Join this 5-day small group hiking adventure in California's High Sierra, which highlights the best of Yosemite National Park. This excursion covers a lot of terrain in a short amount of time, from gigantic sequoia trees to the magnificent Cathedral Lakes, to the massive Half Dome rock and roaring waterfalls of the fittingly named Mist Trail. Most importantly, you get to enjoy Yosemite in relative comfort, courtesy of transportation to and from trailheads and lodging in a cozy mountain lodge. This trip teaches you about the area's Native American and pioneer history, as well as the essential work being done to preserve and maintain it.
Highlights
Enjoy an easy, downhill hike to the Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias.
Hike the iconic Cathedral Lakes for some of the best High Sierra views.
Visit California’s gold rush era state’s oldest continuously operating saloon.
Take a short trek along the shores of the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir.
Activities that provide a reasonable level of physical challenge and elevate the heart rate. Focused on more active pursuits including multisport tours. Travelers may be active 5-7 hours total each day. Recommended for travelers with active lifestyles.
Welcome to SF! Arrive early and the welcome meeting is at 8 am. We'll head out for the famous Yosemite National Park, with a lunch stop along the way at the historic Iron Door Saloon, the oldest continuously operating saloon in California dating back to the mid-1800s. Check out the saloon’s old photos of the Hetch Hetchy valley and the collection of antique gold mining tools. Look around closely and you might even spot a few stray bullet holes in the walls. After lunch, enjoy your first walk today – an easy, downhill hike – at the Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias. The grove is home to, no surprise, a couple dozen mature giant sequoia trees, including one that’s been carved into a tunnel that can walk right through. Your return upward climb will be rewarded once you arrive at your accommodation. While many visitors to Yosemite stay in campsites, you’ll get to unwind at Yosemite Bug, a cozy and charming mountain lodge that features a garden deck and views over the gorge. Settle into your home for the next few days and soak up the rustic atmosphere.
Included Activities:
Iron Door Saloon visit
Tuolumne Grove hike
Hiking Distance: Approximately 2.5 miles (4 km) roundtrip, with 400 feet (120 m) elevation loss to the grove.
After breakfast, start the day to the trailhead for the famous Cathedral Lakes, approximately 2 hours away by a vehicle. It’s all worth it as this hike reveals some of the most impressive views in the High Sierra. Soak up the jaw-dropping, high-altitude scenery of the Lower and or Upper Cathedral lakes that are worth every step of your 3- to 5-hour hike. If you’re concerned about the difficulty and altitude levels, you’ll be given a choice of different routes, depending on the group’s comfort and abilities. Back in Yosemite Bug, you may want to enjoy dinner in their fantastic restaurant, where the menu changes daily.
Included Activities:
Cathedral Lakes hike
Hiking Distance: Approximately 7 miles (11 km) roundtrip to Upper or Lower Cathedral Lakes, or 8 miles (12.5 km) roundtrip to see both. Trailhead elevation is 8500 ft (2590 m), heading up to 9290 feet (2830 m) for Lower Cathedral Lake and 9600 feet (2925 m) for Upper Cathedral Lake. While this altitude is not considered ‘high’, it is important you stay hydrated and inform your Tour Leader in case you feel dizziness, headache, or any other symptoms of altitude sickness.
Today, the drive to the start of the trail is shorter (approximately 1 hour), but the hike is no less incredible. The Mist Trail is Yosemite's signature hike. While many of the park's hikes leave the best views for the end, this trail is scattered, with fabulous views along the whole route, including a few waterfalls (be sure to pack your rain gear as the falls are close to the trail and you will get sprayed). Get to see Yosemite’s iconic Half Dome rock formation. It was once believed that the Half Dome was completely inaccessible to climbers until George Anderson reached the summit in 1875. Over a century later, famed climber Alex Honnold, star of the 2017 documentary Free Solo, would hold the record for the fastest ascent of the Half Dome’s Regular Northwest Face route – the first Grade IV climb in the USA. In the evening, rest up back at Yosemite Bug, where, weather permitting, your guide can stoke a roaring campfire.
Included Activities:
Mist Trail signature hike
Hiking Distance: Approximately 7 miles (11 km) roundtrip to Nevada Fall with an elevation gain of 1900 ft (580 m).
Today is slightly different, with a free morning for you to enjoy your way. You can take a shuttle to Yosemite Valley for more hiking on your own, or perhaps to visit local museums, rent a bike, or anything else that interests you. Or, you may want to sign up for white water rafting (additional cost) with a company that’s right next door to your accommodation. Your tour leader will be able to help you with arrangements. In the afternoon, your group will do rendezvous for an included walk with an expert guide from Yosemite Conservancy. This unique opportunity to learn about the important work the group does for the Native American community and preserving their culture within the park. As you walk from the historic Ahwahnee Hotel through the meadows of Yosemite Valley and past the ruins of an old pioneer village, you’ll hear Native American stories and history, and learn about Yosemite’s role in the country’s conservationist movement. Your guided walk will end at the Yosemite Valley Lodge, where your leader will be waiting to transport you back to Yosemite Bug for your final night.
