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Yosemite and Sequoia: John Muir's California
Tour Description:
At his first breathtaking view of Yosemite in 1869, young John Muir had a life-changing moment – a surge of euphoria as he wandered, overwhelmed in the great natural beauty of a landscape unlike anything he had seen before…
Follow Muir's path on Tauck's compelling Yosemite tour that traces his trajectory from San Francisco to the Sierra Nevada, embracing Muir Woods, Sequoia National Park and his beloved Yosemite, experiencing the powerful beauty of glacier-carved mountains, soaring redwood and sequoia forests, and the story of why they remain for us exactly as he found them.
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Dates & Pricing
| Monday 04 May 26 — Monday 11 May 26 | Starting at $8,290 |  SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Saturday 27 Jun 26 — Saturday 04 Jul 26 | Starting at $8,290 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Monday 31 Aug 26 — Monday 07 Sep 26 | Starting at $8,290 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Saturday 05 Sep 26 — Saturday 12 Sep 26 | Starting at $7,290 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Monday 07 Sep 26 — Monday 14 Sep 26 | Starting at $8,290 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Saturday 12 Sep 26 — Saturday 19 Sep 26 | Starting at $8,290 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Saturday 19 Sep 26 — Saturday 26 Sep 26 | Starting at $8,290 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Monday 21 Sep 26 — Monday 28 Sep 26 | Starting at $8,290 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Saturday 03 Oct 26 — Saturday 10 Oct 26 | Starting at $7,290 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Monday 05 Oct 26 — Monday 12 Oct 26 | Starting at $8,290 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Saturday 10 Oct 26 — Saturday 17 Oct 26 | Starting at $8,290 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Saturday 08 May 27 — Saturday 15 May 27 | Starting at $7,790 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Saturday 15 May 27 — Saturday 22 May 27 | Starting at $8,890 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Saturday 29 May 27 — Saturday 05 Jun 27 | Starting at $8,890 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Saturday 12 Jun 27 — Saturday 19 Jun 27 | Starting at $8,890 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Saturday 26 Jun 27 — Saturday 03 Jul 27 | Starting at $8,890 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Saturday 04 Sep 27 — Saturday 11 Sep 27 | Starting at $8,890 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Saturday 18 Sep 27 — Saturday 25 Sep 27 | Starting at $7,790 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Saturday 02 Oct 27 — Saturday 09 Oct 27 | Starting at $7,290 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
| Saturday 09 Oct 27 — Saturday 16 Oct 27 | Starting at $8,490 | SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
Disclaimer: Prices listed are per person, based on double occupancy, and in USD. All promotions are valid for new bookings only, capacity controlled and valid on select dates and departures. Individual Terms and Conditions will apply to all promotions. Any promotion can be withdrawn at any time without notice. Please speak with your Pavlus Travel Planner for complete vendor terms and conditions, including eligible tour and cruise dates.
Destination & Sightseeing
Destination & Sightseeing
At his first breathtaking view of Yosemite in 1869, young John Muir had a life-changing moment – a surge of euphoria as he wandered, overwhelmed in the great natural beauty of a landscape unlike anything he had seen before…
Follow Muir's path on Tauck's compelling Yosemite tour that traces his trajectory from San Francisco to the Sierra Nevada, embracing Muir Woods, Sequoia National Park and his beloved Yosemite, experiencing the powerful beauty of glacier-carved mountains, soaring redwood and sequoia forests, and the story of why they remain for us exactly as he found them.
Highlights
TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – Filmed vignettes by filmmakers Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan that tell the stories of the history and ideals of the people behind the creation and preservation of the national parks
Meet a naturalist from the Sequoia Field Institute to hear stories about John Muir's discovery of the Giant Forest before discovering it yourself on guided walks, drives and a hike to the top of Moro Rock
Explore the incredible landscapes of Muir Woods, Sequoia and Yosemite national parks, from the famed Giant Sequoias and redwoods to mountains, lush forests, amazing waterfalls...
Discover the night sky over Sequoia National Park as a naturalist guides you through the spectacular constellations that are visible in the absence of "light pollution"
Highlights
TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – Filmed vignettes by filmmakers Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan that tell the stories of the history and ideals of the people behind the creation and preservation of the national parks
Meet a naturalist from the Sequoia Field Institute to hear stories about John Muir's discovery of the Giant Forest before discovering it yourself on guided walks, drives and a hike to the top of Moro Rock
Explore the incredible landscapes of Muir Woods, Sequoia and Yosemite national parks, from the famed Giant Sequoias and redwoods to mountains, lush forests, amazing waterfalls...
Discover the night sky over Sequoia National Park as a naturalist guides you through the spectacular constellations that are visible in the absence of "light pollution"
ITINERARY
ITINERARYArrive San Francisco
Tour begins: 5:00 PM, Palace Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel. A transfer is included from San Francisco International Airport to the Palace Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel – the city's first luxury hotel. Join us this evening for a welcome cocktail reception and dinner.
Muir Woods and Sausalito
Head across the city for a morning sightseeing tour past some of San Francisco's iconic sites, including Union Square, Coit Tower and Fisherman's Wharf, before driving over the Golden Gate Bridge to the green canopy of Muir Woods, a coastal redwood forest preserved as a national monument. These towering ancient trees, some 20 stories high, are among the last remnants of a fog-shrouded primeval forest that once blanketed the northern coast. A self-guided tour along its winding walkways takes you through a shaded, misty world of slanted cathedral light, dense flora, and tranquil running streams – a place to feel the awesome power (and silence) of some of the tallest living things on the planet. Head to Sausalito for lunch; set right on the edge of the Sausalito waterfront, The Trident feels like it floats above the bay. With unobstructed views of San Francisco's skyline, Alcatraz, and the sail-dotted waters between, it's a place where the scenery is as memorable as the meal. The building itself – once a yacht club turned 1960s rock-and-roll hangout – still carries the easy elegance of its past. Inside, curved wood, vintage details, and wraparound windows evoke the feel of a grand ship's deck. Return to San Francisco late this afternoon; the remainder of the day is free to explore as you please.
