The Ultimate Travel Bucket-List and Outdoor Adventure to California's Best-Kept Secrets. Discover Yosemite, Mammoth Lakes, and Eastern Sierra’s breathtaking wonders


“A world of wonders where dreams come to life”

"Visit the mountains and nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees, the winds will blow their own freshness into you …"
~ John Muir~

Vacation Overview:

 things_to_see__in__mammoth_lakes_and_eastern_sierra_nevada_attractions.jpgAre you dreaming of a unique journey through the magical wilderness of the Sierra Nevada that will take you far beyond your ordinary path? Join us now and expand your horizons and discover Yosemite, Sierra Nevada wilderness and California's best-kept secrets. You will get exclusive access to a brand-new off-the-beaten-path adventure through the Sierra Nevada wilderness, Mammoth Lake’s sublime alpine wonders, and Yosemite National Park’s world-renowned giant sequoia trees, waterfalls, glacier points, and picturesque meadows (like Tuolumne Meadows) and the high country.

graphic-9.jpgDiscover Mammoth Lake’s natural wonders, breathtaking alpine lakes with unique and stunning geology, including hot springs and the world-famous Devil Postpile National Park. Hike to Rainbow Falls and Mono Lake in the morning and spend the afternoon in the Wild West Ghost Town of Bodie, or travel to Alabama Hills, famous as the production location of hundreds of iconic western motion pictures.  You may also add an extra day and visit the stunning Death Valley National Park.

Drive up to 11,000 feet to discover the majestic 4,000 to 5,000-year-old ancient Bristlecone Pines, and much more. This seasonal adventure is available only in summer, due to the high elevation, heavy snow falls, weather and road conditions in winter. This journey may start or end in Yosemite, depending on your hotel reservation, weather, and road conditions.

Vacation Description

 

 things_to_see__in__mammoth_lakes_and_eastern_sierra_nevada_attractions.jpgAre you dreaming of a unique journey through the magical wilderness of the Sierra Nevada that will take you far beyond your ordinary path? Join us now and expand your horizons and discover Yosemite, Sierra Nevada wilderness and California's best-kept secrets. You will get exclusive access to a brand-new off-the-beaten-path adventure through the Sierra Nevada wilderness, Mammoth Lake’s sublime alpine wonders, and Yosemite National Park’s world-renowned giant sequoia trees, waterfalls, glacier points, and picturesque meadows (like Tuolumne Meadows) and the high country.

graphic-9.jpgDiscover Mammoth Lake’s natural wonders, breathtaking alpine lakes with unique and stunning geology, including hot springs and the world-famous Devil Postpile National Park. Hike to Rainbow Falls and Mono Lake in the morning and spend the afternoon in the Wild West Ghost Town of Bodie, or travel to Alabama Hills, famous as the production location of hundreds of iconic western motion pictures.  You may also add an extra day and visit the stunning Death Valley National Park.


Drive up to 11,000 feet to discover the majestic 4,000 to 5,000-year-old ancient Bristlecone Pines, and much more. This seasonal adventure is available only in summer, due to the high elevation, heavy snow falls, weather and road conditions in winter. This journey may start or end in Yosemite, depending on your hotel reservation, weather, and road conditions.

Tours Description and Itinerary   


Choose Quality Over Quantity - Our Goal is to Exceed Your Expectations

Day 1 Trip Itinerary and Description

READ MORE>

Day 2 Tour Itinerary and Description

READ MORE>

Day 3 Travel  Itinerary and Description

READ MORE>

Day 4 Trip Itinerary and Description

READ MORE>

Day 5 Trip Itinerary and Description

READ MORE>

Day 1 – Itinerary and Description   

Travel to Yosemite National Park and visit one of its three groves of giant sequoias!

things_to_see__in__mammoth_lakes_and_eastern_sierra_nevada_attractions.jpgTravel to Yosemite via the Central Valley and Gold Country’s historic charming towns. On the first day of your experience, you will visit one of the three giant sequoia groves in Yosemite National Park − home to some of the oldest and largest sequoias in the park. The true majesty of Yosemite will be unveiled in the sights − with hanging cliffs, deep canyons, streaming waterfalls, stunning meadows, lush valleys, and massive ancient trees encountering you at every turn.

rainbow falls photos mammoth lakes tours.JPGLet your knowledgeable guide take you on a personalized walking tour, which will teach you more about the ancient sequoias. Did you know both species of redwood trees (the Sequoiadendron giganteum and the Sequoia sempervirens) are dually designated as the State Trees of California? Growing in California only, these redwoods were once the dominant trees in North America and Europe, during the Jurassic and Cretaceous Periods (More than 200 million years ago). In fact, Sequoiadendrons can be traced to the Triassic Period, when dinosaurs first appeared.

After an exciting day of hiking, and/or walking to the giant sequoias, your guide will help you to check-in at your hotel or resort. We will offer you complimentary pick-up and drop-off at your hotel, even if you made the reservation yourself.

Day 2 – Itinerary and Description   

  Visit Yosemite Valley Attractions and Glacier Point

graphic-8.jpgStart your morning with a hearty breakfast. On day 2, you will be driving to Glacier Point − a stunning overlook which is located above the South Wall of Yosemite Valley (elevation: 7,214 feet; or 2,199 meters). This magnificent viewpoint will leave you speechless.


On the way up, your tour guide will show you different views and overlooks along an easy walking trail. From this perspective you will be able to admire the nature below, as well as the other surrounding peaks (Tenaya Peak, Echo Peaks, Tressider Peak, Cloud’s Rest, the Half Dome, and many more). You will then be taken to the famous Washburn Point overlooks, where you can photograph the breathtaking Nevada Falls, Vernal Falls and Illilouette Falls.

The views throughout your whole experience will be unsurpassed anywhere else in California. Hikers can request their tour guide to take them to some of the more challenging hiking trails, like Sentinel Rock, rising to 7,038 feet (or 2,145 meters) above the Yosemite Valley.

glacier_point_things_to_see_in_yosemite.jpgDuring the off-season, when Glacier Point is closed for traffic, we substitute this tour stop with other wonderful sights like: Hetchy Valley − a reservoir where the O’Shaughnessy Dam was constructed in 1913 to supply the San Francisco Bay Area with water. John Muir referred to Hetchy Valley as the ‘Second Yosemite Valley’ thanks to its gorgeous vistas and waterfalls. You will encounter spectacular scenery along the winding road to Hetchy Valley. Warning: Please avoid driving up here on your own, as the road requires a high level of driving skill due to the narrow roads. However, with our tour you will have the professionalism of our expert tour guides to get you there safely.

sightseeing Yosemite Valley travel Guide.JPGUpon descending from Glacier Point, we will travel down to the Yosemite Valley floor − the crown jewel of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. No trip to Yosemite National Park is complete without a guided tour of the Valley’s floor. This part of the experience is truly inspiring, and a real treat for the millions of visitors who travel to the Yosemite Valley yearly from all over the world. Besides the known sights in Yosemite Valley, our tour guides will provide you with insider access to the hidden wonders that you would miss had you traveled on your own.

We will visit many of the Valley’s lush natural wonders, including: waterfalls, streams, rivers and picturesque meadows. You will also see the Half Dome, in all its glory; El Capitan; Bridal Veil Falls; Yosemite Falls; and much more. A short visit at the Valley Visitor Center will provide amazing history of the Valley and its diverse geology, and biology. Other popular museums and galleries are open to the public in this area and you might even end up with a great lunch at the historic Ahwahnee Hotel.

After exploring the Yosemite Valley, we will travel to the high country − an exciting stop which will take you to the Tuolumne Meadows, located in the High Sierra. This visit offers the opportunity for an authentic experience filled with the beauty of high alpine meadows, lakes, rivers and streams; as well as some of Yosemite’s highest peaks, which will allow for continued unobstructed views of Yosemite’s majestic wilderness. The Tioga Pass towers 9,943 feet above sea level (or 3,031 meters).

