Monterey, Carmel and Pacific Coast Explorer from San Francisco
San Francisco, USA
- 11 to 12 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Explore our promoted experiences
Overview
See Monterey, Carmel, and the Pacific Coast Highway without the hassle of renting a car during this full-day tour from San Francisco. Wind down the coast through Pebble Beach, Pacific Grove, 17-Mile Drive, and Carmel-by-the-Sea. Pickup and drop-off from either Union Square or Fisherman's Wharf are included for an easy day of exploring.
- Explore California's coast on a day trip from San Francisco
- See Monterey's renowned Cannery Row
- Enjoy spectacular views on the 17-Mile Drive
- Pick up at two convenient locations: Fisherman’s Wharf and Union Square area.
What's Included
- Expert guide and commentary
- Pickup and drop-off at a convenient location in Union Square and Fisherman's Wharf
- Free Wifi on vehicle
- 17-Mile Drive admission fee
- Guide Gratuities
- Meals
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting points
Select a meeting point
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Operating hours.7:30 am
Itinerary
Be ready for pickup at your San Francisco hotel (downtown or Fisherman's Wharf area) for a morning departure.
Settle back in your seat in the comfortable tour vehicle as it winds down scenic CA Highway 1, winding along the coast (fog permitting). Watch the blue expanse of the ocean beyond the beaches and make a brief stop to stretch your legs in Davonport before arriving at Monterey's famous Cannery Row. Learn about the area's significance as a hot spot for Pacific coast biodiversity and its history as a fishing and whaling town. Stroll around the area and find a spot for a seafood lunch (own expense). Or, opt to bring your own lunch and instead squeeze in a trip to the Monterey Bay Aquarium (ticket not included).
Depart after lunchtime, driving through Pacific Grove and down the famous 17-Mile Drive, lined on each side by coastline and multi-million-dollar estates. Snap photos of the Lone Cypress, impossibly growing off the edge of a cliff. Stop at Pebble Beach Village to visit the Pro Shop and see the 18th green.
Arrive in Carmel-by-the-Sea and choose to spend time walking the beach or exploring the shops and restaurants on Ocean Avenue. After some time in Carmel, hop back on the bus and relax on the ride back to San Francisco.
Settle back in your seat in the comfortable tour vehicle as it winds down scenic CA Highway 1, winding along the coast (fog permitting). Watch the blue expanse of the ocean beyond the beaches and make a brief stop to stretch your legs in Davonport before arriving at Monterey's famous Cannery Row. Learn about the area's significance as a hot spot for Pacific coast biodiversity and its history as a fishing and whaling town. Stroll around the area and find a spot for a seafood lunch (own expense). Or, opt to bring your own lunch and instead squeeze in a trip to the Monterey Bay Aquarium (ticket not included).
Depart after lunchtime, driving through Pacific Grove and down the famous 17-Mile Drive, lined on each side by coastline and multi-million-dollar estates. Snap photos of the Lone Cypress, impossibly growing off the edge of a cliff. Stop at Pebble Beach Village to visit the Pro Shop and see the 18th green.
Arrive in Carmel-by-the-Sea and choose to spend time walking the beach or exploring the shops and restaurants on Ocean Avenue. After some time in Carmel, hop back on the bus and relax on the ride back to San Francisco.
1
Monterey Bay
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
2
Monterey Bay Aquarium
1 hour • Admission Ticket Not Included
3
Cannery Row
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
4
17-Mile Drive
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
Pebble Beach Golf Links (Pass By)
5
Lone Cypress
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
6
Carmel by the sea
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
Bird Rock Vista Point (Pass By)
Carmel Beach Boardwalk (Pass By)
7
Cypress Point Lookout
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Lovers Point (Pass By)
Monterey Visitor Center (Pass By)
Seal Rock Creek beach (Pass By)
Sunset Point Overlook (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- Meals are not included but available for purchase throughout the day.
- Exact destinations & itinerary may differ due to weather, road conditions, and the guide's discretion.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 50 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Sharon_S
Don was our guide and we enjoyed his narrative. The scenery from San Francisco to Monterrey to Carmel and back was fabulous!!
