Yosemite National Park Two Day Tour

Description of Yosemite National Park Two Day Tour

"Everybody needs beauty as well as bread"...where nature may heal and cheer and give strength to the body and soul.

By John Muir

Our Yosemite Two-Day Adventure will take you to the Yosemite incredible wonders including Glacier Point, the Giant Sequoias and the incomparable Yosemite Valley.

First Day:

7 AM: Our tour guide will pick you up at your hotel round 7 am and drive you to the Yosemite National Park via Central Valley. Your drivers will offer you a number of breaks, a stop for breakfast and photos stops on the way to the Yosemite as you drive through the Great Valley, the largest agricultural region in Northern America. You will see picturesque farms, ranches, grasslands, dairy farms, endless farmlands with outdoor local farmers markets and rivers including the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers. The 450-mile-long Central Valley supplies fully one-quarter of the food America eats. Among the famous fruits and vegetable you may see in Central Valley are: almonds, pistachio, walnut, apple, apricot, cherry, clementine, grape, lemon, melon, watermelon, nectarine, orange, peach, pear, plum, pomegranate, raisin, raspberry, tangerine, strawberry, tomato, carrots and much more.

9 AM: After a stop for breakfast, we will start winding our roads up through the Sierra Nevada mountains heading east towards the Yosemite Valley. The Yosemite Valley is home to the World's greatest natural wonders, concentrated in one valley. Among these wonders are the Yosemite falls, Ribbon and Bridalveil falls, Cascade falls, the Yosemite sheer granite towering cliffs such Half Dome, the symbol of the Yosemite Valley, El Capitan, Cathedral rocks and falls, the Three Brothers, Cathedral Spires, Royal Arches and the Lost Arrow Rocks, Sentinel Rock. Our experienced tour guides are highly trained and know very well the back roads and hidden wonders of the Yosemite National Park. You will enjoy hiking and or walking to breathtaking sites on the main roads but also off the beaten path.

12:30- 5:00 PM: After lunch that will take place in one of the Yosemite valley restaurants or as an outdoor lunch in an overlooking view point dominating the Yosemite valley and waterfalls, we will explore the remaining wonders of the Yosemite valley including waterfalls, rivers, hiking through picturesque meadows and hanging forests. Please bring hiking shoes in summer and snow shoes in winter, if you are interested in hiking. Our 4X4 Private SUV tour is flexible and leaves all the options open so you decide whether to hike or not.

5:00 PM We are now heading to your hotel where you will overnight. The hotel offers you many and great amenities including a swimming pool and a hot tub (please bring your own swimsuits). Surrounding the hotel, there are restaurants where you can dine and also enjoy your breakfast the following day.

Second Day

A full day Adventure to marvel at the unique and majestic Giant Sequoias and discover the breathtaking Glacier Point!

9:30AM 12:00 PM After breakfast, we will wind our road up to the mountains heading towards the magnificent Glacier Point.

Glacier Point is an overlook on the south rim hanging over Yosemite Valley and towering at an elevation of 7,214 ft. From Glacier Point , a stupendous panoramic vista stretches out into the endless horizon for many miles in all directions. You can picture snow and the high country not visible from the valley such Clark Range, Clouds Rest, top of El Capitan and Half Dome, the Valley floor and its wonders seen from the sky and the Tuolumne meadows. You can also admire the Yosemite hidden waterfalls including Vernal and Nevada Falls dominated by the imposing Staircase falls.

Glacier Point still witness President Theodore Roosevelt's meeting with John Muir in 1903 and was immortalized by Ansel Adams' historic photos. There will be many other photos stops, sightseeing and hikes in the Yosemite highlands and meadows.

12:30PM - 3:30 PM The splendors of Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias After our guided tour to Glacier Point, your tour guide will drive you south towards Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias. We will drive through the Wawona meadows and may stop at the Wawona Historic Lodge for lunch. Lunch may also take place as an outdoor picnic in the beautiful Yosemite meadows or along a river.

We will keep driving south towards Mariposa Grove of Sequoias after lunch. The Giant Sequoia trees (Sequoiadendron gigantea) are found in three Groves in Yosemite National Park. Mariposa Grove is the largest Grove of Sequoias. It's located 35 miles (56km) south of Yosemite Valley. Mariposa Grove is home to the Oldest and Largest Sequoias in the Yosemite National Park including the unique Grizzly Giant tree (over 1850 years old).

