Overview
Yosemite is extraordinary: A valley millions of years in the making, soaring granite peaks meet groves of teetering sequoias, and the Merced River thunders down some of the tallest waterfalls on the planet.
Visit every year and you’d still discover new places—or explore the Classic Journeys way to experience the best of everything in six spectacular days.
A Yosemite local, your guide walks you through the sculpting effects of the ice age, the lives of natives, the great California gold rush, and the future of one of the world’s last wild spaces. Spend your days walking, cycling and rafting through this UNESCO World Heritage wonderland, where enchanting wildlife encounters abound from bear cubs to butterflies. Enjoy hearty Californian cuisine at some of the most panoramic picnic spots in America. And in the evenings, stargaze worlds away from city lights in the region’s loveliest lodges.
Highlights
Day 1 – Fish Camp
Journey from Fresno to the charming village of Fish Camp, stopping for a walk among some of the largest living things on the planet: a grove of soaring sequoia trees.
Days 2-3 – Yosemite Valley
Walk and cycle—through the wonderful wilderness of Yosemite Valley. Experience the changing nature of the Merced River, from blissful banks to thundering waterfalls. Spot wildlife and birds stop by some of the park’s most interesting visitor centers.
Days 4 & 5 – Tuolumne Meadows / Hetch Hetchy
Explore some of the most peaceful and photogenic parts of the park on walks with your local guide, from wildflower meadows to a cinematic submerged sacred valley.
Day 6 – Carlon Falls / Fresno
Join your guide for a morning waterfall walk, or sleep in before returning to Fresno for your homeward journey.
Map
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Starting Point:
Fresno – 1:00 pm – Lobby of Hotel -
Ending Point:
Fresno – 12:00 pm – Airport or city center hotel
Why Choose Classic Journeys
Travel + Leisure has awarded Classic Journeys the #1 World's Best Tour Operator multiple times and says, "Classic Journeys provides unbeatable access to experiences around the globe." Here's what that access means for you.
- Experience the world on foot and at eye level. Each day, join your guide on the most cinematic footpaths in the region.
- Exceptional full-time local guides who become your well-connected friend. Our amazing guides are with you throughout each day of the tour, share their lifelong connections as well as engaging anecdotes about the history and culture of the region.
- Small groups that provide you unrivaled access. An average of fewer than 10 guests per departure means we can offer you special access to sites like Stonehenge so you experience the stone circle when it's closed to the general public, a guided visit to Zion Narrows that other companies cannot arrange because of larger group sizes, and vineyard walks with a count and countess in Tuscany.
- Award-winning hotels are waiting for you at the end of every day. Luxuriate in the finest and most distinctive accommodations in the region you're exploring, including rainforest lodges, 16th century villas, and award-winning properties that show up on World's Best and Gold lists.
- Eat like (and with) the locals. Food is a foolproof way into the hearts, homes and history of the places you visit with us. From gourmet picnics to coveted local restaurants, our meals offer you opportunities to explore native food traditions and fine dining.
- Handcrafted itineraries with all activities included. With our long-term friendships, we know our walking tour regions more personally than anyone else. So you get thoughtfully curated itineraries that combine explorations of the villages, organic farms, archeological sites and the people who know them best.
- Sustainable travel that supports the places you're visiting. We put our local currency into the pockets of the people who live where we travel. It's your guarantee that you'll have authentic, up-close experiences on your trip. Best of all, our person-to-person approach helps sustain their ways of life.
Dates & Prices
Not ready to book just yet? Talk with one of our travel experts at 800-200-3887.
Talk to an expertSelect our “Family Departure” to travel with other families.
Accommodations
What’s Included
- All breakfasts, 4 lunches and 3 dinners
- Full-time experienced guide(s) who are with you throughout the trip and handle behind-the-scenes logistics
- Admissions to scheduled events as noted in the detailed daily itinerary
- Gratuities for hotels, meals, and baggage
- All land transportation during the trip
- Well-sited boutique hotels and lodges that provide you unrivaled access to the people and places, culture and natural environment you came to experience
Above & Beyond Benefits
Privileged Access Events
- One-of-a-kind access to remarkable people, places and activities arranged just for you.
Image Gallery
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