Reviews
4.2
based on 78 reviews
Jackie, Nov 2025
Very poor quality transport and disappointing experience. A lot of time on an uncomfortable min bus with little reward. Too many unnecessary stops to see similar views of the ocean. Over 2.5 hour stop in Monterey where there was nothing to do if you don’t want to go to the aquarium. Less than 1 hour stay in Carmel which would have been a much nicer destination to look around and shop. Driver who talked too much nonsense and drove too fast and asked for $20 per person tip. Overall extremely disappointing and poor value for money.
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thank you for sharing your feedback, and I’m very sorry your tour did not meet expectations. I want to clarify that all the stops made—including the viewpoints, Monterey, and Carmel—are part of the itinerary posted on our website, but we understand your concerns about how the time was allocated and will review this internally.
We also take your comments about the driver’s behavior very seriously, especially regarding the mention of a specific tip amount. We are currently investigating this to ensure it’s addressed properly.
If you’d like to discuss this further, please feel free to reach out to us at contact@extranomical.com
or give us a call at +1-415-357-0700. Thank you again for bringing this to our attention.
Brian_M, Nov 2025
Lovely wholesome experience… stops in Monterrey and Carmel were lovely!! We loved the Pigeon Point and Pebble Beach!!
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Thank you for sharing this! We're so glad to hear you had such a lovely and wholesome experience. It’s great that Monterey, Carmel, Pigeon Point, and Pebble Beach all made an impression — they’re truly special stops.
We appreciate you joining the tour and hope to welcome you back for more coastal views soon!
Derrick_R, Aug 2025
Nice all day trip. Hits all the hot spots with enough time to enjoy them. Will surely do it again. AA++
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you for the great review! We’re glad you enjoyed the full-day tour and the time at each spot. We look forward to having you join us again!
Liza_C, Aug 2025
Quite a long journey for a day trip... We had Don, as our driver and tour guide. He is knowledgeable, polite and precise. I was most entralled by Carmel, a quaint place full of loveliness and dogs 😍 Very pretty and visually aesthetics. Love to visit again 🥰 The journey back to San Francisco, was bumpy and it's no feat for any driver. But, Don aced it and we were safely back in San Francisco, for our dinner 😊👍
The downsides : There were two women (mother and daughter), who were selfishly rude by making the rest of the tour wait for them - twice, and a mature narcissist male, who whined endlessly, for attention and too much of a high horse, in particular... Other than these nuisances, it was an enjoyable day trip by the Californian Coastline 😘👌
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you for sharing your detailed feedback! We’re glad to hear you enjoyed the beautiful Carmel and appreciated Don’s knowledge and safe driving on a challenging route. Sorry to hear about the disruptions caused by other guests — we appreciate your understanding and hope these didn’t overshadow your overall experience along the stunning Californian coastline.
Sharon_S, Jul 2025
Don was our guide and we enjoyed his narrative. The scenery from San Francisco to Monterrey to Carmel and back was fabulous!!
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you for the lovely review! We're so glad you enjoyed the beautiful scenery and Don’s engaging narration throughout the trip. It’s a gorgeous route, and we’re happy you could experience it with us!
Rob_B, Apr 2025
Plenty of stops and super sights. Recommend for coast lovers and folks new to California. Golf fans will love Pebble beach
Response from Host, Apr 2025
Thank you for your feedback! We’re thrilled to hear you enjoyed the stops and sights along the way. Pebble Beach is indeed a highlight for golf fans! We appreciate the recommendation and hope you had a fantastic time exploring California.
Marlene_H, Mar 2025
Good trip to see the scenery and cities along the coast south of SF.
Driver/guide not willing to answer questions and did not have control of the number of people on the tour. Driver left one man at Monterey, but turned around to pick him up again since other passengers insisted he was on the bus.
Driver was driving very fast in the left lane (fast lane) all the way back from Monterey (2,5h drive in dark and rain). This felt very unsafe. We would not take this tour again due to the insane driving.
The driver/guide shall be more responsible and have full control of his passengers and make sure they are on the bus. He shall also drive safe rather than fast, considering he is responsible for the life of 20 passengers. Tour company to take action to make this trip a safe experience.