Although in most visitors' minds, the Yosemite is most famous for its lush valley, granite rock formations, and majestic waterfalls but the National park's three Groves of spectacular Giant Sequoia trees are equally majestic and even more unique. The Giant Sequoia species, or Sequoia Dendron, is relatively rare and only grows in a 250-square mile swath of the eastern Sierra Nevada mountain range in California, so don't miss your chance to see these beauties while visiting Yosemite National Park!

Tips for visitors and hikers:

• If you are subject to car or motion sickness, please consider asking your doctor for the required medication.
• Small overnight bag due to the limited luggage compartment in the vehicle.
• Hiking clothes and boots, snow shoes in winter, swimsuit to enjoy the swimming pool and hot tub at the hotel, sun protection, bug spray eventually, extra SD cards and batteries for your camera.
• Warm layers for cool evenings or winter time, and raincoat for some summer showers.
• Drink lots of water due to the high altitude and don't hike alone.
• Please advise our office if you have any particular health conditions. We are not responsible for any injury or accident that may occur during this trip in or out of the Yosemite National Park. Please read our terms and conditions for more information.
• Please consider our Private tours if you don't want to share or deal with other customers.

Why us?

We offer high quality customer service and seek in every step to meet and exceed your Expectations!

We are a new innovative Tour Operator specialized in private and small group tours. We are focused on providing exclusive tours "Out of the Box", offering our customers the most extraordinary and rich travel experiences possible in the Yosemite National Park. Our Yosemite tours includes tax, accommodation, complementary pick-up and drop off, guided tours in top of the line luxury 4X4 SUVs or luxury vans conducted by certified tour guides. We are the best rated Tour Operator on Trip Advisor and ratepoint.com.

Yosemite Two Day Tour Prices

Option 1 : Choose our Private 4X4 SUV tour

Note: 2 persons minimum is required per tour and per reservation to run our Private SUV tour.

**Note** : Our decreased and/or discounted prices noted above are based on the number of participants in your own party on these Semi-Private tours. No discount or refund will apply when sharing the SUV or the VAN with other parties who may sign up for the same tour.

By booking a semi-private SUV or VAN tour, you agree to share the required vehicle with other customers. Also you understand that this guided tour might be narrated in two or more foreign languages in addition to English. Nevertheless, we guarantee your tour even if no other participants sign up for that tour as long as the minimum number of participants is acquired.

You may wish to consider our Private Tours if you need more privacy, comfort and flexibility and do not wish to share the trip with other customers.

BY VAN  

Note: 5 People minimum is required to run our van tour or choose our SUV tour if you don't have the required number of participants in your party. The 4X4 SUV tour is the best way to go.

Accommodation:

The Hotel location will be determined based on availabilities and rates. Some hotels are booked up several months in advance and double their rates during the peak season ( April to October) and holidays. We don't work on commission and don't make any profits when you have small group tour of 14 rooms or less. We book your hotel and take care of the required details as part of our customer service. We will do our best to ensure you will check-in and out on time and enjoy your room and privacy. However, we are not responsible for any accident, injury or the outcome when you stay at these hotels. We don't own these properties as they are individually owned and operate according to their own policy and terms. You may want to lower your expectations when you book a hotel in the mountains, far away from the city and its extravagancy and elegance so you do not get disappointed. You can however upgrade to fancy hotels like the Ahwahnee where basic suites may go for $1200.00 or more per night!

This is the list of hotels we work with and may maybe subject to change or update at any time. You can copy these urls (sites) and paste them into your browser to check these hotels out:

• http://www.yosemitepark.com/Accommodations_YosemiteLodge.aspx
• http://www.nationalparkreservations.com/yosemite_view.php
• http://www.yosemitepark.com/Accommodations_WawonaHotel.aspx
• http://www.yosemite-motels.com/cedarlodge/index.htm

You may also stay at any one of the Oakhurst hotels located only 35 minutes south of Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias:

• http://www.oakhurstchamber.com/index.php?src=gendocs&ref=Hotels&category=
  tourism&submenu=tourism

