You don’t have to drive to the Caribbean to ride a horse along a paradisiac golden beach. Here's your chance to knock this adventure off your bucket list. This family-friendly ranch offers trail rides and horseback riding lessons suitable for ages, tastes, occasions and experience levels.
This is the ultimate getaway full day 9-hour worry-free private tour package: Ride a horse on the beach, discover one of California’s largest ancient state parks of giant Redwoods and Pacific Coast highway 1 top sights, beaches and attractions. Visit the authentic beach town of Santa Cruz, Hal-Moon Bay and Pacifica State Beach, a popular destination for locals and surfers. Here's your chance to knock this awesome outdoor adventure off your bucket list.
This new escapade is 100% private, the horseback ride fees and redwoods forest and state beaches entrance fees are all included. The trip itinerary will be tailor-made to your specific travel needs, preferences and expectations.
You’ll visit a remote and hidden park of redwood located in the Santa Cruz mountains, it’s far less crowded than Muir Woods National Monument, the giant redwoods there are way much older, and bigger than those small young redwood trees in Muir Woods.
Do yourself a favor and skip the large crowds and big bus tours of Muir Woods. Did you know that Muir Woods has become the first national park to require all year-round reservation to it, without which you get turned away at the entrance wasting your day trip! Save yourself time and money and join us on this new relaxing discovery adventure to marvel at towering old redwoods without driving far and enjoy more peace and quality time in the real wilderness of Santa Cruz mountains.
You don’t have to drive to the Caribbean to ride a horse along a paradisiac beach. Here's your chance to knock this adventure off your bucket list. This family-friendly ranch offers trail rides and horseback riding lessons suitable for ages and experience levels. Here is your chance to see bigger, taller and much older redwoods than those of Muir Woods.
After a complimentary pick-up at your hotel in San Francisco, you will depart south and cruise along California State Route 1, on the dramatic and rugged coastline of the Pacific Ocean to visit a family owned ranch of horseback riding at a historic stable, located just south of San Francisco and North of Half -Moon Bay. This is the only stable that offers direct access to a beautiful hidden beach accessible only on horseback through a canyon of rolling hills and wildflowers. It welcomes all levels of horseback riders – from beginners to experts.
Meet-up with horse trainers, saddle up and embark on this thrilling horseback ride to enjoy a one-hour escorted ride, an amazing experience suitable for the whole family— even for first-time riders or beginners! No prior horseback riding experience is required, as you will be supervised by professional trainers. Your trainer will choose an appropriate horse for you, based on your experience, age, and weight and answer any questions you may have. Please provide the age and weight of each guest in the party for safety considerations. Safety is our number priority so please wear your helmet and be aware of the policies and safety guidelines.
The simple act of getting up on a horse is magic and graceful, this excursion is perfect for those who wish to see this countryside unique beauty and ride a horse along the majestic Pacific Ocean coastline and enjoy the peacefulness of this remote beach inaccessible to all vehicles.
Come join us now and ride down on a sandy white beach with the waves lapping at your horses’ feet and the smell of sea salt tickles your nose. Admire the beauty of wildlife you may encounter along the beach, you may get lucky and spot whales, dolphins or sea lions, and even endangered birds can be seen on this beautiful stretch of beach depending on the season, After visiting Half-Moon Bay, you will visit the beautiful beach town of Santa Cruz. Among top things to see in Santa Cruz Santa Cruz are Santa Cruz Surf Museum, Natural Bridges, Beach Boardwalk and Santa Cruz Wharf where you can enjoy lunch at one of the Oceanside Restaurants.
After lunch break in Sant Cruz, you’ll visit Big Basin Redwoods State Park, it’s California's oldest State Park, established in 1902, earning its designation as a California Historical Landmark The park has over 130 km (81 mi) of trails. Some of these trails link Big Basin to Castle Rock State Park and the eastern reaches of the Santa Cruz range. The Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail threads its way through the park along Waddell Creek to Waddell Beach and the adjacent Theodore J. Hoover Natural Preserve, a freshwater marsh
The park has a large number of waterfalls, a wide variety of environments (from lush canyon bottoms to sparse chaparral-covered slopes), many animals (deer, raccoons, an occasional bobcat) and abundant bird life – including Steller's jays, egrets, herons and acorn woodpeckers. Here is your chance to see bigger, taller and much older redwoods than those of Muir Woods. Did you know that Muir Woods has become the first national park to require all year-round reservation to it, without which you get turned away at the entrance wasting your day trip! Save yourself time and money and join us on this new relaxing discovery adventure to marvel at towering old redwoods without driving far and enjoy more peace and quality time in the real wilderness of Santa Cruz mountains.
After the walking guided tour inside this park of massive redwood trees, take a stroll through historic villages located off-the-beaten-path your passionate and private tour guide will drive back to San Francisco.
This new escapade is 100% private, the horseback ride fees, state beaches and Redwood forest entrance fees are all included. Also, all applicable taxes, pickup and drop off in San Francisco are also included in this worry-free tour package. -What to wear during excursion? You need to wear comfortable walking shoes with well-gripped soles. Dress in layers as the weather in San Francisco Bay Area and along the coast is often foggy and unpredictable.
This new adventure may not be available for last-minute booking, in winter and during the rainy season or for any other considerations relating to weather and road conditions, we will simply refund or void your transaction when it’s not available.
You don’t have to drive to the Caribbean to ride a horse along a paradisiac beach. Here's your chance to knock this adventure off your bucket list. This family-friendly ranch offers trail rides and horseback riding lessons suitable for ages and experience levels. Here is your chance to see bigger, taller and much older redwoods than those of Muir Woods.
