Walk to soaring cliffs and alpine meadows on a private, guided hiking tour of Yosemite National Park. Tailor this 5- or 6-hour trip to your interests and ability, then find your perfect trail into the wilderness. Learn about the history and ecology of the High Sierra as you walk alongside your guide, and find uncrowded paths in the heart of the park. Enjoy a backcountry picnic and discover stunning views of the Yosemite Valley or High Country, or challenge yourself to take on a longer hike with more elevation gain.

Private guided hiking tour in Yosemite National Park
Take a hike that is suited to your family or group’s experience level and interests, led by an experienced guide
Learn about the natural history and ecology of Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada
Get away from the crowds and hike ‘secret trails’ with the insider knowledge of your local guide
Stop for photographs and rest breaks at some of the most scenic spots in the park

What's Included

Private guided hiking tour
Informative local guide
Custom Tour Location (you must contact us upon confirmation to discuss)
Vehicle reservation permit into Yosemite National Park

Food and drinks
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Private transportation
Gratuities
Park Entrance Fee

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Yosemite National Park, Yosemite National Park, California
Departure Point: Yosemite National Park (exact trail head confirmed with supplier after booking) Dates: Daily Return point: Returns to original departure point

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Yosemite National Park

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Yosemite Valley

6 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
Please provide your hotel and contact information (phone number, email and accommodations) in the Special Requirements box at checkout. Hotel information is so we may provide you with driving directions to the meeting location; pickup/drop-off is not included.
Please dress in athletic-wear
Not wheelchair accessible
Items recommended to bring: camera, gloves, extra layer of clothing, jacket, sunscreen, hat, snacks and water

Service animals allowed
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
We are limited in guide availability this year due to a local housing crisis. Please understand if your reservation is amended to accommodate up to 4 more party members or is not accepted because of this restriction.
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Featured review

Lucy_B

Absolutely wonderful experience with our guide John. Very good communication prior to our Yosemite guided tour. John was so friendly and incredibly knowledgable about all aspects of the park. We enjoyed his enthusiasm and feel that we got the most out of our time at Yosemite by choosing the right guide!! 5* and hoping to book again one day for our next trip! Thank you !

Reviews

4.5

72 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

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Showing 1-10 of 72 reviews

Highly recommended! Incredible experience

Lucy_B, Mar 2024

Yosemite tour—PERFECTION!

TimothyT_G, Oct 2023

We were a day late getting to the park and had to drive in the day of our tour. John (owner) was so nice and accommodating, we couldn’t be more grateful. Then, to send us out with the best guide in Yosemite was almost too much. David was phenomenal—informed, kind, and considerate. He made the experience so memorable. Love the team at YExplore!!

Response from Host, Oct 2023

Thank you so much for the positive feedback. We always aim to provide the best possible Yosemite experience for all of our guests. We are pleased it all went well and you were able to focus on enjoying beautiful Yosemite.

Fantastic Yosemite experience

Roland_N, Sep 2023

Our guide Josh was excellent! He had great knowledge of the history, geology, flora and fauna of Yosemite. He also offered expert insight into the climbing community. Our hike was well matched to our ability and we learned a lot while observing many amazing landmarks.

Response from Host, Sep 2023

We would like to thank you for your kind words. We are thrilled that you had a memorable trip in Yosemite National Park with us.

Our guide

Jana_E, Sep 2023

Our guide was so patient and knowledgeable. He mapped out the perfect hike based on our goals and expectations. He adjusted the schedule to accommodate my lskill level and made sure we accomplished our highlights. Highly recommend this service to get the most out of your time in Yosemite.

Response from Host, Sep 2023

Thank you for letting us share Yosemite with you and that we were able to provide you with a memorable experience.

Fantastic Hike!

Loretta_D, Sep 2023

John was awesome! He truly personalized our hike! His passion for the park, nature, history made it extra special. He was so aware of the weather and made sure we got great views and tune to enjoy the scenery! Thanks John! You're the best!

Response from Host, Sep 2023

We are so happy you had a special day in Yosemite with us and that we were able to personalize a tour for you.

Our Guide David was very...

Angel_S, Sep 2023

Our Guide David was very friendly and extremely knowledgeable. He knew every mountain peak, dome and valley. He shared his knowledge about all vegetation and wildlife along our route. It made our hike so much more enjoyable. The only negative would be I was hoping for a little more off the beaten path of regular tourists

Response from Host, Sep 2023

Thank you for your kind words about David. We are happy you were able to enjoy your time in Yosemite on the trails. Sometimes they are crowded, but we hope the views and interpretation made up for the small inconvenience.

Amazing Valley Day

Vinod_C, Aug 2021

The day was an amazing view of the valley . Ended up hiking 9 miles but was truly pleasurable. Our guide Chris was very knowledgeable and extremely personable. The beginner hike is what you make it. Can be simple but can be modified to a little tougher if you say so. A wonderful experience.

Response from Host, Sep 2021

Thanks for your review. We are very happy your day in Yosemite went well and you extended your adventure with Chris.

