Yosemite National Park and Giant Sequoias Day Trip from San Francisco
4.5
Yosemite National Park and Giant Sequoias Day Trip from San Francisco
By Extranomical Tours
About
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.
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from per adult (price varies by group size)
$219.00
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 0-99, max of 40 per group
Duration: 14–15 hours
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
German, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, Japanese, English, Italian, French, Spanish
Highlights
- Travel round trip from San Francisco to Yosemite in a single day
- 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
- 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
What's not included- 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
- 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.
- Departure details
- 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.
- Hilton San Francisco Union Square, 333 O'Farrell St, San Francisco, CA 94102, USA Meet at the Mason street entrance (Eastern entrance). Please check your email confirmation from Extranomical Tours or contact the provider to confirm your pick-up details and time
- Hotel pickup is offered. View the hotel list on our checkout page to see if yours is included among the pickup points.
Return details- Returns to original departure point
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 2402YNP- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- 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.
- As tour sizes vary, transportation is in a 13-passenger van or up to a 41-passenger tour bus
- Tour makes stops at approximately 8:30am for breakfast, 1pm for lunch and on the trip back for dinner. Meals are not included
- Audio links are available in Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French, German, Korean, Chinese and Japanese. Specify language at time of booking under special requirements.
- For hotel pickups, please select the Hilton Union Square if your hotel is not listed
- 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 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 your guide's discretion.
- For Private Tour option, size of vehicle will be dependent on size of your party
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- 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 40 travelers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- Which attractions will I visit with Yosemite National Park and Giant Sequoias Day Trip from San Francisco?
- During this experience, places you will visit include:Discover and book Yosemite National Park and Giant Sequoias Day Trip from San Francisco on Tripadvisor
- How much is Yosemite National Park and Giant Sequoias Day Trip from San Francisco?
- Yosemite National Park and Giant Sequoias Day Trip from San Francisco price starts from $219.00. Discover and book Yosemite National Park and Giant Sequoias Day Trip from San Francisco on Tripadvisor
- What is the Yosemite National Park and Giant Sequoias Day Trip from San Francisco cancellation policy?
- Yosemite National Park and Giant Sequoias Day Trip from San Francisco cancellation policy: For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience. Discover and book Yosemite National Park and Giant Sequoias Day Trip from San Francisco on Tripadvisor
- Which company provides Yosemite National Park and Giant Sequoias Day Trip from San Francisco?
- Yosemite National Park and Giant Sequoias Day Trip from San Francisco is hosted by Extranomical Tours. Read reviews, discover additonal experiences or contact Extranomical Tours on Tripadvisor. Discover and book Yosemite National Park and Giant Sequoias Day Trip from San Francisco on Tripadvisor
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 2402YNP
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Similar experiences
Itinerary
- You'll start atHilton San Francisco Union SquareOr, you can also get picked upSee departure details
- Pass bySan Francisco Bay BridgeSierra NevadaBig Oak Flat Information Station
- 1Yosemite ValleyStop: 2 hours - Admission includedSee details
- 2Tuolumne Grove of Giant SequoiasStop: 60 minutes - Admission includedSee details
- 3Tunnel ViewStop: 15 minutes - Admission includedSee detailsPass byAnsel Adams Gallery
- 4Bridalveil FallsStop: 10 minutesSee details
- 5El CapitanStop: 15 minutes - Admission includedSee detailsPass byHalf Dome
- 6Lower Yosemite Fall TrailStop: 20 minutesSee details
- 7Yosemite FallsStop: 20 minutesSee detailsPass byYosemite Valley LodgeValley Visitor CenterTreasure Island
- You'll return to the starting point
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About the operator
Extranomical Tours
3,781
San Francisco, California
Joined in April 2008
#27 of 190 Food & Drink in San Francisco
- AWPAWPAKD00Muir Woods and WIneMy daughter and I had a great tour with Kimmy. Because she is from SF, she had a lot insight into the city and its history. We loved the Muir Woods tour. It was not too hot and the views were exquisite. I also enjoyed the varied vineyards that we visited. Kimmy was always on time and stressed that the tour team was also. Would definitely recommend.
