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8-Nights California High Country Adventure from $3,695
Trafalgar
OFFER ID 1505976
California High Country Adventure
Adventure awaits you in the incredible landscapes of California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains. With destinations including Yosemite National Park, Mammoth Lakes, and Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks. Enjoy a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience meeting a climber in Yosemite and stargazing through Sequoia Parks conservancy. This tour is ideal for those eager to put on their hiking boots and explore-as active as you like.
Dining Summary
- 1 Welcome Reception (WR)
- 8 Breakfast (B)
- 3 Dinner (D)
- Oakhurst: Enjoy a one-of-a-kind experience Forest Bathing, an immersive practice that uses all your senses to connect with your surroundings. Meet your host Susan Madden, certified meditation instructor, labyrinth facilitator and forest bathing guide. To help you create a more peaceful life, Susan's scientifically proven practices have been shown to improve health. Begin with a simple meditation before learning the fundamentals and science behind Forest Bathing. Following the presentation, sit down to a plated meal at Tenaya Lodge for conversation and storytelling with Susan.
- Yosemite National Park: Meet a climber and naturalist that will delve into the dynamic history of climbing in Yosemite. Enjoy storytelling, photographs, see the old and new climbing gear, as well as ask questions about how they help improve trails, restore habitat, protect wildlife, and inspire the next generation of nature-lovers, and more. This Make Travel Matter experience targets United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land, improving, protecting, and conserving wildlife and/or restores natural ecosystems.
- Sequoia National Park: Meet your Local Specialist and enjoy stories and the latest astronomical news under one of California's most brilliant skies. The Milky Way galaxy spills out across the broad Sequoia sky, an explosion of stars, planets and infinite questions. Spend the hour touring constellations, galaxies, planets, and the history of human space and exploration. This experience advances UN Global Goal 15: Life on Land.
- Explore Yosemite National Park, Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon National Park
- See El Capitain, Half Dome, Bridalveil Falls
- Visit Mariposa Grove, Yosemite History Center, Giant Forest Museum
- View Tunnel View, Olmstead Point, General Grant Tree in Kings Canyon National Park and General Sherman Tree in Sequoia National Park.
- Hike Discovery Loop at Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, General Grant Loop at Kings Canyon National Park, General Sherman Tree Trail at Sequoia National Park.
- Scenic Drive Tioga Pass, Kings Canyon Scenic Byway, General Sherman Highway.
- Sequoia National Park: The Wuksachi Lodge in the heart of Sequoia National Park surrounded by forest and soaring Sierra peaks.
Whats Included
- An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
- Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
- All porterage and restaurant gratuities
- All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
- Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
- Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
- Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
- All transport and transfers shown
- Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
- Optional Experiences and free time
- On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilized.
8 nights from $3,695 per person
Trafalgar Tours: California High Country Adventure
Day 1 - Start Your Wilderness Adventure in Fresno
Welcome to Fresno, your gateway to the Sierra Nevada Mountains! Settle in and unpack before meeting your fellow adventurers at a Welcome Reception. Your Travel Director gives you the rundown of this exciting, active, self-paced tour. From easy strolls to hard-charger hikes, there are plenty of options and no shortage of natural beauty.
Accommodations: Doubletree by Hilton Fresno Convention Center
Meals: Welcome Reception
Day 2 - Mariposa Grove and Giant Sequoias Stays With Stories
Up and at ‘em this morning for Yosemite National Park, famous for its giant, ancient sequoia trees, deep valleys, and grand meadows. Standing among these towering trees sets the tone for this week’s experiences of feeling small within the vastness of nature. After breakfast in Fresno, head to the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, home to over 500 mature trees and the largest sequoia grove in Yosemite. An important historical site, you’ll learn how in 1864 President Lincoln signed legislation protecting the Mariposa Grove and Yosemite Valley, for the first time in US history setting aside scenic, natural areas to be protected by the federal government, even as the country was embroiled in the Civil War. You’re a part of history and your surroundings as you walk the Big Trees Loop or Grizzly Giant Loop (two miles) amongst other options. The 3,000-year-old Grizzly Giant sequoia alone is worth the trip! After your first full day of exploring, the adventure continues as we head to our home for the next two nights, Oakhurst, situated in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada.
