The only 1-day Yosemite tour from San Francisco to deliver more than you dreamed at Half Dome, El Capitan, Yosemite Falls and on a hike to Giant Sequoias.
Departure: Daily from major San Francisco hotels
Duration: 15 hours
Free Cancellation: With 24 hours advance notice
Ages: All ages
Ticket: Email and mobile accepted
- The most time in Yosemite National Park—over 5 hours
- Unique Giant Sequoias hike in Tuolumne Grove (conditions permitting)
- Five more stops to explore Tunnel View, Bridalveil Fall, Yosemite Falls, El Capitan Meadow and Valley View
- 2 hours of free time to explore Yosemite Valley
- Fully guided by a Yosemite Park expert
- Pick up at major San Francisco hotels
- Park reservation and entry fee (pay at checkout)
- Park expert guide (English)
- Foreign language audios in 8 languages
- Meals or beverages
- Guide gratuity
IMPORTANT UPDATE: : Due to storm damage, park authorities have closed the main access road to Tuolumne Grove. This tour will NOT visit the Giant Sequoias until repairs are completed in early July, possibly later.
Experience Yosemite in a Day from San Francisco
Join us on this breathtaking tour of Yosemite National Park, whose towering granite peaks, cascading waterfalls and nature trails are perhaps the most stunning in the world. This award-winning tour spends the most time in Yosemite and includes a unique hike among ancient Giant Sequoias.
Your tour begins with a convenient hotel pick up in San Francisco. Sit back and enjoy the scenery as your guide explains how glitter in the American River sparked the California gold rush; what geological forces made Yosemite’s dramatic landscapes; and the role John Muir played in the formation of America’s first protected wilderness.
Be Blown Away by Awe-Inspiring Valley Views
After entering Yosemite National Park, we’ll make our way to a scene made famous by photographer Ansel Adams. Take a moment at Tunnel View. Capture yourself with El Capitan, Half Dome, Sentinel Dome, Glacier Point, and Cathedral Peak as your background.
Once you’ve had your fill of photographs from this perch overlooking the valley, the tour will arrange a memorable stop where you can get eye to eye with wispy Bridalveil Fall.
Have Your Own Yosemite Valley Adventure
After arriving to our stop in Yosemite Valley, you will have 2 hours for lunch and exploring on your own. The free time options include hiking to Yosemite Falls, meandering through Sentinel Meadow, checking out the Ansel Adams Gallery and more.
Take a Moment with More Iconic Monuments
Your Yosemite experience stops next at El Capitan Meadow to learn more about the world’s largest granite monolith and its climbing culture. As we are leaving Yosemite Valley, we will make our final stop at Valley View which serves up a panoramic landscape framing the Merced River, El Capitan and the imposing spires of Cathedral Rocks.
Feel the Quiet Grandeur of Giant Sequoias
The highlight of our tour is still ahead of you as we head to the Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias. In this beautiful grove, you’ll have the chance to get up close and personal with some of the largest and oldest trees on earth.
When the Tuolumne Grove trail is snow-covered or unsafe, we always spend extra time in Yosemite Valley.
By the end of the day, you’ll have experienced some of the most incredible landscapes in the world and captured memories to last a lifetime. Don’t miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore Yosemite National Park with us.
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- Convenient hotel pickup
- Breakfast stop. Pick up snacks and lunch for the park
- Your guide prepares you for a day in Yosemite Park
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- Enter Yosemite National Park
- Stop to photograph Tunnel View
- Marvel at the beauty of Bridalveil Fall and Half Dome
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- Enjoy free time to explore Yosemite Valley
- Explore the trail to the Lower Yosemite Falls
- Have lunch (meal not included)
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- Stop at El Capitan Meadow to spot some climbers
- Capture the Merced River among granite peaks at Valley View
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- Make the scenic drive to the Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias
- Hike in the Grove of Giant Sequoias (conditions permitting)
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- Descend the Sierras as you return to San Francisco
- Break for dinner
- Enjoy the ride as we return to your pickup location
Times listed are approximations. Traffic and unforeseen events can cause delays. Please do not make flight/travel arrangements on the same day as your tour
An Amazing experience!
We had a great day at Yosemite with our tour guide Rob! I fully recommend going with him! He is a funny and very caring guy, he showed us the best spots Of the National Park to take photos! and he is an authentic “storyteller”! He told us about The history Of San Francisco! And last but not least, we travelled safe with him the whole way!
Saraszpe, TripAdvisor
It's a great tour!
We had a female tour guide who was also our bus driver. I don't remember the name but she is excellent at her job. Entire tour she shared enough information related to the history of the place etc. It made the tour all the more engaging and entertaining.
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Nikunj B , TripAdvisor
It's a great tour!
We had a female tour guide who was also our bus driver. I don't remember the name but she is excellent at her job. Entire tour she shared enough information related to the history of the place etc. It made the tour all the more engaging and entertaining. If you choose Extranomical Yosemite Tour, ask for this tour guide and no other. You will get more bang for the buck. Yosemite is magical and one day tour isn't enough. But if you are short of time and get the most from your day, choose this tour.
Few things to keep in mind. Keep your water bottles and food with you. Go on weekdays for better all round experience.
If you want to travel solo and website doesn't seem to allow solo booking, contact their customer support and convince them.