- karenhG3481EJ00Our guide made a great trip to Yosemite even more special!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!
- simonbrownenz00Fantastic ! Vineyards and Muir Wood TripA fantatic trip, arriving early at Muir woods, very quiet ! Had great fun on the bus too meeting new people. Very relaxed trip. Fantastic Vineyards and Ronan was awesome explaining the history and keeping us laughing along the way We did the Gourmet lunch, which was great, there was lots of other options including BBQ on the street which looked good too.
- PopDiva197000Great combo trip, great valueTour was great! Roman was a great tour guide with a dry and witty sense of humor. He gave clear directions and times of departure from each location. Gave good tips and info about each stop. The wineries were great! Really enjoyed the trip. We were able to jam pack a bunch of things in this 1 trip. Highly recommend!
- 77geirs00Excellent guide and venues 👍We were picked up with a shuffle bus at the pick up point as agreed through email correspondence.👍 We participated in the San Francisco wine tour with a visit to the Muir Woods. We had a guide named Dustin. He was excellent👍 He had superior knowledge of San Francisco , wine culture of Napa Valley and Sonoma and history of the Muir Woods. Good timing with an early arrival at the Muir Woods. We could walk alone in silence before the masses arrived 👌🏻
- rt091600Great Day!Today's tour of Muir Woods and three wineries was great. Don was our driver. He is highly recommended. Great wineries and Sonoma for lunch was perfect. Muir Woods was awesome too. Our driver was a great guide with tons of knowledge of the area. Don was courteous, kind and thoughtful. In our group, two of us had a wheelchair and a motorized scooter wheelchair. He lifted them in/out of the back of the bus for storage and transport and made sure we had chairs to sit on during the winery tours. I was so impressed with his degree of customer service because it's so unusual these days. One suggestion....have a lift for putting motorized scooters in the vehicle. Someone is going to injure their back lifting them up and into it.
- I2447BEwendym00Great Muir Woods/Winery Tour with DonMy mother, sisters, and I went to Muir Woods today on a tour with Don. It was a wonderful trip, made even better by Don's informative narration on the trip. He was very thoughtful in helping family members who needed it. We toured three wineries after Muir Woods, and each was very nice. I would've liked to spend more time at Muir Woods, but if you're not interested or able to travel the trails, the amount of time is appropriate. It was an interesting and very worthwhile tour.
- O1470IErickn00Great Tour and GuideDustin was our van driver and tour guide. The Muir Woods and three Sonoma vineyards were the draw but Dustin “made” the trip since we spent much of the day driving from point-to-point. Dustin provided great information and humor as he spoke about some of the significant landmarks and history about San Francisco as we drove to Muir Woods. As we drew closer to each destination, he provided pertinent information about wine and about each vineyard. The van had moderately comfortable seating with decent air conditioning. My wife and I were comfortable but we sat in the front-most seats. I’m not a wine-lover but my wife is; yet I found the tour very informative and educational AND even sampled all wines offered at each stop. I’m still not a wine lover but have a greater appreciation for the wine-making process and for those involved in it.
- Explorer51997200Our driver and tour guide 10 out of 10, the company operating the tour - poor formWe really enjoyed Randall’s commentary and attention to things to make our adventure the best. We also enjoyed the wineries which were spectacular in different ways. 10 out of 10 for Randall. What we did not enjoy related to the company who puts on the tour. Over selling tickets for their own greed, putting us in a bus with air con that did not work and selling too many seats so one couple had to seperate with one in the front seat with the driver and the other up the back for a 10 hour tour which happened to be booked four our anniversary. Had we know you would over sell we would not have booked the tour. Disappointing where the focus lay for the company
- Marc B00Fun and TreesDustin did a great job. Great vineyards and Muir Woods were breathtaking. It was all a total blast and wonderful fun. Thanks
- ghostchili100Entertaining guide and fun tour of Muir Woods and wine countryFirst of all, our guide, I believe he said he was German named Roman, was incredibly entertaining and pretty funny. He provided a lot of great historical information. He was also good about rallying everyone to keep us within travel time in order to get to experience the most out of the wineries. The Muir Woods were pretty incredible especially for someone from the east coast. The wineries had decent wines, but the experience didn’t compare to those I’ve experienced in Italy; i.e. there’s were no pairings for the wines. I will say some were good enough that both me and my girlfriend purchased several bottles. Highly recommend the balsamic/olive oil!
