ADULT ONLY

A Jaw-Dropping Yosemite Vacation

Yosemite Adventure

  • 6 Days
  • 18 People Max

    6 - 18 guests

  • Activity Level 3
    • Activity Level 3

      Step It Up

      I love an active vacation. Engaging in a challenging activity with a difficult goal, such as reaching a summit, is exactly what I need to unwind in the evenings.

    Read more about the Active Range

  • Trip Start: Fresno, CA
  • Trip End: Fresno, CA
yosemite

Hike the best of California's Sierra Nevada mountains, from Half Dome to El Capitan, on our Yosemite Adventure.

Yosemite is well-known for its towering granite monoliths, giant sequoias and dramatic valleys. Around every corner is a new jaw-dropping view, and on this 6-day Yosemite National Park Hiking Tour, you'll explore arguably the most awe-inspiring landscapes of North America. After meeting your group in Fresno, you'll journey straight into the heart of Yosemite National Park. Once inside, your routine transforms to hearty breakfasts, mind-blowingly beautiful treks, picture-perfect picnics, and elegant lodgings. Hike to Wapama Falls, spot the perfect swimming hole along the Tuolomne River, conquer 1,000 feet of elevation to reach the top of Vernal Fall, test your skills during a rock climbing and rappelling class, and embark on an all-day hike. With two guides who know every nook and cranny, you can rest assured you'll be seeing the best of the best on this Yosemite National Park hiking tour.

Mariposa Grove

HikingHiking

To Wapama Falls

HikingHiking

The Mist Trail to Vernal Falls

HikingHiking

To Upper Yosemite Falls

HikingHiking

Try rock climbing

Plus ...Plus ...

Yosemite Adventure ~ Itinerary

Trip Start: Fresno, CA Trip End: Fresno, CA
  • Day 1Pick up in Fresno, hike in Yosemite Valley

  • Day 2Hike Hetch Hetchy, swim in the Tuolumne River

  • Day 3Hike Mist Trail to Vernal Falls

  • Day 4Try rock climbing (at your level)

  • Day 5Explore Mariposa Grove and Swim in the Merced River.

  • Day 6Relax at the spa, farewell!

  • Day 1

    Pick up in Fresno, hike in Yosemite Valley

    #1531

    Sunday morning pick up in Fresno. Shuttle north into the heart of Yosemite National Park. We'll stretch our legs on the Mirror Lake hike with the mountains all around you. Following a picnic lunch at Yosemite Falls and a short hike, we make our way up to Tunnel View for amazing views of the valley below. Tunnel View is the classic view that Ansel Adams made famous showcasing El Capitan, Half Dome, and Bridalveil Fall. Late afternoon, check into Rush Creek Lodge, your home for the next two nights.

    Rush Creek Lodge (Lunch, Dinner)

    Hiking: 5 miles (8 kilometers)

  • Day 2

    Hike Hetch Hetchy, swim in the Tuolumne River

    #1532

    While the full loop around Hetch Hetchy reservoir stretches for nearly 28 miles, today's hike will be about a quarter of that, and every bit as beautiful. On the trail, you'll witness beautiful natural scenery, like the thundering waters of Wapama Falls tumbling down the rocky cliffs. After you’ve worked up a sweat, you can take a dip in the South Fork of the Tuolumne River – so remember your swimsuit!

    Rush Creek Lodge (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

    Hiking: 5 miles (8 kilometers)

  • Day 3

    Hike Mist Trail to Vernal Falls

    #1533

    This morning, we shuttle to the trailhead of the Mist Trail. This hike takes us to the top of Vernal Fall, tackling 1,600 feet of elevation gain that includes an unforgettable stretch of steep stone steps in the midst of a waterfall. When you get to the Vernal Fall footbridge, you’ll have a bird’s eye view of the 317-foot-high waterfall roaring down below. Continue up to Clarke Point and return on the famed John Muir trail. Later, we’ll transfer to Tenaya Lodge, your home for the next three nights. Continue your exploration of this amazing area tonight as you spend dinner and the rest of the evening on your own.

