Join this 6-day 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! California’s Golden Gate City is packed, with plenty of things to do, from exploring the city’s famous Chinatown to digging into fresh crab at Fisherman’s Wharf to wandering through the oldest Japanese tea garden in the USA. Your day is free until our welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight, so if you arrive in town early, feel free to go out and see the sights. After your group meeting, head out for a welcome dinner together and feast on some local cuisine.
After breakfast, 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 6: 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.
$2,445
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
5 Nights Accommodations
6 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)
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
Map
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.
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.
Lindsay Gompf
TrustScore 4.8 | 175 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 175 reviews on
7 hours ago
The response from Adventure Life to my first inquiry was prompt and promising. I worked with Jamie Broeckel, Trip Planner, via text, email, and phone calls- always extremely responsive and thorough with information and explaining the process to arrange a private tour for me to Malaysia Borneo. Within about week, the booking was complete and I made decisions because of Jamie's great customer service , friendly manner, and overall competence on behalf of the company's travel expertise. Now I have an itinerary, additional Trip Planner Assistants, several links for vital information for traveling to Maylasia, etc. Still many details for Sept. trip, but now the heavy lifting is done and I can enjoy the rest of the anticipation and research!! Thanks Jamie- you are amazing!!!!
Susan Campo
2 days ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
3 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.
