Central Valley, California

Day Trips

Our most recommended Central Valley, California Day Trips

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  1. Yosemite Valley, Giant Sequoias and Glacier Point Tour

  Discover the best that Yosemite National Park has to offer by joining a small-group tour led by a knowledgeable tour guide. Depart from either El Portal on highway 140 or Oakhurst on highway 41 and embark on a tour that showcases the awe-inspiring landmarks of Yosemite. Sit back and relax as your tour guide drives you towards Yosemite National Park. Arrive at Tunnel View to witness the most famous viewpoint in Yosemite Valley, El Capital, and Half Dome. Then, go towards Glacier Point where you’ll see breathtaking views of Half Dome, Vernal Falls, Nevada Falls, and more. Head back towards Yosemite Valley and make a photo stop at Yosemite Falls. Around noon, stop at the peaceful Cathedral Beach where you’ll get to enjoy an included boxed lunch. After, get ready to do more exploring. Head towards the Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias where you will spend 2 hours hiking the 2.5 miles (4 k...

  Our Guide Phil was very knowledgeable and made the day very enjoyable. He told us lots of history and fun facts that we did not know. Took us to the most beautiful places in Yosemite and was right there to cheer us on when the hike got a little rough.

  Reviewed by Anonymous, 9/22/2021
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  2. Yosemite National Park: Valley Orientation Tour

  Witness the stunning beauty of Yosemite National Park by joining an eco-friendly, small group guided transportation. Choose between three convenient pickup locations covering hotels on Highway 41, 140 & 120. From there, we'll drive 30 - 60 minutes through beautiful Yosemite National Park to reach Yosemite Valley. On the way, your guide will expand your knowledge and expand your knowledge about the history and geology before stopping for photos of El Capitan, the world’s largest granite monolith. Your expert guide will provide a park orientation and a hiking briefing, so you’ll be all set to wander around Yosemite on your own. You will be dropped off either at Curry Village or Yosemite Valley Lodge in the park so you can start your free time.  During your free time of approximately 5 hours, you can explore Yosemite either by hiking its most famous trails or even get the chance to bik...

  We ask to be picked up from our hotel, the service representative was very nice but couldn't help us change the pick up location. Everything else was great!

  Reviewed by Anonymous, 9/25/2021
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  3. San Francisco to Yosemite Park Small Group Tour

  Escape the crowds of San Francisco on a full-day tour to Yosemite National Park. Heading east across the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge offers great views of the San Francisco skyline, Alcatraz Island, Fisherman's Wharf, and the Golden Gate Bridge. En route to the park the tour crosses through the Central Valley, where you will stop at a fruit stand for some local produce. Famous for its rich volcanic soil, the Central Valley is the largest agricultural region in the United States. The section the tour drives through is best known for speciality fruits and nuts such as almonds, walnuts, cherries, and strawberries. After this quick rest stop, you will enter the rolling foothills of the Sierra Nevadas. Continuing into the mountains brings you to California gold country and the gold rush town of Groveland before the tour winds its way into Yosemite National Park. On your 1.5-hour narra...

  Great adventure with beautiful views! Very comfortable transportation and great guide. Highly recommend!!!!

  Reviewed by Franciele, 9/6/2021
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  4. From San Francisco: Yosemite National Park

  Travel through the Great Central Valley into the Sierra Foothills where Forty-Niners panned for Gold. Follow the beautiful Merced River to the majestic Sierra Nevada Mountains. Glaciers cut through these mountains forming spectacular granite monuments you will see throughout the park. Spend a total of 4 hours within the Yosemite National Park: 1-hour on a guided tour and 3 hours to explore on your own. There is the option of selecting a Chinese-speaking guide on certain days. Take advantage of the photo opportunities at: • El Capitan • Bridalveil Falls • Vernal Falls • Yosemite Falls • Cathedral Spires • Half Dome

  Well organized Lots to see in short period of time The tour guide Alex and driver weee excellent

  Reviewed by Sursatie, 9/7/2021
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  5. Yosemite: National Park Full-Day Trip in Biofuel Vehicle

  Spend an active, fun-filled day learning why Yosemite is one of America’s most popular national parks. Hike through the park with an experienced guide and immerse yourself in the beauty of nature on this small group tour. Start off by making your way east from San Francisco and heading across the Bay Bridge. You’ll continue toward the Sierras and make your way into the mountains. There, you’ll learn about California’s rich history as you pass through some of the first settlements built during the Gold Rush. Once you arrive in Yosemite National Park, it’s time to stretch your legs. Your first stop in Yosemite will include a 2.5-mile round trip hike to see the Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias. Be prepared for this strenuous hike, where you’ll descend 400 feet into the grove, before turning around and walking back up. Next, you’ll cruise into the famous Yosemite Valley to take in views of ...

