Small Group Yosemite and Giant Sequoias Day Trip from San Francisco
Recommended by 98% of travelers
San Francisco, USA
- 14 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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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. 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 Fall, and more.
- Walk under ancient sequoia trees and hike Yosemite National Park during free time
- Handy hotel pickup and drop-off included by minibus
- Small-group tour limited to 15 passengers ensures personalized feel
- This tour makes exploring beyond city limits seamless
What's Included
- National Park fees for US Residents
- All activities
- Hotel/port pickup and drop-off (from select hotels in San Francisco)
- Local taxes
- Food and drinks
- Gratuities
- No Pick-up/Drop-off from residential addresses or hotels outside of San Francisco
- Government Fees$100.00 per person
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Pickup details
Hotel pickup time in the following zones: Fisherman's Wharf/Lombard Street Corridor: 5:15 am - 5:30 am Union Square/SOMA: 5:15 am - 5:30 am
Operating hours.5:30 am
Itinerary
After pickup from selected hotels in San Francisco, board a comfortable minibus for the drive to Yosemite National Park.
Entering the national park, 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, 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-Oakland Bay Bridge (Pass By)
San Joaquin Valley (Pass By)
1
Tunnel View
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
Merced River (Pass By)
2
Yosemite Valley
2 hours • Admission Ticket Included
3
Half Dome
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
4
Yosemite Falls
1 hour • Admission Ticket Included
5
El Capitan
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
6
Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
7
Bridalveil Fall
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Infant seats available
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Car seat required for children 8 years old and under; not provided
- 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.
- There is a possibility that the Giant Sequoia hike will not be available due to winter weather conditions.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
KARIN_G
Can't recommend this enough! This is the best way to see a lot of Yosemite and the Sequoias when you only have one day! Both were stunningly gorgeous! Our guide, Trevor, was amazing. He clearly loves Yosemite and the Sequoias and was very good at sharing his vast knowledge and some really cool videos of the history of climbing El Capitan with us. He was so friendly and helpful and interesting!
Reviews
4.9
based on 3,742 reviews
Dennis_K, Apr 2026
Long day, but it was an awesome experience. Highly recommended for those who are on a tight schedule.
Yash_G, Apr 2026
It was a great tour and Peter was an excellent guide. We had a lot of fun and the views were breathtaking!
Deneen_T, Apr 2026
Peter was a great tour guide that took us to the best places in the park. It’s a long day but worth it!
Donald_L, Apr 2026
Viktor is an excellent tour guide for a wonderful day at Yosemite. Great tour experience and excellent commentary.
Thomas_R, Apr 2026
A trip to Yosemite is a must when visiting San Francisco. The breathtaking beauty of the national park alone makes the long journey there and back completely worthwhile.
However, taking the trip with Derek from Best Tours truly makes all the difference. Derek is attentive to the needs of the group and takes the time to share unique historical insights about Yosemite, as well as guide you to some of the park’s quieter corners.
He is also very considerate of individual preferences within the group, ensuring that everyone gets the best possible Yosemite experience.
I would absolutely recommend taking a tour with Derek to Yosemite – it will exceed your expectations.
justinkontny, Mar 2026
Great way to hit the highlights of Yosemite with kids with limited planning. Derek our guide was great - knowledgeable, funny, and punctual!
Travis_E, Mar 2026
We had a great time. Our guide - Peter from Best Bay Tours - was excellent. He had a lot of information and knowledge to share about the park as well as the things we passed along the way to get there.
Our son spiked a fever early in the trip, and Peter was very helpful and compassionate to help us get him turned back around.
The park was amazing, beautiful sites everywhere. The tour was definitely curated to make sure we saw all of the best sites.
Only point of opportunity was that, because we had so many sites to see, sometimes the stops were a bit brief. Looking back I think it would have been better to cut out 1-2 of the stops and be able to spend another 10-15 minutes are several of the stops.
Fran_H, Mar 2026
We left from SanFrancisco. The ride was very comfortable the bus was a smaller passenger so we all got to know each other.
Our guide Victor was very informative and entertaining.
