Experience Overview

City, coast, hot springs, national parks and a whole load of wide-open roads – take on Vegas to San Fran on this six-day adventure. Stop in the Sierra Nevada mountains, pass by Mono Lake and make your way to the extraordinary Yosemite National Park. With two full days spent here, marvel at Half Dome and hike to the Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias, before having the time to choose your own adventure. Finish up in the culture-filled hub of San Francisco, and toast to one incredible journey!

Highlights

Spend three nights camping near Yosemite National Park with two full days of exploration. With so many options on what to do, you’ll be spoilt for choice.
Stroll through The Tunnel Tree, a sequoia so large the trail had to be cut through the centre of it during a hike to the Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias.
Settle in and immerse yourself in the peace and quiet of your surroundings with nights spent camping under the stars.
With a knowledgeable leader getting you from place to place, all you’ve got to worry about is snapping the best photo and getting the most out of your Californian road trip.
Where better to end your adventure than in San Francisco, the eclectic, multicultural 'City by the Bay'. With the option to extend your visit a couple of days, you won’t be wanting to go home just yet.

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Trip Details

Product Code: 2623

Tour Type: Small Group

Accommodation: Basic

Transport: Private vehicle

Guide Language: English

Supplier Code: SSRH

Starts: Las Vegas, United States Of America

Finishes: San Francisco, United States Of America

Duration: 6 days

Departures: Guaranteed

Physical rating: Light

Includes

Accommodation: Hotel (1 night),Camping with facilities (4 nights)

Price

Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD 1539 (CAD 256 /day)

Itinerary

1

Day 1: Las Vegas

Welcome to Las Vegas, Nevada! This glitzy city might be known for its casinos, but there’s plenty more to discover in this neon metropolis. Your trip starts at 6 pm tonight with a welcome meeting. After, why not try to see some of the city?  Maybe wander past impersonators, billboards and hotels to the choreographed Bellagio Fountain show. Hit the shops, see a world-class stage show, check out the Las Vegas Sphere or simply enjoy the people watching as you stroll along the Strip.

Optional Activities:

Las Vegas - Mob Museum (27 USD)
Las Vegas - Monorail (5 USD)
Las Vegas - Bellagio Fountains - Free
Las Vegas - Eiffel Tower (22 USD)
Las Vegas - Neon Museum (20 USD)

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

2

Day 2: Sierra Nevada Mountains

Leave the bright lights of Vegas behind and drive into the eastern Sierra Nevada. Sandwiched between Central Valley and Death Valley, this is a scenic trip that’ll take you to the town of Bishop, where you’ll camp the night. In town, maybe go to Erick Schat’s European-style bakery for a delicious treat, or perhaps pay a visit to some nearby natural hot springs.

Optional Activities:

Bishop - Keough Hot Springs (15 USD)

Accommodation:

Camping (with facilities) (Number of Nights: 1)

3

Day 3: Yosemite National Park

Prepare for some spectacular mountain scenery as you depart from Bishop and head west to Yosemite National Park. This morning, stop at the crystal-clear Mono Lake before continuing through the Tioga Pass (snow levels permitting) into the heart of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Stop by Olmstead Point to marvel at Yosemite’s natural wonder, Half Dome, before arriving at one of the most famous parks in the USA. Yosemite's colossal granite cliffs, cascading seasonal waterfalls and redwood forests attract visitors from all over the world. You'll spend three nights near the park, meaning you have two full days to explore.

Included Activities:

Yosemite National Park - Entrance Fee
Mono Lake - Visit

Accommodation:

Camping (with facilities) (Number of Nights: 1)

4

Day 4: Yosemite National Park

Head into the national park this morning, and join your leader for an easy, downhill hike at the Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias. The grove is home to, no surprise, a couple dozen mature giant sequoia trees, including one that’s been carved into a tunnel you can walk right through. From there, continue to Yosemite Valley to check out some of the park’s iconic spots. You could see the thundering Yosemite Falls, take in both Half Dome and Merced River from Sentinel Bridge and a whole lot more. The rest of the day is then free for you to explore as you please. There are plenty of hikes available, each varying in steepness and difficulty. Maybe hike under the cooling breezes of Nevada Falls (4 to 5 hours) or to the serene Mirror Lake (45 minutes). Keep an eye out for squirrels and bears along the way!