After a complimentary pick-up at your hotel in San Francisco, you will depart south and cruise along California State Route 1, on the dramatic and rugged coastline of the Pacific Ocean to visit a family owned ranch of horseback riding at a historic stable, located just south of San Francisco and North of Half -Moon Bay. This is the only stable that offers direct access to a beautiful hidden beach accessible only on horseback through a canyon of rolling hills and wildflowers. It welcomes all levels of horseback riders – from beginners to experts.
Meet-up with horse trainers, saddle up and embark on this thrilling horseback ride to enjoy a one-hour escorted ride, an amazing experience suitable for the whole family— even for first-time riders or beginners! No prior horseback riding experience is required, as you will be supervised by professional trainers. Your trainer will choose an appropriate horse for you, based on your experience, age, and weight and answer any questions you may have. Please provide the age and weight of each guest in the party for safety considerations. Safety is our number priority so please wear your helmet and be aware of the policies and safety guidelines.
The simple act of getting up on a horse is magic and graceful, this excursion is perfect for those who wish to see this countryside unique beauty and ride a horse along the majestic Pacific Ocean coastline and enjoy the peacefulness of this remote beach inaccessible to all vehicles.
Come join us now and ride down on a sandy white beach with the waves lapping at your horses’ feet and the smell of sea salt tickles your nose. Admire the beauty of wildlife you may encounter along the beach, you may get lucky and spot whales, dolphins or sea lions, and even endangered birds can be seen on this beautiful stretch of beach depending on the season, After visiting Half-Moon Bay, you will visit the beautiful beach town of Santa Cruz. Among top things to see in Santa Cruz Santa Cruz are Santa Cruz Surf Museum, Natural Bridges, Beach Boardwalk and Santa Cruz Wharf where you can enjoy lunch at one of the Oceanside Restaurants.
After lunch break in Sant Cruz, you’ll visit Big Basin Redwoods State Park, it’s California's oldest State Park, established in 1902, earning its designation as a California Historical Landmark. The park has over 130 km (81 mi) of trails. Some of these trails link Big Basin to Castle Rock State Park and the eastern reaches of the Santa Cruz range. The Skyline-to-the-Sea Trail threads its way through the park along Waddell Creek to Waddell Beach and the adjacent Theodore J. Hoover Natural Preserve, a freshwater marsh.
The park has a large number of waterfalls, a wide variety of environments (from lush canyon bottoms to sparse chaparral-covered slopes), many animals (deer, raccoons, an occasional bobcat) and abundant bird life – including Steller's jays, egrets, herons and acorn woodpeckers. Here is your chance to see bigger, taller and much older redwoods than those of Muir Woods. Did you know that Muir Woods has become the first national park to require all year-round reservation to it, without which you get turned away at the entrance wasting your day trip! Save yourself time and money and join us on this new relaxing discovery adventure to marvel at towering old redwoods without driving far and enjoy more peace and quality time in the real wilderness of Santa Cruz mountains.
After the walking guided tour inside this park of massive redwood trees, take a stroll through historic villages located off-the-beaten-path your passionate and private tour guide will drive back to San Francisco
This new escapade is 100% private, the horseback ride fees, state beaches and Redwood forest entrance fees are all included. Also, all applicable taxes, pickup and drop off in San Francisco are also included in this worry-free tour package.
-What to wear during excursion? You need to wear comfortable walking shoes with well-gripped soles. Dress in layers as the weather in San Francisco Bay Area and along the coast is often foggy and unpredictable.
This new adventure may not be available for last-minute booking, in winter and during the rainy season or for any other considerations relating to weather and road conditions, we will simply refund or void your transaction when it’s not available.
Experience a horseback ride on the beach, visit Santa Cruz top attractions and explore California’s largest State Park of Giant Redwoods
This custom tour by SUV (luxury car) is totally private and the price is per person. We don’t offer semi-private tours; all our trips are totally private.
| Price per person | 1 Guest | 2 Guests | 3 Guests | 4 Guests | 5 Guests | 6 Guests | 7 Guests |
| Hotel Accommodation Excluded | $1338 | $759 | $589 | $489 | $429 | $389 | $359 |
This is a private city tour by large luxury van (like 15 seaters deluxe minibus) The price is per party (small group). This tour by large van is totally private and not available for public reservations or individual booking.
| Price per group | 1-5 Guests | 6-7 Guests | 8-10 Guests | 11-12 Guests | 13-14 Guests |
| Hotel Accommodation Excluded | $2199 | $2629 | $3149 | $3499 | $3779 |
Included:
All applicable taxes pick up and drop off at your hotel in San Francisco or Silicon Valley a private 9-hour tour when starting and ending the trip in San Francisco, , your 1-hour horseback ride, redwood park entrance fees and parkin g permits.
Not Included:
Meals, your own redwoods entrance tickets, driver’s gratuity (which are recommended and customary in the USA at 15%-20% ) and all entrance tickets or fees to any optional site(s) not stated above.
Term & Refund Policy
91% of the total amount will be refunded to your credit card if you cancel your trip at least 15 business days prior to the scheduled tour or service date. The remaining 9% covers the required transaction fees, which include a 4.5% fee for each transaction (booking is one transaction, and refunding is a second transaction for which we are also charged). (Weekends and holidays do not count.)
50% of the total amount will be refunded if the tour is canceled at least 7 business days prior to the scheduled tour or service date. (Weekends and holidays do not count.)