- Mrsreese030800Great experienced!Great experienced for first solo traveler mom like me. Our tour guide Dustin was awesome! Highly recommended.
- A2099WVlynnr00Nice trip….Fun DayThe bus picked us up at a nearby hotel (late but did arrive). Picked up a few more passengers and we were on our way. Stopped at Muir Woods, paid the $15 admission and had about an hour to explore the park. GORGEOUS. Wanted more time at the park. Stopped at a winery. Lunch on our own then two more wineries. Was a small tour bus. Roomy. Guide was ok. Talked a bit off topic and talked the entire trip. Overall. Recommend.
- katherinepE5454BW00Must do day trip!Roman was the best! From the seamless pickup and dropoff, to the knowledgeable and witty San Francisco and wine country knowledge on the bus, a stop at Muir woods, and lastly 3 amazing and beautiful wineries, this day trip was 5stars through and through. Dont miss out and well worth every penny. Will recommend to anyone who wants a little bit of everything, nature, wineries and the last stop a photo op at the golden gate! Thank you Roman!
- Amanda C00Great day trip to Muir Woods and wineriesThis was a great way to cram a lot into one day! Muir Woods was beautiful and was a nice, relaxing way to start the day. The three wineries - 2 in Sonoma Valley and 1 in Napa Valley - all presented different experiences, and it didn’t feel like anyone was pushing you to buy wine. Lunch in Sonoma had several different options to choose from. And our guide gave lots of interesting information. We were even able to stop and view the Golden Gate Bridge at the end of our day. All in all, it was a great way to see an area that I hadn’t seen before!
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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4.5
694 reviews
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526
Very good
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1 contribution
The majesty of Yosemite is breath-taking. We went on a sunny 55 degrees March 2. It had snowed the day before so unfortunately we could not do the Toulumne sequoia grove; however the tour guide more than made up for it by taking us to Bridal Veil Falls, giving us an extra last stop at Valley View, and extra lunch time at Yosemite Falls which is central to other places like Yosemite Village and a great view of the Merced River with Half Dome and other excellent photo ops. Those were just extra stops in addition to the planned stops which were of course also postcard/screensaver -worthy (ie: El Capitan, etc)!
The tour guide , Denise, was phenomenal . She gave great geo-political facts when appropriate and was silent when you are most tired at the end of the tour from all the walking. The bus is comfortable and has charging ports at each seat for your phone. Denise stopped at a great grocery store on the way to & back from Yosemite that was delicious so we could stock up on snacks, lunch, and even dinner. It’s a mixed group on the bus from college students to retired folks to everything in between and from all over the world so no need to feel like this is a cheesy tour your grandma might have taken back in the day.
It was our first time to Yosemite and we were not excited about doing the driving ourselves so to have Denise do all the very safe driving (twists & turns at 6000 ft) for us AND provide endless helpful hints made for the perfect day in Yosemite.
The tour guide , Denise, was phenomenal . She gave great geo-political facts when appropriate and was silent when you are most tired at the end of the tour from all the walking. The bus is comfortable and has charging ports at each seat for your phone. Denise stopped at a great grocery store on the way to & back from Yosemite that was delicious so we could stock up on snacks, lunch, and even dinner. It’s a mixed group on the bus from college students to retired folks to everything in between and from all over the world so no need to feel like this is a cheesy tour your grandma might have taken back in the day.
It was our first time to Yosemite and we were not excited about doing the driving ourselves so to have Denise do all the very safe driving (twists & turns at 6000 ft) for us AND provide endless helpful hints made for the perfect day in Yosemite.
