Walking holiday in Yosemite National Park
Late availability on these dates: 22 Sep, 06 Oct
Description of Walking holiday in Yosemite National Park
This is a fantastic Yosemite National Park walking holiday that showcases the key sights of one of America’s best-loved parks, while helping you to avoid the worst of the crowds. Plus, before taking your leave and making your way back to San Francisco, you’ll also spend an afternoon walking with a guide from the Yosemite Conservancy. They’re an indispensable source of knowledge about Native American culture and history in the park and efforts to protect these spectacular natural landscapes.
Beginning and ending in ‘the City by the Bay’, you’ll use private vehicles to reach the park, and get to and from the trailhead each day. Many overnight visitors to Yosemite choose to camp, but you’ll be staying in comfortable mountain lodges. Group sizes are limited to just 12, so that you’re not taking up lots of space on the trail, and you will all be on first name terms by the morning of day two.
This is a moderate walking holiday; the trails are well-maintained and there is a choice of routes so that you can opt for something less demanding if preferred. Each day takes you to a classic Yosemite destination: Half Dome, and the Mist Trail (Yosemite’s signature hike); the beautiful Cathedral Lakes, the Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias. Walks are arranged to avoid peak times – you’re never going to avoid crowds in Yosemite, but a responsible tour will always seek to avoid the bottlenecks. This reduces pressure on the trails, and makes for a more enjoyable experience for your group.
The morning of day four of your trip is left clear with a range of optional activities open to you in the morning. You might hike a trail of your choosing, visit a museum, or hire a bike. If you’re feeling adventurous you might even try some white water rafting. In the afternoon, you’ll meet with a Yosemite Conservancy guide, who will lead you on a walk while sharing stories of Yosemite’s fascinating history, including much detail about the lives of Native American inhabitants, the early European settlers, and the conservation movement.
Heading back to San Francisco on your last day, via a last walk at Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, means that this Yosemite walking holiday can easily slot into a longer stay on America’s west coast. If it does, you can be sure it will be among the most memorable highlights of your trip.
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1 Reviews of Walking holiday in Yosemite National Park
Reviewed on 29 Sep 2023 by Bridget Lambert
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Enjoying the scenery and spectacular views, and hiking on the trails
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Bring some utensils and packaging for making lunches and breakfasts- not mentioned in the holiday information
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
To some degree yes
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Very highly
Responsible Travel
Planet
This itinerary aims to combat over tourism by visiting the less popular sections of Yosemite National Park, allowing you to still enjoy one of the USA’s most spectacular spots without contributing to the crowds. As a single-centre tour, you will be based in a mountain lodge throughout, minimising vehicle travel from place to place. Visit the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir and learn how controversy surrounding the construction of the dam lead to the creation of the US National Park Service.People
Your base for this adventure is a locally owned and operated lodge – your visit will make a big impact in helping the local community bounce back from a dip in visitors caused by the pandemic and catastrophic fires in the region. Take a walk through Yosemite National Park with an expert guide from the Yosemite Conservancy. Your guide will let you know how the group advocates for the Native American Community and preserves their culture. Your guide will also fill you in on the crucial role Yosemite played in the USA’s conservationist movement.Popular similar holidays
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