Yosemite and Giant Sequoias One Day Tour from San Francisco

Be moved beyond words by Yosemite’s Half Dome, waterfalls, and Giant Sequoias

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

Highlights

  • Skip the line. Enter Yosemite at the commercial tour group gate
  • Early bird arrival increases access to popular viewing areas like Tunnel View, Yosemite Falls, El Capitan Meadow and Valley View
  • The most time in Yosemite National Park—over 5 hours
  • Unique Giant Sequoias hike in Tuolumne Grove (conditions permitting)
  • 2 hours of free time to explore Yosemite Valley
  • Fully guided by a Yosemite Park expert

What’s Included

  • 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

What’s Not Included

  • Meals or beverages
  • Guide gratuity
Please note: This season’s greatest-of-all-time waterfalls have led to a surge in Yosemite park visitors. So you can have the best possible experience, our new “early bird” itinerary is designed to beat the crowds and avoid delays at the popular attractions. Please note the new earlier hotel pickup times.

Description

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.

Itinerary

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  • 05:20 AM to 10:30 AM - Hotel Pickup, Head to Yosemite

  • 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM - Admire Views of Yosemite Valley

  • 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM - Explore the Valley On Your Own

  • 2:00 PM to 2:45 PM - Stops at El Capitan and Valley View

  • 2:45 PM to 4:30 PM - Hike to Giant Sequoia Redwoods

  • 4:30 PM to 9:00 PM - Return to San Francisco

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

What Our Guests Are Saying About Us

Amazing views and a smooth tour arrangement

This tour was great! I can warmly recommend taking it on a weekday to avoid park-visiting crowds. The hotel pickup was smooth and the trip to and from the park was narrated with interesting info at a reasonable frequency. Thanks to it being a Tuesday we had very little traffic, which contributed to a very smooth trip.

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KCB, TrustPilot

Amazing views and a smooth tour arrangement

The stops for bathroom breaks and snack opportunities were well planned, I appreciate that they stopped at outdoor shopping centers with a grocery store and a selection of not-too-pricey eateries (although we opted to bring our own cooler bag with meals and snacks). Stops for photo ops were sufficiently long to take in the scenery - the views are absolutely breathtaking on a clear day. We had a great driver (Ken) and guide (Randall) who both did a fantastic job, particularly with kind and clear reminders for participants to be back on time.

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KCB, TrustPilot

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. 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.

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Nikunj B , TripAdvisor

It's a great tour!

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.

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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!

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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.

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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. Rob, our tour guide and driver, took us to the best spots at Yosemite today!

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490treenas , TripAdvisor

Beautiful day at Yosemite with Rob!

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

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490treenas , TripAdvisor

Just a great experience!

The driver / tour guide and his assistant Ollie were fantastic!!!! Helpful, funny, engaging and informative. Couldn’t rate them highly enough!!!! Outstanding and thank you. I fully recommend the tour to Yosemite. The tour takes the hassle out of the drive. We greatly enjoyed our tour and would highly recommend Extranomical Tours!

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Michael Clarke, 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.

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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 !

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Safari Steve, TrustPilot

We really enjoyed our trip to Yosemite Valley and the giant sequoias grove.

Everything went smoothly and on time. We were picked up very close to our hotel, which was very convenient, as we left nice and early. Our guide, Brad, was great, very kind, giving us lots of interesting info. The valley itself is just breathtaking, majestic beauty.

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Luisa Campos, TrustPilot

We really enjoyed our trip to Yosemite Valley and the giant sequoias grove.

El Gran Capitán, the Half Dome, all the gorgeous Falls, the meadows, the river and the forests were just beautiful. And the giant sequoias are amazing. All in all, a great unforgettable experience.

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Luisa Campos, TrustPilot

Yosemite is a magical place

Yosemite is a magical place that would best be experienced over a few days staying in the valley. However, if you have one day, then this tour is the one. It's an early start and a lot of driving, but the things you'll see and feel will stay with you. Our driver Rob was a one man show, his love of Yosemite and his knowledge about the park shine through from the minute he picks you up.

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Annie Middleby, TrustPilot

Yosemite is a magical place

Rob is an everyday guy who uses comedy and lived experiences to make this a truly memorable tour. He's also driving the bus. The stop off for groceries to keep the day running smoothly is also an efficient part of the tour. I met some fantastic people, walked miles, saw world class scenery of mountains, forests, water falls and wildlife Rob was the icing on the cake. An unexpected diamond in the rough. He makes an exhausting 17 hour day worthwhile. Well done Rob and Extranomical.

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Annie Middleby, TrustPilot

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FAQs

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  • What do I need to know about the Giant Sequoias hike?

  • What is the best time of year to visit Yosemite Valley?

  • Is a day enough time to see Yosemite?

  • How can I travel around the park during my free time?

  • Can I use my annual pass for the United States National Parks to enter Yosemite for free?

  • Do you pick up outside of San Francisco?

  • Do you offer this tour in different languages?

  • What should I bring with me on tour?

  • Are meals included? Can I buy or bring my own?

  • What stops do we have for photographs?

  • What can I do during my free time in Yosemite Valley?