    Tenaya Lodge (Breakfast, Lunch)

    Hiking: 7 miles (11.2 kilometers)

  • Day 4

    Try rock climbing (at your level)

    #1534

    Fuel up with a warm, fresh meal before we head out to Half Dome Village, where we’ll grab some climbing shoes for a fantastic day of rock climbing and rappelling – no trip to Yosemite would be complete without it! Classes are designed for climbers of all levels, so everyone from beginners to experts will take away a new skill-set. You’ll spend the better part of the day learning everything there is to know about rock climbing – from tying knots to rappelling, and everything in between. After a pizza lunch at your climbing site, we’ll continue our uphill ascent through the early afternoon. Afterwards explore Yosemite Village before an early dinner and sunset in the valley with colors highlighting the peaks all around you.

    Tenaya Lodge (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

    Rock Climbing: 2-3 hours

  • Day 5

    Explore Mariposa Grove and Swim in the Merced River.

    #1535

    This morning we make our way to the famous Mariposa Grove to hike under the giant sequoia trees some taller than 300 feet and older than 3,000 years old. After a picnic lunch in the grove we head over Merced River to take a refreshing afternoon dip. This evening we celebrate our adventures in Yosemite during our farewell dinner.

    Tenaya Lodge (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

    Hiking: 5 miles (8 kilometers)

  • Day 6

    Relax at the spa, farewell!

    #1536

    Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the lodge. This morning you can take advantage of some last-minute pool or spa time. Reluctantly we say goodbye to the park and start our way back to Fresno. Hotel and airport drop-offs in the early afternoon.

    No Accommodation (Breakfast)

Tour Departure Dates

  • Upcoming
  • 3 months
  • 6 months
  • 1 year
USD $4499/per adult
Not ready to book yet?

Get in touch with our specialized team to find out more and get personalized advice.

  • Speak with one of our specialists
  • Confirm trip details
  • Discuss your specific needs
19 May 2024
2024
19 May24 May
Departure Open Open
26 May 2024
2024
26 May31 May
Departure Open Open
2 Jun 2024
2024
2 Jun7 Jun
Departure Open Open

What's Included

  • Our own highly experienced guides, with you from start to finish
  • Industry-leading Guest-to-Guide ratio (averaging 6:1)
  • Your own ‘Travel Wallet’, an online space with everything required for your trip
  • Our knowledgeable Customer Service Team to answer your queries - just a phone call, email or chat away
  • Customer Service pre-trip phone calls to ensure you’re 'trip ready'
  • All accommodations for the duration of your trip 
  • All meals except where indicated in the itinerary
  • Unlimited snacks to keep you fueled
  • Special ‘Wow!’ moments you'll never forget
  • All activities outlined in the itinerary
  • All necessary equipment (well-maintained and safe) for activities
  • All gratuities for hotels, restaurants, and activities 
  • All park and other entry fees 
  • Transportation in our air-conditioned vans - safe, clean, modern, and comfortable!

Reviews from our Guests

view all

Yosemite Adventure - May 2023

Yosemite

"Again - Austin Adventures delivers a wonderful experience. The leaders were supportive, personable and knowledgeable.… read more

"Again - Austin Adventures delivers a wonderful experience. The leaders were supportive, personable and knowledgeable. The activities were well planned, the activity levels were explained and you knew exactly what to expect. read less

5 Stars (10 reviews)

Nancy,

Yosemite Adventure - August 2022

Yosemite Adventure

"I had an amazing time in Yosemite. I saw and experienced things I would not… read more

"I had an amazing time in Yosemite. I saw and experienced things I would not even dreamt of- rock climbing. The hiking was beautiful.
It was living moment-to-moment, one step at a time. It read less

5 Stars (10 reviews)

Janice,

Yosemite Adventure - August 2022

Yosemite Adventure

"This is the first trip that I did not feel that I got my money's… read more

"This is the first trip that I did not feel that I got my money's worth. The first two trips were spectacular, and I sang your praises. I could not do so on this trip. read less

4 Stars (10 reviews)

Lisa,

Yosemite Adventure - August 2022

Yosemite Adventure

"The guides make the trip special. Yosemite is a beautiful place but the knowledge shared… read more

"The guides make the trip special. Yosemite is a beautiful place but the knowledge shared by the guides and the passion that they exude heightens the overall experience. From what I understand , the Guides had to change the itinerary around to accommodate road closures and fire activity but we would never had known their struggle in doing so. Also, Bob's Make-you-own-pasta night was a success.

The Snack basket in the van should include gum/mints-- some people get car sick easily and this helps tremendously!

Rush Creek Lodge is amazing and the people there were so nice. I would have preferred to stay there the whole time. I don't feel like i had adequate time to take advantage of the facility there and Tenaya Lodge just wasn't as nice to us.

