Yosemite Valley: 3-Day Lodging Adventure

Highlights

• Get back to nature in the Yosemite Valley on a 3-day guided lodging trip
• Enjoy delicious home-cooked meals at the campsite
• Hike past the giant sequoia trees of Yosemite
• Observe landscape perfectly captured by Ansel Adams
• See El Capitan, Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, Bridalveil Falls, and Tunnel View

Description

Spend two nights in a hotel just outside the world-famous Yosemite Valley, traveling in an eco-friendly biofueled vehicle alongside fellow adventurers. Food is provided, but you’ll have the unique experience of cooking over campfires and serving yourselves. The all-you-can-eat fare includes chicken, beef, and vegetarian options, offering a delicious and communal dining experience.

Day 1:
On the morning of your adventure, your guide will meet you at 8:15 AM on the Mason Street side of the Hilton Hotel in downtown San Francisco. After leaving the city, you’ll cross the fertile Central Valley and travel through California’s historic Gold Country on your way to the Sierra Nevada.

Before entering Yosemite Valley, enjoy a scenic hike and picnic among the giant sequoias, the largest living trees on Earth. Towering up to 300 feet tall and over 30 feet wide, some of these ancient giants are more than 1,000 years old. Depending on group interest and timing, your guide will take you to one of three spectacular sequoia groves.

Meals are not included on the first day, but you’ll have the chance to purchase food along the way.

Next, continue into Yosemite for a 90-minute guided tour and take in your first views of the iconic Yosemite Valley, home to towering granite cliffs and cascading waterfalls and made world famous by the photography of Ansel Adams.

Your guide will provide an overview of the park and lay out options for the days ahead. After some free time to explore the valley, head to your campsite to settle in, enjoy dinner, and relax by the campfire as you plan the next two days of your Yosemite experience.

Day 2:
Rise early and prepare breakfast and lunch, clean up camp, and head off in the van for a fun day full of hiking, sightseeing, and exploring. Usually the second day is reserved for exploring Yosemite's High Country. A group hike to May Lake and Mount Hoffman is generally the highlight of the day, depending upon snowpack.

May Lake is a picturesque example of a High Sierra lake. If you want more of a challenge, you can continue past May Lake to Mount Hoffman. Located at the geographic center of the park, Mount Hoffman is a non-technical hike that rewards you with a 360-degree view of the surrounding mountain landscape. Your guide will make sure the group takes full advantage of the park, while making sure everyone is comfortable, by customizing the hikes around the groups’ needs. At the end of the day, head back to camp for dinner and time to unwind by the campfire.

Day 3:
Day 3 is a free day, where the itinerary is based on the interests of the group. Normally the tour heads back into Yosemite Valley, where you can choose one of a number of great hikes, rent a bike, or relax in the shade by the emerald green Merced River. After a full day in the park, head back to San Francisco, arriving around 21:00.

Double

Single