Nikunj B , TripAdvisor
It was a good tour, especially if you do not have so much time
Our guide was super nice and friendly. And Yosemite is a beautiful place for nice memories. Tip: Bring some food or buy on the way. I do recommend it!
Alexander Juarez , TrustPilot
This solo trip was booked as a special trip for my birthday
Communication from the team in the office was great! The park was sublime and our guides showed us all the best spots. The tour was well paced and set out and my guide on the 2nd day was far superior. Excellent jokes, knowledge and attention to detail. I'd recommend this trip wholeheartedly.
Lacey Pitcher, TrustPilot
Beautiful day at Yosemite with Rob!
Rob, our tour guide and driver, took us to the best spots at Yosemite today! He drove safely, was very nice and had great humor. He was accommodating and even took us to viewpoints not included in the itinerary, which presented awesome photo opportunities.
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490treenas , TripAdvisor
Beautiful day at Yosemite with Rob!
Rob, our tour guide and driver, took us to the best spots at Yosemite today! He drove safely, was very nice and had great humor. He was accommodating and even took us to viewpoints not included in the itinerary, which presented awesome photo opportunities. He seemed really passionate in showcasing Yosemite and SF in general. Overall a fantastic day out! Thank you
490treenas , TripAdvisor
Rob was our tour guide for our day trip from San Francisco to Yosemite.
He was very friendly, knowledgeable, kind and entertaining! He went the extra mile to show us all around Yosemite and really cared. As a bonus he is quiet comical! We greatly enjoyed our tour and would highly recommend Rob and Extranomical Tours!
Heather Austin, TrustPilot
The driver and tour guide were very friendly
The driver and tour guide were very friendly, the pre-trip information and customer service were very good, and the timing of the trip was very accurate, which made our trip very nice.
Shihying Yang, TrustPilot
Amazing trip!
My wife & I had an amazing trip with this company & our driver was the best ! Very informative & polite. Took us to many different spots so it felt like we were able to get as much of the experience with the time we had. Thank you very much !! Rob was our driver and he was top of the line ! 5 stars for Rob too !
Safari Steve, TrustPilot
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The hike is only available when trail conditions are safe, usually April to October. The hike is a 2-mile round trip on a paved trail with a steep incline on the return. Individuals with respiratory issues or not used to strenuous exercise may skip the hike and wait in the outdoor seating area at the Tuolumne Grove stop.
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Each season in Yosemite Valley offers its own advantages. Summer is the best chance for sunny and warm hikes, Fall offers peace and solitude at the popular attractions, Winter means a blanket of snow over all the rock monuments and Spring features the peak of the annual Yosemite Valley waterfall show.
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Our incredible 1-day tour to Yosemite from San Francisco visits all the top attractions, like Tunnel View, El Capitan, Half Dome, Bridalveil Fall, Yosemite Falls, and (conditions permitting) the Giant Sequoias. A longer, multi-day tour allows time to enjoy longer hikes, bike riding, swimming in the Merced River, the night’s brilliant stars and more.
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Walking is best form of transportation in the Valley. We do not recommend public transportation or park shuttles during your free time since you cannot certain about getting back the tour vehicle on time. The most popular attractions are a short distance from the drop-off point near Yosemite Valley Lodge.
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Sorry, but no. The entrance fee we pay to Yosemite National Park is based on the vehicle and not on the individuals, and the entrance is located at a toll gate – not on foot. Therefore, the tour cost includes the admission fee.
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Our 1-day Yosemite tour picks up in San Jose in the South Bay (make the reservation here), and Livermore in the East Bay. If you are staying near the San Francisco airport or another location away from the downtown area, we recommend using a ride-sharing service or public transportation to the Hilton Union Square hotel. Our pickup for that location is outside the Mason Street side entrance of the hotel.
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Our Yosemite tour has live narration in English, but we offer complimentary recorded audio guides in 8 languages: Spanish, French, German, Italian, Korean, Mandarin, Japanese, and Portuguese. If an audio guide is required, please specify the language when booking.
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The weather in the Sierra Mountains can be unpredictable and you will be spending 4-5 hours outdoors enjoying nature. We recommend that you dress in layers and wear comfortable shoes or hiking sandals (not flip flops). Bring along a light water-resistant jacket, camera or phone, 1-liter water bottle, hat and sunscreen, sturdy umbrella (if the forecast calls for rain), and some cash or a credit card for meals, snacks and souvenirs.
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Meals are not included on this tour. We do make a stop about halfway to and from Yosemite, where you can buy food and beverages. There are a few restaurants and a food court in Yosemite Valley. They are usually crowded, so it’s a good idea to bring or purchase a picnic lunch prior to arriving in the park.
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Your Yosemite tour will make 5-6 stops for you to exit the vehicle and take some photographs although weather and traffic conditions may have your driver alter the itinerary slightly. The usual stops are: Tuolumne Grove of Sequoias, Tunnel View, Bridalveil Falls, Valley View, El Capitan Meadow, and Yosemite Valley View lookout.
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Nice and easy hikes through Cook’s Meadow or to Lower Yosemite Falls or the Swinging Bridge can all be done during your free time. On clear days, biking to Yosemite Village, Mirror Lake or the Ahwahnee Hotel is a great choice. Finally, the Ancel Adam Gallery is a wonderful showcase of the artist’s work. We do not recommend taking the park shuttle since the timing of the return trip can be unpredictable.