California's Yosemite Walking & Hiking Tour

Small Group Adventures for:

Couples, Friends & Solos Adults 18+

Women's Adventures Women 18+

Families with Young Adults 20s & Beyond Best for ages 20+ (min. age 18)

Families with Older Teens & 20s Best for ages 17-23 (min. age 14)

Families with Teens & Kids Best for ages 9-17 (min. age 4)

From $4,699 - $5,149 /person

6 days

5 nights

Activity Levels 1-4

We categorize our trips based on a range of activity levels from leisurely (1) to avid (5) with plenty of options in between.

Casual Plus Hotels

Premiere Hotels - From lavish luxury to on-trend boutique, offering experiences as unique as the regions we explore.

Casual Plus Hotels - A step above Casual but not quite Premiere.

Casual Hotels - Known for their character, charm and proximity to outdoor adventures and Backroads activities.

Small Luxury Ships - Unpack once and cover more distance on an intimate ship with spacious staterooms and superb amenities.

California's Yosemite Walking & Hiking Tour

Small Group Adventures for:

Couples, Friends & Solos Adults 18+

Women's Adventures Women 18+

Families with Young Adults 20s & Beyond Best for ages 20+ (min. age 18)

Families with Older Teens & 20s Best for ages 17-23 (min. age 14)

Families with Teens & Kids Best for ages 9-17 (min. age 4)

6 days

5 nights

Activity Levels 1-4

We categorize our trips based on a range of activity levels from leisurely (1) to avid (5) with plenty of options in between.

Casual Plus Hotels

Premiere Hotels - From lavish luxury to on-trend boutique, offering experiences as unique as the regions we explore.

Casual Plus Hotels - A step above Casual but not quite Premiere.

Casual Hotels - Known for their character, charm and proximity to outdoor adventures and Backroads activities.

Small Luxury Ships - Unpack once and cover more distance on an intimate ship with spacious staterooms and superb amenities.

2024: May-Oct 2025: Jun-Oct

From $4,699 - $5,149 /person

National Park's Dramatic Half Dome & Waterfalls

Half Dome, El Capitan, Yosemite Falls—legendary landmarks in an epic national park whose grandeur is almost overwhelming. Marvel at soaring granite cliffs that were once likened to Gothic cathedrals. Soak up sublime vistas. Hike to thundering waterfalls. Behold towering sequoias. Welcome to Yosemite National Park: 761,266 acres of "wow!"

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Highlights

  • Experience spectacular hikes to alpine meadows, waterfalls and jaw-dropping panoramas 
  • Gaze skyward on a walk through a grove of giant sequoias, Yosemite's ancient trees 
  • Explore the endless trails of Tuolumne Meadows, a glacier-carved area over two miles long 
  • Discover the impressive rock formations for which Yosemite is known, including world-famous Half Dome

 

California Yosemite Walking and Hiking Tour

California

Start/End San Francisco

Airports & Travel details*

* Start/End locations may vary. Do not book flights until your trip details are confirmed.

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Itinerary

Day 1

Description

Hike amid an awe-inspiring grove of giant sequoias, Yosemite's imposing ancient trees—some estimated to be 1,800 years old, give or take a few centuries • What's your pleasure this afternoon? Perhaps you'll be up for a swim or a spa treatment at our hotel, cradled by the pines of Sierra National Forest. 

Accommodations
Tenaya Lodge

(1 night)

Night 1

Tenaya Lodge
Fish Camp
Casual Plus Hotel

A comfortable mountain resort near Yosemite's South Gate with plentiful amenities and panoramic forest views. (pool, spa) 

Hotels may vary based on departure. Any variations will be displayed when selecting a departure under Dates & Prices.

Days 2-3

Description

Set out on foot from Yosemite Valley, journeying past waterfalls and towering granite walls • Settle into The Ahwahnee, an iconic hotel in Yosemite Valley • Take in the unique design and architecture of this historic jewel and savor a memorable dinner below chandeliers dangling from the dining room's 34-foot-high ceiling • Glean a treasure trove of Yosemite Valley secrets from a local naturalist • Choose to spend the afternoon however you wish: set out on a hike to Yosemite Falls, hop on a bike and cruise through Yosemite Valley or visit the Ansel Adams Gallery.