Written March 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vicki G
United Kingdom3 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
Day trip from San Franscisco to Yosemite by Extranomical-it’s a full on day. Denise the tour guide is also the driver. She is a great driver and very knowledgable and accommodating-but Don’t interrupt her while she’s imparting her knowledge!!
The scheduled stops are great-you definately want to take a packed lunch as it’s a bit pricey at the park. There’s a stop at a Raleys supermarket which is ideal for getting food.(the same stop on the way back to the city)
If you have never been to Yosemite before (like we hadn’t) then prepare to be overawed. Make sure you have plenty of power for phones/cameras.
10/10 from us for this trip.
The scheduled stops are great-you definately want to take a packed lunch as it’s a bit pricey at the park. There’s a stop at a Raleys supermarket which is ideal for getting food.(the same stop on the way back to the city)
If you have never been to Yosemite before (like we hadn’t) then prepare to be overawed. Make sure you have plenty of power for phones/cameras.
10/10 from us for this trip.
Written February 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rhys
2 contributions
Dec 2019 • Couples
Our trip was absolutely fantastic! My wife and I in our early 30’s had a day of wonderful sights, took some breathtaking photos and learnt a wealth of information about not only the park but San Fran and the district. Our guide was Denise and I could not speak more highly of her. She tried her absolute best to get us to all of the main areas and told stories and shared some great info throughout the day. We we picked up promptly at 6.20am and returned home about 9.30pm. A huge day but definitely worth it for people of all ages.
Written January 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gabs1028
4 contributions
My sisters and I had so much fun on the Yosemite and giant sequoia tour. Denise, our tour guide was knowledgeable and efficient. She took in consideration our safety and honored what we paid for even with a minor time set back caused by some other people in our group not returning at the appropriate time. Being a San Francisco native, Denise was able to give us not only the background history of California, but current events and also recommendations from literature to best restaurants in the area. She drove that bus like her life depended on it! We felt safe and in good hands, so glad I didn’t take that on myself. I highly recommend it! And pray you get Denise!!
Written November 8, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GaryAlan2019
By the sound of it, you and your sisters had a terrific day. Good that you chose the Yosemite tour and got Denise as your guide. Thanks for your kind words.
Written November 18, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Andy T
3 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
An absolutely incredible experience! Trish was an amazing guide, lots of interesting and funny facts and tid bits of information about San Francisco and its surrounds. Lots of history and contemporary information. It made the trip there and back fly by. Pit stops were perfectly timed, amount of time at each stop was appropriate given the amount of time we had at the park.
HIGHLY recommend this tour!
HIGHLY recommend this tour!
Written February 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Aaron M
5 contributions
Oct 2022
This company should not be in operation the way they handle crises and treat customers.
Our bus broke down about 45 minutes outside of the park. Our driver, Gino, said this has happened before just a month prior and that the engine just needs to cool down. Approximately fours later and ZERO communication from the driver or the company and it still wasn’t fixed. It was only because the customers took matters into their own hands that we were able to get information about what was happening. It turns out that the it wasn’t the engine that needed cooling down and it felt like we weren’t being told the truth.
We were finally told that we would go back to San Francisco WITHOUT seeing the park on the same bus that wasn’t fixed. It felt extremely unsafe as we coasted down the hills and then crawled up them at 5mph, but the travel director Brad assured us it was safe. He said he would call us in 20 minutes with an update on a replacement bus but did not, and then the replacement bus was not where it said it would be. When we asked Gino for an update he shouted at us. The whole time Gino was extremely nonchalant and unapologetic, talking over people when they asked for answers and initially refusing to call the office, telling us to do it ourselves.
I understand that some things are beyond their control, but the way it was handled showed that they don’t value customers, and this was the second time that this happened within as many months. We were told we would receive a full refund, but only because we pushed for it. If there was any silver lining it’s that all the other travelers were really nice and we were united in our trauma.
