Northern California with Yosemite National Park

Visit United States

Day 1

Hello San Francisco

From the iconic to the unexpected, the city of San Francisco never ceases to surprise.

Kick-start your Northern California holiday in the cosmopolitan city by the Bay. Join your Travel Director and fellow travellers for a Welcome Dinner at your hotel.

Day 2

Dive Into Eclectic San Francisco

Fuel up for a full day of indulging in San Francisco’s many sites.

 Admire the eclectic mix of Victorian and Modern architecture, vibrant culture, and cuisines of one of the world's most livable and iconic cities. Embark on a morning exploration tour that takes you from the lively hotspot of Fisherman's Wharf to Union Square. This afternoon offers a deeper look into two of the city’s iconic spots. After lunch, enjoy a relaxing ferry cruise to the quaint seaside community of Sausalito with time for shopping. This evening is at your leisure. Perhaps choose to join an optional guided walking tour of Chinatown including a delicious feast and a city illumination tour.

Day 3

Journey To Wine Country

Start off your day with a guided Golden Gate Bridge walk across the 1.

7-mile span of the magnificent "bridge that couldn't be built." As you gaze across the water (one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World), learn how this iconic engineering marvel was constructed. Continue to Sonoma Valley. Today, you'll visit a local winery and enjoy a unique experience and exploration of wine with a tasting. Enjoy an included lunch this afternoon with your fellow travellers.

Day 4

Entice Your Senses At Lake Tahoe

Enjoy a visit to California's State Capitol  before travelling through the scenic, fertile Sacramento River Valley to find yourself in the alpine splendour of Lake Tahoe.

Its clear blue waters surrounded by evergreen pines and rocky outcrops provides you with a picturesque scenery to behold.

Day 5

Embrace The Wilderness Of Yosemite National Park Stays With Stories

Touch the sky and embark on a scenic road-trip into the Sierra Nevada mountain range, winding along the Tioga Pass to California’s UNESCO-listed Yosemite National Park.

Marvel at the incredible natural beauty that inspired naturalist John Muir to dub Yosemite Valley the “Incomparable Valley”, passing the colossal granite faces of El Capitan and the misty splendour of Bridalveil Fall. Tonight, our Stays with Stories brings us into the park at Yosemite Valley Lodge.   Tioga Pass: weather conditions may cause Tioga Pass to be closed to traffic, typically from mid-October to the end of May. In this case, an alternate entry point to Yosemite will be used entering through the west side of the park. While this may not cause a change in overnight, sightseeing will be affected this day.

Day 6

Taste The California Difference Make Travel Matter Connect with Locals

After breakfast, head to the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias (seasonal), home to over 500 mature trees and the largest sequoia grove in Yosemite National Park.

Continue to Monterey where we’ll Connect With Locals and enjoy a Farm-to-Table Be My Guest experience including the freshest local ingredients. Meet Todd and Jordan Champagne who have been dedicated to providing simple, delicious and farm driven foods for the local community from their storefront Happy Girl Kitchen Co.

Day 7

Witness The Incredible California Coast Make Travel Matter

The pinch-me moments continue as we follow the sun-kissed California coast, cruising scenic 17-Mile Drive.

Visit the Salinas Valley where you'll love this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience with an agricultural education tour to learn about fruit, vegetables and advanced farming techniques. You'll visit one of the oldest family farms in Monterey County and taste a local delicacy. We return to Monterey, home to Cannery Row, immortalized in the John Steinbeck novel. You’ll have some time to unwind at your hotel or stroll through the streets of Monterey. Tonight, join your Travel Director and fellow travellers for a festive Farewell Dinner.

Day 8

Take A Walk Through The Redwoods

California’s towering redwoods provide an imposing backdrop for this morning.

We continue to Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park where we’ll have an opportunity to walk amongst these giants that have stood for over a thousand years. We return to the golden city of San Francisco where you might consider extending your stay. Complimentary airport drop off at San Francisco International Airport is scheduled for 1:00 PM. Please be aware when booking your flights.

Dining Summary

3 Dinner (D)

7 Breakfast (B)

1 Lunch (L)

Be My Guest

Monterey: Visit Happy Girl Kitchen in Monterey, where your hosts share their knowledge and love of food using the freshest ingredients during an outstanding Farm-to-Table experience. 

Iconic Experience

San Francisco: Indulge in the many sites that San Francisco has to offer. From the eclectic mix of Victorian and modern architecture to its vibrant culture and tasty cuisines. 

San Francisco: Enjoy a visit to the lovely seaside community of Sausalito where you will have time to shop or grab a bite for lunch.

San Francisco: Finish up your day with a ferry across San Francisco Bay and admire all of the great sights along the way.

San Francisco: Walk across and marvel at this modern wonder of the world. Golden Gate has the second-longest main span in the Americas and is one of the most internationally recognized symbols of San Francisco and California.

Sonoma: You'll explore Sonoma's town square, a charming historic gem surrounded by adobe buildings, boutique shops, and inviting wine tasting rooms. With its relaxed atmosphere and scenic beauty, the square perfectly captures the essence of California wine country.

Napa: Enjoy a visit to California State Capitol and indulge yourself in the rich history of this country.

Lake Tahoe: Enjoy a scenic drive through the Sierra Nevada mountain range as you make your way through the Tioga Pass.

Yosemite National Park: Explore the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, the largest sequoia grove in Yosemite. Located in the southern portion of Yosemite, Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias is home to over 500 mature giant sequoias and holds an important place in history. Learn how in 1864, in the midst of Civil War, President Lincoln signed legislation protecting the Mariposa Grove and Yosemite Valley for "public use, resort, and recreation." This marked the first time in history when the federal government set aside scenic natural areas for protection. Mariposa Grove was later added to Yosemite National Park in 1906.

Pebble Beach: The stunning California coast passes by you, cruising scenic 17-Mile Drive. This drive is full of dramatic coastal cliffs, snow-white beaches, mystical forests and iconic golf courses.

Monterey: Bask in Carmel's beautiful natural scenery and rich artistic history.

Santa Cruz: Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park in the Santa Cruz Mountains is famous for the 40-acre grove of redwood trees. You can enjoy hiking and other outdoor activities on more than 4,650 acres of forested and open land.

MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®

Castroville: Visit the Salinas Valley for a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience as you join a Local Specialist for an agricultural education tour. Learn about fruit and vegetable production and advanced farming techniques of the region that is known as the "Salad Bowl of the World". Your experience supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production.

Must-see Highlights

Explore Salinas Valley with a Local Specialist

Visit Yosemite National Park, Sausalito, quaint Carmel-by-the-Sea, California State Capitol, Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, local Sonoma County Winery for Tasting and Picnic Lunch, Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias

View Palace of Fine Arts, Golden Gate Bridge, Tunnel View

Scenic Drive along spectacular 17-mile Drive, through Wine Country and Tioga Pass

Cruise San Francisco Bay

Trafalgar Difference

Yosemite National Park: Stay at the Yosemite Valley Lodge located close to Yosemite Falls in the middle of the national park.

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