Excellent tour with Grant and worth the $! As Yosemite gets busier, this is really worth your time…read moreand $! You don't have to navigate traffic, you're driven by and given ample time off this small bus to see everything and take tons of photos, lunch and a fantastic history lesson. $220.00 per person. Pick up 7:05 am and dropped back off at 5:00 pm. Lunch is quite good. Sandwiches from Deli Delicious in Oakhurst. Lunch is taken in the middle of the park where you can sit and enjoy it, use the facilities, grab a Starbucks if needed and take a short walk over to one of the waterfalls. You're picked back up after an hour and 1/2 and this wonderful tour continues. You see loads of wildlife, more amazing waterfalls and this famous sites you've seen all over the place in pictures, movies, paintings, etc and if your lucky, so rock climbers on 1/2 Dome or El Capitan. Incredible scenery and so much to learn about this incredible place, the indigenous peoples and tribes that lived here and the incredible amount of history all in one day. Do yourself a favor and take the tour. Hopefully you'll get Grant. He's fun, is an excellent driver, has lots of bottled water and snacks, really takes care of his fares, knows an enormous amount of info from here and makes the tour really fun. There's so much to see and if you don't know where you're going, you can really get turned around and hung up in traffic.

Get your camera ready and bring your curiosity. PREPARE:…read moreThis is no time for fashionable garb; Dress warmly and wear comfortable clothing and footwear. SERVICE: Our guide, Jarret from Discover Yosemite was passionate, friendly, and knowledgeable about every nook and cranny. ORGANIZED AND INFORMATIVE: The tour was well organized and visually appealing even though several of the passes were closed. TIP: silence your phones and texts, Ready your camera. 360' visuals require your attention. ( You will thank us later.) IS IT STRENUOUS? It can be, depending on your health. In my case, I've been dealing with some medical issues but Jarret made sure to identify places where I could sit out the more physically demanding walks and hikes while taking in incredible views from comfortable benches carved from hundreds of year old logs. Jarret found unique ways to cater to all levels of interest and physical ability. NOTE: if two of the roads were open, you would expect significant walking on flat and uneven surfaces. This is a special way to fully engage and immerse in nature. THE FOOD: The sandwich provided in the included picnic lunch did not meet the standards of the your. Ample snacks and bottled beverages and water were available throughout the adventure. TIP:PACK SOME PROVISIONS OR EAT A HEARTY BREAKFAST. SHOPPING: Several stops to do tourist shopping ( We found some luscious sweets and surprised Jarrett with hand dipped chocolate- He seemed to appreciate it,) ADVICE; leave young children in the care of others so you can focus on the serenity of the environment and take in the majesty of 150-3,000 year old trees and million year landscapes. This is an activity for serious nature lovers. PLEASE REMEMBER TO TIP GENEROUSLY.

I am so glad we got to experience this magical cave. It had been closed for a few years and I am so…read morehappy it's open to the public. Remember make a reservation. Our guide was amazing made everything so interesting. The cave is cool so it definitely got us out of that heat. The hike to the cave could be a little tough you are not a hiker as it contains many steps. You will get to see a waterfall on the way there.

So happy this is open again. It was closed for 4 years due to fires and road erosion. It's safe…read moreto drive now. Book in advance, they fill up early. Pack a picnic munch and store in the bear box. It's a fun to walk down, much with no railing. Then you get to the beautiful series of waterfalls. The cave tour lasts 50 min. It's really amazing. it's lit up so flashlights not needed. Some of the caves are big with so many sparkling features. Watch out for water on the ground. Wear appropriate shoes. Flip flops not recommended for the climb or the caves.

Great 2 hour tour if you don't know which iconic sight to start with. Our guide, Morgan, was…read moreinformative, enthusiastic, passionate, and helpful throughout the tour! It takes you to Yosemite Falls, Half Dome, El Capitan, Tunnel View, and Bridalveil Falls. Highly suggest to book a tour before midday or midafternoon to beat the heat!

The Yosemite Valley Floor Tour was the perfect way to kick off our trip. If it's your first time in…read morethe park it's an ideal way to take in the major sights without the stress of driving or finding parking. We rode in an open-air tram and the views were unreal. Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable, weaving stories about Yosemite's history, geology, and wildlife in a way that was very informative. I'm used to more entertaining and captivating tour guides in Los Angeles and Hollywood but the wilderness guide, Will had a lot of Yosemite knowledge. Highlights included El Capitan, Bridalveil Fall, Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, Glacier Point and the Merced River, all with plenty of time for photos. The tour lasted about two hours, which was just right, long enough to soak in the beauty but short enough to keep our group engaged. Definitely bring water, sunscreen, and a hat if it's sunny! Because it was the evening time, last tour of the day which took off at 5:30PM we did get to see two bear cubs running across the road but too quick to snap a photo. If intake this tour again I'll be sure to have my camera out on the ready to take photos and video. Overall great tour. If you're short on time or want a relaxing overview before hitting the trails, this tour is a must. It gave us a deeper appreciation for Yosemite and helped us plan the rest of our visit.