Bears yosemite photos.jpgLocated in the High Sierra of the Yosemite National Park, the narrow winding route to the Tuolumne Meadows is incredibly scenic, and generally open to vehicles from late May/early June through October. This drive has incredible vistas of the pastoral meadows which lay alongside the winding Tuolumne River. Like the road to Hetchy, this drive requires a high level of concentration due to the tight bends and steep drops, but again − you are in great hands with your experienced guide.

You will stop at Olmsted Point, which is located along the Tioga Road. This stop offers remarkable views of both sides of the Half Dome, Tenaya Canyon and Tenaya Lake. Capture the beauty of this high country − an area that is one of the least visited on the tour, ensuring a more original experience.

As we continue making our way on Tioga Road, heading east towards Tioga Pass, the road will begin winding steeply through the Sierra Mountains − eventually opening for expansive views of several surrounding peaks, including Mount Clark and Mount Hoffman. Along the way, you can photograph other high peaks covered with snow, like Lembert Dome − a granite monolith standing 800 feet above the meadow floor, with a sheer cliff at its peak giving spectacular 360-degree views of snowcapped mountains, flowing with rivers and lightly frosted grasslands.

things_to_do_in_tuolumne_meadows_day_hikes.jpgAt a higher elevation you can admire the Tuolumne River, meandering its way through the rich greens of grassy meadows dominated by high granite peaks, including Cathedral Peak (10,911 feet; or 3,325 meters). Cathedral Peak is a focal point of the Yosemite High Country; its sweeping buttresses are unmistakable from various vantage points. Its narrow summit has been the goal of many alpine rock climbers like John Muir, who climbed it back in 1869.

The magic of the alpine lakes, rivers, and waterfalls, when added to the blue skies and greenery surrounding the Tuolumne, all make for magical ingredients for a landscape and wilderness retreat. During the summer, Tuolumne Meadows is covered in wild flowers, whilst Tenaya Lake offers sandy beaches for swimming and Mount Dana provides amazing views of the Sierra Nevada at 13,000 feet of or 3,962 meters).

Hikers will be matched with the right tour guide to assist you throughout this amazing touring experience.

Day 3 – Itinerary and Description   

  Mammoth Lakes Basin, June Lake Loop and Mono Lake full-day guided tour

Day 3 will begin after breakfast at your hotel or preferred restaurant along the way. Your adventures on the third day will take you to sightsee June Lake and Mammoth Lakes Basin. Mammoth Lakes Basin is a beautiful and stunning alpine setting, home to spectacular alpine lakes such as Lake Mamie, Lake Mary, Lake George and Horseback Lake. You will then drive to Minaret Vista to enjoy beautiful panoramic views of the Ansel Adams and John Muir Wilderness (from 9,265 feet of elevation; or 2,824 meters). Photographs of the Earthquake Fault Line, where a sizable fissure was formed when the Inyo Craters erupted centuries ago, is a must.

Experience Mammoth Lakes and Eastern Sierra Nevada unique and stunning geological sites and spectacular natural wonders.  Discover hidden gems and gorgeous geological sites unknown even to some locals who live off the off-grid in this remote wilderness of the far west.

graphic-10.jpgYou will visit the Hot Creek geologic site, which offers a colorful display of geothermal activities, as well as hidden natural hot springs (no entrance fees apply in this wilderness). Find time to relax while swimming in the geothermal and healthy waters, before continuing the tour towards Convict Lake, passing by Lake Crowley, an area dominated by rugged mountain scenery and sheer cliffs reflecting on the beautiful and natural lake.

graphic-8.jpgShould you choose so, a scenic ride to the summit of Mammoth Mountains via gondola may be available − this is optional, so check with your tour guide if interested. This addition provides visitors with further panoramic views, from higher than 11,000 feet (or 3,354 meters). You may also visit the Mammoth Ski Museum − home to one of the largest single collections of skiing art, literature and heritage − or the Mammoth Visitor Center of Natural History (fees may apply).

things to see mammoth lakes vacation.jpgEnjoy lunch at your own pace but prepare yourself for a fresh adventure which will take you through a scenic loop in June Lake − popular for hiking, biking, fishing, and horseback riding. Following this, we will veer off towards Highway 395, admiring the beauty of alpine lakes like Grant Lake and Silver Lake. The afternoon’s journey includes trips to June Lake, Gull Lake, Carson Peak, and much more.

Depending on time, you will embark on the Mono Lake Tour on either day 3 or day 4. A massive waterbody, Mono Lake covers more than 60 square miles. During its 700,000+ years, Mono Lake has had salts and minerals washing into it from the Eastern Sierra streams, making it a paradise for millions of migrating birds. Visitors marvel at the uncanny Tufas Towers. Tufa is a rendition of limestone, formed after the precipitation of carbonated minerals from ambient temperature bodies of water. Finally, you will enjoy a tour of the Mono Lake Visitor Center − a true museum of natural history − topped off with an on-foot tour of the Mono Lake shores.
At the end of day 3, your tour guide will drop you off at your hotel or provide transportation to a restaurant of your choice before heading in for the night.

Day 4 – Itinerary and Description

  Visit Devils Postpile, Rainbow Falls and Bodie Ghost Town

graphic-11.jpgOn day 4 you will visit more astonishing geological sights and national monuments. Day 4 includes Devils Postpile, Rainbow Falls, and the authentic ghost town of Bodie, among many other stops.

To reach Devils Postpile National Monument, we will drive through the town of Mammoth Mountain. In the main lodge and ski resort, you will find a giant mammoth statue rising from the middle of the square. During the drive you will pass an interesting geological site where a major fault line is still visible − an obvious fissure that resulted from the continuing movement of the Sierra Nevada fault zone.

Afterwards, you will board a local shuttle bus service which will pass Minaret Overlook as you head down to Devils Postpile National Monument. No public vehicles are allowed in this area.

shuttle to Devils Postpile National Monument  .jpgFrom the parking lot, a short hike will lead you to Devils Postpile National Monument. The unique six-sided polished and colorful foundation of basal in the form of vertical columns, was formed by a volcanic eruption almost 100,000 years ago. When the eruption occurred, the lava was carried away by San Joaquin River, and this continued motion of moving lavas and ice along the river overrode the fractured mass of lavas, carrying them away from the river to these meadow − creating and forming the actual Devils Postpile columns. The process exposed a sheer wall of 60 feet (or 18 meters) high colorful columns and sculpted them to the amazing formation that is the Devils Postpile columns today.

Yosemite national park Mammoth lakes sierra Nevada  (17).jpgFollowing this, you will hike through the striking meadows towards Rainbow Falls. An easy 1.5-mile hike through Red’s Meadows, and along the Middle Fork of the San Joaquin River, you will be rewarded with a beautiful waterfall where the San Joaquin River tumbles over an abrupt 101-foot (or 31 meter) drop, sending spectacular and colorful rainbows into the mist, hence the name ‘Rainbow Falls’. The refreshing mist invites visitors to hang around for a while, enjoying the spectacular scenery. You may set up a picnic lunch here, or head back to the town in Mammoth Lakes for lunch. Please note: Devils Postpile Monument and Rainbow Falls are only accessible by foot in summer.
Following lunch, we will head north on rough, yet scenic backroads, in the direction of Bodie State Historical Park, and Ghost Town. Bodie is an old and authentic gold mining town which is located 36 miles north of Mammoth Lakes in Mono County − just miles from the Nevada border. Bodie was once the third largest city in California, after gold was discovered in Bodie in the 1870’s. Stage coaches and gold miners would line the roads of this town, eventually departing Bodie with tons of gold. The town had it all: a church, banks, a railroad, its own newspapers, a sheriff department, unions for the miners and mechanics, a jail, enough Saloons for us all, and even a small Chinatown area.

State Historic Park  of Bodie  ghost town   California  tourism .JPGBodie Museum offers exhibits which include memorabilia from the rowdy, gold mining boomtown years.