When you book our Yosemite Private tour we will choose the hotel for you, or you can choose your favorite hotel in the Yosemite and book your room(s) directly with the required hotel without going through us. We will drop you off and pick you up at your hotel for no extra charge. Still looking for more choices and recommendations? You may choose any hotel from the above suggestions or from the below recommended properties:

• http://www.yosemitepark.com/Accommodations_YosemiteLodge.aspx
• http://www.yosemitepark.com/Accommodations_TheAhwahnee.aspx
• http://www.tenayalodge.com/
• http://www.nationalparkreservations.com/yosemite_view.php

Book 2 private tours now and get 10% off (from November to March except holidays and weekends)

** NOTE **

• Daily departure from San Francisco to Yosemite National Park.
• Duration: This is a Two Day Adventure.
• Distance and Mileage: About 300 miles per day(480KM) and 4 hour drive each way from and back to San Francisco.
• Elevation: San Francisco is on the sea level. The Yosemite Glacier Point towers above 7250 ft (2625m)
• 2 persons minimum is required for our Private SUV tours, 3 people minimum for our semi-private SUV tour and 5 persons minimum for our Van tour.
• Complementary pick-up and drop off as shown on the below tour itinerary
• Please note that the access to certain sites including Glacier Point and the Groves of Giant Sequoias are seasonal due to heavy snow. Also, we are not responsible for road closure due to snow and road conditions.
• Included: 4X4 SUV or Van depending on your choice of vehicle and tour, tour narration in by one language on our Private tour and two languages or more on our Semi-private tours (when sharing the vehicle with other customers), a certified tour guide, pick and drop off, Yosemite National Park entrance fees, refreshment , all tour taxes, accommodation and administrative fees included when booking a two day tour hotel included, and no overtime charges on all our Yosemite Private tours !
• Excluded: Meals, driver's gratuity and accommodation (unless you choose our 2 day tour hotel included).

How To Book My Tour?

• You can secure your booking directly through our secure reservation page (click here) and scroll down to "Step 1-Tour Information" section to choose your tour from the "select tour" drop down where you select your preferred tour, date & number of persons. Please fill out the credit card information under section "Step 2-Cardholder Information".
• Lastly, it's very important that you re-enter your hotel or pick up location and the date of your tour under section "Step 3-Submit Reservation". Please check your email you entered on our reservation form to get our merchant receipt, generated ONLY when transactions are approved! We will also send you a tour voucher confirming your tour, date and pick up time.

** NOTE **

• When transactions are not approved, we simply don't get any information with this regard and therefore, you will not hear from us. Please double check and ensure you get an email from our Merchant account sent to you from: "Authorize.Net Auto-Receipt" <emailreceipts@authorize.net>
• If you don't get an email from <emailreceipts@authorize.net>, please start over with a different credit card and enter the exact billing information related to the required credit card. You may also contact us via email to inquire about your transaction if you don't get this above merchant receipt. However, if you do receive this above email, there will be no need to contact us.
• If you have a special request, you can add it under “Step 3-Submit Reservation” in the section “special request” located at the bottom of this secure and encrypted form.

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Highlights Description Prices Itinerary Accommodation

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Itinerary for Yosemite National Park Two Day Tour

DAY 1

7:00 AMPick Up

Golden Horizon Travel offers you complementary pick-up and drop off at your hotel in downtown San Francisco or Fisherman's Wharf, in Emeryville or in Dublin-Pleasanton Bart Station.

The city of Pleasanton is home to a number of corporate headquarters including Oracle Corporation while Dublin is known for its yearly Saint Patrick's Day Parade and automobile dealers. Livermore, a city located east of Dublin, is known for its wine country and medical and nuclear laboratories.

 

7:00 AM - 9:00 AMDrive to Yosemite via Central Valley

The Yosemite tour departs from San Francisco on Highway 580 to Central Valley going through Livermore Valley and Altamont Pass windmills farm. Picture on our Yosemite Tour, Altamont Pass nestled in the Diablo Mountain Range dominated by the imposing Mount Diablo- the Highest Peak in San Francisco Bay Area. The Yosemite tour highlights the importance of Altamont Pass windmill farm as one of the earliest in the United States and the largest concentration of wind turbines in the US. As the Yosemite tour continues through Central Valley, observe the sharp contrast between the geology of the flat Central Valley and that of the surrounding rugged hills of Diablo ranges. The Yosemite tour keeps heading east via Manteca city that lies at a crossroads of major highways and railroads.