Alex_Y, Mar 2026
Kurt is the best! Fun, energetic, and never runs out of jokes. The tour itself was fantastic, with beautiful scenic views and picturesque landscapes, and there was also time to rest and explore. I would highly recommend this tour and Kurt if you are in San Francisco and want to visit Yosemite. It will save you lots of time and hassle, and you get to see all the highlights!
Amanda_T, Mar 2026
This was an amazing tour. Our guide Victor was awesome! Fun & knowledgeable. This is one of the most beautiful places in the world! Highly recommend visiting with this small group tour. Breathtaking places to ser and experience.
KARIN_G, Mar 2026
Can't recommend this enough! This is the best way to see a lot of Yosemite and the Sequoias when you only have one day! Both were stunningly gorgeous! Our guide, Trevor, was amazing. He clearly loves Yosemite and the Sequoias and was very good at sharing his vast knowledge and some really cool videos of the history of climbing El Capitan with us. He was so friendly and helpful and interesting!
Arkadeep_K, Mar 2026
The guide Viktor was fun and very informative. The itenrrary was perfectly timed for a day trip. Enjoyed a lot
Robert_T, Mar 2026
Excellent trip well worth it getting up early for.Excellent communication from the tour company and an excellent rep Trevor who was brilliant
SASCHA_H, Mar 2026
Early morning start as drive from San Francisco to Yosemite Valley took about 5-6 hours accounting for traffic and necessary breaks like breakfast and bathroom use.
The tour guide, Viktor, was excellent. His knowledge of the area mixed with his personal experiences kept the tone and mood of the day lighthearted, enjoyable, and inclusive. Viktor’s focus was always on giving us the best experience possible for things within his control.
Yosemite itself and the history of its coming to national attention is very interesting and beautiful. We had about one hour and 40 minutes to explore the area around the Yosemite valley lodge area. On our way out of the valley, we stopped by a field to observe El Capitan.
Viktor took the time to bring his own spotting scope to let us see a climber ascending El Capitan and explain some of the equipment required to climb.
The giant sequoias was a bit of a disappointment as there were literally about a handful found when I was expecting a forest-full of them. The walk was enjoyable and not too difficult.
Overall, prepare for a long day that was well managed by our tour guide, Victor.
Helga_F, Mar 2026
Derek was a great tour guide. Very knowledgeable and fun. Yosemite is a must see. We had beautiful weather and saw few climbers. It was awesome
Amy_S, Mar 2026
Prepare for a long day, but the time actually goes by quickly. Our guide, Victor, took excellent care of us from start to finish. He was kind, knowledgeable, and had a great energy. He adjusted the tour and took extra time when the group was interested in watching the climbers on El Capitan. He also made time for us to stop and take photos at the Yosemite sign.
The tour surpassed my expectations and is one of my favorites from Viator. I have used Viator all over the world, so this is high praise. I highly recommend visiting one of our great national treasures through this tour. It was a fabulous day.
surya_p, Mar 2026
Calder delivered an outstanding experience from start to finish. Not only was the tour itself excellent, but he also went above and beyond in every way. He explained the journey clearly, shared extra insights, and showed genuine enthusiasm for nature and plants, which made the experience even more engaging and memorable.
On top of that, I accidentally left my phone and bag on his bus, and he personally made the effort to return everything to me quickly and safely. Truly exceptional service, professionalism, and kindness. Highly recommended!
Dan_A, Mar 2026
Derek was such great guide. Not only did he tell us interesting facts and history about the park, but also facts and history of the areas we were driving through. He also played a Yosemite documentary during the drive which was very entertaining and took the edge off the long trip. Once in the park we had plenty of time to take in the sites and each stop and we never once felt rushed. Derek was very gracious about helping take pictures for everyone. Also, while viewing climbers on his spotting scopes at El Capitan, he allowed other bystanders to take a look as well. On the drive back, when we re-entered the city at sunset, he started a San Francisco themed playlist which was the perfect way to end the tour. Thanks again Derek.