15% of the total amount will be refunded if the tour is canceled at least 5 business days prior to the scheduled tour date. (Weekends and holidays do not count.)
0% of the total amount will be refunded if the tour is canceled 4 business days or fewer prior to the scheduled tour or service date. This includes no-shows. (Weekends and holidays do not count.)
Please note that all refunds are subject to credit card and merchant fees imposed by the credit card companies and merchant banks or providers. The average credit card and merchant transaction fees may range between 3.9% to 9.8% of the total purchase amount, depending on the type of credit card used, the card issuer, country, and conversion fees we incur per transaction. Many foreign countries apply additional origination and conversion fees.
Important:
Please note that we reserve the date(s) you requested and booked on our website, and we decline taking other tours for those dates in order to honor your booking. We reserve a tour guide and a luxury vehicle for you, and we make all necessary reservations and arrangements for your party. Therefore, please refrain from changing the date or canceling last minute, as we have other customers and tours to honor.
General Terms
Reservation and Confirmation:
Upon booking online, a merchant receipt will be automatically generated and sent to your email. We will also confirm your reservation via email and provide a tour voucher or booking confirmation, including your tour date, time, and pick-up details. This confirmation or voucher is valid only for the specific date(s) and names listed on your reservation. Please note that you cannot transfer names or change dates, as we have other tours to honor. The tour date cannot be modified within 15 days of the scheduled departure, and no alternative dates will be offered.
To ensure smooth operations, we reserve the right to partner with other tour operators, freelancers, and/or our sister companies. The name and contact details of your tour operator will be provided on your tour voucher, and the trip confirmation will be sent to you once we receive approval of your payment transaction.
Declined Transactions:
If a transaction is declined, we will not receive any notification regarding the reason. Please do not assume your reservation is confirmed unless you have received written confirmation from us. If your booking is declined by your bank, it may be due to a mismatch in bank details (e.g., name, billing address, zip/postal code) or insufficient funds. Your tour(s) will not be confirmed until your payment is approved. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, but this precaution is taken by your bank to protect against fraud.
Even with an approved transaction, all tours are subject to availability. We will contact you as soon as possible to confirm if the requested tour and dates are available. Please note that all our tours are conducted in English unless otherwise specified in the confirmation email or tour voucher.
We reserve the right to offer suitable substitutes or changes to your itinerary, tours, or services due to special events, weather conditions, road closures, vehicle breakdowns, or other unforeseen circumstances. We assume no responsibility for delays caused by accidents, breakdowns, road conditions, weather, or other factors beyond our control. While we make every effort to adhere to the tour schedule, we do not guarantee specific arrival or departure times.
Hot-Air Balloon Special Cancellation and Refund Policy:
This is an 8-hour guided tour (door-to-door from San Francisco, or 6 hours from Napa or Sonoma Valley).
Your balloon ride will be scheduled before sunrise, depending on weather conditions. Safety is our #1 priority. Balloon rides will not take place if there is rain or winds above 12 mph. In case Napa weather conditions prevent us from flying, alternative launch sites such as Yolo County or Pope Valley may be used.
Heads-Up:
The hot-air balloon pilots offer alternative launch sites when Napa Valley weather doesn’t permit takeoff from the valley, increasing your chances of flying even when weather conditions are less than ideal in Napa.
Non-refundable for No-Show or Last-Minute Changes:
Our office will notify you by 5 pm the day before your hot-air balloon tour (typically, pick-up is between 4 and 5 am from your hotel in San Francisco or Napa). If we cannot reach you before 5 pm due to lack of response to emails or phone calls, your driver will still show up at 4 am as scheduled. If you do not wake up for the tour, it will be considered a no-show, and the full cost will be non-refundable as per our cancellation and refund policy.
Refundable Portion of the Balloon Ride:
If you need to cancel the balloon ride portion of the tour, please do so at least 72 hours in advance. The balloon ride is refundable only if canceled by the pilot on the same day due to weather conditions or other considerations. If you cancel 72 hours in advance, your tour guide will pick you up at 9 am instead of 4 am and proceed with the wine tour as scheduled.
Please note that the wine tour portion is non-refundable regardless of weather conditions. However, if you wish to take the risk, your tour guide will pick you up as originally scheduled at 4 am. We reserve this day exclusively for you and turn away other bookings to honor your tour, and we still incur operational costs. Only the balloon ride portion is refundable if canceled before 5 pm the day before your tour. If refunded, you will receive $190 per person within 7 business days.
If you book through Viator, please review their cancellation policy as it may differ.
No Changes or Modifications Within 72 Hours of Departure:
No changes or modifications will be accepted within 72 hours prior to your tour. Our office closes at 5 pm, and our drivers leave at 7 pm to ensure they can wake up at 2 am to prepare for the early pick-up. After 5 pm, we will not process any requests, as we won’t receive your message until the next business day.
We are committed to being transparent about weather conditions and our cancellation policy. Please read these terms carefully to avoid misunderstandings. Our drivers go to great lengths to ensure your experience is smooth, so we appreciate your cooperation in not making last-minute changes after 5 pm the day before your tour.
Other terms and information
Wheelchair and Handicap Accessibility:
We apologize, but our vehicles are not equipped with wheelchair access. There is limited space for a wheelchair unless it is small and foldable. The main concern is the customer's ability to get in and out of the vehicle due to liability reasons. When children, seniors, or individuals with wheelchairs are part of the tour, it may slow down the trip and result in overtime. A fee of $179 will be charged to your credit card for each additional hour added to the tour (after 12 hours) when traveling by van, and $129 per hour when touring by SUV.
