From the Mountains to the Coast

Welcome to California! Your trip begins with TrovaTrip picking you up from the airport and transferring you to Yosemite National Park. Time permitting you’ll be able to do a quick hike before sundown and then you'll set up camp and cook your first dinner with the group. Plan to arrive by 12 pm. Camping is part of this incredible experience; you will set up and pack up your tent and help prep all meals! Since you'll be out on adventures most days, lunch will be picnic-style or bagged lunches. If you've never camped before, no worries, your professional Guide will always be there to help. Stops for bathroom breaks will be made as needed along the way to the campground. For the hike in the evening you'll want to break out your hiking boots and bring a water bottle, sunglasses, and insect repellent.

• Intro to Yosemite

  After arriving at your campground and dropping off some gear, you'll have the opportunity to head into the valley. Time and weather permitting, this evening you will get your first taste of Yosemite. Take a stroll through the valley and catch a glimpse of the massive granite cliffs and waterfalls of this striking and iconic landscape. Walking around, you’re surrounded by towering trees, the sound of flowing water, and expansive views. Your guide will lead you on a short walk to stretch your legs with possible trails including Lower Yosemite Falls (Distance: 1.2 miles / Elevation Gain: 55 ft / Duration 40 mins / Difficulty: Easy) or Cook's Meadow Loop (Distance: 2 miles / Elevation Gain: 78 ft / Duration: 45 minutes / Difficulty: Easy) - depending on conditions. 

  · 60 min· Yosemite
• Transfer · San Francisco International Airport (SFO) → Yosemite

  TrovaTrip will provide one transfer from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to the campground between 11:00 A.M. and 12:00 P.M. Please arrive by 12:00 P.M. Exact transfer time within this window will be determined closer to your arrival based on provided traveler flight information. Travelers arriving outside of the requested flight guidelines will need to make their own arrangements to meet the group at the campground. Please note, there is no parking available at the campground. If you are driving, we recommend parking your car at the airport and joining the included transfer. On the transfer to Yosemite, stops for bathrooms/snacks will be made along the way, including a stop about halfway in Oakdale (depending on traffic and transfer progress).

  270 min

It's a full day in Yosemite today as you hike and explore one of the premier national parks of the United States. After breakfast, you’ll transfer to the trailhead and your guide will take you on the picture-perfect Mist trail as you hike up to Vernal Falls and Nevada Falls. You’ll have lunch along the way before returning to the trailhead and heading back to the campground for dinner. Today you’ll want to wear hiking boots, comfortable hiking clothes, and bring a rain jacket, a water bottle, sunglasses, sunscreen, a hat, and a small day pack.

• Yosemite: Vernal Falls and Nevada Falls Hike

  While many of Yosemite's hikes are centered on a final destination, this route features stunning views the whole way, from the phenomenal granite heights of Liberty Cap, Grizzly Peak, the Panorama Cliffs, Sentinel Dome, Glacier Point to even Half Dome soaring above your head. You’ll begin with amazing views of Vernal falls as you hike up the rocky switchbacks. Continue upward toward Nevada Falls to experience beautiful views of the waterfall as well as the Merced River above it. Hike Distance: 6.6 miles / Elevation Gain/Loss: 2,220 feet. Difficulty: Strenuous / Duration: 5-6 hrs

  · 300 min· Yosemite
• Transfer · Vernal Falls → Yosemite Lakes Campground

  Take a return transfer to the campground after your hike.

  60 min

Today after breakfast you’ll travel further into the Sierra Nevada mountains as you head south into the incredibly impressive Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Stop first to walk the General Grant Grove in Kings Canyon National Park, then hike the Congress Trail, home to many mighty sequoias. Continue on and marvel at the sight of General Sherman, the single largest tree in the entire world, then head out to hike up Moro Rock for expansive views of the surrounding forest and Sierras. Today you’ll want to wear hiking boots or comfortable walking shoes, bring a rain jacket, a water bottle, sunglasses, sunscreen, and a hat.

• Kings Canyon: General Grant Grove

  Stop and marvel at this impressive behemoth of a tree. Here you’ll stop first to view General Grant and eat your picnic lunch in Kings Canyon National Park.