After day 4 of adventuring in the Sierra Mountains, your guide will drop you back in San Francisco, again passing the Tuolumne Meadows on Highway 120, or Sonora and the Gold Country on Highway 108 depending on weather and road conditions. In case of an unexpected storm, we are not liable for the additional night hotel accommodation and meals expenses, if needed. Bad weather and road conditions are out of our control.
 

If you’d like to further expand your horizons and book our 5-day journey, you will get to visit the oldest trees on Earth, and marvel at the invigorating sights of the Eastern Sierra Nevada unavailable on our 4-day trip. You may also include an additional trip to Death Valley, and/or Lake Tahoe as well.

Day 5 – Itinerary and Description   

  Yosemite and Eastern Sierra Combo Adventure

graphic-12.jpgAfter commencing the day with breakfast at your hotel, your tour guide will take you up a winding, scenic road towards the grandiose and ancient trees in Bristlecone Pine Forest − located between 11,000 and 12,000 feet above sea level (or 3,352-3,658 meters). The pine trees in this forest are up 5,000 years old!

Note: Please ensure you are comfortable with the high elevation and inform our tour company or your tour guide in advance should you have any medical conditions.

Biologists and visitors are all puzzled at the survival and longevity of these ancient pine trees. How could pine trees survive in the extreme and severe weather conditions of the White Mountains, while being above 11,000 feet high (or 3,352 meters)?

These ancient Bristlecone Pines were discovered growing on the ridges of the White Mountains back in 1953. Despite the high elevation, poor soil, harsh landscape, gusty wind blowing from all directions, and heavy snow storms with ice crystals, these pine trees remain intact long after they die.

Did you know that these age-old trees live for more than 45 centuries, and only grow for about 45 days in a year? The rest of the time they remain dormant.

As you descend back towards the Valley floor, there will be many photo opportunities, where you can capture the unique geology of the Sierra Crest, Palisades and massive granite walls along the way − including Mount Whitney, the highest summit in the continuous United States.

There will be a short break after the descent, stopping off at Big Pine, which is located in Owens Valley − an arid valley located at the foothills of the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains, and West of the White Mountains. Owens Valley is dominated by Mount Whitney (elevation: 14,505 feet; or 4,421 meters). This makes Owens Valley one of the deepest valleys in the United States.

Owens Valley was formed about three million years ago when the Sierra Nevada Fault and the White Mountains Fault systems became active. The topmost part of this escarpment is exposed at Alabama Hills and is one of the stops on your tour. This is the mecca of over 390 motion pictures, and is considered a living museum of legendary movies and classic heroes.

things_to_see_in_Yosemite_park_sightseeing.jpgFrom here we will travel to Lone Pine. A stop which is nestled in the Owens Valley, and sits at the foot of the mighty Sierra Nevada Mountains. When the sun begins to set, Mount Whitney casts its long shadow over the valley. This dramatic setting incited Hollywood directors to make Lone Pine and Alabama Hills the new ‘El Dorado’ for movie sites. The history of Lone Pine was dramatically altered when it became the setting for endless Western films and action movies. In this area you will find the Lone Pine Indian Reservation as well, home to the Owens Valley members of the federally recognized Paiute and Shoshone tribes.

fun things to do in yosemite park.JPGAll our tours can be customized to meet your travel needs and expectations. Upon your request, certain sights and national parks can be skipped, while having the flexibility to add other sites of interest, like: Death Valley National Park, Las Vegas, Reno or Lake Tahoe − based on your preference and the season. Let us make your dream come true!

Tour Prices

Private Vacation Package Prices

Private Tour by SUV

Excursions-Yosemite-Private-Custom-Tours

This SUV tour is totally private, and the price is per person.

Price per person 1 Guest 2 Guests 3 Guests 4 Guests 5 Guests 6 Guests 7 Guests
Hotel Accommodation Excluded $7498 $3749 $2999 $2529 $2059 $1849 $1559
Hotel Accommodation Included $9298 $4649 $4129 $3189 $2799 $2459 $2319
Price per person 1 Guest 2 Guests 3 Guests 4 Guests 5 Guests 6 Guests 7 Guests
Hotel Accommodation Excluded $7498 $3749 $2999 $2529 $2059 $1849 $1559
Hotel Accommodation Included $9298 $4649 $4129 $3189 $2799 $2459 $2319

Book this Tour by SUV

Select Date From Calendar

Select Number of guests

 
Total $ USD

Private Tour by Minibus (Van)

Charter-minibus-Globus-Motorcoaches-Los-Angeles

This VAN tour is totally private and not available for public  or individual reservations. The price is per party and not per person.

Price per group 1-5 Guests 6-7 Guests 8-10 Guests 11-12 Guests 13-14 Guests
Hotel Accommodation Excluded $11559 $12669 $13339 $14259 $14999
Hotel Accommodation Included $15299 $16889 $17999 $19299 $20999
Price per group 1-5 Guests 6-7 Guests 8-10 Guests 11-12 Guests 13-14 Guests
Hotel Accommodation Excluded $11559 $12669 $13339 $14259 $14999
Hotel Accommodation Included $15299 $16889 $17999 $19299 $20999

Book this Tour by VAN/A 14-PASSENGER MINIBUS

Select Date From Calendar

Select Number of guests

 
Total $ USD

Included: All applicable taxes, pick-up and drop-off in San Francisco downtown or Fisherman’s Wharf or anywhere along the way, a private 5-day guided adventure (depending on your choice), Yosemite National Park and Mammoth Lakes parks’ entrance fees, and hotel accommodation in both Yosemite and Mammoth Lakes Area, if applicable (you may also book your own hotel).


Not included: price does not include meals, driver’s gratuity, overtime, and optional activities or features

Gratuity is not included, but customary in the USA as you may know. For a great service, 20 to 25% tip is customary, however, 20% is considered to be a ‘good tip’. For example, if your private tour cost $1000 (one thousand), the 20% gratuity would be $200 (two hundred).

Comment misconception about Yosemite hotel accommodation: There are only a couple of hotels located within the Yosemite Valley area, like the cabin style lodge located by the Yosemite Falls, but these are often booked up 12 months in advance.
If you book our tour package with accommodation, we will include a three-star hotel located as close as possible to Yosemite Valley floor to save you time and hassle.  If you want something more upmarket, we recommend that you choose your own resort or hotel, like the Majestic Yosemite Hotel - formerly known as the Ahwahnee Resort - which is the only luxury hotel located within the Yosemite Valley, and book it directly with them. Since we don’t work on commission, we don’t include luxury hotels in the tours options, as this will increase your private tour rate by at least 25% or more.
We will then provide you with the luxury transportation and an expert tour guide, with all taxes and entrance fees included.
If you choose to book you on resort or lodge, we recommend that you select one close to the valley floor, otherwise you will waste hours every day to get to there and back to your hotel. Since you will not have much time at the hotel anyway, it is better to enjoy the day exploring the park attractions and embrace this wilderness in its all forms.
Most hotels and resorts offer amenities including swimming pools and hot tubs (please bring your swimsuits in summer). In the vicinity of the hotel or within the same resort, there are restaurants and cafes where you can dine and enjoy your breakfast the following day (meals are not included in the tour price).
Note: Many confuse us with travel agents. We are not travel planners and we don’t work on commission. We are a small private tour operator located in San Francisco, focused on providing custom tours and delivering 100% of what we offer on our website. For travel planning purposes and for items such as insurance, please contact your own travel agent or a travel company who can provide such services.

Tips for visitors and hikers:
 
- If you are subject to car or motion sickness, please consider asking your doctor for recommended medication or stop by a pharmacy and consult a pharmacist in this regard.
- Consider leaving unnecessary luggage at your hotel and travel light so you have more room in the vehicle.
- Wear clothes and shoes suitable for walking and hiking (Snow shoes in winter are recommended, and a swimsuit to enjoy the hotel’s swimming pool and hot tub).
- Bring sunscreen, bug spray, extra memory cards, and batteries for your camera (if applicable).
- Warm layers for cooler weather, and a raincoat for summer showers.
- Drink lots of water due to the high altitude and don't hike alone, as we offer fully-guided tours.
- We are not responsible for injuries or accidents that may occur during this trip in or out of Yosemite National Park. Please read our terms and conditions for more information.