Response from Host, Mar 2025
Good trip to see the scenery and cities along the coast south of SF.
Driver/guide not willing to answer questions and did not have control of the number of people on the tour. Driver left one man at Monterey, but turned around to pick him up again since other passengers insisted he was on the bus.
Driver was driving very fast in the left lane (fast lane) all the way back from Monterey (2,5h drive in dark and rain). This felt very unsafe. We would not take this tour again due to the insane driving.
The driver/guide shall be more responsible and have full control of his passengers and make sure they are on the bus. He shall also drive safe rather than fast, considering he is responsible for the life of 20 passengers. Tour company to take action to make this trip a safe experience.
Gary_M, Nov 2024
Our guide Danny was excellent and was very knowledgeable and he shared lots of information about San Francisco and the surrounding areas. The tour made lots of stops for pictures and places to eat and was very well organized! We would highly recommend this adventure!!
Response from Host, Nov 2024
Thank you for the wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that you had such a great experience with Danny. His knowledge and passion for the area truly make the tour special. We're glad you enjoyed the stops and the overall organization of the trip. We appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you again soon!
Margaret_K, Sep 2024
I would highly recommend this tour for the stunning views along the coast. Whale city bakery in Davenport has delicious coffee and pastries and his a good rest stop. Monterey is well worth a visit and has good places to eat. The 17 mile drive is very scenic and I enjoyed the stop at pebble beach even though I am not a golfer. Carmel is a beautiful town with a nice beach and we walked down to it and really enjoyed it despite the hill climb on the way back. George was our driver and guide he was very professional, courteous, friendly and helpful and we really enjoyed the tour.
Caron_S, Aug 2024
The coastline is beautiful and the small towns of Carmel and Monterey are exquisite. The tour guide was knowledgeable and funny.
Joey_S, Aug 2024
Our day-long tour is a breeze and very enjoyable with Danilo. He was very engaging as we go along the route and he drives like a pro; safely and smoothly. I would definitely recommend this tour to my friends and hopefully they will have Danilo as their guide/driver
Teresa_P, Jun 2024
This was a beautiful and relaxing trip. Based on the itinerary, we should have had 3 hours in Monterey but were only given 2.5 hours but our tour guide gave us a few extra stops and photo ops with that extra time. We went to the Aquarium and managed to see the highlights. Very nice day!
Maritza_L, Mar 2024
Our bus driver/ tour guide was excellent very knowledgeable of all the different areas
Highly recommended this tour
Response from Host, Mar 2024
Thanks kindly for the recommendation. Yosemite is beautiful right now and we're so glad you got to experience it.
Leonard_D, Oct 2023
Our guide, Thomas, was very good. He was extremely knowledgeable, and had a nice manner of delivering information. Unlike some guides we have had, he did not talk constantly. He timed his delivery of information very, very well.
Response from Host, Oct 2023
Thanks for the great feedback. Please tour with us again soon!
Pete_S, Oct 2023
Bus oversold by 3 seats. 30 min late leaving Fisherman’s Wharf. Almost no information or commentary provided by the host/tour guide who seemed to struggle with putting sentences together and frequently nodded off to sleep. Very sad to see the aged guide struggling in front of a bus load of paying tourists. To make matters worse, we had to wait 15 minutes for him to finish his dinner before leaving Carmel as he’d gotten his times confused. The one redeeming feature of the day was driver Jack who tried valiantly to put a little humour into the tour at the various stops.
Response from Host, Oct 2023
We are sorry you were disappointed by the tour delivery. Please contact our Guest Services team about our Satisfaction Guarantee. We will make thing right.
Miriam_P, Aug 2023
Driving along the 17 miles to Carmel, beautiful view so calm and tranquil. The driver could be a little more interesting when he speaks.
Kaye_B, Jul 2023
Scenic drive and the tour guide/ driver is excellent, professional and courteous. It was an enjoyable day.
Tina_B, Apr 2023
This was a beautiful trip to Monterey and Carmel. It was a full day from 0730a-8pm. There were several stops along the way and the driver was courteous and professional. Definately worth it!
