Golden State of Mind: Northern California By Design

9 days
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4.7/5 Excellent
100+ reviews  
97%
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Group Tour
Head west for a 9-day adventure with the pioneer spirit of Northern California. How will you strike gold in the Golden State? Traipsing through coastal canopies of Redwood trees or touring foodie fun in Frisco? Trekking the trails in Yosemite or treading lightly on the timeless lanes of an old west town? Gliding to new heights or sailing scenic sights? With c...
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Overview

Trip type
Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Very Easy

What's this trip about?

    Head west for a 9-day adventure with the pioneer spirit of Northern California. How will you strike gold in the Golden State? Traipsing through coastal canopies of Redwood trees or touring foodie fun in Frisco? Trekking the trails in Yosemite or treading lightly on the timeless lanes of an old west town? Gliding to new heights or sailing scenic sights? With complimentary YourChoice Excursions, you choose to climb to new heights or dig deeper to find your California dream. What a rush! Why This Tour is El Capitan: •A journey to uncover Northern California’s historic sites and scenic sights from San Francisco to Yosemite. •The Wild West and the Pony Express ... lake time and gold mines ... granite cliffs and wine sniffs! •Included YourChoice Excursions in San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, and Yosemite National Park. •Eureka!

Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeStandard Group - 25 + people
Age range6 years and up
Flights and transport
Start City SAN FRANCISCO
End CityYOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK–SAN FRANCISCO

Travel Themes

  • Cultural
  • 50 Plus

Destinations

Attractions

  • California
  • Lake Tahoe
  • San Francisco
  • Yosemite National Park

Activities

  • Culture

Itinerary

Day 1: ARRIVE IN SAN FRANCISCO

Welcome to San Francisco! At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome drink.

Day 2: SAN FRANCISCO

Enjoy morning sightseeing in one of the world’s most beautiful cities. See Golden Gate National Recreation Area, including the Golden Gate Bridge and the Presidio. YourChoice Excursions include one of the following activities of your choice:

TASTE: "Ca...
Day 3: SAN FRANCISCO–SONOMA–SACRAMENTO

SONOMA Orientation tour and free time for lunch on your own. Guided tour of the wine caves and a tasting at a historic family winery. SACRAMENTO Sightseeing tour includes California’s state capitol building, Midtown, the famed Johnny Cash mural, and more. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant this evening. (Breakfast,Dinner)

Day 4: SACRAMENTO–LAKE TAHOE

Scenic ride along the “Most Beautiful Drive in America” en route to Lake Tahoe. LAKE TAHOE Scenic drive continues and includes photo stops at famous viewpoints in the area. Free time this evening. (Breakfast)

Day 5: LAKE TAHOE

LAKE TAHOE YourChoice Excursions include one of the following activities of your choice:

SAIL: Yachts of Fun! Embark on a scenic cruise on Lake Tahoe and glacier-carved Emerald Bay. GLIDE: Heavenly Hideaway Soar to the 9,150-foot-high observat...
Day 6: LAKE TAHOE–YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK Explore Yosemite on a scenic drive through the park, including photo stops and free time to visit the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center. Free time this evening for the first of three nights at the luxury Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite resort. (Breakfast)

Day 7: YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK YourChoice Excursions include one of the following activities of your choice:

GAZE: Westward, Ho! Get up close to the wonders and wildlife of Yosemite on a guided 2-hour tram tour. Return to the park this morning and join a Park ...
Day 8: YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK Free time this morning and afternoon to enjoy Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite. Consider hiking, electric-assist mountain biking, or a visit to the Ascent Spa and Fitness Center. A farewell dinner this evening followed by a private stargazing excursion with a local expert. (Breakfast,Dinner)

Day 9: YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK–SAN FRANCISCO

This morning, return to San Francisco International Airport or Marriott Marquis hotel. Please schedule departing flights after 4pm. (Breakfast)

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Dates & Availability

Price From $4,099
Price per day$455
Last Updated: 3/11/2025
Departure Date
Finish Date
Base Price
Availability
20 Jun 2025
28 Jun 2025
$4,259
11 Jul 2025
19 Jul 2025
$4,299
25 Jul 2025
02 Aug 2025
$4,299
08 Aug 2025
16 Aug 2025
$4,299
22 Aug 2025
30 Aug 2025
$4,259
05 Sep 2025
13 Sep 2025
$4,099
26 Jun 2026
04 Jul 2026
$4,649
17 Jul 2026
25 Jul 2026
$4,689
07 Aug 2026
15 Aug 2026
$4,689
21 Aug 2026
29 Aug 2026
$4,689

Gratuities for Tour Director and driver are available for pre-purchase.

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Globus.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Globus Reviews & Ratings

4.7/5  Excellent
Excellent
9,571
Great
1,960
Average
386
Disappointing
102
Terrible
220
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Other Globus Reviews

M

Marilou Spero

Feb 2025

Written on

Our guide

Our guide, Evie, was wonderful. She was knowledgeable, and so very helpful. Also very friendly and respectful. The bus driver was a very experienced driver. He ke...

S

Stacy Kelly

Feb 2025

Written on

I did not care for our tour guide…

I did not care for our tour guide Barbara. On a personal level she was very nice but no one cared about the things she talked about on the bus rides. No history of ...

J

Janet Abell

Feb 2025

Written on

I have enjoyed traveling with Globus…

I have enjoyed traveling with Globus they always hel...

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Logistics

Accommodation

San Francisco Marriott Marquis

San Francisco Marriott Marquis welcomes travelers to Northern California with exceptional service, spacious guestrooms, and a prime downtown location. The hotel features a spa, fitness center, and an on-site restaurant and lounge. Guestrooms offer plush bedding, Smart TVs, mini-refrigerators, and Wi-Fi access.

San Francisco

United States

780 Mission Street

Embassy Suites Sacramento Riverfront Promenade

Overlooking the Sacramento River next to the Tower Bridge, Embassy Suites Sacramento Riverfront Promenade is within a 10-minute walk of the Old Sacramento Waterfront District. The hotel features local art throughout depicting Sacramento history and life along the river and offers amenities including an on-site restaurant and bar, indoor pool, fitness center, and room service.

Sacramento

United States

100, Capitol Mall

Margaritaville Resort Lake Tahoe

Nine story Bavarian Tudor style resort hotel in California on Nevada state line - Walk to casinos and Heavenly Ski Resort.

South Lake Tahoe

United States

4130 Lake Tahoe Blvd

Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite

An elegant resort in the California High Sierra, Tenaya Lodge is the perfect gateway to four seasons of Yosemite adventure. The hotel features complimentary Wi-Fi, fitness room, indoor pool, three outdoor pool, and five hot tubs.

Yosemite National Park

United States

1122 Highway 41

Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Age Requirements
6 years and up
Additional Information
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Trip ID
globus-F8G

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