The misconception about private tours
Ever wondered why small group private tours are more expensive than large group tours, if in fact you are going to the same place?
Simply because public group tours are more cost-effective for the operator, than private tours. In essence, the input cost of private tours and public tours are roughly the same -  both provide one driver or a tour guide, one vehicle, same trip length whilst both companies assume the same business expenses and commercial insurance liability. However, private tour operators (like ours) make 95% less profit than public group tours, because all our resources are dedicated to a small group (couples or families), whilst the pubic tour operators make 10 times more profits thanks to the volume (quantity)!
We, on the other hand, focus on quality as we never share our private tours with other customers. In addition to offering a more personalized service and customized trip itineraries, conducted in luxury vehicles, we also have access to all sites where large vehicles and buses are prohibited.
When looking at tour options, don’t compare California to your local state or country as the economic factors vary from region to region, and tour operators have to adapt to the cost of doing business in their local environments.  This is a tough time to have a small business in California, due to the huge liability risks and increasing cost of conducting business in this expensive state.  So, before you cancel your tour with us (regardless of the reasons for cancellation) we request that you consider the implications, as we can’t afford any last-minute refunds.  We would have reserved this day or these days for you, and we still have to honor the cost of the expenses and wages, without an income. As a small family business, we don’t have the same credit facilities as large travel companies.
Because we love San Francisco and are passionate about our tours, we want to share our love for San Francisco Bay Area with you.  Customers are free to query our rates, terms and policy and can cancel their reservations before proceeding with their booking.  We require your approval for any and all reservations prior to finalizing bookings, so you should be aware of our policy in advance. However, once the booking has been approved and processed, the question can no longer be about the cost of the tour.  It would therefore be unfair to mention this as a reason for cancellation, and we will only consider issues related the quality of our services and the tour experience. We are extremely honest and very transparent about our detailed terms and cancellation policy.
Note: Please understand that we do reserve the right to refuse service to anyone. We have the right to remove rude customers, and limit unfair demands from clients, wasting the company’s time and resources, which impact other customers and our staff who are also often affected.

To read more about our terms and conditions, please click on this link 

Cancellation & Refund Policy

Term & Refund Policy

READ MORE>

General Terms

READ MORE>

Declined Transactions

READ MORE>

Other terms and information

READ MORE>

Additional Terms & Tips for visitors and hikers

READ MORE>

More Terms and Miscellaneous

READ MORE>

Our Terms, Refund and Cancellation Policy are as follows:

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 the date of the tour or service). The remaining 9% covers the required transaction fees; that’s 4.5 % per each transaction (booking is one transaction and refunding is a second transaction for which we get charged as well). (weekends and holidays don’t count).

-50% of the total amount will be refunded if the tour is canceled at least 7 business days prior to the scheduled tour date or service. (weekends and holidays don’t count).

-15% of the total amount will be refunded if the tour is canceled at least 5 business days prior to the scheduled date of the tour (weekends and holidays don’t count).

-0% of the total amount will be refunded if the tour is canceled 4 business days, or less, prior to the day of the scheduled tour or service. This includes no-shows. (weekends and holidays don’t count)

Please note that all refunds are subject to credit card and merchant’s fees imposed on us by credit card  companies and merchant banks or providers. The average amount of credit cards and merchant’s transaction  fees may range between 3.9 % to 9.8% of the total amount of your purchase (transaction) based on the type of credit card you use when booking this tour, the credit card issuer, country and conversion fees we are subject to 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 for you and we decline taking other tours for these date(s) to honor yours. We keep a tour guide and a luxury vehicle on hold and make all required reservations and arrangements for you and your party, so please don’t change the date or cancel at the last minute as we have other customers and tours to honor.

General Terms 

– We will confirm your reservation by email, and we will send you a tour voucher or email confirmation. This tour is only valid for the specific date you reserved on our website, and only valid for the names listed on the booking. You can’t transfer the names or ask for a different date, as we have other tours to honor. You may not change the tour date within 15 days from the date of the scheduled tour you booked, and there will be no alternative days offered.

In an effort to honor all tours, we reserve the right to partner with other tour operators, freelancers, and/or our sister companies. The exact name and contact information of your tour operator will be stated on your tour voucher and the trip confirmation will be issued especially for you after we received your approved transaction. All tours are subject to availability as we may get several tour requests at the same time. Approved payment transactions do not guarantee your tour unless it has been confirmed via email.

Declined Transactions: 

Please note that when transactions are declined, we do not receive any information in this regard, so do not expect your reservation to be in place unless you received written confirmation. Please contact us asap, but do not expect us to honor your tour without an email confirmation and tour voucher from us.

If your booking was declined by your own bank, this is often due to a mismatch between your bank information (such as the names on the credit card, zip/postal code or billing address) compared to the bank information you provided on our website when placed your order. Sometimes, transactions are declined due to insufficient funds as well. Your tour(s) will not be confirmed until your new transaction is approved by your own bank. We apologize for the inconvenience, but your own bank did so to prevent fraud and protect your credit card information or due one of the above factors.

All our tours are subject to availability even when the transactions are approved. We will get back to you as soon as possible and let you know if the required tour(s) and date(s)  are still available. Also, all our tours are conducted in English unless otherwise stated in the email or tour voucher confirmation we will send you soon, once your transaction is approved.

We reserve the right to offer you suitable substitutes or changes to your itinerary, tours or services due to special events, weather conditions, road closures, vehicle breakdowns, unpredictable circumstances, unavailability and/or due to last minute reservations. We assume no responsibility for delays caused by accidents, breakdowns, unforeseen accidents or events, road, weather conditions and/or all other circumstances beyond our control. We do not guarantee to arrive to, or depart from, any point at a specific time for the same above considerations. However, we will do our very best to honor your tour itinerary and schedule accordingly.

Other terms and information

Pets: Pets are not allowed in our vehicles out of respect for those who have allergies to pets.

Smoking: Our vehicles are also non-smoking.

Clothing: Please be prepared for cold weather, slippery roads and hiking trails, so have comfortable waterproof hiking shoes to walk on the snow in winter and spring. This long day-tour is hard on kids and seniors, we therefore recommend the overnight tour package.

Parks, Attractions and Site’s Closures: We are not responsible, nor liable, for road and weather conditions. State and national parks’ closure can happen at any time and without a prior notice, due to bad road and weather considerations. No refund will be issued, regardless of the reasons for which the trip may not reach its destination. If you cancel or stop the tour for personal or medical reasons, there will be no refund or change of tour or dates offered either.

Guided tours in foreign languages: All tours in foreign languages are subject to extra fees to cover tour guides or freelancers we may hire to honor your tour in the required language.

Travel Agents: Travel agents are liable for 20% gratuity when their customer does not tip the driver or tour guides. We require customers’ full name and contact information from all travel agents Sor the tour will be cancelled. Travel agents are also liable for all overtime when their clients do not pay for it,  and a credit card will be needed on file. Due to  the high cost of conducting business in California, we barely cover our business expenses and wages, therefore, all our tours are at non-commissionable rates.

Gratuity: 15 to 20% gratuity is required and customary in the USA. Generally, a tip may vary between 15% to 20% of the total purchase amount, or it can be a flat amount that is near the appropriate percent. It really depends upon the situation.

Additional Terms & Tips for visitors and hikers

– If you are subject to car or motion sickness, please consider asking your doctor for recommended medication. Some visitors underestimate this aspect and end up visiting only 50% of the tour as they suffer from this or altitude sickness and make an excessive number of stops along the way. Please consult your doctor and ensure you have the appropriate medication in advance.

– Consider leaving unnecessary luggage at your hotel and travel light so you have more room in the vehicle.

– Wear clothes and shoes suitable for walking and hiking (Snow shoes in winter are recommended, and a swimsuit to enjoy the hotel’s swimming pool and hot tub).

– Bring sunscreen, bug spray, extra memory cards, and batteries for your camera (if applicable).