This is the second time we have enjoyed the train, both times have been very good, and excellent…read morecustomer service. we will recommend this experience to singles and families as well. the conductor shares some facts that are interesting. Thank You and we will see you again.

Really cool train ride! It was very peaceful going through the woods in this train, and the…read moreconductor was extremely knowledgeable. It doesn't go super far, as the train moves fairly slowly, but it's a very immersive experience. If there's one thing I would have changed, it's that the conductor was very talkative; while it was great to have the information, it would have been nice to have a better balance of enjoying the calming ambiance and knowledge sharing.

Our tour guides were absolutely amazing (John and Mia) and they were very knowledgeable and helped…read moreanswer all of our questions (about Yosemite in general, specific famous features on our hike, and even random questions about birds and plant life). The hike is as advertised (in terms of ratings and what features you will see). They always put safety first and even offered to help carry our back packs when we got tired or were crossing a small stream! They treated us like close family/friends, were encouraging us along the way, and adapted to our pace and schedule. Our group ranged from age 6 to adult and we couldn't have made it to the end of the hike without them! Book them for your tours and have fun on your Yosemite Vacation!

Will definitely be booking again with John and Y Explore!!! Honestly when we booked the guided half…read moredome hike I went into it thinking we were just utilizing the purchased permits as hadn't won the lottery ourselves but as the day progressed I became more and more grateful for the wisdom and knowledge of our guide. From breathing techniques and tips for ascending and descending the cables to the order of of our group and perfectly timed rest breaks this was worth every penny as we had not only a successful summit but an overwhelming positive experience! Hubby and I are excited to travel again to more destination with Y Explore in the near future!

Best sight to see here just make sure you go early and find the right time for the waterfall which…read moreis in spring which is when the snow caps are melting. Hikes can range with difficulties but there are simple trails for kids

I never expected to love Yosemite. I've been fortunate enough to travel to different places and…read morehave seen some truly breathtaking natural wonders. And so when I stepped off the Yosemite Close Up Tours van as Ken (our guide and the tour owner) parked it beside a few rocks to test our climbing/walking ability, I wasn't expecting much. But it's pretty appropriate that this tour group has this name, because Ken gave us a close up and intimate glimpse into the beauty of Yosemite. They say mountaineering is a lonely experience and so it is a very close/tight-knit community. They also say that there is something about Yosemite that brings people together. We were fortunate enough to have Ken bring both these things to us, as he shared his decades of experience scaling Yosemite's mountains and hiking its trails; imparted his knowledge about the delicacy and power of the nature around us; and allowed us to experience his lifelong love story with this national park. In our one day tour on a bright spring day, Ken taught us: - Balance: He started the tour by asking our group of 10 to walk up and down a few rocks, just so he could see what level we were each at. The 5 year olds in our group loved this 'playtime' while the 60+ year olds in our group loved this proactive calibration of how much (or little) help was needed throughout the day. - To look up, out and inward: While Ken was great at picking spots for photo opportunities, I loved it most when he picked spots that were set-ups for stories. He would ask us to look up at specific sections on the mountains and talk about how climbers would tackle this crevice or that ridge. So as we looked up at El Capitan or the Half Dome, we not only saw the beautiful shots seen in pictures and screensavers, but also the solitary suffering and the exhilarating exhaustion of challenging oneself, of being one with that challenge, and of finally and triumphantly scaling the top (and getting down afterwards). - Respect for the danger/risk: Ken lightly but seriously talked about this book he had that detailed different ways people had died in Yosemite (e.g., there's a whole chapter on rivers). It wasn't meant to be morbid or macabre, but matter-of-fact. And it made us aware and respectful about what was around us. - Conservationism without the hard sell: In between the more tour guide-y stories, Ken made sure to drop some geological/biological knowledge on us. For example, he explained what meadows were and how they came to be (which was his thesis if I remember correctly) and talked about the regular volunteer work that climbers do to clean up the park. - The evolution of climbing: Mid-tour, Ken brought out his different hooks and clamps to show us how climbing gear has changed and become more sophisticated over the years. And this may sound like a boring history lesson but it actually helped us appreciate Yosemite's mountains - and the people who dream/do climb them - even more. - Picnics are the best: I'm not sure whether it was because we had been walking a lot, or because Ken's tour provides locally sourced food, but that picnic lunch of sandwich+chips+cookie+apple absolutely hit the spot. Ken ended our tour with a funny/folksy song about 2 climbers at Yosemite. And in a way, I thought that was a kinda perfect way to end the day. Because it was only later on when, through good ol' Google, that we found out Ken was a sort of mountaineering legend, with many initial ascents (i.e., first time anyone ever scales a mountain) credited to him. But at that moment, as he was singing his folksy song to bid us goodbye, he wasn't Ken Bouche, a known mountaineer. He was just another guy who was completely in love, and wanted to playfully share that love with the people he was entrusted with that day. 5 stars. Highly recommended.