Accommodations: Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Oakhurst Yosemite
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3 - Yosemite National Park Make Travel Matter
Explore Yosemite National Park today, famed for its giant, ancient sequoia trees, grand meadows and iconic rock formations. Enjoy a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®?Experience as you meet a naturalist through the Yosemite Conservancy that will delve into the dynamic history of climbing in Yosemite through fascinating stories, photographs and demonstrations. The Yosemite Conservancy is a non-profit organization that has provided over $140 million to Yosemite for more than 700 completed projects that improve trails, restore habitat, protect wildlife and inspire the next generation of nature-lovers. Spend the rest of the day in Yosemite to appreciate this bucket list destination and choose the hike that suits you. This evening, get ready for a unique Be My Guest Experience incorporating mindfulness while embracing the outdoors over a guided Forest Bathing experience followed by dinner.
Accommodations: Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Oakhurst Yosemite
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4 - Head to Mammoth Lakes
Another day of exceptional hikes begins on the journey from Oakhurst to Mammoth. Your first stop is Tuolumne Meadows where, whether it’s an explosion of summer wildflowers or fiery fall colors, you’ll bask in beauty. Enjoy a leisurely walk along Tuolumne River to Soda Springs and the Tuolumne Meadows Footbridge. We’ll then make our way through Tioga Pass (seasonal) to wildlife-rich Mono Lake before finishing the day in Mammoth. Tioga Pass: weather conditions may cause Tioga Pass to be closed to traffic, typically from mid-October to the end of May. In this case, an alternate entry point to Yosemite will be used entering through the west side of the park. While this may not cause a change in overnight, sightseeing will be affected this day.
Accommodations: Mammoth Mountain Inn
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5 - Mammoth Lakes at Leisure
What better way to start the day than breakfast with a view? Sip your coffee as you take in 360 degree views of the Sierras and beyond on an aerial ride up Mammoth Mountain on the Panorama Gondola. Climbing 11,053 feet to the top of Mammoth Mountain, these sweeping views of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range can’t be beat. The rest of the day is yours to continue your Mammoth sightseeing with another boots-on-the-ground exploration at Mammoth Lakes or a well-deserved rest.
Accommodations: Mammoth Mountain Inn
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6 - Wander Through Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest
Departing Mammoth Lakes arriving at Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, where you’ll walk among the oldest living trees in the world. Some of these living trees are over 4,000 years old, displaying spectacular growth forms of twisted and beautifully colored wood. Tonight, make your way to Bakersfield for an evening of trading tales and photos.
Accommodations: Doubletree Hotel Bakersfield
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7 - King's Canyon National Park Stays With Stories
Next on our tour of incredible sights and sounds is Kings Canyon National Park. Home to the largest remaining grove of sequoia trees in the world with the focal being the General Grant Tree, the third largest in the world which was proclaimed "the Nation's Christmas Tree" in the 1920s by President Calvin Coolidge. Sit back and take in the views as we travel along the Kings Canyon Scenic byway to end up at Zumault Meadow Trail, where nature's diversity is on display with powerful rock formations and roaring rivers contrasted my lush, serene meadows.
Accommodations: Wuksachi Lodge
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8 - Sequoia National Park Make Travel Matter
Explore Sequoia National Park by starting the day visiting General Sherman Tree, the world's largest tree. We continue to the Giant Forest Museum where we'll have the option to hike the Big Trees Trail or Moro Rock Trail. The rest of the afternoon is yours to enjoy at leisure using the park shuttles. Having trekked Sierra Nevada's peaks, celebrate at tonight's Farewell Dinner followed by an evening MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience where a naturalist will guide you through the constellations in a stargazing adventure.
Accommodations: Wuksachi Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 9 - Farewell Fresno
Say goodbye to Fresno as you return to the Fresno Airport for your return trip home. Airport arrival will be 11:00 AM, please be aware when booking your flights.
Meals: Breakfast
Vacation Details
* This departure has been designated a guaranteed departure by the operator, meaning that the minimum number of guests has been met, although still subject to weather and other conditions.
Fine dining, on-site bars or lounges and room service with extended hours are characteristic of deluxe establishments. Guest services usually include valet parking, concierge services, baggage assistance and laundry services. Other on-site facilities often include shops and boutiques, full service spas, full fitness facilities with pools and tennis courts. Business amenities may include available up-to-date technology and support staffs available for services. Attention to detail is apparent in the guestrooms which typically have stylish furnishings, quality bedding and bath products and often provide an evening turn down service.
All fares are quoted in US Dollars.
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Anne Vacations LLC
(224) 366-0881