– Warm layers for cooler weather and a raincoat for summer showers.

– Drink lots of water due to the high altitude and don’t hike alone, as we offer fully-guided tours.

– We are not responsible for injuries or accidents that may occur during this trip, in or out of Yosemite National Park. Please read our terms and conditions for more information.

-Expect rugged terrain with narrow, steep, and very curvy hiking trails to the sequoias. Also, be prepared for a downhill hike and then back uphill to the parking lot. The trail is very steep right at the beginning on the way back up but mellows out as you get closer to the parking lot. It depends on the grove your driver will choose for you, but they all require hiking. The elevation at the trail head of both top groves is about 6,200 feet (1,860 meters). The most popular is the Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias, the distance is about 2.5 miles (4 km) round trip and takes about 1.5 – 2 hours of hiking, and recommended for everybody who can hike including kids.

-California Gold Country: When Tioga Pass road (located between Yosemite and the Eastern Sierra where a major highway leads to Tahoe) is closed due to heavy snow that may start as early as October until about June or July, we will drive through the infamous, yet legendary, California Gold Country on day 2 and day 3 of your adventure.

-Please note that we may start in Lake Tahoe first, and then head to Yosemite National Park or vice versa. This will depend on the hotels’ availability, the season, the weather and road conditions. We do not work on commission, so you are welcome to book your own hotel, but if you don’t want to deal with these details, we can take care of that on your behalf when you choose the option ‘hotel included’ from our shopping cart.

Hotel Reservation: To keep costs down, we charge each guest only about $100 per night, for a three-star hotel in and around  the Yosemite Valley area, based on availability. However, if you have high expectations of the hotel accommodation, and wish to upgrade, we recommend that you choose your own hotel and book it directly with the required resort or hotel. The Majestic hotel (the former Awhanhee) is the only 4-star hotel in the Yosemite Valley where a suite may go from $600 to $1200 per night based on availability and the season. Please note that there are a very limited number of hotels in Yosemite, and they are often sold out 6 to 12 months in advance, so the sooner you book the better. However, we often manage to get a hotel reservation nearby Yosemite Valley, in one of the small resort or motel style hotels in the area, for reservations closer to the tour date.

 

More Terms and Miscellaneous

Foreign Languages: Our tours are conducted in English unless otherwise indicated on your tour voucher. Some foreign languages are subject to additional fees. For all foreign languages, you must book a Private Tour and not a semi-private tour to enjoy the tour in the required language (subject to availability). Additional fees may apply to  any additional foreign languages. All semi-private tours are conducted in English and can be shared with other clients. Semi-private tours will no longer be available on our website.

 

Miscellaneous: Meals and tour guide/driver gratuities are not included in our tour price unless indicated on your tour voucher or email confirmation. Tour prices do not include additional fees including wine tasting, accommodations, and entry fees to see attractions and sites, winery tours, unless otherwise indicated on your tour voucher or email confirmation.

All vehicles operated by Golden Horizon Travel  ,Inc.are non-smoking according to state and federal laws.

Golden Horizon Travel ,Inc.C reserves the right to hire independent tour guides/drivers, subcontractors and/or contractors to facilitate our tours, shuttle services and travel packages.

In the event that we are unable to facilitate your tour due to weather and/or road conditions, we will attempt to reach each location, site and destination using alternative routes, but we are not liable nor responsible for these unforeseen weather/traffic conditions. No refunds will be available.

All photos or videos taken by our staff of our customers or passengers, during the capacity of the tour, trip or transfer, may be included on our website. Customers hereby agree to the use of these photos and videos and under no circumstances can customers dispute.

No substitution or refunds for any unused part of the tour(s) will be issued. All sales are final.

No refunds will be issued for a no-show or unused portion of the tour.

All refund and/or voided transactions paid on our website by credit or debit cards or via PayPal may take up to 2 weeks before you receive the funds (refunds) back into your account.

Our hot-air balloon rides are not guaranteed to depart and arrive back in Napa Valley and are subject to last-minute cancelations for weather considerations. Golden Horizon Travel , Inc.  reserves the right to fly anywhere within an 80-mile radius of Napa Valley depending on the weather conditions.

We reserve the right to refuse service to any person or business who may refuse to comply with our safety instructions, our tour itinerary, or to anyone who may pose a threat to our customers and/or our tour guide-drivers. Screaming at or insulting tour guide-drivers or fellow passengers or third-party businesses and subcontractors is not acceptable under any circumstances and will terminate and cancel your tour without any refund. Discrimination against a customer or a tour guide–driver for any reason is not acceptable either under any circumstance.

Cancellation due to unforeseen weather conditions: Weather/Unforeseen Circumstances like fires, landslide, road closure, vehicle breakdown, employees or driver’s medical emergency or due other weather conditions or unforeseen circumstances; we revere the right to offer you alternative tours, destinations for the same amount of time.

Modifications of these terms and conditions: Golden Horizon Travel  ,Inc. and its affiliated websites or contractors reserve the right to change any of these terms and conditions under which this website is offered. We reserve the right to change our web contents, update our terms and privacy policy anytime and at our discretion without a prior notice. Learn more about our privacy policy and complete terms and conditions LEARN MORE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Read Some of our Latest Authentic Yosemite National Park Tour Reviews, Lake Tahoe and Mammoth Lakes Trusted Testimonials

*****Our goal is to exceed your expectations *****

Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor
Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor

Our Bucket List Overflowed

Our Bucket List Overflowed, a wonderful day in an amazing park with the perfect tour guide!

Katheryn Kennedy - London, UK

Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor
Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor

Breathtaking adventure in Yosemite Wonderland

Breathtaking adventure in Yosemite Wonderland. We found this company on Trip Advisor & we were not disappointed!

The Jamesons. Sydney, Australia

Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor
Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor

The best experience ever!

A wonderful tour package in Yosemite National Park with Adam. This tour has totally exceeded expectations! The best experience ever!

Erin M. Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor
Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor

Unforgettable & Fantastic!

Unforgettable & Fantastic! trust their reviews and believe what you read on Trip Advisor; they are consumed professionals.

Chris G., Dallas, Texas

Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor
Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor

How can you rate beauty ?

Explore nature at its best ! Yosemite is magical, unique and must be on everyone’s bucket-list. Golden Horizon Travel staff and tour guides are underrated.

Travel#mom#forver

Chicago, Illinois

Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor
Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor

Just Magnificent & Just Stunning!

Yosemite National Park and Sierra Nevada beauty exceed our expectations. This place is breathtaking but avoid the peak season and stay away from the Yosemite Valley . 5-stars to our tour guide Adam, he made this journey unforgettable. He is an expert photographer too!

M. Hachadourian. Greenwich Village, New York

Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor
Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor

Fun, informative & very professional

10 Stars! Fun, informative, flexible, indulgent, patient,& very professional guides in a warm & engaging manner.

Jarmila Sramkova. Prague, Czech Republic

Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor
Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor

Yosemite is Magical and Majestic!

Believe every good thing you read about this tour company; you will not be disappointed!

Mike and Jane - Nashville

Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor
Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor

Treated like King & Queen!

Treated like King & Queen! Breathtaking, OUTSTANDING and A MUST See!! Without any hesitation, 5 stars!

Loreena’s family Madrid, Spain

Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor
Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor

They are consummate professionals

They are consummate professionals who really care a lot for their customers' wellbeing and experience- a must do!

Rob & Marhta Baton Rouge

Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor
Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor

Unforgettable experience!

Impressive! Their Ability of organization, understanding , customizing , entertaining , educating - make them the best at what they do. What unforgettable experience with Buddy!

Natasha C Calgary, Canada

Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor
Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor

Outstanding bucket-list destination!

Outstanding tour package to Yosemite ,Mammoth Lakes , Sequoia national park & Death Valley with Adam and Jonathan . I've run out of superlatives to describe this unforgettable and once-in-a-lifetime experience ...10 STARS + & Highly Recommended

Holly Millard- Holly Millard, IN

Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor
Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor

"Stop reading reviews and book with Golden Horizon!"