Dave is AMAZING! We had the best day with him on our private tour of Yosemite. He is so fun,…read moreknowledgeable, a great conversationalist and made the day fabulous. I had the best time and felt like we got to really see Yosemite and get to know the park. I would 100% recommend booking with him and his company. Hands down the BEST!!

I cannot say enough about David and the two days he spent with us in the park. It was our first…read moretrip to Yosemite and David planned two great days that really gave us a feel for the incredible natural beauty that surrounds you in the Valley. While you can only see so much in two days, his skillful guiding made the most of that time covering the multiple waterfalls in the valley, the Sequoia Grove, Hatch Hatchy and many others. He is a self taught naturalist and gave us just the right mix of park history and insights into the floral and fauna. He also balanced our hiking so it was challenging enough to keep me interested but not to difficult that Thelma could not enjoy it as well. He was also terrific about assisting her through some of the more difficult and rocky sections so she was never uncomfortable. His planning was simply impeccable and more than worth every penny as we could never have enjoyed as much as we did on our own. There is just no substitute for having a professional guide a Dave was as professional as it gets. Simply cannot thank him enough and more highly recommend him to anyone who wants an extraordinary experience.

Review for Lasting Adventures and Guide Isaac V…read more Backpacking Half Dome with Lasting Adventures was an unforgettable experience, made even better by our incredible guide, Isaac V. It was just my spouse and me on the trip, which made it feel really personal and special. Isaac was not only knowledgeable and professional but also had a great personality that made it easy to talk openly and honestly with him. He gave us the confidence we needed to take on this adventure and was encouraging every step of the way. Thanks to his guidance and support, this trip was a true success. We would absolutely recommend Lasting Adventures--and Isaac specifically--to anyone looking for a meaningful and empowering outdoor experience. We're already looking forward to doing another trip!

I did the guided 3-day yoga and backpacking retreat at May Lake/amount Hoffman in Yosemite and it…read morewas AMAZING. The location was so beautiful and serine, and not far enough to scare off an absolute backpacking beginner like me! I kinda pinched myself several times to make sure it was all real. The yoga instructor Britta was fabulous. She had amazing insight, knowledge, and overall her "do what your body tells you" guidance approach to yoga was above and beyond what I expected. She's also just such a warm and encouraging person, which helped me engage spiritually and openly in every practice. Also, I loved that she guided us how to use yoga in our hikes and various activities throughout the day (like breathing technique and TOE YOGA!) The guide Dawson was so chill, knowledgeable and an ASTONISHING cook! I went in expecting to eat nothing but berries and raw avocado, but he made delicious meals I'd gladly eat any day anywhere (like vegan French toast with berries, chia seeds and syrup...never would have thought that was do-able on a backpacking trip!). His mellow and trustworthy demeanor made everything feel so effortless and eased so much anxiety I had going into the whole thing. Overall, it was the trip of a lifetime in such a beautiful place. I made new friends, I saw new things, I never felt judgement, and I'd do it again in a heartbeat!

The drive to get here from downtown Bishop was an hour! It was looping around the mountains and we…read morehad to drive slowly at the curves. The views were so gorgeous that we did make a few stops. We parked in front of the Visitor Center and went on the Discovery Trail. It took us an hour to complete. We started on the right side of the loop, and I was just gasping for air. We saw the beautiful Bristlecone trees on the trail. As we continued on to the left side of the loop, we had to walk on the big red rocks. That part was not enjoyable at all as we had to be careful not to trip. However, the views were so wonderful. It's a clear trail, so there is no getting lost.

A few notes for others trying to get to the Patriarch Grove this month. Locals already know this,…read morebut...you're not going to get here with anything but high-clearance 4WD right now. It's already a little slushy near the Schulman Visitor center, but beyond that, it's deeper, messier, and just not possible without an offroading vehicle. And even that might be a little dicey. So you might make it as far as the visitor center until it snows again, but it is now closed for the winter. A few other things to note: the elevation will make you THIRSTY. Bring more water than you normally would. And a hat/sunscreen, because the sun is more intense up here! Lastly, it takes a little *more* than an hour to get as far as the visitor center but is absolutely worth the drive!

Beautiful campsite #50 right on the water. Tree removal crews emptied water tanks without…read morepermission according to the ranger. This rendered the flushing restrooms unusable, sadly. Other than having to use the vault toilets (which were very clean) the campground and our site was excellent!

Great camping trip at Rancheria. There is nice space at each site, the lake was close and the…read moreMariana across the way had great lunches!