Our bus broke down about 45 minutes outside of the park. Our driver, Gino, said this has happened before just a month prior and that the engine just needs to cool down. Approximately fours later and ZERO communication from the driver or the company and it still wasn’t fixed. It was only because the customers took matters into their own hands that we were able to get information about what was happening. It turns out that the it wasn’t the engine that needed cooling down and it felt like we weren’t being told the truth.
We were finally told that we would go back to San Francisco WITHOUT seeing the park on the same bus that wasn’t fixed. It felt extremely unsafe as we coasted down the hills and then crawled up them at 5mph, but the travel director Brad assured us it was safe. He said he would call us in 20 minutes with an update on a replacement bus but did not, and then the replacement bus was not where it said it would be. When we asked Gino for an update he shouted at us. The whole time Gino was extremely nonchalant and unapologetic, talking over people when they asked for answers and initially refusing to call the office, telling us to do it ourselves.
I understand that some things are beyond their control, but the way it was handled showed that they don’t value customers, and this was the second time that this happened within as many months. We were told we would receive a full refund, but only because we pushed for it. If there was any silver lining it’s that all the other travelers were really nice and we were united in our trauma.
Written October 19, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dreamer07112266969
As we responded to this incident in another review, our bus experienced a failure of its turbo charger. Communication during our diagnostics was infrequent since the bus was located in an area with really poor cell service. Ultimately, our staff thought the best and safest course of action was to return to SF. Since our guests did not get what they paid for, we refunded everyone and offered that they take a replacement trip at any time in the future (and did so without be asked). Again, we regret the inconvenience to our guests.
Written October 26, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Dee M
St. Petersburg, FL4 contributions
This tour was one on our bucket list. My husband and I were celebrating our one year wedding anniversary since we couldn't do much of a honeymoon last year due to Covid. We are so so glad we did this tour. And our tour guide, Denise, was an added bonus! Simply put, Denise was top notch!! She is so sweet as a person, so knowledgeable and very passionate and skilled at what she does. We could not have had a better tour guide I don't think. This trip is an all day tour from sun up until sun down. So layer up, wear comfortable closed-toe shoes and pack a bag full of water and healthy snacks. From the beginning of the trip, Denise set the expectations for the day. She introduced herself and advised of safety measures and things we could expect for the trip. She explained the importance of safety and staying on schedule to make the most of the trip so do your best to follow her instruction. She kept us safe the entire length of the trip so trust and have confidence in her. Now for the trip, as we left San Francisco to head to Yosemite, she talked about fun facts and historical sights the majority of the way there. Personally, this helped to distract my mind from the lengthy journey up there. When we arrived to see the sequoias, she explained the rugged trek to walk down to see them. It is not a walk for the faint of heart so be sure you can get back up at an incline from the walk down. I'm not in shape right now and I was able to do it so just pace yourself and take short breaks as needed and drink water. Many people were not able to do it so listen to your body. We saw El Cap, Half Dome, Yosemite Valley and more. Denise gave us ideas on picture taking and helped us take photos too. She didn't have to do that so this was such a bonus. She was interactive with each guest and continuously ensured everyone's safety and involvement. She showed us the beautiful waterfalls as we passed by them and the few we could stop long enough to see. She has many stories about many of them that she shared. She stopped for us to see the mountain climbers and explained how Yosemite has a way of healing people. I didn't understand that until after the experience we had at Yosemite. It is all completely majestic and just so spectacular all around. Every moment was breathtaking and so serene. This is definitely a trip that heals the mind, body and soul. We absolutely loved this trip and would love to do it again and again! Thank you Denise for making this trip one for the books! We will forever have and treasure these memories!! And if we are able to do it again, we hope to have Denise again or someone who can match her skills!!
Written November 12, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GaryAlan2019
I couldn't have said it better. Denise and all of us here at Extranomical appreciate your kind words! Happy anniversary!
Written November 18, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Andy K
Cambridge, UK2 contributions
Jun 2022
It's ambitious to do a day trip to Yosemite, and it's such a beautiful place that you would absolutely want to spend as much time there as you can if you have it. If you have only one day for it though, this tour is a great way to at least see the park.
Booking the tour was pretty painless, and plenty of information was provided to make sure we were picked up at the right time in the right place.