Accommodations
The Ahwahnee

(2 nights)

Nights 2-3

The Ahwahnee
Yosemite Village
Casual Plus Hotel

A National Historic Landmark, this iconic hotel features elaborate stained-glass windows, original Miwok Indian arts and crafts, Oriental rugs and Shaker-style furnishings. (pool)

Hotels may vary based on departure. Any variations will be displayed when selecting a departure under Dates & Prices.

Days 4-6

Description

Explore sprawling Tuolumne Meadows with endless hiking trails, glorious high-country scenery and a profusion of summer wildflowers • Gaze up at Lembert Dome, a huge mound of polished granite • Delight in the range of amenities at Yosemite’s newest lodge situated on a wooded 20-acre expanse •​ Get to know Hetch Hetchy, an enchanting valley with fascinating natural and human history • Behold a striking granite dome Native Americans called Kolana and the triple cascade of Wapama Falls • Hike alongside the South Fork of the Tuolumne River to delicate two-tiered Carlon Falls. 

Accommodations

Nights 4-5

Rush Creek Lodge
Groveland​
Casual Plus Hotel

Set on 20 wooded acres at the doorstep to Yosemite National Park, this new lodge offers an ideal blend of contemporary sophistication and rustic warmth. (pool, spa)

Hotels may vary based on departure. Any variations will be displayed when selecting a departure under Dates & Prices.

What's Included

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Straight Talk

We want to make sure you're on the trip that's right for you. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.

Shuttle Time

We spend more time shuttling on this trip than we do on many other Backroads trips in order to bring you the very best of Yosemite's natural wonders. We want to make the most of your time in this vast and spectacular national park, and our itinerary—complete with shuttles—has been specifically designed to do just that.

Service at The Ahwahnee

The Ahwahnee is a historical treasure and by far the best place to stay in the Yosemite Valley. Its location within Yosemite National Park makes it an ideal base for exploring the valley's many sights, but it also means it is run by the national park and subject to park regulations and oversight. Similar to many national park lodges, service at The Ahwahnee can seem slow and casual when compared with the hospitality found on other Backroads trips.

Want to learn more about this trip?

Request a Detailed Itinerary! Complete with descriptions of each day, tips on travel arrangements, regional highlights and more, it’s the perfect tool to help you choose. You can easily share it with friends too!

Download Itinerary

From $4,699 - $5,149 /person

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Hotels

Adventure-Ready Hotels

Ideally located with ready access to trip activities, our Casual hotels are also known for their character and charm.

Hotels may vary based on departure. Any variations will be displayed when selecting a departure under Dates & Prices.

Night 1

Tenaya Lodge
Fish Camp

Casual Plus Hotel

A comfortable mountain resort near Yosemite's South Gate with plentiful amenities and panoramic forest views. (pool, spa) 

Nights 2-3

The Ahwahnee
Yosemite Village

Casual Plus Hotel

A National Historic Landmark, this iconic hotel features elaborate stained-glass windows, original Miwok Indian arts and crafts, Oriental rugs and Shaker-style furnishings. (pool)

Nights 4-5

Rush Creek Lodge
Groveland​

Casual Plus Hotel

Set on 20 wooded acres at the doorstep to Yosemite National Park, this new lodge offers an ideal blend of contemporary sophistication and rustic warmth. (pool, spa)

From $4,699 - $5,149 /person

View Dates
Return

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From $4,699 - $5,149 /person

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Dates & Prices

Looks like you’re traveling with a smaller group

Our Private Trips are best for groups of 6 or more. We suggest joining a scheduled trip.

Please Select a Group Size

Group size is required to show per-person pricing. Your group size can be approximate and can change.

Want to learn more about this trip?

Request a Detailed Itinerary! Complete with descriptions of each day, tips on travel arrangements, regional highlights and more, it’s the perfect tool to help you choose. You can easily share it with friends too!

Download Itinerary

Book with Confidence

Backroads provides flexible booking policies so that you can plan your vacation with complete peace of mind.

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From $4,699 - $5,149 /person

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