Top California Tours by Duration

This is a great choice for time-tight travelers visiting Los Angeles. Save hours researching the best things to do in the city, and instead, go on a special tour that visits the city’s most photogenic spots and famous locations. Along the way, listen to commentary and stop to take photos near the Hollywood Sign, the American Film Academy, the Sunset Strip, Beverly Hills, and Rodeo Drive.

Wander through an ancient coastal redwood forest and explore the artistic enclave of Sausalito on this half-day tour from San Francisco. Travel across the Golden Gate Bridge to visit Muir Woods, home to some of the oldest and tallest trees on Earth. Then, soak up stellar views of the San Francisco skyline and browse art galleries along the Sausalito waterfront. At the end of your tour choose between getting dropped off at either of the two departure points or taking the Sausalito ferry back to San Francisco (Pier 41).

Explore one of California's most iconic settings from the beauty of San Francisco Bay. This narrated Golden Gate Bay cruise journeys alongside Alcatraz and Angel Island State Park, past the shores of Sausalito and beneath the Golden Gate Bridge. You can choose to view the sights from inside your boat or out on deck.

Spend half a day on this air conditioned tour bus, and listen to your guide tell you all about the best spots in Los Angeles. You’ll go to several of the most famous places, stopping and learning about the history and culture of the area. Some of the sights you’ll see are The Hollywood Sign, Rodeo Drive, Santa Monica Pier, the Griffith Observatory, and so many more. This is all organized for you, so you can just enjoy the ride.

Look for whales as they migrate through the waters of the Pacific Ocean off of California on this half-day whale-watching cruise from Monterey. Your naturalist guide shares commentary about the whales and their habitat as you search for gray whales (most common), humpback and blue whales, and other marine life such as dolphins and sea lions during your cruise. Get tips for great photo ops and learn all about the mighty creatures at one of California's most famous whale-watching destinations.

See the sights of Hollywood on this tour by open-top Mercedes minibus or Ford Van with a canopy, which allows you to enjoy unobstructed views as you go. Traveling with an on-board guide, you'll pass by attractions such as the Dolby Theatre, Hollywood Sign, Rodeo Drive, and movie studios. Plus, get a look at some of the mansions where past and present stars have lived.

Take an evening cruise wining and dining aboard the ‘Spirit of San Diego,’ enjoying top-notch food and drink, plus sparkling skyline views during this San Diego dinner cruise. Dig into your included gourmet meal, accompanied by a complimentary cocktail and live on-board entertainment, as you cruise 25-miles worth of California’s beautiful coastline and gaze at the twinkling stars above. You can also upgrade your cruise to include an unlimited open bar for an additional price.

Cruise off the coast of Orange County in search of whales on this excursion from Newport Beach. Watch the rugged, beautiful scenery of the Pacific Coast glide by as you listen to interesting commentary from your crew about the native California marine life. Watch for blows and tail slaps; these signal that humpback, minke, grey, finback or giant blue whales are near. Dolphins and other marine life are also in abundance during this family-friendly, year-round whale watching tour.

Take a journey around San Francisco's top sights in a retro way with this small-group tour by vintage Volkswagen bus, decorated with long eyelashes so you can't miss your tour vehicle. You'll pass by neighborhoods like Chinatown, Union Square, Pacific Heights, North Beach, Haight-Ashbury, the Marina, and Hayes Valley, plus see the Palace of Fine Arts, Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Park, Civic Center, and more.

Cruise the Pacific Ocean off Dana point on a whale watching excursion aboard a comfortable 95’ vessel. Enjoy live narration from your experienced captain as you watch for whales, sea lions, and dolphins, and learn about the stunning diversity of marine life that flocks to the California coast. Listen to the distinctive calls of seabirds from a seat on deck, or relax by a window in the fully-enclosed cabin where food and drink are available for purchase.

Escape to California’s famous wine country on this full-day tour from San Francisco. Taste regional varietals at multiple wineries in Napa and Sonoma, including both big-name and family-run estates. Learn about the winemaking process during guided tours of vineyards and barrel rooms, and savor the area’s gourmet culture with a stop for lunch in charming Sonoma Square Plaza.