Our tour guide, Dustin, provided a great mix of information, music and humour throughout and balanced it well with time to nap and just take in the scenery. It made the journey seem much shorter than it was! He was also great at keeping everything running on time so we got as much time as possible in the places it mattered. Can't really ask for a better tour guide!
2 hours in the valley itself is really not that long, but the bus stops at a supermarket on the way out so you can pick up lunch and not have to worry about queueing for that in the park itself. Water was also massively in demand - Dustin provided plenty of it, but it's probably smart to bring lots of your own so you don't have to waste time finding it in the valley.
In the valley there's just about time to pop to lower Yosemite falls, enjoy lunch with a spectacular backdrop and do a short loop over the bridges and along the river. It's enough to just take in the spectacle, and combined with stops at Tunnel View and El Capitan you've probably seen most of the big sights. If you're a hiker though you'll be crying that you can't go off on one of the many trails and really indulge in all that Yosemite has to offer.
If I had one niggle about the tour it would be that the 1.5 hour stop at the giant sequoias was a bit of a letdown - it's a long time out of the day and you don't really get to see much given the time it takes to walk down the hill to the grove and back up (if you're quite fit there's a bit of trail to go around at the bottom, but not a huge amount) - and it's time that would probably be better spent in the valley. That said, it's understandable that the tour would want to keep the stops a bit shorter to keep tabs on people and not let them get too far away from the bus and it was still a nice stop! Grateful that it was on the way in rather than the way out though, as that would have been anticlimactic.
Overall, a really great experience and not too ridiculous a thing to do in one day if that's all you have.
Booking the tour was pretty painless, and plenty of information was provided to make sure we were picked up at the right time in the right place.
Our tour guide, Dustin, provided a great mix of information, music and humour throughout and balanced it well with time to nap and just take in the scenery. It made the journey seem much shorter than it was! He was also great at keeping everything running on time so we got as much time as possible in the places it mattered. Can't really ask for a better tour guide!
2 hours in the valley itself is really not that long, but the bus stops at a supermarket on the way out so you can pick up lunch and not have to worry about queueing for that in the park itself. Water was also massively in demand - Dustin provided plenty of it, but it's probably smart to bring lots of your own so you don't have to waste time finding it in the valley.
In the valley there's just about time to pop to lower Yosemite falls, enjoy lunch with a spectacular backdrop and do a short loop over the bridges and along the river. It's enough to just take in the spectacle, and combined with stops at Tunnel View and El Capitan you've probably seen most of the big sights. If you're a hiker though you'll be crying that you can't go off on one of the many trails and really indulge in all that Yosemite has to offer.
If I had one niggle about the tour it would be that the 1.5 hour stop at the giant sequoias was a bit of a letdown - it's a long time out of the day and you don't really get to see much given the time it takes to walk down the hill to the grove and back up (if you're quite fit there's a bit of trail to go around at the bottom, but not a huge amount) - and it's time that would probably be better spent in the valley. That said, it's understandable that the tour would want to keep the stops a bit shorter to keep tabs on people and not let them get too far away from the bus and it was still a nice stop! Grateful that it was on the way in rather than the way out though, as that would have been anticlimactic.
Overall, a really great experience and not too ridiculous a thing to do in one day if that's all you have.
Written July 10, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Extranomical
Thanks for taking the time to share so much about your experience on our Yosemite tour. We'll let Dustin know you had a great time! Let's do it again soon.
Written July 11, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Courtney F
1 contribution
Jul 2021 • Family
Roman was an absolutely fantastic tour guide! He was very kind, humorous, and thoughtful. He made multiple extra stops because we were doing good on time and didn’t hit traffic. He helped us take prime pictures as well. The tour bus was comfortable and we felt like we had plenty of time for exploring on our own. You are able to keep belongings on the bus securely, so if you’re debating on a blanket or pillow for comfort, do it. Overall 10/10!
Written July 30, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GaryAlan2019
Roman makes this wonderful 1-day trip to Yosemite all that much better. Glad you enjoyed it!
