Monterey, Carmel & 17-Mile Drive Tour
About this activity
Highlights
- Explore Monterey's historic Cannery Row
- Stroll through Carmel-by-the-Sea's art galleries
- Drive along the scenic 17-Mile Drive
- Visit the world-renowned Monterey Bay Aquarium
- Enjoy breathtaking coastal views and wildlife
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Round-trip transportation from San Francisco
- Guided tour of Monterey, Carmel, and 17-Mile Drive
- Visit to Monterey Bay Aquarium
- Meals and beverages
Itinerary
Pass by: The lighthouse, constructed in 1871, serves as a guiding beacon for ships navigating the Pacific coast of California. It proudly stands as the tallest lighthouse along the West Coast of the United States and continues to play an active role in assisting the Coast Guard in navigation. During the journey, travelers will have the chance to disembark from the bus to capture memorable photos with the lighthouse as their backdrop or enjoy a brief stroll down to the nearby beach.
Tallest lighthouse on the west Coast of the United States. it is still an active Coast Guard aid to navigation. Explore the lighthouse or a quick walk down to the beach.
The bus conveniently stops directly in front of the Davenport Cafe, which takes its name from the historical figure Captain John Pope Davenport. Captain Davenport settled at El Jarro Point, which is roughly half a mile away from the present-day town. This cafe is an excellent spot to take a break, grab a cup of coffee, and enjoy some snacks. Additionally, travelers are welcome to make use of the cafe's restroom facilities.
Pass by: The Monterey Bay is situated along the California coast, to the south of the major cities of San Francisco and San Jose. At the north end of the bay lies Santa Cruz, while at the southern tip of the Monterey Peninsula, you'll find Monterey.
Cannery Row, located in the New Monterey section of Monterey along the waterfront, was once home to thriving sardine canning factories. Today, Cannery Row has transformed into a popular tourist destination, featuring numerous restaurants and shops. As you drive through this historic district, you'll be heading towards the renowned Monterey Bay Aquarium, which is situated by the beautiful Monterey Bay. This is the designated stopping point for the Monterey segment of the tour. Here, travelers will have a generous 2-hour window of free time to explore several attractions, including the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Cannery Row, various restaurants, and stores. This ample time allows travelers to leisurely enjoy lunch, soak in the sights, and then proceed to the next destinations of 17-Mile Drive and Carmel. Note: Monterey Bay Aquarium (tickets must be purchased separately and reserved prior to departure date from the official Monterey Bay Aquarium website: www.montereybayaquarium.org)
The 17-Mile Drive is a picturesque loop that winds through the private Pebble Beach community on the Monterey Peninsula. Along the way, travelers will be treated to stunning coastal vistas featuring pristine coves and sandy beaches. While the drive itself doesn't require much time, there are numerous designated stops where you can capture breathtaking photos. It's important to note that this attraction may be temporarily closed during certain annual events, including the PGA Tour in February and the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance car show in August.
This bustling wildlife hub is teeming with a vibrant population of birds, harbor seals, and noisy sea lions. Bird Rock, once buried under 4 to 5 feet of pelican and cormorant guano until 1930, was cleared for use as fertilizer. Subsequently, sea lions have claimed this cleared perch as their sunbathing spot, and they've been enjoying it ever since.
Standing proudly on a granite hillside, the Lone Cypress is a remarkable Monterey Cypress tree. This iconic tree holds the distinction of being one of the most photographed trees in all of North America. It stands sentinel between two renowned golf courses, the Cypress Point Club and the Pebble Beach Golf Links, both of which are among the world's most famous. The Lone Cypress is estimated to be around 250 years old and bears the scars of past fires. To ensure its stability, it has been anchored in place with cables for the past six decades. Travelers will have the opportunity to disembark from the bus at this spot, offering them an excellent chance to capture memorable photographs of this enduring natural wonder.
Pebble Beach Golf Links is internationally renowned as one of the most stunning golf courses globally, as it gracefully embraces the rugged coastline and offers expansive vistas of Carmel Bay, which opens up to the vast Pacific Ocean. This prestigious course hosts annual events by the PGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions. During your visit, travelers will have the opportunity to disembark from the bus and enjoy some time either in the clubhouse or exploring the souvenir shop. Please note that certain closures may occur due to annual events, such as the PGA Tour AT&T Pro-Am in February.
Pass by: Small beach community on California's Monterey Peninsula. The Scenic Bluff Path runs from surf spot Carmel Beach to bird-rich Carmel River State Beach.
Situated in the charming heart of downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea, Carmel Plaza offers a unique blend of fashion boutiques, specialty natural brands, exceptional dining establishments, gourmet shops, wine tasting rooms, salons, wellness studios, and much more, all within a relaxed and refined environment. During this stop, travelers will have the opportunity to disembark from the bus and enjoy a generous 60 minutes of free time to explore the offerings at Carmel Plaza at their leisure.
Meeting point
Start Location
Unknown location
Important information
Know before you book
- Tour operates rain or shine; dress appropriately for the weather.
- Children under 2 years old can join for free if seated on a parent's lap.
- Please inform the tour operator of any special requirements in advance.
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable walking shoes for exploring various sites.
- Bring a light jacket or sweater, as coastal areas can be cool.
- Don't forget your camera to capture the breathtaking scenery.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Accessibility
- Stroller Accessible
- Service Animals Allowed
- Infants Required On Laps
Traveler reviews
A Smooth, Relaxing, and Memorable Coastal Tour
I had a great experience on the Monterey, 17-Mile Drive, and Carmel-by-the-Sea tour with Gray Line. Our driver and tour guide, Don, was fantastic — incredibly knowledgeable, organized, and engaging throughout the entire trip. He shared so many interesting stories and historical insights that made the experience even more enjoyable and meaningful. The vehicle was spacious, comfortable, and had great AC, which made the long drive very relaxing. Don also managed the schedule really well, giving us enough time at each stop while still keeping everything efficient and getting us back on time. Overall, it was a very smooth and enjoyable experience, and I would definitely recommend this tour to my friends and family!
Pacific Coastal Charm in a Day
A great, safe way to enjoy these California gems in just a day with a knowledgeable and friendly guide. Don had tons of information to share with us and by incorporating some of his own personal connections to these special places made it a very engaging and interesting day. He always kept our safety and time in mind, and was very tactful when any passengers needed a gentle reminder about being courteous while on the bus. The brief stops along the coastline allowed us enough time for taking photos and the two hour stay in Monterey was just enough time to do a little shopping and have a relaxing lunch by the sea. While in Carmel-by-the-Sea, we were given an hour, which provided ample time to walk to the beach and visit some of the quaint shops along the way.
Driver Don was excellent. Bus was awful and very uncomfortable to ride in for 11 hours
Driver Don was great and very informative. However the bus we travelled in was small, cramped and very uncomfortable to ride in, especially as this was an 11 hour tour. Felt we were riding in a school bus . When we booked the itinerary had listed a bus with toilet . Very disappointed with the standard of the transportation.
Dream day
Excellent driver, very friendly and dedicated. I do not remember the name of the gentleman.
Amazing
We had an amazing day trip from San Francisco to Carmel and Monterey! The service was excellent from start to finish, the premium coach was extremely comfortable, and everything was perfectly organized. A special thank you to our guide, Judith, who was knowledgeable, friendly, and made the whole experience unforgettable. Highly recommended!