Pets:
Pets are not allowed in our vehicles out of respect for those who may have pet allergies.
Smoking:
Our vehicles are non-smoking.
Clothing:
Please be prepared for cold weather, slippery roads, and hiking trails. Comfortable waterproof hiking shoes are recommended for walking in the snow during winter and spring. This long-day tour can be challenging for kids and seniors; we recommend the overnight tour package for a more comfortable experience.
Parks, Attractions, and Site Closures:
We are not responsible or liable for road or weather conditions. State and national parks can close at any time, without prior notice, due to adverse road and weather conditions. No refund will be issued if the trip is unable to reach its destination for any reason. If you cancel or stop the tour for personal or medical reasons, no refund or tour date changes will be offered.
Guided Tours in Foreign Languages:
All tours in foreign languages are subject to additional fees to cover the cost of tour guides or freelancers we may hire to conduct the tour in the requested language.
Travel Agents:
Travel agents are responsible for a 20% gratuity when their clients do not tip the driver or tour guides. We require the full name and contact information of the customer from all travel agents, or the tour will be canceled. Travel agents are also liable for any overtime fees incurred when their clients do not pay for it, and a credit card must be kept on file. Due to the high costs of conducting business in California, we do not offer commission-based rates, as our pricing is designed to cover our business expenses and wages.
Gratuity:
A gratuity of 15–20% is customary in the USA. Typically, the tip ranges between 15% and 20% of the total purchase amount, or it may be a flat amount that aligns with the appropriate percentage. Gratuities are essential for tour guides, as they rely on them for their livelihood in California. Without tips, tour guides cannot thrive, and without tour guides, we cannot operate our business. Thank you for your generosity and understanding.
Muir Woods National Monument New Regulations:
Muir Woods National Monument has become less crowded and more peaceful, as it is now the first national park to require advance reservations and special commercial and parking permits. This additional cost and complex reservation process have deterred many visitors and tour companies. No one can access Muir Woods without prior reservations and permits. However, thanks to our private tours and small group custom trips, we handle all the necessary arrangements, providing you with a worry-free tour package. We reserve and pay for your parking and Muir Woods permits, but your Muir Woods tickets are not included in the tour price and will be at your own expense ($10 per person, subject to change).
Please note that tour guides are not permitted to conduct guided tours at Alcatraz or Muir Woods. Both Alcatraz and Muir Woods are self-guided tours, as outlined on our website. Alcatraz includes an audio self-guided tour. To keep costs down, we do not include hotel drop-offs after your visit to Alcatraz, so you do not pay overtime or have a driver waiting for you. Fisherman’s Wharf hotels are within walking distance of the Alcatraz landing, and public transportation is affordable and readily available.
Alcatraz Tours and Tickets & Online Calendar Usage:
The online calendar on our website is difficult to manage and update daily. It governs all our tours and is available in over 10 languages, which multiplies the number of tour options. When Alcatraz tickets are sold out, we cannot block the calendar for those specific dates, as this would prevent all other clients from booking tours in any of the 10 available languages. Alcatraz represents only 1% of our tours, and it’s extremely challenging to block the calendar each time tickets are sold out. For this reason, we have updated our terms and conditions to clearly state the following regarding Alcatraz tours and tickets:
Common Mistakes by Customers:
When Alcatraz tickets are sold out, some customers rush to book the Alcatraz tour directly on our website without reviewing our terms and conditions. As we clearly state, we have no control over Alcatraz ticket availability, and we require at least 8 business weeks’ advance booking to ensure ticket availability.
Misconceptions About Private Tours:
There is a misconception that private tours are more cost-effective for operators than large public group tours. In reality, the input costs for both private and public tours are roughly the same—both require a driver or tour guide, a vehicle, and similar trip lengths, with the same business expenses and insurance liabilities. However, private tour operators (like ours) make significantly less profit (up to 90% less) than public group tours, because we focus on smaller groups (couples or families). Public tour operators benefit from the volume and profit margins that come with larger groups. While we provide higher-quality services and incur greater expenses, the profit margins for private tours are limited, which makes some of our private tours barely profitable due to the rising costs and liabilities of doing business in California.
Additional Terms & Tips for visitors and hikers
If you are prone to car or motion sickness, we recommend consulting your doctor for suitable medication. Some visitors underestimate this issue and end up experiencing only 50% of the tour due to motion sickness or altitude sickness, resulting in frequent stops. Please ensure you have the appropriate medication in advance.
Consider leaving unnecessary luggage at your hotel and traveling light to maximize space in the vehicle.
Wear comfortable clothing and shoes suitable for walking and hiking (snowshoes are recommended in winter, and a swimsuit is advised if you wish to enjoy the hotel’s swimming pool and hot tub).
Bring sunscreen, bug spray, extra memory cards, and batteries for your camera (if applicable).
Pack warm layers for cooler weather, and don't forget a raincoat for summer showers.
Stay hydrated, especially at high altitudes, and avoid hiking alone as we offer fully-guided tours.
We are not responsible for injuries or accidents that may occur during this trip, whether in or out of Yosemite National Park. Please read our terms and conditions for more information.
Expect rugged terrain with narrow, steep, and winding hiking trails to the sequoias. Be prepared for a downhill hike followed by an uphill return to the parking lot. The trail is steep at the beginning of the return leg but levels out as you approach the parking lot. The specific grove your driver chooses will determine the trail, but all require hiking. The elevation at the trailhead of both primary groves is approximately 6,200 feet (1,860 meters). The Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias is the most popular, with a 2.5-mile (4 km) round trip taking around 1.5–2 hours of hiking. It’s suitable for everyone who is able to hike, including children.