Manteca is a small city where the famous American author, John Steinbeck worked one season at Spreckels Sugar processing, looking for new inspiration from the working class for his novels. The Yosemite Tour continues on highway 120 heading east via Central Valley, the Largest Agricultural Valley in North America.

 

9:00 AM - 9:30 AM Coffee Break in central Valley: "The Fruit Basket of the World."

The Yosemite tour continues through Central Valley, one of the Largest and most productive Agricultural Regions in the World. It is commonly referred to as the "Fruit Basket of the World." The Yosemite tour continues on highway 120 through endless agricultural fields and grasslands in the valley. The Yosemite tour will now stop for a coffee break and breakfast . This may take place anywhere in Central Valley including in the cowboy town of Oakdale, located about 98 miles west of the Yosemite Valley. It's the First Town in the Western United States to host a Professional Outdoor Rodeo. It's the gate to the Sierra Nevada on the way to the Yosemite Valley .Oakdale hosts also a Chocolate Festival every year and it is renowned for its cheese factory too.

 

9:30 AM - 10:30 AMSecond Half: Drive to Yosemite via the Sierra Nevada

The Yosemite tour continues on highway 120 through the Gold Country where gold nuggets were discovered back in 1848. You go through the historical Chinese Camp, an old mining town and drive by Don Pedro Lake where a photo stop may take place. It is a huge manmade lake nestled in the Sierra Nevada foothills offering 160 miles of shoreline.

Don Pedro Lake became a popular destination for vacations attracting over 400,000 visitors a year looking for water sports- house boating rental, fishing, swimming, water-skiing, jet skiing and windsurfing. As the Yosemite Tour passes Moccasin Powerhouse strategically located along the Hetch Hetchy pipelines.

We start now winding our scenic road up through the Sierra Nevada highlands heading east to the Yosemite. Enjoy the scenic views and picture the historic town of Groveland established by the famous gold seekers known as the Forty-Niners. Groveland is the gate to the Yosemite National Park and home to the historic Iron Door Saloon, probably the Oldest in California which was established back in 1852.

 

10:30 AM - 12:00 PMThe Sierra Nevada Natural wonders

The Yosemite tour continues through the Sierra Nevada that stretches over 400 miles from south to north constituting a natural frontier between Nevada and California. The Sierra Nevada is home to the World most amazing natural wonders including the Yosemite National Park and the Yosemite Giant Sequoias -the Largest trees on Earth.
Geologically, the Sierra Nevada is home to the US highest Peak out of Alaska - Mount Whitney (14,505 ft). We arrive to the Yosemite National Park via the western side of the Yosemite Park known as Big Oak Flat entrance (32 Miles to the Yosemite Valley).

The Yosemite Tour offers you now some breathtaking photos stops starting with the first tunnel photo stop located on Big Oak Flat Road. This Yosemite tour offers you now some spectacular photos stops overlooking the Yosemite Valley including Merced River and Canyon. More photos stops to come down in the Yosemite Valley, Yosemite Tunnel view and by the Yosemite Falls.

 

12:00 PM - 12:30 PMYosemite Valley

The Yosemite Valley is deeply carved into the gently sloping western flank of the western part of the Sierra Nevada. The Yosemite Valley tour offers you unique views of the park -towering cliffs, spectacular waterfalls, and beautiful Alpine scenery.

Marvel at the Yosemite natural wonders including waterfalls, granite polished domes and hanging rocks such El Capitan and Half Dome. We will take you on a smooth hike to marvel at Bridalveil waterfalls facing El Capitan.

The Yosemite Valley tour will take you to the famous Tunnel View for a spectacular photo stop overlooking the Yosemite Valley. The tour offers you a photos stop by Sentinel Bridge overlooking the Merced River dominate by the imposing Half Dome- the most colossal and recognizable rock monument in the Sierra Nevada. Half Dome is the symbol of the Yosemite Valley.

 

12:30 PM - 2:30 PM Lunch Break by the Yosemite Falls: The highest Waterfall in North America

The Yosemite tour stops now for lunch break at the Yosemite Lodge restaurant and recreational area in the heart of the Yosemite Valley, at an idyllic spot located by Yosemite Falls. You can enjoy shopping at one of the Yosemite Valley gift shops and having an indoor lunch by the Yosemite Falls.

