosemite Tour from San Francisco or small family-owned boutique wineries. We are fully insured and licensed by the State of California authorities. We train our guides one-on-one to make sure that they are knowledgeable, courteous and most of all, safe. We carefully select the locations we explore on our tours to maximize your time and allowing you to see the best local sights. We pride ourselves on maintaining an adventurous, yet easy-going atmosphere.