Written August 3, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Rachael C
14 contributions
Dec 2022 • Couples
Rob was our tour guide AND driver for one 1 day tour from San Francisco. Rob was extremely knowledgeable and his passion and love for Yosemite really shone through. He knew so many facts about San Fran to share and we loved hearing it!
Because we went in winter it’s really difficult to pick the good days with high visibility, unlucky for us it was rainy and foggy yesterday but Rob was extremely accommodating (not easy for a bus full of people!) and took us to all the good spots to take photos just in the nick of time before the fog came through.
If you’re heading to Yosemite in winter, wear layers and wear shoes with grip. Get your food from Safeway (first pit stop on the trip) so you’re not wasting time lining up in Yosemite for expensive food (tip from Rob!).
Because it was raining Rob took us all back to our hotels instead of the meeting points. He didn’t have to, but he did it. Ask for Rob when booking in your Yosemite tour with Extranomical Tours.
Because we went in winter it’s really difficult to pick the good days with high visibility, unlucky for us it was rainy and foggy yesterday but Rob was extremely accommodating (not easy for a bus full of people!) and took us to all the good spots to take photos just in the nick of time before the fog came through.
If you’re heading to Yosemite in winter, wear layers and wear shoes with grip. Get your food from Safeway (first pit stop on the trip) so you’re not wasting time lining up in Yosemite for expensive food (tip from Rob!).
Because it was raining Rob took us all back to our hotels instead of the meeting points. He didn’t have to, but he did it. Ask for Rob when booking in your Yosemite tour with Extranomical Tours.
Written December 30, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dreamer07112266969
Thanks for all the kind words about Rob. He loves showing up Yosemite National Park. So, so glad you could join us. Come back, soon!
Written January 16, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
AwesomeLo_Lo02
Cary, NC6 contributions
Around what time does the bus return to the departure point?
Jeroen
Utrecht, The Netherlands3 contributions
We were back around 9pm. It depends on the traffic though, but typically around 9 or 10pm from what I understood
Hi, Can I get on the bus to Yosemite & return on another bus a few days later?
Richard
kathy m
New Hartford, NY281 contributions
You might be able to arrange with a tour operator privately. No tours advertise that as an option though.
Madelyne M
13 contributions
I’m staying with a friend, which hotel can I meet others at for pick up?
CeKay1
3 contributions
The main pick-up location is Hilton San Francisco Union Square
Hi, is there any tour for Yosemite park starting from the park itself and not from San Francisco?
Will we be able to stop at the Yosemite National Park sign to take a pic??
artieanderson
Lufkin, TX47 contributions
I don't recall trying to do that photo op but there were many others on the tour that were beautiful.
Malika
Almaty, Kazakhstan3 contributions
Hi!
I am planning my trip to Yosemite in September 2022, so Im interested in booking this trip instead of driving on my own.
However, I read reviews and got a bit confused - why do some groups get to see Giant Sequoias and others just don't?
I figured it depened on the weather, so could you please advise if the weather in September usually let travelers visit Giant Sequoias? It's a real game changer for me.
Thank you!
Anne
Fairfax, VA
Where does the tour bus usually stop for meals? Does the larger tour bus for 41 people have a bathroom on the bus?
Angela
Canton, MI17 contributions
No bathroom on the bus. It stops about halfway into the drive. At that exit is a supermarket and several fast food/sit down restaurants where you can get your food to go. You just have to walk across the street since the drop off is at the market.
Lim Kajey
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
What time will arrive to San Francisco after the trip? I have flight at 9 PM I'm not sure i can make it or not.
artieanderson
Lufkin, TX47 contributions
No way you can make that flight. We didn't get back to the bridge until almost 9pm.
11/15(月)にヨセミテ国立公園日帰りツアーを1名申し込みたいのですが、申し込むツアーがどれも最少執行人数に達せずキャンセルされます。サンフランシスコに20:30頃解散予定のもので明日決行するヨセミテ日帰りツアーのリストをご提示願えないでしょうか。宜しくお願いします。
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