California Gold Country: When Tioga Pass Road (located between Yosemite and the Eastern Sierra, leading to Tahoe) is closed due to heavy snow from as early as October until about June or July, we will drive through the historic and legendary California Gold Country on days 2 and 3 of your adventure.
Please note that we may start the tour in Lake Tahoe and then head to Yosemite National Park, or vice versa. This depends on hotel availability, the season, and road/weather conditions. We do not work on commission, so you are welcome to book your own hotel. However, if you'd prefer not to handle these details, we can assist you by selecting the 'hotel included' option when booking through our shopping cart.
Hotel Reservation: To keep costs down, we charge each guest approximately $100 per night for a three-star hotel in and around the Yosemite Valley area, based on availability. If you have higher expectations for accommodations and wish to upgrade, we recommend booking your own hotel directly with the resort or hotel of your choice. The Majestic Hotel (formerly the Ahwahnee) is the only 4-star hotel in Yosemite Valley, with suite prices ranging from $600 to $1,200 per night, depending on availability and the season. Please note that Yosemite’s hotels are limited and often booked 6 to 12 months in advance, so booking as early as possible is recommended. However, we are frequently able to secure reservations at nearby resorts or motels close to Yosemite Valley for tours booked closer to the travel date.
More Terms and Miscellaneous
Foreign Languages: Our tours are conducted in English unless otherwise specified on your tour voucher. Some foreign language tours may be subject to additional fees. To enjoy a tour in a foreign language, you must book a Private Tour (subject to availability), as semi-private tours are conducted in English and shared with other clients. Additional fees may apply for extra foreign languages. Semi-private tours will no longer be available on our website, so please book your private tour as soon as possible, as our bilingual tour guides are often booked months in advance.
Miscellaneous: Meals and gratuities for tour guides/drivers are not included in the tour price unless otherwise indicated on your tour voucher or email confirmation.
Tour prices do not include additional fees such as wine tastings, accommodations, entry fees to attractions, winery tours, or any other optional experiences unless otherwise indicated on your tour voucher or email confirmation.
Hot Air Balloon Rides: Our hot air balloon rides are not guaranteed to depart or return to Napa Valley and are subject to last-minute cancellations due to weather considerations. Golden Horizon Travel Inc. reserves the right to fly anywhere within an 80-mile radius of Napa Valley, depending on weather conditions.
Service Refusal: We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone who refuses to comply with our safety instructions, tour itinerary, or who may pose a threat to other customers or our tour guide-drivers. Abusive behavior such as yelling or insulting tour guide-drivers, fellow passengers, or third-party businesses and subcontractors will result in immediate termination of the tour without a refund. Discrimination of any kind toward a customer or tour guide-driver will not be tolerated.
Cancellation Due to Unforeseen Weather Conditions: In the event of unforeseen circumstances such as weather conditions, fires, landslides, road closures, vehicle breakdowns, or medical emergencies, we reserve the right to offer alternative tours or destinations of equal value and duration.
Travel Insurance: As a small local tour company, we do not provide or qualify for travel insurance, as this falls outside our industry. Therefore, we strongly recommend that our guests obtain their own travel insurance prior to their trip. While we are not affiliated with any insurance providers, we found the following reputable companies offering travel insurance within the U.S.: Allianz Global Assistance, AIG Travel Guard, Travelex Insurance Services, Nationwide Travel Insurance, AXA Assistance USA, World Nomads, VisitorsCoverage, Travel Guard by AIG, and Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection.
Modifications of Terms and Conditions: Golden Horizon Travel Inc. and its affiliated websites or contractors reserve the right to modify these terms and conditions at any time. We may update our website content, terms, and privacy policy without prior notice. privacy policy and complete terms and conditions
We selected Golden Horizon Tours as the best Silicon Valley tour provider and specialist. We debated renting a car for the day and hitting the sights on our own, but we are so glad we decided to splurge on Golden Horizons for the day! Mary was AMAZING! She is so intelligent and well spoken. She was able to answer every question my inquisitive husband threw at her! She knew just where to take us for the best photo ops and experiences. WE would have likely missed much on our own at best...and at worst spent the day going in circles in traffic jams or lost! She was flexible to meet our needs and adjusted the day accordingly.
We had to move our day up by half an hour to get in a late afternoon helicopter tour that had to be rescheduled due to fog from the previous day. Mary took us to the airport and surprised us by waiting the whole HOUR to take us back to our hotel, even though our tour with her was technically over. WOW...this is a 5-star customer service. It saved us from having to take a train back and allowed us some rest time before dinner. We were so appreciative! Thanks, Mary, for an amazing Silicon Valley day full of personalized attention. We feel like we spent the day with a friend!
Dm-Atlanta, Georgia
Trip Advisor Senior Contributor
We booked this Silicon Valley on the website of golden horizon tours and didn’t really know what to expect. This turned out to be a wonderful guided tour with Adam. We were greeted at Intel and Stanford and went on a tour for over one-hour walking in each location. We also had a guided tour at Stanford University in Palo Alto. We got to the top of hoover tower and took in the views of Stanford huge campus. Adam took us to a tech store where startup businesses display their latest inventions and products. We also managed to visit a local tesla showroom and Apple headquarter in Cupertino, and that was more than we expected.
Thank you, Adam and golden horizon travel, my kids enjoyed themselves very much.
