Yosemite National Park and Giant Sequoias Tour from San Jose
Description
This is the only Yosemite group tour that departs from San Jose, making it a convenient option for Bay Area travelers. You'll explore iconic sights like El Capitan, Half Dome, and Bridalveil Fall, plus enjoy a peaceful walk among giant sequoias in Tuolumne Grove. With expert commentary and free time in Yosemite Valley, it’s a stress-free, all-in-one adventure.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Join us on an unforgettable tour of Yosemite National Park, home to towering granite cliffs, scenic waterfalls, and some of the world’s most beautiful nature trails. This award-winning tour gives you the most time in the park and includes a special walk among ancient Giant Sequoias. Your adventure starts with a convenient pickup in San Jose. Your tour begins with a convenient pick up in San Jose.
Drive by scenic landscapes as your guide tells the story of how a glint of gold in the American River ignited the California Gold Rush.
Stop for breakfast and grab a quick bite at a nearby supermarket or Starbucks.
Head into the rugged Sierra Nevada mountains, passing through the historic town of Mariposa and 150-year-old mining communities. Discover the region’s rich Gold Rush history and learn how powerful geological forces shaped Yosemite’s breathtaking landscapes.
Enter Yosemite National Park through the Arch Rock entrance and head toward a stunning viewpoint made famous by photographer Ansel Adams.
Take a moment at Tunnel View. Capture yourself with El Capitan, Half Dome, Sentinel Dome, Glacier Point, and Cathedral Peak as your background.
Stop at the base of Bridalveil Fall, where misty cascades and towering cliffs create one of Yosemite’s most breathtaking scenes.
Capture a perfect reflection of Half Dome in the Merced River as you drive over Sentinel Bridge.
Enjoy Your Own Yosemite Valley Adventure. Once we arrive in Yosemite Valley, you’ll have 2 hours to grab lunch and explore at your own pace.
During your free time in the valley, take a walk to Yosemite Falls—one of the tallest waterfalls in North America. Enjoy the views, take photos, and soak in the power and beauty of this natural wonder.
Hop back on the bus and head to El Capitan Meadow, where you’ll stop to discover the world’s largest granite monolith and the legendary climbers who brave its towering cliffs.
As we are leaving Yosemite Valley, we will make our final stop at Valley View which serves up a panoramic landscape framing the Merced River, El Capitan and the imposing spires of Cathedral Rocks.
As we leave the valley, take in the serene beauty of the river flowing beside you, glistening in the light and framed by towering cliffs.
Experience the Quiet Majesty of the Giant Sequoias In this serene grove, you’ll stand among some of the oldest and largest trees on Earth—an awe-inspiring encounter with nature’s giants.
Enjoy a scenic drive through the historic town of Groveland, a charming Gold Rush-era village with rustic buildings and rich California heritage.
On the way back, we’ll stop for dinner at a plaza with fast food, a sandwich shop, a taqueria, Hawaiian BBQ, and a supermarket—something for everyone.
Wrap up your adventure with a comfortable ride back and drop-off in San Jose, where your unforgettable day in Yosemite comes to a close.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Non-U.S. residents aged 16 and older will be charged an additional $100 park entry fee per person after completing their booking. This fee will be collected by the tour operator via a payment link or on the bus at the start of your tour. Note that “America the Beautiful Non-Resident Pass” holders do not pay the $100 fee, the $250 pass covers up to 4 people at the entrance.
- From November to March, when the trail is unsafe due to snow and ice, we replace the Sequoia hike with extra time in Yosemite Valley.
- The tour stops around 8:30am for breakfast, 1pm for lunch, and 6pm for dinner on the way back. Meals are not included.
- Free audio guides are available in Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French, German, Korean, Chinese, and Japanese. Please specify your preferred language under "Special Requirements" when booking.
- You will be picked up in San Jose by a shuttle and taken to a meeting point in the East Bay (livermore), where you’ll join your tour group.
- California law requires tour guests to bring a car safety seat for all children under 8 years and under 4' 9" (1.4 meters) in height
- Winter in Yosemite is much colder than San Francisco. Wear warm clothes and shoes with rubber soles and good traction.
Reviews(92)
I took the Yosemite National Park tour with Andy Howie and it was simply fantastic. Andy has an encyclopedic knowledge of the park, its history, and nature, which he shares with genuine passion and great humor. He was also super helpful in taking amazing souvenir photos for everyone, making the whole day seamless and stress-free. Highly recommended if you want an unforgettable experience in Yosemite! Thanks again! :)
Thank you for your thoughtful review! We're thrilled Andy helped make your Yosemite adventure so enjoyable and took great care to ensure you felt comfortable throughout the day. We appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you back again!🥰
OMG - not sure where to begin - Yosemite is amazing and words and photos don’t do it justice but I can say with 100% accuracy our tour guide Andy Howse was spectacular!! What a day !!!