You won't be disappointed if you use Golden Horizon for all your tours! Top notch service!

Susan.S- McAllen, Texas

Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor
Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor

Top-Notch VIP Service!"

A 6-star experience! Their tag line is to “exceed expectations” and they certainly delivered. From the moment of making a booking to the actual tours - Superb!

Superdin0-Singapore

Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor
Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor

"OUTSTANDING"

10 Stars for Patricia & Golden Horizon: top guides & top-of-the-line luxury SUV tours

Brenna Q. Phoenixville

Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor
Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor

"Golden Horizon is Truly Golden!"

10 stars! Reliable company, responsive staff & accommodating, fun, informative, flexible, indulgent, passionate guides

Kw9196family- Thurmont, Maryland

I'm a real customer and not some PR guy writing this review!

Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor

First, I'd like to say I'm a real customer and not some PR guy writing this review. I'm writing this because I believe good service should be made aware to others who are looking for an unforgettable experience just as I was last week. To save on search time, I figured I'd write a review on my experience with golden horizon travel. I just came back from an amazing Yosemite Tour and I just have to say, our tour guide Adam was not only very knowledge but also super accommodating. When I was evaluating different tours, my priorities were to make the tour as comfortable as possible which meant I wanted a tour that was :

-small, comfortable means to accommodate my motion sickness (winding roads really mess me up)

-an SUV tour (only 3 tour companies offer SUV tours in San Francisco to Yosemite)

-see the Sequoia Trees (most tours do not offer sequoia tree viewings as part of their tours)

-a very knowledgeable and well-rounded tour guide.

-1-day tour... because we were just in town for Memorial Day weekend.

-hotel pickup. I didn't want to go around looking for a meet up point when visiting a city for the first time

- knows where their drivers are and their scheduling. I've called 3 other tour companies prior to this and learned a lot of tour companies just broker out their tours to other big tour companies. A lot of them didn't know what dates or what kind of cars we would be getting. There was another company that offered 4 door jeeps but riding those in a prior experience was beyond rough.

Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor

- was responsive to all our questions and wasn't condescending to whatever question we asked about the tour.

Well my girlfriend and I found all this with our tour guide adam not only stopped at a grocery store prior to arriving at the park to save on food for the hike (park prices are astronomical) but he also went as far as giving me the coat off his back to combat my cold and headache condition as a result of my car motion sickness on the way up. The weather conditions this memorial day weekend were rainy and despite how much we were a little bummed because it was cold and rainy, his spirits were up and still tailored on the fly which sites we still could see and better shortcuts to get there to avoid the major crowds.

Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor

By the afternoon, the crowd at Yosemite was insane and the 2 lane roads were all backed up in most cases, but Adam always seemed to know where to turn to avoid it. I was particularly impressed that he knew how to combat the areas where there was construction going on and how to get out of a backed-up situation so quickly to get to where we're going instead of wasting time waiting in traffic. We got to see Bridal Falls, Yosemite Falls, El Capitan, and a bunch of other places which I don't remember names of. now that I'm home and thoroughly exhausted from the tour ( which was just 2 days ago), my girlfriend and I were very happy we went and would more than likely book the tour again when we make it back to Yosemite. This time around it will probably be more than one day. Not knowing how many places there are to visit and hike in Yosemite...one day just isn't enough and there is something to be said about having a tour guide to show you around the in's and outs and knowing the key places to see most tours don't cover is a definite bonus especially for first timers like us.

I hope this helps others in their search for a tour.

Good luck,

Phillip Kuo

Houston, Texas A

Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor
Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor
Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor

“Alcatraz, Lake Tahoe & Yosemite tour experience from San Francisco!”

What an amazing trip around the entire Lake Tahoe after a 2-hour tour of Alcatraz Island and 4 hours’ drive from San Francisco. I know this is not the ordinary combo tour, but we booked the overnight trip package to South Lake Tahoe combined with a tour package of Yosemite National park, so we can squeeze in the tour of Alcatraz as well, since my kids wanted to see it so badly. My wife, mother in law and my kids loved the snowmobile guided adventure with Alex in Lake Tahoe high country. We enjoyed a thrilling ride throughout Tahoe forest and heavy snow. The stops and vistas along the way were breathtaking, what a peaceful and wonderful destination. Our custom adventure of Yosemite national park sights and attractions was the best trip ever! Go to Yosemite either before Traveling during the off-peak season was the prefect deal for my family, the parks we visited were less crowded; we got cheaper flights, and better hotels in Lake Tahoe and Yosemite.

Chris G., Dallas, Texas

Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor
Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor
Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor

Amazing travel package to Lake Tahoe combined with Yosemite National Park

We booked a tour package to Lake Tahoe combined with a trip to Yosemite National Park, starting in Napa Valley and ending in San Francisco. On day one, Adam came to pick us up at San Francisco International Airport and dropped us off at our hotel in downtown Napa Valley (Andaz Napa by the Hyatt). The next day, we had a private tour of Napa Valley with Adam, where we visited small wineries, including some castle wineries, and had lunch at the Auberge Du Soleil restaurant in Napa. We had a fantastic day in Napa Valley wine country.

On day 3, our tour guide Jonathan picked us up at our hotel in Napa Valley and drove us to Lake Tahoe. Jon was very friendly, informative and highly knowledgeable. We enjoyed the stops he made for us in the Gold Country and in Lake Tahoe, where we had a custom sightseeing tour around the lake. We loved the stop and walking tour to Emerald Bay state park.

This journey in the Sierra exceeded our expectations- what a marvelous place! Our hotel accommodation was in a casino resort style hotel in South Lake Tahoe. The resort has all the amenities and offer plenty of shows and nightlife. The rooms were large and comfortable, with views of the lake. Don’t miss out on the gorgeous sunset over Lake Tahoe.

The next day, we had ski lessons at Heavenly Ski Resort, and then had an exciting snowmobile adventure in the white snowy mountains of the Sierra Nevada. The views of Lake Tahoe from the High Country are breathtaking!

Yosemite on the other hands, is a true wonderland and a magical place. This is where we spent the last 3 days of our travel package to California. I highly recommend this tour package with Golden Horizon Travel to everyone, and specially to families with kids like ours (for spring breaks or holidays). My kids loved it, and my husband and I had a wonderful time.

Alex / Adeline Seah- Singapore

Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor
Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor
Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor

About our Lake Tahoe day trip from San Jose, California

We were a group of 7 travelers from Hong Kong on a business trip to San Jose, California. We booked this private day trip to Lake Tahoe with Golden Horizon Travel in San Francisco and San Jose, and we were not disappointed. We were so excited to play with the snow up at Heavenly Ski Resort, and the views are amazing over the lake from heavenly gondola overlook. We highly recommended this day trip to Tahoe. But if you have time, go for the overnight trip package, which is better because of the long drive from San Francisco. It took us more than 4 hours each way without traffic!

James Wang, Hong Kong

Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor
Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor
Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor

“Pure professionals and a memorable Tahoe -Yosemite combo tour experience”

One of the hardest things to do when trying to book excursions in California from overseas, is being able to trust unknown tour companies in California. After investigating many trip options in the San Francisco Bay Area, considering the costs and reading tour reviews on Trip Advisor, we chose a tour company trusted over many years. We booked two incredible and separate excursions with this travel company based upon older great reviews and friends’ recommendations. We booked the trip from San Francisco to Yosemite National Park, spent a night in the Yosemite Valley and then the next day we traveled to Lake Tahoe through the Tuolumne meadows - a land of wonders in every sense of the word.

We got to Lake Tahoe in the late afternoon and spent the night and extra day in Lake Tahoe south shore. The lake is picturesque and the cruise ship we took on the lake allowed us to get close to many state parks and beaches not accessible otherwise to vehicles. We highly recommended this travel agency in San Francisco, you will not be disappointed.