Jim H
Jackson, New Hampshire
A wonderful guided tour to Silicon Valley with my kids. We enjoyed our guided tour very much to Intel Museum in Santa Clara and at the computer history museum. My kids loved the walking tour with a college student at Stanford University in Palo Alto. I got to say that the computer history museum is overwhelming and interesting….trust the expert at GHT, you’ll not be disappointed
Raffelinn
Anne R
Charleston, South Carolina
My husband and I are computer geeks, so we could not miss the opportunity to go on a tour of Silicon Valley during our trip to San Francisco in California. I am so glad we decided to go with Golden Horizon. Our guides Adam and David went out of their way to ensure that we had a great time. They made sure we saw all the good spots and then some more like Stanford University, HP garage in Palo Alto, Apple Headquarters in Cupertino, the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, the Intel Museum, Oracle, Googleplex and Facebook, ... all in one day tour. We didn’t even feel rushed at all. We would definitely give our Silicon Valley tour experience five stars and we will recommend it to our friends and colleagues.
Olga Colombo
Watford, United Kingdom
My son and I were very excited about the idea of touring Silicon Valley tech companies and museums with a Spanish speaking travel guide. We have just got off a group bus tour that took us to Los Angles, Vegas, Grand Canyon, Death Valley and Yosemite, but Silicon Valley tour was on our mind during this long journey.
This is the best tour company and the only operator who offers private guided tours in Spanish, and with real tour guides, not just drivers. The booking process was hassle-free, and they responded promptly to all our inquiries and questions through their live chat and emails; and all responses were in perfect Spanish. We could not have asked for, but we would have preferred to get the feedback in Catalan though ( just kidding!).
My parents visited Silicon Valley and San Jose with this travel agency back in 2006, and they highly recommended them. We were not disappointed either. In fact, we managed to visit Intel Museum, Ebay, the computer history museum and Cisco from inside, and we had a private walking tour of Stanford and apple with our fun and awesome Spanish speaking tour guide (Adam).
If you like Silicon Valley high tech companies, and want a real tour and worry-free tour package, go with this travel company, you’ll be in very good hands. Trust me, I’m a real customer from Barcelona, and not just a PR writing a review.
We also added 2 hours overtime for only $89 instead of $139, and we even got an extra hour for free. We also stopped at Google campus, YouTube, Facebook, HP garage and high-tech start up stores in Palo Alto and San Jose . My son was so happy when we visited a Tesla retail store in San Jose. I liked Santana Row area very much and the tech sores nearby.
Without the knowledge and expertise of our awesome tour guide, Adam, we would have not even visited 10% of what we have accomplished in one day trip.
We felt that we had a good friend in town, Adam is very downtown to earth and make everything goes so smooth and easy, this made this journey a memorable trip to Silicon Valley.
Moltes gràcies Adán
Josep. M
Barcelona, Catatonía
My boss was planning to travel from New York to Silicon Valley on a private Jet, so I needed a very serious, local and reliable tour operator in San Francisco Bay Area who specializes in VIP services. From day 1, Golden Horizon Travel staff were extremely helpful, professional and responsive; they answered every telephone call I made, online chats and emails, they’re very experienced with VIP and high-profile clients, they didn’t disappoint at all.
My boss and his family wanted a private guided tour of Silicon Valley a la carte, and they also wanted to visit an old park of giant redwoods nearby Silicon Valley. I didn’t want them to go to Muir Woods forest as I heard that it’s a very small and crowded. I‘m glad they that this tour company offered us an alternative private tour to a big forest of old redwoods nearby Silicon Valley where the trees are taller and much older trees than those in Muir Woods.
I was very relieved to find a reliable and local tour company like Golden Horizon Tours, they took the pressure off my shoulders from day one and stepped in to help me in every way possible.
Highly recommended for high profiles and VIP clients.
Marsha Rojas
New York City, New York
Adam and Patricia were great and exceeded my expectations. They also offered me overtime hours at no additional cost. We visited too many tech companies and 2 museums in a single day trip!
We even got to see our favorite football teams new stadium-the 49ers at Levis in Santa Clara.
Barry N Dubai- United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Even though the wooded trails were a bit wet for us to ride due to the fog, the experience was amazing, and we all enjoyed it very much. The horses looked happy, well cared for, and these were some of the best-behaved horses we’ve ever interacted with. The staff was very friendly. It didn’t take us too long to reach a laid-back beach, so peaceful and beautiful.
After the horseback ride, our fun and very nice tour guide drove us to Santa Cruz where we had lunch in a restaurant located on the Wharf. We ordered a seafood platter which was fresh and yummy, and the views made it the perfect location for our family.
For me personally, the highlight of our trip was our tour of a beautiful forest of big redwood trees in Santa Cruz mountains. I’ve been to Muir Woods before, but this state park was less crowded than Muir Woods and the redwood trees are much bigger and older in Santa Cruz mountains.
On the way back to our hotel in San Francisco, the tour guide made a quick stop at Apple’s new headquarter in Silicon Valley. We visited the visitor center and the store (while our son was sneaking out to fly his drone over Apple’s new and amazing architecture “it looks like a spaceship from the sky”.)
We highly recommend this outdoor adventure and this business.
Sean K.
Annapolis, MD
Reviewed 4 days ago
We did a whole day tour with Adam. He was terrific; the tour exceeded all our expectations. We saw more of Silicon Valley than we ever thought we'd see!
Adam was very knowledgeable and outgoing; more than anxious to accommodate us. He also was very good with our teenage grandson, who were blown away by the experience.