Visit two of Los Angeles' glitziest neighborhoods, and immerse yourself in the city's history of movie magic, on this private, half-day tour. Pick from multiple departure times and meet your guide right on Hollywood Boulevard. You'll get up close and personal with the Hollywood Sign, will visit the Walk of Fame, will stop by Greystone Mansion and Park, will see celebrity homes and Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, and much more.

Guarantee your entry to the Aquarium of the Bay in San Francisco to make visiting simple. A general admission ticket provides direct access to all of the aquarium’s main exhibit areas. Learn what is typically found in San Francisco Bay and the nearby Pacific, including sharks, river otters, and octopuses. The aquarium features interactive exhibits, as well as walk-through glass tunnels where schools of anchovies and fluorescent jellyfish swim overhead and around you.

Ensure hassle-free San Francisco airport pickup with this private transfer service to downtown San Francisco, downtown Oakland, or the town of Sausalito. Meet your driver at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and relax on the journey to your hotel or private residence. Private luxury sedans can accommodate up to three passengers while SUVs can carry five passengers.

Ride a double-decker sightseeing bus to San Francisco's most famous landmarks with a choice of 3 different passes. Explore the city's 49 square miles, including stops at big-name attractions like Pier 39, the Palace of Fine Arts and Union Square. Go at your own pace, hopping off at any of 16 stops, exploring at your leisure, and then hopping back on when you're done. You can upgrade to a 2-day ticket with a guided city walking tour or pick the option which includes entry to either The Flyer or the 7D Experience at Pier 39.

This small-group tour takes you from downtown San Francisco to Muir Woods and Sausalito—two of Marin's top attractions—in a single day. Riding across the Golden Gate Bridge in a tour van leaves you free to take in the epic views instead of focusing on the driving. You'll have free time to explore both sites, making this organized option a great choice for independent travelers.

This two-hour adventure tour of Catalina’s spectacular interior will introduce you to the unique and protected side of the island that few visitors get to see. We’ll venture ten miles to the Airport-in-the-Sky and be on the lookout for wildlife, including bald eagles, bison, deer and the endemic Catalina Island fox. Once we reach our destination, we’ll visit the nature center and see a Native American gathering site.

Watch for whales and dolphins off Newport Beach aboard a double-decker catamaran with bow seating and 360-degree views. A diverse array of marine wildlife thrives in the protected area just outside Newport Bay, and you'll have the chance to see humpbacks, gray whales, finback whales, blue whales, seals, and several species of dolphins. The boat has a 96% success rate spotting whales or dolphins, making this a great way to explore California wildlife in a gorgeous natural environment.

Come aboard the Privateer, your sailboat for the evening, for a a scenic cruise along the San Francisco Bay. As you set off on the water, you'll enjoy sightseeing at the most beautiful time of day—sunset. Coast along and look out for local landmarks like Alcatraz, the Sausalito shoreline, and the Golden Gate Bridge, all with a drink (or two) of choice in your hand.  

San Francisco's rollicking, rags-to-riches history has left plenty of haunted happenings in its wake, so explore the city's more sinister side on a walking ghost tour. Visit some of San Francisco's most historic and allegedly haunted locations on and around Nob Hill, once the epicenter of San Francisco high society. Learn trivia and hidden history along the way on this ghoulishly fun, after-dark adventure.

Discover the rugged beauty of the Sierra Nevada and Yosemite National Park on this full-day tour from San Francisco. Travel aboard a comfortable van through historic Gold Rush towns to reach the park, where you’ll be amazed by supersized natural wonders like the granite cliffs of Half Dome and El Capitan, and the giant sequoias of Tuolumne Grove. Enjoy several hours to explore the park’s wonders on your own, hiking wherever interests you most.

Take a relaxing afternoon sailing cruise aboard a traditional sailboat on the San Francisco Bay. Cruise past landmarks such as Alcatraz Island, Angel Island, the Sausalito waterfront, and Golden Gate Bridge, and see the San Francisco skyline on your way back to Pier 39. Includes two drinks, and personalized attention from the crew and captain.

Visit many of Los Angeles’s highlights and landmarks on one fun and convenient outing. Learn about LA history and culture—its historic filming locations and crime scenes, celebrity homes and trendy restaurants—from a narrator as you traverse the city in a convertible bus. Stop at the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Rodeo Drive, a farmer's market for lunch, and the Hollywood Sign on this easy and affordable tour.