Included Activities:

Yosemite National Park - Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias

Optional Activities:

Yosemite - Cycling in Yosemite Valley (12 USD)

Accommodation:

Camping (with facilities) (Number of Nights: 1)

5

Day 5: Yosemite National Park

Today, venture back into the national park and continue exploring with your leader. As a group, you’ll decide how you want to spend the day. Instead of hiking, you might like to hire a bike and explore Yosemite Valley on two wheels. You can also visit the park's museum, photo gallery, shops and restaurants, and in the heat of summer, a relaxing float down the Merced River is highly recommended. Otherwise, there’s no shortage of trails for you to explore, from the famous Mist Trail to the more challenging Four Mile Trail. Your leader will be able to provide recommendations if you need help narrowing down the options!

Optional Activities:

Yosemite National Park - Hiking - Free
Yosemite - River Float Raft Rental (seasonal) (30 USD)

Accommodation:

Camping (with facilities) (Number of Nights: 1)

6

Day 6: San Francisco

Leave Yosemite behind today and drive west to San Francisco. The 'City by the Bay' has a beautiful setting and a vibrant, multicultural heart. You might like to check out the vintage stores along funky Haight Street, or catch the tram down to the waterfront. The trip finishes around 3 pm on arrival into San Francisco, after a stop to check out the Golden Gate Bridge, and no accommodation is provided tonight. As there's a great deal to do in San Francisco, we recommend you stay a couple of extra days to make the most of the city. If you do wish to spend extra time in San Francisco, we'll be happy to help you book additional accommodation (subject to availability).

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Tour Operator

Intrepid Travel

Intrepid Travel is a global adventure travel company, dedicated to providing sustainable, experience-rich travel opportunities. They’ve been the leader in ethical, small-group travel since 1989 - taking people around the world for more than 30 years. They’re the world’s largest travel B Corporation - dedicated to being the best travel company for the world. In 2002, they established The Intrepid Foundation so their travellers could make a lasting impact on the communities they had visited. Although Intrepid Travel absorbs all administrative costs of The Intrepid Foundation, they are separate legal entities, allowing The Intrepid Foundation to grow independently. Intrepid Travel is made up of a collection of tour operator brands and 28 destination management companies all united by one vision: To change the way we all see the world.

In Business Since 1989

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Reviews

Sarah - Traveled, October 2023

This trip was beyond my expectations. The itinerary was great and our guide Steve was so knowledgeable. He was able to take us to places you simply would have trouble finding if you were getting there yourself. We were very lucky with the weather, hot during the day, but we needed hats and warm clothes in the evening. I was glad I took a woolly hat!. The camping was great fun and the group itself aging from twenties to seventies got on so well together. I could not recommend this trip more highly.

Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/10/2023

Eduardo - Traveled, September 2023

Fantastic itinerary, wonderful tour leader (Chris went above and beyond making sure we experienced not only all the inclusions in the itinerary but plenty of bonus stops, he was approachable, friendly and knowledgeable -an ace!-) and truly incredible sights and hikes at Yosemite. The impromptu San Fran drive in tour was great as well.

Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/03/2023

sophie - Traveled, June 2023

Intrepid's inclement weather plan included no activities days 1-3 and camping in parking lots. Drove 19 hours total. I only enjoyed the cumulative 16 hours we spent in Yosemite. Would not recommend.

Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/13/2023

Niklas - Traveled, July 2022

I always associated big cities and big money with the US. This trip showed me the unexpected and beautiful sides of the country in the national parks!

Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/14/2022

Barbara - Traveled, August 2021

If you like camping and hiking this is a great trip especially for young people. I feel I got an intensive look at Yosemite. Lisa really knew the park well and shared it with us

Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/28/2021

Olivia - Traveled, May 2024

The tour was great, particularly Yosemite National Park, however our itinerary changed due to the Tioga Pass being closed which was a real bummer. We spent a lot of time sitting on the bus.

Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/04/2024

Emily - Traveled, July 2024

This short trip was ideal to see the main views of Yosemite - the place that I consider my favourite. Our tour leader Nicholas was amazing throughout and tried to include as much as he possibly could in a short amount of time. There were long driving days but these were broken up with short trips into national forests and stop offs for snacks! Thanks to Nick for an amazing trip and showing us the best bits!

Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/31/2024

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