It was a great tour and a perfect way to spend the day in Silicon Valley; we really couldn't be more pleased with Adam and all the arrangements.
Highly recommend.
Washington, D.C.
I had a wonderful experience alongside thirteen other college students who were in my group on this Multi-day private custom tech tours of Silicon Valley and San Francisco.
Golden Horizon Tours is a well-organized tour company and offer top notch customer service.
It was nice to see how promptly I got their attention and response each time I contacted them. They took their time(days and weeks) to offer me all the information required to allow me to make the best decision for my group tour as this was our first trip to the USA. No other tour companies bothered to even respond once to our inquires, and some seemed to be located out of California, which made me nervous. But Golden Horizon staff were available all the time over the phone, email and live chat, they proved to me that are local and have been in business for over 16 years, so I trusted them, and I was not disappointed-they exceed our expectations.
Their tour guides are very seasoned professionals and were very helpful and friendly to the point of taking photos of my group and sending to us via mail after we were long gone. They managed to get us access inside tech firms that are not open to the public such us Cisco, Yahoo, Ebay and PayPal. Every day was a new experience and covered the entire Silicon Valley are after few days stay in Santa Clara. Our group of college students were very excited and learned a lot from this journey to Silicon Valley and places we have visited such as Stanford, University of Berkeley and San Jose guided tours, Intel, Tech museum of innovation, the computer history museum, the exploration in San Francisco, Adobe, the aviation museum, apple, Facebook, Google, Tech corner, Tesla factory, NASA Ames Research Center(with a guided tour inside with an engineer from the Nasa wind tunnels), and much more.
I will gladly recommend those travelers and university groups seeking the services of a local and reliable tour agency to feel confident enough to engage the services of Golden Horizon Tours. They are simply the best and they will exceed your expectations.
Ernest OnuiriNsukka, Enugu State
Lecturer at Babcock Tech University of Nigeria
We spent a day in Silicon Valley with John as our driver. Our group included 3 adults and 3 teenagers and we all fitted very comfortably into one vehicle.
John was excellent and helped us arrange an itinerary that took in all the major tech sites in Silicon Valley - Facebook, Google, Apple, Stanford, Nasa, Apple, computer history museum, the birthplace of Silicon valley (HP garage in Palo Alto).
There is no way we would have been able to find all of these places ourselves and it was much more relaxing being driven around than trying to drive and navigate.
Well worth the $$ and recommended
JFK_on_the_road(Trip Advisor senior contributor)
Brisbane, Australia
We (myself and my husband) took the Silicon valley tech tour with Golden Horizon and it was awesome. Our tour guide Mary who was very informative and made our day very memorable. She personalized the tour itinerary and made sure we were very happy with each stop we made in Silicon Valley.
It's our first visit to USA and to the fascinating silicon Valley tech companies, this tour was the best we had in the San Francisco bay area. We are very grateful to Mary for customizing the tour for us in such personalized way with extreme attention to details and each step of the way. These guys are top notch guides and very professional, highly recommended. We appreciate and recommend it to anyone interested in a private guided tour of the Silicon valley.
Highly recommended
Rea. Bagyaling
Portmoresby, Papua New Guinea
We had a wonderful day tour to Silicon Valley and Mary was the one who made it all perfect. Mary tweaked our trip itinerary on the go, and she adjusted it nonstop as we kept changing our mind and adding new places. We ended up visited twice more tech sites and museums than we initially planned( eBay, Adobe, Intel, Apple, Tesla, Google, Levis stadium, Nasa and the aviation museum).
Mary is a stellar guide and the best I have ever used. Her kindness, positivity, calmness and organization will be remembered for years to come. Thank you so much and I give Golden Horizon and Mary 10 stars. Thank you!
Our full day tour took us to Silicon Valley in luxury vehicle conducted by a friendly kiwi tour guide.
The tour with Jon was exemplary! His knowledge of all sites and places we visited in Silicon Valley was fantastic and the manner in which he conducted the tour was also fantastic and very professional. It was as if we were traveling with an old friend. Nothing was rushed in any way and the tour timing worked out perfectly.
We would more than highly recommend Golden Horizon Tours and Jon to anyone contemplating a personalized tour to anywhere Jon takes them. This tour was the peak of our holiday to California
Brucesrobinson
Dunedin, New Zealand
Jon was an excellent tour guide. We were very pleased with him! He deserves the five (5) star rating I gave him. He was very knowledgeable of the area; both San Francisco and the Silicon Valley regions. He made the trip fun for both me and my 18-year-old grandson; who intends to go into the Tech field and truly enjoyed seeing all the places one can work in the future. We recommend visiting the tech museum in San Jose and intel museum. All questions we had for him he answered quickly and even gave us information about certain areas that we were not familiar with. The tour was exceptional! It was a very memorable experience for us.
SavannahGA55
Dalton, Georgia
Our full day tour took us to Silicon Valley in luxury vehicle conducted by a friendly kiwi tour guide.
This was a last-minute tour . Ages 9 to 58 -family of 6. We had six hours to spare in SF. I asked for an ' express ' tour of Silicon Valley . Jon arrived promptly . Displayed a wealth of knowledge during the tour. Friendly and patient taking the obligatory photos! Facebook , Apple , Stanford , the garage where Jobs first worked on computer and where HP first started in the historic garage . At Stanford - Saw the longest laser in the world etc Quick lunch in San Jose and lots of information and places Was easy to work with and excellent condition of SUV with refreshment included.