Lawrence_A, Jun 2022
George is well educated , fun and great tour guide , and safe driver for us ( the bus has its own toilet )
Go with this tour, Nice Monterey Bay area to look around, yummy food, awesome aquarium, 17 Miles scenic road trip and Cute Carmel 😍 ...
Maria_N, Jun 2022
Enjoyed visiting all important cities and places of interest included in your. Tour guide was very informative and kind.
Andre_W, May 2022
Excellent tour. Danny was a good driver as well as an excellent tour guide. The coastal drive was beautiful.
Response from Host, May 2022
Thanks for your review. Come again soon!
Migdalia_A, Jul 2021
Antonio was the best guide you can ask for. Highly recommended. We had the best time and the views we saw were priceless.
Kathryn_M, Jun 2021
Randall was our driver and did a great job! We had a wonderful time exploring half moon bay in Monterey, pebble beach, and Carmel by the sea!
ROBERT_K, Nov 2019
We were picked up at our hotel promptly at 8 am by Tower Tours and taken to their main office where we were handed over to another tour company (Extranomical Tours) and relegated to a small and cramped 13 seat van (every seat occupied).The van was noisy (windows constantly rattling, rather small and uncomfortable seating and difficult to see the vistas as van was so low - nothing like a highway coach). We were almost tempted to cancel the tour on the spot when we saw the van. Not a pleasant experience and we were very disappointed and upset with the mode of transportation. I note in the Tower Tours brochure where it states that on "Mondays, Wednesday and Saturdays this tour is operated by Tower Tours. Additional days operated by a partner company". Our tour was on Saturday, Nov 2 and should have been operated by Tower Tours. If we were in a highway coach (like all of the other tours that morning) our experience would have been much more enjoyable.The contents of the tour were fine and the driver/guide Constantine was very good. Your thoughts?
Robert Kane
Kane Travel Agency
506-653-0948
Lesley_A, Oct 2019
Patrick was the best tour guide - very friendly with lots of interesting facts as we toured through all the scheduled stops. Our only suggestion - more time in Carmel and less time in Monterey. Also, the Tower Tours desk was not staffed and we had to ask the hotel concierge how we go about finding our bus and then we had to travel to the main office to pick up our tickets and get on our designated bus for our tour. Other than that it was one of the highlights of our trip. Thank you!!
Response from Host, Oct 2019
Thanks for letting us know you had a great time. We'll consider your suggestion of spending more time in Carmel by the Sea. Let's do it again soon!
Dianne_R, Oct 2019
This trip to Carmel and Monterey was magnificent. The drive was pleasant and lots to see along the way. Our tour guide, Danilo was informative, funny and well organised. He was also a very safe driver and really took pride in showing us this gorgeous area of California. At each stop, he did a head count to make sure we were all on board. It was a full day and we saw lots. There was plenty of time to see the Aquarium at Monterey, have lunch and a stroll down the main street. Well worth the trip and I would highly recommend this tour.
Response from Host, Oct 2019
Isn't the Monterey Bay Aquarium great. Glad you got to experience it. Travel home safely.
Max_J, Jul 2019
The tour was fabulous! Lots to see and do. Beautiful scenery! Great places to eat and would encourage others to do this tour
ram_s, Jun 2019
The driver was excellent and I would rate them 5 stars only for this part of the trip. the booking and office staff should be rated 1 or a 0. My husband and I took this trip on June 17, 2019. we are both senior citizens and did not go to the Aquarium. the Tower Tours brochure says $89. but we paid $105 for each instead of $89 for each. We have e mails from Tower Tour, Extranomical Tours and Viator. No clue how they are connected, but each one tells me to go to the other to clarify my fee. Tower said they only got our name nd phone number and no other details. We have NO CLUE who Tower Tours is until we pay the $$ and get confirmation. their name is nowhere on the booking website. Only Viator. I have sent e mail to support@viator. No response yet.
Response from Host, Jun 2019
Sorry for the confusion. Let's try to sort this out. You booked and paid for your Monterey tour with our partner Viator. We will notify them today that you felt you were overcharged and we will honor any agreement that you reach with them. You may also call our Guest Services office today (415.357.0700) and we'll explain the process.
