Join this 6-day small group hiking adventure in California's High Sierra, which highlights the best of Yosemite National Park. Start with a walk among towering giant sequoias before tackling iconic trails like the Mist Trail and Four Mile Trail, offering spectacular views of Yosemite Valley. Enjoy expert-led hikes, learn about conservation on a Yosemite Conservancy walk, and take time to explore at your own pace. Stay in a cozy mountain lodge just outside the park, avoiding the crowds of campsites. Capture views of Half Dome, El Capitan, and waterfalls along the way. Conclude your adventure with a scenic walk across San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge. With expert guidance, breathtaking landscapes, and enriching experiences, this Yosemite journey offers the perfect mix of adventure and discovery.
Highlights
Enjoy an easy, downhill hike to the Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias.
Reach Sentinel Dome summit for breathtaking views of Yosemite
Tackle Four Mile Trail for panoramic views over Yosemite Valley
Experience Mist Trail views while hiking past Nevada and Vernal Falls
Walk among giant sequoias in the Tuolumne Grove of towering trees
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.
Arrive in San Francisco and explore its iconic sights. Meet your group at 6 pm. If you arrive early, stroll Haight Street, ride the cable car to the waterfront, or take a bay cruise past Alcatraz.
Day 2: Yosemite National Park
1 Breakfast
Leave San Francisco behind this morning and hit the road toward the famous Yosemite National Park. Arrive and take your first walk of the trip—an easy, downhill hike through the Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias. This grove features a couple dozen mature giant sequoia trees, including one carved into a tunnel you can walk through. Of course, what goes down must come back up, but the uphill return is worth it once you reach your accommodation. While many visitors camp in Yosemite, unwind at a rustic mountain lodge just a short drive from the park entrance. Settle in and soak up the atmosphere.
Your travel time today will be approximately 3.5 hours.
Included Activities:
Tuolumne Grove Hike
Hiking Distance: The hiking distance is 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) roundtrip, with 400 feet (120 meters) elevation loss to the grove.
Day 3: Yosemite National Park |
1 Breakfast
The Mist Trail is Yosemite’s signature hike, and today you experience it firsthand. Start from the east of Yosemite Valley, cross the Vernal Fall Footbridge, and climb granite stairways and rocky switchbacks. Get up close to Vernal and Nevada Falls—pack rain gear because you will get sprayed! Enjoy incredible views along the route, looking out across the valley toward the iconic Half Dome and the Merced River. In the evening, rest up at the lodge.
Included Activities:
Mist Trail Signature Hike
Hiking Distance: Approximately 7 miles (11 kilometers) roundtrip to Nevada Fall with an elevation gain of 1900 feet (580 meters).
Day 4: Yosemite National Park
1 Breakfast
Today, you take things up a notch with a walk along Yosemite’s Four Mile Trail. Start at the base of Sentinel Rock, then make your way to the top of Yosemite Valley. A consistent, steep gradient means the trail is not a regular walk in the park, but you take your time. The views of the valley, El Capitan, Half Dome, and Yosemite Falls from the top of Sentinel Dome are more than worth the effort. Once you finish the hike, head back to your accommodation to rest up!
Included Activities:
Four Mile Trail to Sentinel Dome Hike
Hiking Distance: The hiking distance today is 9.6 miles (15.5 kilometers) roundtrip, with an elevation gain of 3200 feet (975 meters).
Day 5: Yosemite National Park
1 Breakfast
Today is slightly different, with a free morning to enjoy your way. Head to Yosemite Valley for more hiking on your own, or perhaps visit local museums, rent a bike, or do anything else that interests you. Your tour leader helps with arrangements. In the afternoon, your group rendezvouses for an included walk with an expert guide from Yosemite Conservancy. This is a 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 hear Native American stories and history and learn about Yosemite’s role in the country’s conservationist movement. Your guided walk ends at the Yosemite Valley Lodge, where your leader waits to transport you back to the lodge for your final night.
Included Activities:
The Ahwahnee Historic Lodge Visit
Yosemite Valley Conservancy Exclusive Walk
Day 6: Yosemite | San Francisco | Return Home
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch
After saying fond farewells to Yosemite, head west to vibrant San Francisco. Stop in at a local restaurant along the way for a final lunch with the group, then continue on to walk over the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. The adventure then finishes upon arrival in San Francisco at around 3 pm. No accommodation is provided for tonight, but if you wish to spend extra time in the city, speak to your booking agent.
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.
$2,6252-3 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, 1 Lunch
5 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
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
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
Visa and passport fees
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.
Typically not offered during this period because of weather conditions.
This was our first trip to South America and we were a little nervous. But Adventure Life made things so easy! All our questions were answered before we left, and our guide, Vidal, was amazing! He gave us enough space to explore without rushing us along. He also knew where the best picture taking opportunities were, which was great.
Our agent Jessica was very helpful with the whole process and always responded in a timely way to all of our questions.
K Van
1 day ago
Chern was very patient snd helpful.
CaBaba
2 days ago
Cruse ship was great. Fantastic food and service. Cruise itinary got changed so not what we expected, but not an major issue. Japan portion was great. Drivers/guides arranged by 80 Days were great. Hotels were mostly ok. Did not know that most hotels outside of major cities do not allow shoes to be worn in the hotel. again a minor inconvenience. Overall a great trip. Adventure Life communications were timely and much appreciated as far as changes/requests.
Peter Goff
3 days ago
We were a group of three that initiated our research by independently searching for the best agency to help us in the somewhat complex experience of traveling to the Galapagos. We chose adventure life because they were the most responsive in the website provided the most comprehensive overview of the trip. Their reviews were also very good.
Adventure, life splits up its booking process in two parts. First Jeff, the booking agent helped us decide which experience best suited are interests. We chose a small 14 to 16 group sized yacht. Once the booking was made with Jeff, we were handed off to Coleene, who oversaw the complex process of assembling all of the necessary documents and making sure we had everything we needed to make the trip go smoothly. The adventure, life website, then becomes your personal place of reference for all things related to your trip from door to door. It’s a lot of information to assemble, especially for three travelers, but the website makes it easy and Colleen‘s gentle reminders kept us on track. In all, from the beginning, we had four months from the time we started our research till the time we departed. We felt that was, a good amount of preparation time and don’t think it would be wise to do it in less than four months. Mostly because I think you have more options with that amount of time. There were others on our trip that took six months and more from the time they started planning.
The trip itself was outstanding. We ended up on an excellent yacht (Galapagos Angel II) with a great group of guests that we were able to connect with and put together a really nice google photos album to share.
Jed
1 week ago
Mary was very helpful. Quick to reply with helpful information and closure on arrangements.