Travelmom799
Fort Myers, Florida
Let me tell you about Golden Horizon Tours
Not sure where to begin - this is a review that spans a one-year period. Last year, I made a mistake in booking a Silicon Valley day tour for the wrong month. After some confusion, the team at Golden Horizon offered to take our family of five on a Silicon Valley tour any of the following days. None of them worked for us because we had plans already while in San Francisco, but they offered us a "credit" for our tour if we came back. Since we planned to come back the following year, we readily accepted that, even though the mistake was all ours and they had no obligation to offer us a credit.
Well - yesterday was our "one year old tour" of Silicon Valley and we had a blast. Not only was it everything we hoped for "and then some," but we also enjoyed a private tour of Stanford Campus with a college student from the university.
Of course Stanford doesn't offer private tours any longer, but the folks at Golden Horizon sourced an email of a young lady student who we communicated with and provided a one hour tour privately for our family.
Again, Golden Horizon went above and beyond to find a way to meet our needs and exceeded our expectations. We were not charged for this complimentary private tour by SUV.
We use tour companies all over the world as we travel frequently as a family and have never had such tremendous service as we did at Golden Horizon Travel. When we come back next year, we'll use them for a hot air ballooning adventure one morning in Napa Valley.
Thanks again for everything, your services are totally underrated.
**********10 stars and more **********
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Gregory Borca
Cedarburg, WI
A fantastic guided tour to Silicon Valley including Stanford University with Adam! The intel museum guided tour was the highlight of our silicon valley experience with golden horizon travel. Many thanks Adam for your input and the great tour
Highly recommended
The Patels,
Mumbai, India
A quick note to the CEO of Golden Horizon Travel to thank you and your tour guide Adam for the excellent guided tour in Silicon Valley. Thanks to his knowledge and connections in Silicon Valley we managed to access places that are not open for public. This service you offer goes beyond 5 stars!
Many thanks indeed and all the best
Rosa R
Reno, Nevada
We had a great day trip to Silicon Valley with Jon who served us as a great tour guide throughout the entire tour in Sant Clara and San Jose.
There was just one disappointment (and this isn’t Jon‘s fault) - I wish we could have more time to visit more tech firms and places in Silicon Valley. I recommend adding overtime, Silicon Valley is massive and requires more than a day to see top places for first time visitors.
Chris.B
Prottes, Austria
If you have young kids, I recommend the Children's Discovery Museum but for teens the tech museum of innovation is more appealing and has a lot to offer. The Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum is interesting but I would not make it a priority, however, the Winchester Mystery House is creepy and caught our kids’ attention. Lots of interactive exhibits and a great learning experience in San Jose museums, the staff were really nice and friendly in San Jose museums.
We love the NHL games, but we could not get tour hand son last minutes tickets to see San Jose Sharks
A great destination for family with kids
Brucesrobinson
Dunedin, New Zealand
The scenery along pacific coast highway is breathtaking. We only drove for 30 minutes before we got on horseback near Pacifica. What a beautiful scenery.
What an amazing transition between the giant redwoods and giant tech companies? We finished our Silicon Valley tour, had lunch in a laid-back village before we drove up to Santa Cruz mountains to visit Big Basin state park. What a wonderful introduction to the redwoods; nature at its best.
The contrast between the hustle-and-bustle in Silicon Valley and the serenity of this remote park of redwoods is amazing. Easy trails inside the park, lots of photo ops and history thanks to our tour wonderful tour guide Leo.
Brucesrobinson
Dunedin, New Zealand
The horses looked healthy and happy, the horseback ride was fun and exciting. We also enjoyed our tour of Santa Cruz beaches and picturesque cliffs.
We skipped Big Basin and went to a similar forest of redwoods where trees the redwood are humongous and impressive. We also made a couple of stops in Silicon Valley at Apple park and Stanford campus.
I highly recommend this day trip from families with teens and young kids.
We were excited on hearing about this tourist attraction. The drive was nice through towering redwoods, I would say it was a good experience. After visiting this “illusion” spot, I would rather recommend doing the Redwood canopy zip lines in Santa Cruz, located nearby this area.
Santa Cruz Mystery spot is nice but not unique.
The Masons
Columbia, MO
This is a wonderful State Park and I believe was the first state park of California, the towering redwoods make you feel so little next their massive size. We walked for an hour and the loops are easy and accessible to everyone including wheelchairs.
This trip was part of our multiple tours with Golden Horizon Tours, the trip was smooth and easy, both Mary and Adam made sure we were happy with this side trip to Big Basin, and we are glad they took us there as Yosemite mariposa grove was closed when we visited the park.
A great destination for family with kids
Richard Wild
Indiana, USA
What an amazing trip around Lake Tahoe after a 3-day custom adventure of Yosemite national park sights and attractions - a wonderful destination.
Even if you’re not a fan of outdoors activities, Tahoe worth the long drive from San Francisco. This is a must-see destination with remarkable attractions.
Tahoe is a must-see place & Yosemite is the crown jewel of California, they offer amazing outdoor activities for families with kids
Our 3-day private tour package to Lake Tahoe wonders, Gold Country & Yosemite National Park top attractions was excellent, exciting & memorable!
The Lake is pristine, wonderful, so clean, the air is so fresh & pure with magnificent surroundings, what an awesome paradise on earth?
Our adventure to Lake Tahoe and Reno from San Francisco was amazing and unforgettable thanks to Golden Horizon Travel attentive staff, and tour guide.
My wife and I want you to know how much we enjoyed our time in Tahoe & Yosemite, we loved travelling with your company
Trust their tour reviews on trip advisor 100%, they earned our satisfaction, they have a great customer service and amazing tour guides.
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