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(USA) 406 646 1118 x 12 • Email •
Las Vegas to Death Valley, Yosemite and San Francisco two day tour
Itinerary
There is a new and much better version of this tour!
Day 1 - Las Vegas to Shoshone (just outside Death Valley) - 85 mi / 136.77 km - About 2 1/4 hours
Map | Like all of our tours this is a small group trip. Our guides are very knowledgeable about the areas you travel through, as well as the geology, traditions and customs of the local people. Feel free to ask any and all questions!
And as with all our tours, there are frequent stops to take photos and admire the views. It is your tour - make yourself at home!
The days and dates that the tour runs can be seen in the calendar at the top right of this page.
There is a similar tour that runs in reverse, on the same days, from Los Angeles to Las Vegas.
Pick ups take place from the Las Vegas Strip at about 6.15 a.m. If there are enough people in the downtown area, we will also pick up at one central downtown location. Should you have to take a taxi or bus to meet us, we will reimburse you a maximum of $10 against the receipt.
You may be surprised to learn that Las Vegas is actually in the middle of a desert, which we come to as soon as we leave town. We climb up and down a small mountain, and travel through the desert to the small town of Pahrump (where brothels are legal), on to Shoshone, which is located at the south east entrance of Death Valley. |
Day 1 - Death Valley - 150 mi / 241.35 km - About 4 1/4 hours
Map | Death Valley is the lowest, hottest and driest part of North America. We will be visiting Badwater, which is about 280 feet below sea level. On the way we will stop to take pictures, and may even check out some abandoned settlements.
At Furnace Creek we will detour to Zabriskie Point, to take in the beautiful rock formations, and after strolling up to the top we will drive back towards Furnace Creek, where the elevation once again drops to sea level and below.
From there the tour makes for Stovepipe Wells Village, passing Devils Cornfields and an impressive cluster of sand dunes along the way.
The road out of Death Valley heading west climbs up enormously, and on most trips we will turn off the air conditioning in the vehicle, to help prevent the vehicle from over heating. Expect to be hot for half an hour or so! On the way up the mountain we pass signs every couple of miles, advising that radiator water is just up the hill! |
Day 1 - Death Valley to Mammoth Lakes - 136 mi / 218.82 km - About 3 1/2 hours
Map | The road from Death Valley to Mammoth Lakes is scenic and we will stop to take photographs and get refreshments along the way.
After dropping down from the mountains surrounding Death Valley the road follows the Sierra Nevada mountains north, past Mount Whitney, at 14 505 feet (4 421 metres) high, the highest peak in the contiguous United States. We will spend the night at Mammoth Lakes, a quaint little town close to Mammoth Mountain Ski area.
There are times of the year when special events are held there, and if the town is full we will overnight in Bishop. |
Day 2 - Mammoth Lakes to Yosemite's east entrance - 85 mi / 136.77 km - About two hours
Map | We hope to have an early start this morning, to enable you to get to San Francisco before it gets dark.
The scenery is once again picturesque as we climb up into the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and to the east entrance of Yosemite, on the Tioga Pass. After being below sea level in Death Valley you are now at almost 10 000 feet (over 3000 metres)! The change in temperature is very noticeable. There can be as much as a 75 degree (24 degrees Celsius) temperature difference between Death Valley and the eastern part of Yosemite! |
Day 2 - Yosemite National Park - 58 mi / 93.32 km - About four hours
Map | Just as is the case with the Grand Canyon and Zion, the east entrance to Yosemite is only seen by a handful of the huge numbers of people who visit Yosemite. The scenery is spectacular, and we will take a leisurely drive down to the Yosemite Valley far below, stopping frequently to admire the views and take photographs.
For many the highlight of the trip is El Capitan, the towering rock mountain. If you look carefully you can often see climbers attached to the sheer granite walls.
On the valley floor you will have the chance to see Yosemite Falls, the highest waterfall in North America, as well as get yourself a bite to eat and perhaps buy some souvenirs. |
Day 2 - Yosemite to San Francisco - 190 mi / 305.71 km - About 4 1/2 hours
Map | We will leave Yosemite by the west entrance, driving through some more of the park on the way out.
In time the countryside gives way to urban sprawl, before San Francisco comes into view. You will get great views of the city and the ocean as we cross the Bay Bridge and go over Yuerba Buena Island.
We drop off at the hotels listed at the top of the page. Thanks for joining us! |
 Tour ID | 1090 |
Please note the following...- This tour is subject to a 3.00% per person fuel surcharge.
- The entry fees to both parks are included.
- One night's lodging is included at Mammoth Lakes. This is in the moderate category. If there is a special event on at Mammoth we will stay at Bishop instead.
- Prices are based on double occupancy. A single surcharge of $80 is applicable, or we can try and match singles. If you want to have three or four to a room, you will get a lower price.
- The price includes the services of a guide/driver and transportation.
- The vehicle used is either a small mini bus, or an executive van, which is a van with individual, high back, reclining seats.
- No meals are included.
- The tour itinerary may change at our discretion without notice. Factors that may cause a change include, but are not limited to, the weather, vendors and road conditions.
- A minimum of two people may be required for a tour to depart. That is not two in your group, but a total of two. You may also need to book several weeks out to ensure availability.
- The days and dates this tour runs can be seen in the calendar at the top right of this page. Be aware, however, that the tour only starts running when one of the roads leading out of the park opens after the winter.
- This tour picks up on the Strip. If there are sufficient people staying downtown, we will pick up at a central downtown location as well. If you are staying elsewhere please keep your taxi or bus receipt. We will reimburse you a maximum of $10 towards the cost of your taxi or bus.
- This tour drops off at Fisherman's Wharf and the hotels listed at the top of this page.
- Please check with us to ensure this tour is still available prior to making lodging or air bookings.
- Be careful about making any show or air bookings for the date this tour returns. We are not responsible for delays getting back into San Francisco.
- Payment Details: While we would rather you not make a booking until you are sure you want to go, you are welcome to cancel the booking any time up until 45 days prior to the start of the tour, and you will get a full refund. After that time, we will not accept a cancellation and you will have to pay for the tour in full. Trip insurance is available. Half the cost of the tour will be charged to your card any time from 45 days prior to the start of the tour, and the balance will be charged any time from 10 days prior to the start of the tour.
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Please call us at (USA) 406 646 1118 x 12, or mail us for additional information.
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