Naina Kwok- Jakarta- Indonesia

Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor
Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor
Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor

“Yosemite and Lake Tahoe full experience - excellent service and A 5-star private custom tour”

Our 3-day private tour to Lake Tahoe, Gold Country and Yosemite National Park was excellent and so was our guide Peter. He has immense knowledge of the Sierra and Lake Tahoe. He made stops along the way in Sacramento, Placerville, Lake Tahoe, and Reno in Nevada where we spent one night. Our 2-day trip to Tahoe and Reno were a bit short due to the driving time... but our last day in Yosemite was our favorite part of this outdoor adventure. Yosemite is a must-see place to explore with a real tour guide like our personal guide Pete. He didn’t disappoint us. We will certainly use this tour company again; a 5-star service all the way!

Nicky & BannySh. Kolkata (Calcutta), India

Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor
Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor
Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor

“Increible Vacación e innolvidable experiencia en Lake Tahoe y Reno!!”

Both our tours of Muir Woods and Point Reyes national seashores, combined with a horseback ride, were amazing and unforgettable thanks to our guide Luis. Both trips were totally customized to me and my family. The horseback ride was exciting, and Point Reyes national seashore sights are spectacular. Our adventure to Lake Tahoe and Reno, on the other hand, was a very long trip. It took us almost 5 hours to get to Reno from San Francisco. I wish I knew how far this was, but we still had a great time in both Reno and Tahoe. The next day, after the tour, we were dropped off at Sacramento Airport. Thank you, Nellie, for your help and patience during our booking process. You guys rock.

Gabriela & Oscar Reyes, Lima, Peru

Original review poste don trip advisor in Spanish:

“Increíble Vacaciones e inolvidable experiencia en Lago Tahoe y Reno!
Los dos tours que reservamos con esta empresa fueron el combo Parque de Muir Woods y Reserva de Point Reyes con un paseo a caballo fue maravillo e inolvidable gracias a nuestro guía Luis. Ambas excursiones fueron personalizadas para nosotros. Mi hijo de 13 años le encantó. La cabalgata fue divertida y la reserva de Point Reyes fue espectacular.

Por otro lado, nuestra aventura para visitar Lago Tahoe y Reno fue un día largo, nos tomó 5 horas en llegar a Reno saliendo desde San Francisco, que lástima que no teníamos más días para quedarnos más tiempo, pero definitivamente la pasamos genial tanto en Reno como en Tahoe. Al día siguiente volamos a casa desde el aeropuerto de Sacramento. Muchas gracias, Nellie por toda tu ayuda y tu paciencia durante nuestro proceso de reserva. Chicos son lo máximo...! muchas gracias!

Gabriela & Oscar Reyes, Lima, Perú

Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor
Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor
Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor

“Lake Tahoe sights and attractions are stunning and spectacular!”

Lake Tahoe is the best of the West Coast of both Nevada and California sides. Even if you’re not a fan of the outdoors activities, Lake Tahoe is well worth the long drive from San Francisco. This is must-see destination with remarkable places to please everyone. Tahoe is such a special place; I recommend it to everybody who likes nature.
We also booked Yosemite day trip with tour company, was a very long day trip but worth it.

Martha Frierrs and Family, Alabama

Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor
Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor
Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor

"Lake Tahoe and Yosemite: must-see places when visiting California"

Lake Tahoe region is one of the must-see places in California with an array of activities for both summer and winter. We loved it, and our kids already want to go back there. They took ski lessons and fell in love with Heavenly Ski Resort in South Lake Tahoe area. We would like to visit Tahoe in the summer as well, as I am sure it will look great; all green after the snow season. Don’t miss out on Emerald Bay during your stay - it’s beautiful. We can check that off our bucket list now-awesome):-

Jimmy & family -Belize

Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor
Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor
Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor

“Tahoe is a wonderful place and Yosemite is bucket-list destination”

We spent too much time in Southern California (in Los Angeles) during our last trip to California. But San Francisco Bay Area is way better and has so much to offer visitors. We did a half-day sightseeing tour of the city in Spanish, and then we head east to Lake Tahoe. The Lake is pristine, wonderful and so clean, the air was fresh and pure with magnificent surroundings. The hotel, booked for us by the company, was clean and well-located close to major attractions.

Our tour guide, Guillermo, was awesome - a very friendly and funny guy. Try to avoid school holidays as some places were a bit crowded, but there is no traffic once you get to the lake. As for trip to Yosemite, this was a once-in-a-lifetime vacation and a unique experience, you got to visit Yosemite and see it with your own eyes.

Lucia & Rogelio Mérida-Mexico

Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor
Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor
Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor

"Epic family rafting adventure on the American River combined with Lake Tahoe!"

My family and I signed up for this Lake Tahoe and Whitewater Rafting combo adventure. We started off with the rafting experience, which offered incredible thrill rides on the south fork of the American River. We got a bit scared at some of the rapids, but we managed and had a blast. That was the highlight our 2-day tour package with Golden Horizon Travel They provided us with lots of info beforehand and all necessary equipment required for the trip, so we felt properly prepared and safe for the rafting adventure. The rapids are exciting, challenging and thrilling, and our guide was competent and fun. The Lake Tahoe guided tour was fun, and the alpine vistas are stunning. Overall, an exciting family adventure, with lots of fun, and the best trip so far with our kids.

Alice & Ian Rich, Calgary, Canada

Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor
Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor
Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor

“Absolutely the Perfect Private tour we needed to Lake Tahoe from San Francisco”

Our tour guide-driver, Pat, was the best! She was prompt, and very knowledgeable about the areas we drove through, from the San Francisco Bay area to Lake Tahoe. A beautiful SUV too, and very comfortable! I was nervous at first to book, as it was a little pricey, but it is well worth every single penny!! Trust me. We would definitely use this tour company in our future visits to San Francisco and Yosemite! Tahoe was another beautiful place we would have missed. My kids loved tubbing and sledding in Lake Tahoe meadows. Thank you, guys and good job!!

Gina W. Johnson. Wausau, Wisconsin

Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor
Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor
Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor

An authentic and outstanding Lake Tahoe and Yosemite adventure

From the moment we contacted Golden Horizon Travel via their live chat online, to the tour itself, the booking process and the high level of customer services and dedicated attention, everything went just perfect. They are true professionals and pay a lot of attention to detail. They responded promptly to all of our inquiries and questions, even late at night. As for the tour package, private tours and hikes we took with our passionate and fun tour guide Adam, we enjoyed every single minute of it in the High Sierra Nevada wilderness. Yosemite National Park is a magical place with unique biology and geology. We even had a close-up encounter with a bear by the giant sequoias in Mariposa Grove. While Taft point and Glacier point are a must-see, don’t miss out on Tioga road through the Tuolumne Meadows area. We stopped at the Mono lake visitor center on the way to Lake Tahoe, and that was quite interesting with all these so-called tufa towers in the middle of the lake. Lake Tahoe is another wonderland of the Sierra, with a wide array of outdoor attractions. We were a bit tired, but luckily the 4x4 SUV allowed us to gain access to places where large vehicles are not allowed, so this saved us a lot of hiking. Highly recommended

Julius Ramesh Goodwood Park, Trinidad

Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor
Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor
Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor

Dream vacation to California top attractions: Tahoe, Yosemite, Sierra and Mammoth Lakes

My wife and I want you to know how much we enjoyed our time with you and how much we regret the distance that separates us. Adam was so welcoming and so generous in carrying oBook This Toun with our trip when the two American ladies withdrew at the last moment. Adam's passion for Yosemite and his educated and deeply-researched knowledge of the area, its geography, geology, trees and animals gave us insights, views and opportunities that made us feel less like tourists and more like students Most of all, we loved travelling with your company. We hope that both enjoyed the outing as much as we did. I started out thinking that Adam had taken us to "photographers' Heaven" but with so many subjects and such vast scenery to photograph and my cameras being so inadequate, it was frustrating not to have the skills and equipment to capture the beauty and scale of Yosemite, Mammoth Lakes and Tahoe. However, even better than photos are the vivid memories that we have brought home with us from the wonderful times we had in Lake Tahoe, Eastern Sierra and Yosemite National Park. I have some photos to send to you when I have finished editing and sorting. We thought that San Francisco was a great city and would love to return. We will return soon to go to Big Sur and Hearst Castle, or to the redwood national park area, and hope to visit this amazing place with your guide. Thank you for your company and kindness. If you ever have a chance to travel to Australia, please let us know so that we can attempt to return some of your hospitality. We hope that we can meet again. In the meantime, we are telling all our friends not to visit California without booking a trip with Golden Horizon Travel.