-Dan & Jennie
Karen_S, Mar 2026
This outing is 100% worth it! Our tour guide, Derek, was friendly, knowledgeable, engaging, and his communication before and during the event were excellent. He gets bonus points for curating a sound track that went beautifully with our reentry to the city in the evening.
Hilda_R, Mar 2026
Very organized an full of adventures time.
Thx for our guide Derek.
Love it. He knows all the best spot in YOSEMITE.
We hope we could be in San Francisco
Analie_H, Mar 2026
This was an amazing experience. Our bus/van was comfortable and clean. We were so happy there was a cooler we can use for our drinks and cold cuts and that we were able to stop at the grocery store halfway through. Trevor was a wealth of knowledge and remembered every one’s name. We loved watching the rock climbing videos. It really put into perspective how massive El Capitan is and how amazing these super athletes are. I highly recommend this tour and Trevor.
Shannon_B, Mar 2026
Trevor not only was our driver, but he also gave a very informative tour. We packed in a lot of sites and stops to provide a Yosemite sampler in the short amount of time we had in CA. Trevor made sure we all stayed hydrated and comfortable along the way. We’d highly recommend Trevor and this company.
Alejandro_G, Mar 2026
It was very interesting. Our tour guide was very nice and very thoughtful. He didnt just talk to talk, he talked fun facts and facts. He said things that neither me or my family knew. We stopped at a market to eat breakfast and we also stopped to get snacks on our way back. He played music and played very interesting movies. He was genuinley the best tour guide we have ever had and he was fun to be arund. He took our photos and showed us good places to take photos. If i was allowed to give our tour guide more than five stars, i would. 5 stars for sure.
Stacie_C, Mar 2026
Viktor was a fantastic tour guide, full of knowledge of Yosemite and the San Francisco area. He reached out the day before our trip to let us know what to bring and what to expect. He made the trip fun, played documentaries on Yosemite on the van during drive, downtime which was relaxing. He helped us take unbelievable pictures in Yosemite as well. It is a long day, we were picked up at 530am and returned at 9pm but we'll worth it! Loved that we were a small group of 13.
Partha_M, Mar 2026
Guide was really thorough and helpful. On time pick up and drop off. Gave us good recommendations too.
Jorge_T, Mar 2026
Had a great time doing the day trip tour to Yosemite, waking up earlier than ever and taking this tour was worth it. Steven was our guide, and he was very atttentive, caring and fun, and a very skilled driver, he really knows everything about all the highlights we visited, had great playlists which made the views more enjoyable.
We Enjoyed the ride to Yosemite, spend the time watching some Yosemite documentaries on the way to the Park, it was really fun, the views were breath taking. I thought about doing this tour driving but it would have made things more difficult. This was my ideal way of getting to know Yosemite and watching the highlights. It was a very small group tour so we did have time to do everything as scheduled, really good manage of time. The minivan was in really good conditions and comfortable.
Thanks a lot
Tim_S, Mar 2026
Brian was very knowledgeable of the park, if you only have a day to visit this tour covers all the highlights.
Veronica_R, Mar 2026
We had the pleasure of touring with Brian S; I enjoyed how he shared his knowledge and you can tell how passionate he is about Yosemite. I was worried we wouldn't fit enough in one day but the agenda is well planned and we hit all the highlights of the park. Highly recommend this trip and even better if you get to go with Brian S! My teenage kids said it was their favorite day of our SF trip and I have to agree.
Luiz_H, Mar 2026
Brian S. was our driver and could not be better. Friendly, knowledgeble, explained a lot about the whole Yosemite besides the comfort on the van, the movies. Thanks, memorable moments.
Kristina_E, Mar 2026
This tour was amazing. A highlight to our trip. Our tour guide Steve was great. He contacted us the day before to make sure details were correct and the morning of to inform of slight delay. We had a stop half way up and back for bathroom and small food break. Made sure we had enough time at each spot but kept us moving so we didnt miss a thing. Had a lot of extra info to pass along and a video of Yosemite to keep us busy.
I highly recommend this tour if you haven't been to Yosemite. I cant wait to go and stay there on a future trip.
From $239.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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