The Central Valley to Sequoia National Park
Before there was a National Park Service, the job of policing and protecting the national parks belonged to the U.S. Army. At Sequoia and Yosemite, the parks' guardians were the Buffalo Soldiers, who rode out every spring from the Presidio, crossing 300 miles on horseback to the Sierra Nevada. Drive a route that follows the Buffalo Soldiers' path across the agricultural Central Valley. Stop in Fresno for lunch, then continue on for a 7,000-foot climb to Sequoia National Park. Your destination is remote Wuksachi Lodge® on the park grounds. This afternoon, an expert from the Sequoia Field Institute describes how John Muir found and documented the "Giant Forest" in 1875, a perfect introduction to the park. Tonight at the lodge, a naturalist guides you through the spectacular constellations that fill the night skies.
Land of giants and Moro Rock in Sequoia National Park
Begin the day with privately guided walks among ancient Giant Sequoias soaring to the height of skyscrapers; your first walk is in the Giant Forest Grove to see the General Sherman Tree, estimated to be over 2,500 years old (and still growing). Next up is a walk along the "Big Trees Trail" at Round Meadow with an interpretive naturalist guide who will give you some amazing insights into the unusual ecosystem of the Giant Sequoias. Travels this afternoon inside Sequoia National Park are via small vehicles, accompanied by a guide; you'll hear stories of early park "personalities" such as John Muir, Charles Young and Stephen Mather, as well as climb the 400 steps to the top of Moro Rock for stunning views of the park and the peaks of the Great Western Divide (this is optional). The rest of the day is yours to explore as you wish. Possibilities include a visit to the Lodge Pole Visitor Center to learn about the amazing Buffalo Soldiers. Everyone returns to the Lodge late afternoon; the evening is free.
Arrive in Yosemite National Park
Depart Wuksachi Lodge this morning and travel to Tenaya Lodge for lunch, near the historic area of Wawona. Your visit to Yosemite begins with a film vignette by Ken Burns describing Muir's passion for the Yosemite Valley, and his activism to preserve it for future generations. Visit Glacier Point, a stunning overlook in Yosemite National Park offering panoramic views of iconic landmarks like Half Dome, Yosemite Valley, and Yosemite Falls (please note – the road to Glacier Point can sometimes have a delayed opening depending on the road being cleared / opened for the season). Mid-afternoon, enter Yosemite National Park from the south, arriving at The Ahwahnee – a historic masterpiece of stone, timber and soaring stained glass windows in the heart of Yosemite. Dinner tonight is at your leisure.
Yosemite, "Nature's Grandest Temple"
Yosemite "is the grandest of all the special temples of Nature I was ever permitted to enter," wrote Muir, who regarded such settings of awesome natural beauty as sacred places with restorative powers, "where the galling harness of civilization drops off and wounds heal, ere we are aware." Discover the park's power to move your spirit on a guided Yosemite tour that begins on the Valley Floor, stopping to view sites such as El Capitan, Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, Valley View, etc. with opportunities to explore on foot. The afternoon is yours to enjoy the park at your own pace; optional activities are available (some at additional cost), including bicycling, a hike over the footbridge at Vernal Falls, and a visit to the Yosemite Indian Cultural Museum and Village. If you wish, join a naturalist for the "History of Climbing" program that traces the evolution of rock climbing in the park, from its early pioneering days to the modern era. It highlights significant milestones, legendary climbers, and the development of groundbreaking techniques that have shaped the sport. Through exhibits, guided tours, and educational presentations, visitors learn about the rich cultural and natural heritage of climbing in Yosemite, honoring its traditions while also embracing innovation and stewardship for the future. The remainder of the day and evening is free to spend as you please.
Return to San Francisco
Depart Yosemite and return to San Francisco, first visiting the Mariposa Museum, then driving across the populous Central Valley with a stop for lunch. Filmed narratives by Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan weave together the past seven days of history and nature, with insights you won't get anywhere else. One of the stories you'll hear relates to Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, a glacial valley that Muir fought unsuccessfully to save; in the 1920s, the federal government allowed its river to be dammed, turning the valley into a reservoir for the city of San Francisco. Today, a campaign continues, joined by the Sierra Club (which Muir founded) to remove the dam and restore the valley to its original state. "Mountain parks," Muir argued, "are useful not only as fountains of timber and irrigating rivers, but as fountains of life..." an idea that remains controversial to this day. Arrive late afternoon at The Fairmont San Francisco, a Beaux Arts-style, premier hotel on Nob Hill – it's listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. Join us tonight for a farewell cocktail reception and dinner; the setting may be a long way from the Sierra Nevada, but Yosemite can never be left behind (and may be as close as your glass of tap water...).
Journey home
Tour ends: San Francisco. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from The Fairmont San Francisco to San Francisco International Airport. You should allow two hours for flight check-in. If you wish to stay longer in San Francisco, ask about additional hotel nights.
Disclaimer: Prices listed are per person, based on double occupancy, and in USD. All promotions are valid for new bookings only, capacity controlled and valid on select dates and departures. Individual Terms and Conditions will apply to all promotions. Any promotion can be withdrawn at any time without notice. Please speak with your Pavlus Travel Planner for complete vendor terms and conditions, including eligible tour and cruise dates.