Included Activities:
Yosemite Valley Conservancy exclusive walk
The Ahwahnee historic lodge visit
Day 5: Hetch Hetchy Reservoir | San Francisco | Return Home
1 Breakfast
For your last day, enjoy a short hike on the shores of the beautiful Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. Not only is this area stunning to see, but it’s also an important historic site for conservationists – the controversy surrounding the construction of the Hetch Hetchy Dam helped lead to the creation of the US National Park Service in 1916. You’ll then drive back to San Francisco, aiming to arrive around 5 pm to 6 pm, at which point your Yosemite adventure ends and, you are free to begin your trip home at your leisure.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
$2,3052-3 travelers
Rates are dynamic and fluctuate based on capacity. Contact us for a specific quote.
Initial deposit is $400 per person, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 70 days (10 weeks) prior to departure by bank transfer, check, or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and a maximum of $20,000 charge
For full cancellation policy details, please contact us for a quote.
Included
5 Breakfasts
4 Nights Accommodations
5 Days Locally Hosted Guide Service
Accommodations as listed
Ground transportation as listed
Activities as listed
Meals as listed
Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
Onboard lecture program from Expedition Team and Naturalists
Insulated inner jacket, yours to keep at the end of your Antarctic cruise.
Transfer from hotel to ship for embarkation
All shore excursions and Zodiac cruising (except paid adventure options with cost)
Use of rubber boots on land and use of waterproof outer shell jacket
Transfer from airport to hotel (Day 1) and pre-night hotel
All port taxes
Use of onboard gym, sauna, pool, and jacuzzi and onboard yoga
Excluded
Gratuities
Travel Insurance
Personal Expenses
Flight costs (please request a quote)
Additional excursions during free time
Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)
Optional Activities
Life jackets, waterproof outer shell jackets, insulated inner jackets, and boots for minors under 16 years of age at the time of travel
For those traveling internationally with Intrepid: emergency evacuation and medical insurance are mandatory, and comprehensive travel insurance is strongly recommended. See here for more details
Airport transfers, taxes, and excess baggage charges, unless specified
Visa and passport fees
Laundry and communication charges
Tobacco, alcoholic or special beverages
When to Go
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Good to ideal period to travel, and many people choose to visit at this time.
Chance for unpredictable weather but with fewer visitors.
Typically not offered during this period because of weather conditions.
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1 day ago
The holiday of a lifetime. The company is Alaksa-owned and thhat makes a big difference to the experineces you get i.e. meet genuine First Nations tribes people. The amount of wildlife was beyond my expectation, and seeing everything on sucha small, intimate boat made it even more spoecial and unique.
Liz O
1 day ago
Adventure Life covered all the details in planning our trip to Ireland. Any questions we had were answered immediately. Any trip glitches, which always happen when traveling, were resolved immediately. There were no worries, just fun!
Kathleen Weller
1 day ago
It was an outstanding, up-close, educational vacation of nature, culture, history, animals and geology! It was everything they promised! Binoculars were plentiful on the boat, but I'm glad I brought my own. Food was excellent. Rooms had black-out shades. Pack/wear multiple layers of clothing (I carried a small backpack when off the ship). Crew were delightful and very accommodating! Remember to jump FEET FIRST first when taking the optional polar plunge! Spend as much time outdoors as you are able and ENJOY!!!
Janet Dutton
6 days ago
Excellent travel advice and service
This is my second experience working with Adventure Life. I’m sold. Jess Heuermann is an experienced traveler and provides a lot of useful information when planning a trip. These are the questions I like to ask at the outset - What’s it like to go here, there, what would you suggest, what do people report, can we add any additional side trips? Jess took the time to answer my questions and seek additional information to share with me. Petchie Colina is outstanding in helping with travel logistics and final preparations. Adventure Life has excellent guides and offers private guides and small group adventures. We enjoyed the opportunity to talk with the guides and drivers to learn more about their countries, cultures and histories. A highlight was having the guides pick local restaurants where we could share meals together. Highly recommend.
Claire Cordon
1 week ago
Our six-day tour in Iceland went smoothly with one exception. We had asked for two rooms each night. Somehow we were booked with one room with three beds. It could not be fixed at the first hotel in Reykjavik because the hotel was fully booked. Once informed of the problem, however, Adventure Life rebooked for two rooms for the remainder of the trip. As an 85-year-old traveler, I appreciated that one could participate at different physical levels at many of the stops. Iceland is a great place to visit but on the expensive side.