You can also enjoy an outdoor picnic in the Yosemite Valley Floor and meadows dominated by Yosemite Falls. While enjoying your picnic, you can observe the Yosemite granitic tonality of the giant rocks that contrast with the Yosemite green flat Valley Floor. You are facing the Yosemite

Royal Arches Rocks where the Yosemite Falls emerge before dropping 2400 ft down in the Valley.

The Yosemite Falls are three waterfalls in one: The Yosemite Upper Falls, the Yosemite Middle Falls, and the Yosemite Lower Falls. The Yosemite falls all in one drop a total of 2425-foot (739m) down in the Yosemite Valley qualifying the Yosemite Falls to the World 6th Highest waterfalls!

 

3:30 PM - 4:30 PMHike with us to Marvel at the Yosemite Valley wonders

The Yosemite tour will take you for an exciting hike to explore the Valley in-depth. We often choose to hike to Mirror Lake. It's a breath taking view hiking adventure. However, the tour guide will pick-up the best location according to time and your preferences. You will have a wonderful time regardless the hiking trail you will pick-up. The Yosemite Valley floor is home to the largest concentration of wonders in the World in such limited area.

 

5:00 PMArrive to your hotel in The Yosemite National Park

After an exciting adventure on your Yosemite first day tour, we will now drive to your hotel. Dinner is available at the hotel but not included. You can also enjoy a drink in the hot tub or take a walk along the Merced River.

The hotel provides a number of amenities offering comfort and fun. Our prices are based on double occupancy; however, we can accommodate you for booking a room based on single, triple or quadruple occupancy. Contact us and we will take care of the rest.

 

DAY 2

8:00 AM - 9:30 AMBreakfast at the hotel and checkout

The Yosemite tour starts the day with a delicious breakfast at your hotel. After breakfast, we check out to embark on a new and exciting adventure. You don't have to drive long hours to get to Yosemite; you are already in the heart of the Yosemite National Park. This is a full day Green tour away from the city. You will combine breathtaking hiking excursions among the majestic Giant Sequoias and explore the highlands and wild meadows of the Yosemite National Park including the famous Glacier Point. You will picture the World's most amazing and impressive gift of Mother Nature wonders, the Giant Sequoias.

 

10:00 AM – 12 PM Glacier Point highlands and meadows: The Yosemite's Most Beautiful Vista

Let Golden Horizon Travel take you to the peak of your imagination and inspiration. This spectacular Yosemite tour takes you from the Yosemite Valley to the breathtaking Glacier Point. Glacier Point hiking tour offers you stupendous panoramic views that stretch out in the endless horizon. You can also admire the Yosemite's most famous waterfalls, including, Vernal Falls and Nevada Falls. You may see some bears hanging out in the meadows among other wild animals.

 

12:00 PMLunch break

Lunch may take place anywhere in the Yosemite Park as a picnic. You can also enjoy your lunch at one of local restaurants. The tour guide will arrange that with you the same day according to your preference and time.

 

1:30 PM - 4:00 PMMariposa Grove: Home of the largest Giant Sequoias in Yosemite

The Yosemite tour takes you to Mariposa Grove home of the largest Giant Sequoias the Yosemite National Park including the massive and imposing Grizzly Giant. The Yosemite tour begins the hiking adventure at the Wawona Gift shop and store parking area.

You will see the most massive and Giant Sequoias in the whole Yosemite park. Picture some of the famous Sequoias such: Columbia Tree, the Tallest tree in the Yosemite. The Fallen Monarch, the California Tunnel Tree.
After a break by the gift shop, we head back to San Francisco via Central Valley where a break will be scheduled halfway between Yosemite and San Francisco.

The Yosemite tour is flexible, the order and the visited sites of interest may change according to customers preferences, time and weather considerations.

 

7:45 PM - 8:30 PMBack in San Francisco: "The City"

Arrival to San Francisco where we will drop you off at your hotel located in downtown or Fisherman's Wharf. "All's Well That Ends Well!" It is time to say goodbye to your new friends you made on the Yosemite Two day Tour.

Thank you for choosing Golden Horizon Travel. We appreciate and value your business.

We highly recommend our Private 4x4 SUV tour, the best way to explore Yosemite scenic back roads and highlands.