Also, i know you haven't had a print catalog for a while now, but had a print catalog been available and perhaps given to everyone on the last night you probably would have had 10 bookings this week already! Its nice to see so many alumni on these trips but there was an overall consensus that we are worried about the re-branding and merger with Active and hope that the family-feel of Austin doesn't go away.

Lastly, the blue water bottles are the best! THE BEST! read less

5 Stars (10 reviews)

Rebecca,

Yosemite Adventure - August 2022

Yosemite Adventure

"The guides worked very hard, and Bob was extremely knowledgeable. We saw some fantastic sights… read more

"The guides worked very hard, and Bob was extremely knowledgeable. We saw some fantastic sights and enjoyed the group of guests. Overall, it was a great trip, with some exceptions. We spent a LOT of time in the van. The itinerary was good but lacked variety. Past trips have included hiking, biking, kayaking, beaches, and other activities. This was hiking and one day of rock climbing which was outstanding. read less

4 Stars (10 reviews)

Deborah,

Yosemite Adventure - August 2022

Yosemite Adventure

" read more

" read less

5 Stars (10 reviews)

Fabiola,

Yosemite Adventure - August 2022

Yosemite Adventure

"I booked this trip with my friend Heather after she described a trip she took… read more

"I booked this trip with my friend Heather after she described a trip she took with Austin/Active Adventures in the past and the trip to Yosemite far exceeded my expectations. read less

5 Stars (10 reviews)

Susie,

Yosemite Adventure - August 2021

Yosemite Adventure

"Yosemite National Park is an amazing place, and this trip took us to a wide… read more

"Yosemite National Park is an amazing place, and this trip took us to a wide variety of places - forests, lakes, mountains, water falls, canyons, etc. The hiking was challenging in some spots but definitely doable and the views from the top of the domes and various peaks, as well as looking up from the valley, could take your breadth away. The accommodations were great, particularly considering that usually hotels near the entrances of national parks are modest at best. While this was my first trip with Austin Adventures, I have been on numerous active travel group trips and I have always concluded that the trip guides/leaders are the biggest factor in my overall enjoyment of the trip. That was the case here as well. Grace and Steve were outstanding leaders. Not only did they have all the requisite knowledge about the area and skills to run a group trip, but they genuinely wanted to make sure we were all having a great time and our needs were met. They were enthusiastic, encouraging in a non-pushy way, had great senses of humor and were able to adapt the schedule as necessary to ensure we had the best experience possible - which was really important given the staffing challenges this summer in and around the national parks. read less

5 Stars (10 reviews)

Christine,

Yosemite Adventure - August 2021

Yosemite Adventure

"The trip was perfect. The guides were outstanding and took care of all our… read more

"The trip was perfect. The guides were outstanding and took care of all our needs and then some. I had high expectations for the trip and it was better than I could have imagined. The hotels were great - the food that the guides provided was also more than expected. The most important thing was that always felt safe and supported. Grace and Steve were professional, friendly, and fun...can't ask for more than that. read less

5 Stars (10 reviews)

Karen,

Yosemite Adventure - August 2021

Yosemite Adventure

"I had such a wonderful time on this trip. Yosemite was beautiful and the itinerary… read more

"I had such a wonderful time on this trip. Yosemite was beautiful and the itinerary was well planned. I read less

5 Stars (10 reviews)

Lindsay,

Interactive Trip Map

Austin PIF 2

Take 10% off the trip price when you book a trip and pay in full.

By paying in full we are able to pass on savings to our guests, but please note that by opting for this payment plan, your booking becomes non-refundable, non-cancellable, and non-changeable. 

We highly recommend that you purchase Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) insurance. Please note CFAR insurance can only be purchased within 14 days of booking. We recommend Redpoint Insurance – you can find details here.

T+Cs Apply.

BOOKING CONDITIONS

Useful Info

Where does the trip start?

On the first day of the trip we can either pick you up from the Homewood Suites by Hilton Fresno Airport at 6:30am or the Best Western Plus Fresno Inn at 6:45am. You are welcome to book your pre-trip stay at either of these hotels directly or any other hotel in Fresno, though you must make your own way to one of the two pick-up points at the pre-designated times.

Where does the trip end?

Your trip ends with a drop-off at either the Fresno Airport at 1pm in time for flights below or at a hotel of your choice in Fresno around 1.30pm.

What flights would you recommend?

