Yosemite & Tahoe Sierras - 4 Days

8:00-12:00pm Buckle up! After departing San Francisco, you’ll head through California’s famous Gold Rush Country, high into the mountains of the Sierra Nevada. Enter Yosemite National Park, home to some of America’s tallest waterfalls and towering granite cliffs rising 3,000 feet from the valley floor. Experience the majestic views of Yosemite Valley from Tunnel View where you'll see Half Dome, El Capitan and picturesque Bridalveil Falls. 

1:30-5:30pm Arrive at the base of Yosemite Falls and have free time to explore Yosemite Valley as you please. Hiking trails abound, and this afternoon your guide will help you find the perfect trail to take in this glacially carved valley. If hiking isn't your thing, relax on the bank of the Merced River and soak up the spectacular views or visit the main Visitor's Center, Ansel Adams Gallery or hop on the free shuttle to see other parts of the scenic valley floor.

5:30 onwards: Depart from Yosemite Valley to reach your rustic mountain resort to kick back, have some drinks and share the stories of your day. For dinner, enjoy the lodge's restaurant (own cost) which has surprisingly fresh and delicious food for a remote mountain location!

7:00am - mid morning: The next morning, we’re off to explore more of what Yosemite has to offer. Your guide will set you up with a morning hike among the majestic Giant Sequoias of Tuolumne Grove. Be prepared for a moderate to strenuous 2.5 mile hike, where you’ll descend 400 feet into the grove, before turning around and walking back up. 

Mid morning to mid afternoon: From Tuolomne Grove, you’ll hop back in the coach to ascend to almost 10,000 Feet (3000+ meters) to traverse Yosemite’s Tioga Pass, the highest mountain pass in the Sierras. On Tioga Pass you'll see iconic sites like the reflective Tenaya Lake and the picturesque Tuolumne Meadows. Afterwards, you'll descend the fiercely steep eastern slope of the Sierra Nevadas. Here you'll experience completely different scenery than the day prior. The Eastern Sierras are a magical and lesser-known gem of California. 

6:00pm: Next up, an overnight stay in beautiful Mammoth Lakes, California. Hinting at its prehistoric past, the name is quite fitting: be immersed in Mammoth’s huge mountains, numerous lakes, and valleys. If time permits, take a scenic Gondola ride up to 11,053 ft (3368 meters) or explore some of the mountain town's hip restaurants or breweries. You'll stay overnight right at the base of the ski slopes, which depending on the time of year might still have ample snow and springtime skiers!

7:00am to mid morning: Start your third day with the option to visit the Ansel Adams Wilderness area. This rugged place was named in honor of the famed nature photographer. Here you’ll have the opportunity to visit the Devil’s Postpile National Monument; a strange columnar basalt formation which is a rare sight in the geologic world. You may also choose to take a short hike over to Rainbow Falls to snap a selfie! Alternatively, your guide might reccomend a hike around one of Mammoth's many alpine lakes.

Mid morning - late afternoon: Next, you’re back on the road and this time headed to Lake Tahoe. Along the way, you’ll get off the pavement to experience a bit of Gold Rush history at the remote National Historic Landmark known as Bodie Ghost Town. 

6:00pm End your adventure-filled day by trying your luck at blackjack, or the roulette wheel at The Hard Rock, Harrah's or one of South Lake Tahoe's other casinos. Gambling not your thing? Your guide can set you up with a sunset sail or a lake cruise to Emerald Bay. You’ll stay the night in a South Lake Tahoe.

7:00am This morning, you’ll get to choose your own adventure. Get up close and personal with the highest alpine lake in the the USA either by kayak, stand-up paddleboard or bike. If you would prefer more of a bird’s eye view with panoramic vistas of Lake Tahoe, Carson Valley and the Desolation Wilderness, take a 2.4 mile gondola ride up to Heavenly Mountain resort where an array of adventure activities await you. Having trouble deciding? Keep it simple and go on a hike near stunning Emerald Bay State Park with the guidance of your professional tour leader.

3:00pm This afternoon, you’ll leave Lake Tahoe behind and pass through the state’s capital city, Sacramento. You’ll follow the historic Pony Express Trail through El Dorado National Forest back to the City by the Bay, San Francisco, and we’ll drop off at our gateway hotel by 9 p.m.