  Quick review: Jamie was a fantastic guide on a very hot day in Yosemite! This felt like a fun field trip with a great group of strangers and a van that had great AC. Jamie gave us realistic advice for which places to visit in the 3 hours we had at the valley. More details: It was our first time going to Yosemite, and although we wanted to do the Giant Sequoia trip, IncredibleAdventures (who operates this tour) told us that not enough people booked The Giant Sequoia trip for us to go on it (they told us 2 days before our scheduled tour). Luckily, they rebooked us into the Yosemite Day Trip tour (for the same date as our original reservations) and gave us a refund for the inconvenience. The Yosemite Day Trip tour was awesome! Even when we had some issues with receiving our refund, the GetYourGuide customer service team helped us out quickly. Overall, very satisfied with the clarity before and throughout the trip to Yosemite! Their customer service after the trip was also exceptional.

  Reviewed by Anonymous, 7/30/2021
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  6. From San Francisco: Alcatraz And Yosemite 2-Day Combo Tour

  Discover the notorious former federal prison of Alcatraz in San Francisco Bay and enjoy the award winning audio tour. Then, spend the next day in the glorious surroundings of Yosemite Park. First, enjoy a narrated boat tour around Alcatraz Island before docking. Then, take the guided “Doing Time: The Alcatraz Cellhouse Tour” from the dock to the main prison building.  The next day, escape the crowds of the city center, and drive to Yosemite National Park. Head east across the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, and enjoy great views of the San Francisco skyline, Alcatraz Island, Fisherman's Wharf, and the Golden Gate Bridge. Drive through Central Valley, stopping at a fruit stand to try some local produce. Pass fruit orchards and nut farms, before entering the rolling foothills of the Sierra Nevadas. Continue into the mountains to California’s gold rush town of Groveland. Once inside Yo...

  Stirling was an excellent guide, he knows so much about Yosemite, we had a great day, very informative. Night tour at Alcatraz was great!

  Reviewed by Nicole, 8/24/2015
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  7. Groveland: Yosemite National Park's Giant Sequoia Trees Tour

  Discover the towering granite cliffs and giant Sequoias of Yosemite National Park on this full-day tour. Learn about the history, geology and wildlife that make Yosemite Valley the jewel of the U.S. National Parks. Your tour begins with a pickup in Groveland, CA. Soon after entering Yosemite, you will experience the solitude of the Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias. You won’t doubt for a second that these are the largest living creatures on the planet. No picture does them justice, due to their immense height.  In winter, when conditions on the Tuolumne Grove trail are snow-covered or unsafe, the Giant Sequoias experience will be substituted with other attractions. Your heart will be racing as you enter Yosemite Valley and enjoy a stop at Inspiration Point, also known as Tunnel View. Take some selfies with El Capitan, Half Dome and Bridalveil Falls as your backdrop. During your free t...

  We are seniors on a road trip in California. We chose this bus tour so that my husband would not have to drive in Yosemite. We stayed in Groveland, and the tour from San Francisco picked us up there. The tour was just as described, and our guide/driver Alberto was outstanding. We knew in advance that physically we could not do the walk back up from the Sequoias, so we visited Kings Canyon and Sequoia on our own the previous day. There were many good photo opportunities of the best-known features and free time for those who could to explore more on their own. We had a good lunch there. The tour made it possible for us to visit Yosemite without stress.

  Reviewed by Merle, 7/26/2021
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  8. From El Portal: Yosemite Sunset Hike at Sentinel Dome

  Take in the stunning beauty of Yosemite National Park from 3,200 feet above the valley floor at sunset. Meet your guide and small group of maximum 10 people with a pickup from the Yosemite View Lodge located right at the western border of the park. Head into the park and up the mountain, past towering pines and fragrant incense cedars towards the Sentinel Dome Trailhead. From there, you'll leave the crowds behind as you hike up an easy, 1-mile (1.6-kilometer) trail to the top of the dome. Take once-in-a-lifetime photos of this UNESCO World Heritage Site with sweeping panoramic views of the glacier cut valley and massive granite monoliths. Admire breathtaking views from over 7,000 feet (2,230 meters) in elevation. Toast the magic hour with a glass of champagne and small bites as the last rays of the day fade into early evening. As you make your way back to the van, an expert guide will...

  was an excellent experience! Kate is absolutely awesome! she was patient and extremely informative. she answered all of our questions would absolutely do this again! views are once in a lifetime must do!!

  Reviewed by Camille, 8/17/2021