Arrival: We recommend arriving in Fresno the night before the trip starts. Many guests like to arrive a day or two early to accommodate potential flight delays and/or explore the city prior to your trip start.

Departure: Flying out on the last day of the trip, we recommend departing from Fresno any time after 3pm. Earlier flight times will require a separate transfer booked at your own expense.

What is not included?

Flights to and from trip start/end points
Pre/Post Accommodation
Optional extra activities
Travel insurance
Gratuities for your guides

What should I bring with me on the first day?

When you speak with your guides the night before your trip, they will give you a detailed description of what to bring with you on Day 1. Typically, this includes a day pack with your rain jacket, sunglasses, hat, camera, etc. Anything you want easy access to during the day should go in your day pack as the rest of your luggage will go in the locked cargo trailer pulled behind the van. Your guides will provide you with a water bottle on the first morning of your trip and will always have water available for refills. There will be snacks available at all times in the van. Your guides will also have bug spray and sunscreen accessible for you to use.

Will I have contact with my guides before the trip starts?

Your guides will call your cell phone the night before your trip begins to touch base on the first day’s plan. If they don’t get through to you, they will leave a voicemail on your cell phone with all the details you need to plan for your first morning.

What are your recommended guide gratuity guidelines?

You will have 2-3 guides on your Austin Adventure (depending on group size). We recommend USD$20 per day, per guest, per guide. Typically, gratuities are offered by check or cash in local currency on the final morning of the trip and can either be given to each guide individually or to one guide to be equally distributed. Most of our guides these days also accept gratuities via Venmo (please note this app does not work in Canada). All dining, housekeeping and activity tips are included in your trip price.

How do rooming arrangements work?

Trip prices are based on shared arrangements (typically two guests per room), unless otherwise stated. For solo travelers, we’ll pair you with another person of the same gender to share rooms and if there’s no one suitable to share with, there’s no forced single supplement. However, if you specifically request your own rooms, you can opt to pay the single supplement. Solo travelers who book within 90 days of departure, where there are no other solo travelers willing to share, will be required to pay the single supplement. 

For Family Vacation bookings, families consisting of four guests traveling with children aged 17 and under will be automatically assigned one shared room. However, the following alternative rooming allocations are available:

  • Families consisting of four guests with all children aged 13 and above are welcome to opt for additional rooms as per advertised double occupancy adult rates.
  • Families consisting of four guests with at least one child aged 12 and under are automatically assigned a shared room. However, families can opt to pay the adult rates for all guests in their family to have an additional room.
  • The same principles apply for families consisting of more than four guests.

Rooming preferences are subject to availability and must be communicated in writing at time of booking. Automatic assignments as per this policy will be applied in the absence of any specification provided by guests. Any request for additional rooms during trips will be at guests’ own expense and subject to rates made available by the accommodation provider at the time. All minors (guests aged 17 and under) must be accompanied by at least one adult.

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Experience adventure the way you want

You’ll be inspired and exhilarated, enjoying mind-blowing scenery on foot, in a sea kayak, or by bike - all at your own pace.

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We're proud of our Kiwi roots and you’ll love our professional and warm style of hosting. We’re always here to help with planning... even hiking boot recommendations!

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Every detail covered, to maximise your time

We've got everything covered – top-notch meals, comfortable transport, superb accommodation, amazing guides and INCREDIBLE service.

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Group travel for those who aren’t ‘group travelers’

With an average of 12 guests per departure and an industry-leading 6:1 guest-to-guide ratio, you'll get to know your fellow travelers and have the flexibility to go at your own pace.

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Explore hidden gems through our expert local guides

All our carefully selected guides are highly experienced and have deep personal connections to nature and culture. You’ll enjoy an authentic local experience.

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4.85 out of 5 from 6592 reviews. That’s pretty solid.

We could hang around all day telling you how wonderful our trips are... but the best people to hear it from are our guests themselves.

Trip Inquiry

North America

Yosemite Adventure

USD $4499/per adult
$500 USD deposit per person required to secure your place on the trip

What To Expect

  • Place your booking
  • Receive your confirmation email & details to set up your Travel Wallet
  • Our dedicated team will keep you up to date all the way to the departure date

Dates

2024

May 2024

Sunday 19 May 2024
To Friday 24 May 2024
Open
Sunday 26 May 2024
To Friday 31 May 2024
Open

Sunday 2 June 2024
To Friday 7 June 2024
Open