An Insider's Journey into Yosemite

Limited to 14 Travelers with Two Expedition Leaders
A very important feature of our Yosemite National Park adventure is the limited group size, as nature expeditions are best experienced with fewer travelers for more intimate and authentic nature and wildlife encounters.

Take this trip on a private basis, traveling exclusively with your immediate family, multi-generational family or group of friends. Click here for details and pricing.

Accommodations, services of Nat Hab's professional Expedition Leader(s) and local staff, transportation in Nat Hab's North American Safari Trucks and other vehicles, all meals from dinner on Day 1 through breakfast on final day, some gratuities, airport transfers on Day 1 and final day, all activities and entrance fees, all taxes, permits and service fees.

Travel to and from the start and end point of your trip, alcoholic beverages, some gratuities, passport and visa fees (if any), optional activities, items of a personal nature (phone calls, laundry and internet, etc.), airline baggage fees, airport and departure taxes (if any), optional travel protection and medical evacuation insurance.

Moderate to Difficult
This adventure requires a moderate degree of physical fitness. Hiking is the main activity, with two or three excursions per day, totaling 4–7 miles. Hikes in Wawona and Yosemite Valley (Days 2-5) will take place at an elevation of approximately 5,000 feet, and hikes on Days 6 and 7 will be at approximately 8,000-9,500 feet. Hikes near Mono Lake are at an elevation of approximately 6,400 feet. In order to participate fully, travelers should be able to walk unassisted for at least 3 miles at a time over uneven terrain, with moderate climbs (up to 200 feet of elevation gain per mile) required on some hikes. Guests can usually choose between more or less strenuous hikes. There will also be scenic drives over a high pass with steep drop-offs, so any traveler who experiences vertigo should take that into consideration. We will rise early and often include activities well into the evening in order to take advantage of times when fewer park visitors are present. Water levels permitting, there will be opportunities for optional canoeing and a float trip that requires the ability to enter and exit small boats on calm water. Please be aware that temperatures in Yosemite Valley can often surpass 100°F, and summer fires in California are now the norm, producing drifting smoke that can sometimes make conditions more difficult to hike in. These elements, which we can never predict ahead of time, may make this trip feel more strenuous.

We have taken great pains to create a rich and captivating itinerary in this iconic destination while attempting to avoid crowds as much as possible. However, Yosemite in summer is always going to be crowded, and there will be times that we simply cannot escape substantial crowds if we want to see the globally renowned natural sites that draw so many visitors from around the world—this is especially the case in Yosemite Valley. But we also employ strategies to help attain the most meaningful experience possible! Our Expedition Leaders know the Yosemite region intimately, including less-traveled corners away from the heaviest crowds. We seek to maximize quieter time at park highlights by waking very early to beat the crowds, and enjoying excursions into the evening when day-trippers have left and other visitors have retreated to their hotels and campsites. Due to extremely limited parking in Yosemite Valley, we use the park shuttle service to get around while staying in the valley. This is often a very crowded experience, but it is by far the fastest way to move around in Yosemite Valley.

You should also be aware that we spend a fair bit of time driving in vans on this trip. Why is that the case, when the goal is spending time in nature, not vehicles? Well, it turns out that it’s necessary in order to maximize your experience—to make sure you get to all the celebrated sights you’ve come to see. We know you don’t want to miss any Yosemite highlights—nor would we want you to! That means we must get you from one sector of this vast park to another via driving. You can trust us to craft routing and timing that includes plenty of rest stops, viewpoints and nature interludes during those transfers.

Arrival: Arrive in Fresno, CA by 3 pm in order to attend a welcome dinner beginning at 6 pm on Day 1.
Departure: You may depart Fresno, CA after 2 pm on the final day.