Tour di un giorno di Yosemite e Sequoie Giganti da San Francisco w Pickup

The trip was just amazing! But not because of the tour operator, Yosemite is just majestic! It was 15 hours tour and I don’t regret it. The guide was really nice, he is not the problem. However, The tour was supposed to leave at 05:20 AM, then they sent an update few minutes before the appointed time that it’s now at 05:40 AM. It’s really wrong to do that because we already woke up really early to get ready, we could have slept a bit more. My second problem, they arrived 15 minutes late to pick us up! Not professional. My 3rd problem is that at the sequoias part, there is a very steep walk that takes over an hour and a half, the least they could do after we finish is have a cooler at the bus to provide us with water bottles (there are no places to buy water over there). The water we had was already hot, or finished. Yes I know they told us bring your snacks with you, but cold water bottles could have been nice. It’s the small things that makes a tour operator better than the other. Of course thanks to the guide and the driver for their efforts, and I must say it was well organised.

The tour was Great, even though it is tiring because of the amount of hours, it was very organized, clear, you know what is happening during the day. Andy our guide was Great, super friendly, communicative, respectful, knowledgeable, open and funny.

Had a great experience with Alberto! He was very knowledgeable and helpful.

Wow what an incredible day. Convenient pick up next to our hotel, and the food/bio break stops were well timed and communicated. Andy Howse was a fantastic guide, super knowledgeable, funny and energizing! Yosemite itself was obviously breathtaking. Yee-haw!

Andy was an amazing tourguide on our day trip to Yosemite! His energy is great and also he’s great at singing!! Overall an entertaining tour :)

Overall, the tour was ok. Be prepared to spend way more time on the bus than outside in the park. We started on the bus at 5:30 AM. Because the tour group was so large, we had to switch onto a larger coach bus in a sketchy area of SF. We didn't cross the Bay Bridge until after 6:30 AM. We stopped at a grocery store in Oakdale and were given 40 minutes to shop. That amount of time seemed unnecessary and we felt could have been shortened to allow for more time in the park. We stopped at Tunnel View for about 10 minutes, Bridalveil falls for about 20. We were then given about a half hour of "free time" (lunch) at Valley lodge. We then got an hour to see Yosemite falls and Swinging Bridge. Back on the bus, we stopped at El Capitan for 5 minutes. We then went to see the giant Sequoias and were given 90 minutes for this. We then hopped in the bus to go back to SF. We stopped in Oakdale for another 40 minutes, again felt unnecessary. We didnt get back to SF until after 9PM, dropped off others at hotels and then had to switch again to another bus. We didnt get back to our hotel until around 10PM. It was a 17 hour day and we were only outside of the bus in the park for maybe 3 hours total. With 53 people on the tour bus, each stop took a good 10 minutes to actually get on the bus and another 10 to get everyone back on. Way too many people and not sure why they overbooked like this.

Great family experience!! Sharon, our guide was amazing!! She was the life of the party with lots of information, she even took us on a great hike!. The driver, Edward….a bit of a grumpy old man but on the whole drove everyone to and fro safely.

Overall Experience I recently joined this day tour to Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks. While the parks themselves were spectacular and I was glad to see the Tunnel Tree and take photos, several operational and professionalism issues with the tour significantly impacted the experience. Areas of Concern 1. Tour Guide Conduct & Communication The tour guide, Rob M., did not introduce himself upon pickup and appeared to also serve as the driver after the original driver left 30 minutes into the trip. Communication about onboard amenities was lacking: complimentary bottled water and free Wi-Fi were available but not announced, and no instructions were provided for connecting to Wi-Fi. 2. Passenger Comfort & Logistics • The bus was at full capacity with 35 passengers. Passengers with luggage were not offered use of the cargo compartment and instead had to store suitcases in the narrow seating area. • The bus temperature was uncomfortably hot while approaching Yosemite, as it took considerable time for the guide to activate the air conditioning. • When I took bottled water for myself and the passenger next to me, the guide expressed displeasure. 3. Itinerary & Time Management At Sequoia National Park, we had 1 hour 15 minutes total. We were advised it would take 30 minutes to reach the Tunnel Tree and 45 minutes to return. As a 58 year-old in good health, I completed the hike but found the return strenuous and needed a brief rest. I returned to the bus 3 minutes late and was publicly reprimanded, while other passengers who were later by 15+ minutes were not addressed. 4. Professionalism At the end of the tour, the guide distributed his business card and requested 5-star reviews, adding that dissatisfied customers need not leave one. During the return trip, he shared personal political views, including criticism of ICE and commentary on sanctuary city policies. I found this inappropriate and disturbing for a professional tour environment. Positive Note Despite these issues, the highlight of the trip was reaching the Tunnel Tree in Sequoia National Park. I was able to take photos, which was my main reason for booking this tour. Suggestion for Improvement I would gladly pay a higher price, even up to $300, for additional time in each park. An extra hour at both Yosemite and Sequoia would allow for a less rushed experience and better enjoyment of these natural landmarks. Clearer communication about amenities, luggage storage, and expectations would also greatly improve the tour.

Our tour guide was Glenda. She was charming, detailed oriented, accommodating and not once did she complain even when she was dealing with traffic jam coming back into the city. She really went above and beyond. Now, the tour itself worth the drive, the views were phenomenal and beyond what words can describe.

Glenda went above and beyond for us. She came exactly at 5am and brought us to every incredible area in Yosemite. Even the market before Yosemite was a great choice because we bought breakfast, lunch and snacks from there. After the tour, Glenda took us back to our hotel. How one person could do all this beginning at 5am blows my mind. Thank you so much Glenda!