Yours sincerely Bob and Faith Australia

Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor
Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor
Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor

Our day trips to Yosemite and Lake Tahoe from Silicon Valley

We booked the day trip to Lake Tahoe from Palo Alto in Silicon Valley while visiting the area for business purposes, my son and I had a fantastic time with our Japanese tour guide Hiro in south lake Tahoe. We also booked a sperate day trip to Yosemite Valley, that was a long day drive from san Francisco bay area, but we had lot of fun in Yosemite Valley.

Thank you

Hisato K.

Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor
Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor
Tours_reviews_Lake_Tahoe_Activity_trip_advisor

Awesome ski trip to Lake Tahoe from San Francisco

While visiting friends of mine in San Francisco, we decided to book this one-day trip to Tahoe with golden horizon tours, and we were not disappointed. Our tour guide Adam picked up the prefect ski resort for us; Squaw Valley (the Olympic Valley) and Alpine Meadows, they are now one ski resort with massive and beautiful terrain, quality snow, and friendly staff. This is our favorite place in lake Tahoe for skiing. As soon as we got off the Squaw Valley Aerial Tram (cable car), we fell in love with mastic and panoramic views of Lake Tahoe from this stunning overlook. From easy slopes to challenging bowls, there's something for the entire family, this is an awesome place for young and the elders even without skiing. Our driver Adam is also an expert skier which made it more fun as he knows very well both ski resorts (Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows).

Juan Sandoval and friends Santiago, Chile

bears-yosemite-ourse-oso-bar-wild-animals-min.jpg
Devils-Postpile-National-Monument-eastern-sierra-attractions-California-min.jpg
Eastern-Sierra-hidden-gems-in-Sierra-Nevada-Parks-Mammoth-Lakes-min.jpg
eastern-sierra-nevada-sightseeing-Mammoth-Lakes-min.jpg
Geologic-sites-Eastern-Sierra-Geological-Wonders-Mammoth-Lakes-min.jpg
Geologic-sites-Geological-Wonders-Eastern-Sierra-Mammoth-Lakes-min.jpg
giant-sequois-park-hike-travel-guide-sierra-min.jpg
hot-greek-mammoth-lakes-hot-springs-attractions-min.jpg
hot-springs-hot-spring-hot-creek-geologic-sites-min.jpg
hot-springs-sierra-springs-hot-creek-min.jpg
Lakes-mammoth-lakes-rainbow-falls-hide-min.jpg
Mammoth-Lakes-Off-Road-Adventures-in-Wild-West-California-min.jpg
mammoth lakes photos models best to use yosemite 2020 S-min.jpg
mammoth-lakes-twin-lakes-mary-lake-george-min.jpg
Mono-Lake-Tufa-Towers-State-Natural-Reserve-min.jpg
Plan-Your-Visit-to-Death-Valley-National-Park-sights-min.jpg
rainbow-falls-mammoth-lakes-sierra-attractions-min.jpg
Top-things-to-do-in-Yosemite-Sierra-Nevada-min.jpg
Visit California High Sierra mountain  wilderness alpine vistas-min.jpg

Yosemite, Mammoth Lakes and the Sierra Nevada Packages video

Book This Tour

Select Date From Calendar

Select A Vehicle

By SUV
Up to 7 Guests
PRIVATE_CUSTOM_TOURS_BY_SUV
By VAN
up to 14 Passengers
City_Bus_tours_SFO_Airport_Service

Check One

Yes

No

Select Number of guests

travelers_reservations

Select Number of guests

 

TOTAL USD:   $

Authentic reviews from Trip Advisor

  • Lake Tahoe & Yosemite tour experience

    What an amazing trip around Lake Tahoe after a 3-day custom adventure of Yosemite national park sights and attractions - a wonderful destination.

    Chris G., Dallas, Texas

  • Lake Tahoe is stunning & spectacular!!

    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.

    Martha Frierrs, Alabama

  • Tahoe & Yosemite; must-see destinations in California

    Tahoe is a must-see place & Yosemite is the crown jewel of California, they offer amazing outdoor activities for families with kids

    Jimmy & family, Belize

  • A 5-star Yosemite & Tahoe experience

    Our 3-day private tour package to Lake Tahoe wonders, Gold Country & Yosemite National Park top attractions was excellent, exciting & memorable!

    Nicky & Bannysh. Kolkata (Calcutta), India

  • Tahoe is a bucket-list vacation destination

    The Lake is pristine, wonderful, so clean, the air is so fresh & pure with magnificent surroundings, what an awesome paradise on earth?

    Lucia & Rogelio Mérida, Mexico

  • Our Incredible experience in Lake Tahoe and Reno

    Our adventure to Lake Tahoe and Reno from San Francisco was amazing and unforgettable thanks to Golden Horizon Travel attentive staff, and tour guide.

    Gabriela & Oscar Reyes, Lima, Peru

  • Dream vacation to Tahoe, Yosemite & Mammoth Lakes

    My wife and I want you to know how much we enjoyed our time in Tahoe & Yosemite, we loved travelling with your company

    Bob and Faith, Australia

  • A memorable Tahoe -Yosemite combo tour experience

    Trust their tour reviews on trip advisor 100%, they earned our satisfaction, they have a great customer service and amazing tour guides.

    Naina Kwok- Jakarta, Indonesia

Visit_California_sights_and_attractions_vacation_package_trip_reviews
  Why Choose Us? testing
 
  •  
  • choose quality over quantity
 

~our goal is to exceed your expectation~

    •  
       100% Local San Francisco Accredited and Established Business Since 2004 
    •  
       100% Glowing Feedback Including TripAdvisor, BBB + A rating & more 
    •  
       100% Peace of Mind; Hassle-Free Booking & Worry-Free Tour Packages
    •  
       100% Trusted, Licensed and Bonded Local Tour Operator Since 2004
    •  
       100% Tailor-Made Custom Tours & Freedom to Customize a La Carte
    •  
       Unique Itineraries & Lifetime 5-Star Experiences Guaranteed
    •  
       High Level & First-Class Services - No hidden Fees & Satisfaction Guaranteed
    •  
       Superior & Outstanding Customer Service, Always Available & Accessible
    •  
       Outstanding Awards Including TripAdvisor, BBB A+ Rating, Gold Award of Business Credibility Trust + SF Travel & Convention Bureau Award & More
    •  
       Authentic Tour Experiences and Unique Destinations Unavailable Elsewhere
    •  
       Family-Friendly Tour Operator + Local Passionate & Fun-loving Multilingual Tour Guides
    •  
       Luxury Vehicles, Go Where You Want to Go & Travel at Your Pace
    •  
       High-Profile VIP Clients; Top Travel Custom Services Specialist
    •  
       Latest Technology: Secure Website + Secure & Encrypted Shopping Carts

Last-Minutes Deals

Redwood-National-and-State-Parks
UP TO
20%
discount

 GIANT REDWOODS

Discover the Ancient Redwood & Giant Sequoias.
Book More Tours and Save Big!
Learn More >>
Visit-Tahoe-and-Yosemite_national_park
UP TO
20%
discount

 

LAKE TAHOE

Experience Lake Tahoe wonders, a four-season destination.
Book More Tours and Save Big!
Learn More >>
Big_Sur_and_Hearst_Castle_tours
UP TO
20%
discount

BIG SUR WONDERS

Diiscover Big Sur, Hearst Castle, Monterey and Carmel.
Book More Tours and Save Big!
Learn More>>

SF_Reservations_Travel_Booking_Alcatraz

Choose Your Travel Destination

1866 Reviews

Our ReputationSpeaks For Itself

Our Goal is to Exceed Your Expectations

Redwood National Park attractions vacation package California Parks Activities