Sheryl_R, Apr 2018
We booked this trip with much anticipation. I have always wanted to drive the PCH and see the sights there. There were four of us on this trip and three other groups joined us. Total people touring was 12. Of the four parties touring, all but one had some issues before the tour ever began. We were the first to board and we noted the van was not handicapped accessible. We had called the tour provider Extranomical Tours prior to booking to confirm that it would be and that there would be a space to store the scooter one of our party uses. We called again two days before the tour to check. Both times we were assured we were on a handicapped bus and there would be adequate storage space. On the day of the tour, the driver refused to allow the scooter to be boarded, saying no one had told him, and we had a full bus. He refused to call the tour provider to try to accommodate us and his attitude was Do it my way or get off. He actually repeated over and over Nothing I can do. Another party on the bus had requested a translator and none was provided. Same response from the driver. A third group had been told and had written confirmation of a specified time and location, but he came very close to leaving them when he was at the appointed place 15 minutes early. He berated them as they boarded.
Once on the road, the PA system I. The bus was not working properly and the people in the back could not hear. He was rude to those passengers, asking if they had a hearing problem. They did not. When he finally conceded the speakers on the bus were not working, he refused to talk louder. He stated, Nothing I can do about it repeatedly.
It was apparent to all on board that he was rushed and impatient with everyone. He drove 75-80 miles an hour, even though it was a rainy day. He hurried people and lectured them at each stop. He took several , shortcuts, and never gave enough time for us to explore in Monterrey or Carmel. Originally, he said we would have about 2 hours in Monterrey, but we only had about an hour and 15 minutes, He parked far away from the eating establishments on Cannery Row, and refused to let us out by them. By the time we walked our mobility impaired friend down the street, we didnt have enough time to eat and get back to the bus. He shrugged when we told him. At the Same stop, he chased a family down and fussed at them for going to the bathroom as he was ready to leave. He rushed and lectured constantly, urging people to hurry.
His commentary on the sights was repetitive and boring. He seemed to take no joy in his subject as the best tour operators do. As stated,
Much of what he said could not be heard by half of the passengers.
On the actual coast, not including Monterrey and Carmel, we only stopped twice: Once at a small restaurant for a bathroom break, and once at Bird Rock. The rest of the PCH went by fast, given his speed.
Of the whole trip, we were on the coast for less than half the time. The rest of the time, we were inland among farming communities, or on the freeway coming home. The trip lasted about 9-10 hours advertised at the time we booked as 12 hours, and we spent 2 hours in near standstill traffic on the way home and in SF dropping people off.
The scenery was beautiful, just wish I could have really enjoyed it.
Rebecca E, Mar 2018
Great Scenery all along the way! Ocean views were amazing! Monterey Cannery Row was great for lunch and shopping. Carmel is such a quaint, lovely town to take a stroll, while enjoying the shops and eateries.
From $139.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
Compare Similar Experiences
Current
Monterey, Carmel and Pacific Coast Explorer from San Francisco
78
12 hours
Free Cancellation
From
$139.00
Customers Who Bought This Tour Also Bought
Explore Similar Things to Do
- City Tours
- Full-day Tours
- Shopping Tours
- Bus Tours
- Tours, Sightseeing & Cruises
- Day Trips
- Private and Luxury
- Fashion Shows
- Private Sightseeing Tours
- San Francisco
- Bus Tours - Sausalito
- City Tours - Oakland
- Full-day Tours - Oakland
- Bus Tours - Oakland
- City Tours - Napa & Sonoma
- Full-day Tours - Napa & Sonoma
- Shopping Tours - Napa & Sonoma
- Bus Tours - Napa & Sonoma
Attractions in San Francisco, USA
- Twin Peaks Tours & Tickets
- Japanese Tea Garden Tours & Tickets
- Grace Cathedral Tours & Tickets
- Ferry Plaza Farmers Market Tours & Tickets
- San Francisco International Airport (SFO) Tours & Tickets
- San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park Tours & Tickets
- Mission Dolores Park Tours & Tickets
- Sausalito Vista Point Tours & Tickets
- Exploratorium Tours & Tickets
- Asian Art Museum Tours & Tickets
- Embarcadero Tours & Tickets
- Marin County Tours & Tickets