  · 60 min· Kings Canyon
• Sequoia: General Sherman Visit and Congress Trail Hike

  Pay a visit to the largest tree in the entire world! It stands 275 feet tall and is over 36 feet in diameter at the base. From the nearby trailhead, you'll walk through other impressive sequoias on the Congress Trail, each tree named after politicians of the past. Distance: 3 miles / Elevation: 483 / Difficulty: Easy / Duration: 1.5 hours

  · 90 min· Sequoia
• Sequoia: Moro Rock Trail

  Transfer another 10 minutes and arrive at the Moro Rock Trail. A concrete and stone stairway leads over 350 steps to the top of Moro Rock. Even just a short distance from the parking area and above the forests' canopy, the Great Western Divide's peaks become visible. As you climb, views open up from the foothills and San Joaquin Valley to the west, to deep into the wilderness to the east. After the hike you’ll head to the campground. Distance: 0.5 miles / Elevation: 189ft / Difficulty: Moderate / Duration: 30 minutes

  · 30 min· Sequoia
• Transfer · Yosemite → Three Rivers

  Head south along the Sierras into Sequoia and Kings Canyon. Stops for bathrooms/snacks will be made along the way - typically in Fresno.

  180 min
• Transfer · General Grant Grove → General Sherman Tree

  Continue your transfer to the General Sherman Tree

  60 min
• Transfer · Moro Rock Trail → Three Rivers Hideaway

  Finish the day's transfer by heading to the campground.

  60 min

After breakfast this morning you'll head west, leaving the mountains for the equally stunning California coastline. You’ll have lunch along the way then in the afternoon take to the water on kayaks, exploring Monterey Bay with stunning scenery and wildlife. Say goodbye to the seals and sea lions as you head back to shore and down into Big Sur for dinner to close out the night. Today you’ll want to bring your bathing suits, a change of clothes, sunscreen, sunglasses (with straps), water, water shoes or shoes that can get wet, and a waterproof case for your phone - if you have one!

• Kayak Monterey Bay

  This afternoon you'll paddle in the beautiful Monterey Bay, a protected zone where you can spot sea otters, harbor seals, sea lions, shorebirds, and more! You will be provided with a single kayak (depending on availability), life jackets, splash jackets/pants (optional), and wetsuits (optional). Please note the weight limit for this activity is 250 lbs.

  · 90 min· Monterey
• Transfer · Kings Canyon → Monterey

  Head across the central valley to the coastal town of Monterey. Stops for bathrooms will be made along the way as needed. You will have a pack lunch on the road to Monterey.

  240 min
• Transfer · Monterey Bay → Big Sur Campgroound

  After kayaking, transfer to the campground.

  60 min

It's time to explore Big Sur! After breakfast today you’ll transfer along the coast to hit the highlights including Andrew Molera State Park and the ocean bluff, Pfieffer Beach, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, and McWay Falls. You’ll have lunch during your transfer along the coast or at one of the many stops you’ll make. In the evening you’ll enjoy your final meal at camp with your group. As you will spend today exploring the California Coast and making many stops along the way at viewpoints and for short walks/hikes, your day will be spent hopping in and out of the van! Today you’ll want to wear hiking boots or comfortable walk shoes, bring a rain jacket, a water bottle, sunglasses, sunscreen, and a hat.

• Highlights of Big Sur

  From the bluffs of Andrew Molera to the picturesque Pfeiffer Beach, and the coastal redwoods in Pfeiffer Big Sur and Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Parks, you'll spend the full day with your Guide exploring and marveling at one of the best coastal areas in the world. You will make stops in McWay falls for a short half-mile walk, a stop in Partington Cove for a mile walk (Elevation Gain: 280 feet), a stop at Pfeiffer Beach, and a stop to hike the Andrew Molera Beach Trail loop. The order of which you will visit these places may vary depending on time, traffic, and group preference.

  · 420 min· Big Sur
• Andrew Molera Beach Trail

  Walk along the coast to a secluded beach covered in driftwood. You may be able to see sea otters and sometimes whales during seasonal migrations. Trail Type: Loop / Distance: 2.1 miles / Elevation Gain 50 feet / Duration: 45 minutes / Difficulty: Easy

  · 45 min· Andrew Molera Beach
• Big Sur: McWay Falls

  Enjoy the short walk down to a viewpoint of this waterfall on the beach, the iconic image on all Big Sur postcards. Distance: 0.5 miles / Elevation: 50ft / Difficulty: Easy / Duration: 20 minutes

  · 20 min· Big Sur
• Transfer · Big Sur Campground → California Coast

  Transfer to Andrew Molera State Park (10 minutes from campground) / Transfer to Pfeiffer Beach (20 minutes from campground) / Transfer to Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park (30 minutes from campground) / Transfer to McWay Falls (30 minutes from campground). The order of which you will visit these places may vary depending on time, traffic, and group preference.

  480 min

All good things must come to an end! After breakfast you'll transfer to the San Francisco airport and bid farewell for now.

• Transfer · Big Sur → San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

  TrovaTrip will provide one transfer from the campground to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) on the last day. Please book your flights after 4:00 P.M. Travelers departing outside of the requested flight guidelines will need to make their own transfer arrangements to San Francisco International Airport (SFO). Stops for bathroom breaks will be made as needed on the way to the airport.

  120 min