Yosemite Highlights & Giant Sequoias Day Tour from San Francisco

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!

Went on a fully narrated tour to Yosemite National Park and a stop at a Giant Redwood Grove. Seen El Capitain, Half Dome, Brides Veil Falls, Yosemite Falls, had lunch at Yosemite Village, had a opportunity to hike to a Redwood grove, with short stops at Mariposa, Turlock and an Oaks Village. Glenda did a superb job of keeping the tour interesting with narration and story telling.