Thank you for sharing your experience! We're delighted Andy's kindness, knowledge, and care made such a positive impact on your trip. We’ll be sure to pass along your compliments. We hope to see you again soon! 😊
What an amazing experience at Yosemite National park! Traveling with the family had never been more exciting. Our bus driver and tour guide Andy Howse was spectacular. I love the way he cares so much about the wildlife, the people and the nature of the park! I got to learn so many amazing things and I hope to return one day for an even longer stay. Best experience ever.
Thank you for your thoughtful feedback! We're thrilled you enjoyed both the itinerary and Andy's knowledge and hospitality. We appreciate your kind words and look forward to welcoming you back for another Yosemite adventure!😊
I had the worst experience travelling to Yosemite National Park with defect in AC working throughout the journey and refund was guaranteed to me for this. Almost it was before more than a month when I travelled and still no response has been received.
Thank you for your feedback. We sincerely apologize again for the brief period during which the air conditioning was not functioning properly. We understand how uncomfortable that must have been. We were also under the impression that this matter had already been resolved through Viator, so we were surprised to see your review indicating otherwise. If there is anything still outstanding, please don't hesitate to contact us at contact@extranomical.com or (415) 357-0700, and we'd be happy to look into it for you.
The guide Glenda was excellent; the tour was very interesting, a must-visit place.
¡Gracias por la excelente reseña! Nos alegra mucho que haya disfrutado del recorrido y valorado el excelente servicio de Glenda. Sin duda compartiremos sus comentarios con ella. ¡Esperamos verle de nuevo pronto!
I had a great time on the trip as a solo traveler. I was able to make a friend at the pickup point and we hung out the entire trip. My only issue was how long the trip was (which was expected, but made it difficult to truly enjoy Yosemite). It’s probably best to do a longer trip unless you’re pressed for time which would make this trip a great fit in a busy schedule.
Thank you for sharing your experience! We're so glad to hear you had a great time and even made a new friend at the pickup point—that's one of the things we love most about group travel. We understand your comments about the length of the trip. Yosemite is about a four-hour drive each way from San Francisco, so our one-day tour is designed to give guests who are short on time the chance to experience the park in a single day. For those looking for a more relaxed pace and additional time to explore, we also offer overnight tours. Thanks again for choosing to travel with us. We hope to welcome you back for another adventure in the future!
travel bus air conditioning was not working all the time. Driver knew it not working why still she brought faulty bus. Temperature in bus was burning hot, we could not enjoy the trip. Driver Karen was very rude and let us behind after the lunch. she blocked my call when I was requesting her to pickup. we are not from area we didn’t know what to do. she could have simply said to walk to the fall and we can meet there. Driver was making unnecessary stops while returning and made us late to go home.
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and frustration you experienced during your tour. This is certainly not the level of service we strive to provide, and we're sorry to hear that the issues with the bus and your experience during the day negatively impacted your trip. We would appreciate the opportunity to learn more about what happened so that we can properly investigate the situation. Please contact our Guest Relations team at +1 (415) 357-0700 or contact@extranomical.com with your booking details so we can discuss your experience further and review the concerns you raised. We value your feedback and would like the opportunity to address this matter directly.
The experience was great overall. Ginormous was fantastic tour guide. The only thing I would say could of been different is the time you get to see the giant trees as its a very long walk. But other than that the tour was amazing. Great job extranomical tour.
Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We’re so glad we could be part of such a memorable experience for you.
We had a fantastic experience with Toby as our tour guide! He was energetic, patient, and incredibly informative throughout the entire tour. He shared many interesting stories, fascinating facts, and historical insights about California that made the experience both fun and educational. Toby was also wonderful with my daughter. He was friendly, engaging, and very patient, helping make the experience enjoyable for both of us. In addition, he was an excellent and safe driver, which I greatly appreciated. His professionalism, enthusiasm, and knowledge truly made our day memorable. We had a wonderful time and would highly recommend him to anyone looking for a knowledgeable and enjoyable tour experience!
Thank you for your wonderful and thoughtful review! We’re truly delighted to hear that your Yosemite experience was exceptional and that Toby’s professionalism, knowledge, and attentiveness made such a positive impact. It’s great to know his thoughtful explanations and careful planning helped make the journey both smooth and enriching. We sincerely appreciate your recommendation and will be sure to share your kind words with Toby — they will mean a great deal to him. 😊
Good list of stunning sites to see plus one nice hike in the Sequoia grove. Toby was a great guide plus driver, very down to earth and friendly. It’s a long day from 5am to 10 pm but there are many great photos and memories to remember.
Thank you for your wonderful feedback and for recommending Toby! We're delighted to hear they helped make your tour such an enjoyable experience. We'll be sure to share your kind words with him Tracy. 😊