Disappointed

KSK, Jun 2021

We chose the intermediate upper Yosemite Falls hike… expecting that we would be hiking to the top of the falls. Make no mistake - this hike only takes you about halfway to the actual falls. The valley was beautiful, our guide was nice, but there were a lot of things we passed that she didn’t describe to us… example… Camp 4, The Boulder Problem, Cook Meadow (why is it even called that?). This should have been so much better for $200 a person.

Response from Host, Jun 2021

We appreciate all feedback, but this reviewer should be disappointed that they did not read our trip descriptions correctly. Only our Strenuous Hike leads to the top of Upper Yosemite Fall. Further, our guide recognized the perceived disappointment and offered to take the group to the top of Yosemite Falls anyway. For whatever reason, this reviewer declined the offer and would rather leave a negative review as a way of dealing with buyer's remorse for paying for a private tour. Below are the trip descriptions for the Intermediate and Strenuous versions of the Yosemite Falls hikes: Intermediate Yosemite Falls and Western Yosemite Valley Begin your morning hiking up steep switchbacks (1000 feet in 1 mile) to one of the most breathtaking views you can ever imagine. After standing face to face with the Upper Yosemite Fall, the hard part of your day will be complete, and you will spend the rest of the hike wandering around the western end of Yosemite Valley photographing along the Merced River. Distance: 6 miles roundtrip Elevation Gain: 1000 feet Time: 6 hours Water Requirements: 60 ounces Best time to visit: October-June Strenuous Upper Yosemite Fall Ascend Yosemite’s tallest waterfall and feel the rush of 2400 gallons of water per second as it leaps and crashes onto a ledge 1430 feet below and falls twice more before it finally feeds into the Merced River. From the Valley, we will first visit the base of the lower fall. Then we will hike along the famous switchbacks of the North Rim Wall and gain 3000 feet over the next 3.5 miles. Views of the Valley Floor are incomparable, and we will witness the face of Half Dome from several different perspectives. This trail has two very steep sections where we will gain 1000 feet in its first mile. After reaching the top of the Falls, we will have the option to complete the journey to Yosemite Point at 6,936 feet above sea level. Distance: 8-10 miles roundtrip Elevation Gain: 3000 feet Time: 7 hours Water Requirements: 100 ounces Best time to visit: October-June

Did not get what was advertised and what I paid for

Ivette_S, May 2021

The tour was to include hiking to waterfalls and walking along Merced River. The tour guide only had time to take us to waterfalls since she had another appointment at 1. I paid top price for this tour and did not get what was advertised.

Response from Host, May 2021

Ivette Santaella, the owner of Santaella Legal Group in San Ramon, CA, hired YExplore for a private guided hiking tour in Yosemite National Park on April 24, 2021. Ivette called our business on April 22 with a very belligerent tone and demanded that we provide a free lunch for the tour. Santaella stated that their hotel offered a (non private) tour with a free lunch for "much less money". Ivette then accused YExplore of "false advertising" and attacked my character stating I was "taking advantage" of Yosemite visitors. When I asked for her to show proof of the "free lunch advertising" she saw, Santaella was silent and could produce nothing to support the claim. Ivette still had the option to cancel the tour after the conversation but chose to continue with the booking. Ivette, her son, and one other friend booked an Intermediate Yosemite Falls tour that travels on the Upper Yosemite Fall Trail and around the Valley floor. It is a tour that typically lasts approximately 5 hours. Her tour was to begin at 8am and end around 1pm. Her guide's next assignment was to begin at 1:30 pm to accommodate another group affected by an incoming snowstorm so there was no conflict at all. This is just one of Ivette's untruthful statements in the review. Ivette emailed YExplore on the morning of April 24 because she was going to be late to the tour. The group did arrive late for the tour, but the guide remained at the meeting location to accommodate them. Ivette's son immediately apologized to the guide. While on the way to Columbia Rock up a very steep rocky trail, our guide witnessed Ivette Santaella, her son, and her son's friend eating an edible gummy controlled substance during a snack break. Despite the guide's warning, they each ate their gummy and admitted it was a recreational drug. Almost immediately after that, Ms. Santaella's condition to complete the hike declined rapidly. The guide described her as "staggering and walking like an infant". The group requested and were granted an extraordinary amount of rest breaks for under three miles of hiking. Ms Sanatella's physical condition was so bad that she had to be helped down the steep trail by her son as they were forced to take many more rest stops. After another extended break on the floor of Yosemite Valley, Ivette got up and informed the guide that she wished to end the tour. It was much earlier than the 1pm end time. Santaella's action to terminate the tour was voluntary so her statement in this review and her characterization of our guide's comments to her are patently false. Since the tour ended, Ms. Santaella has been smearing our company on every review site she can find. After reading the first fabricated review, we contacted the guide to give her account of the day. We received the guide's shocking report and contacted Ms. Santaella immediately. We requested that Santaella withdraw the negative review, and that we wished for an amicable resolution to this issue. Santaella then offered "If you want to pro rate the fees I will consider updating my review." When we declined, Ivette only grew more combative. We asked why someone would want to cause so much damage to the reputation of a small family run business who has suffered inconceivable economic hardship in the past two years during park shutdowns and lack of ability to work while enduring a global pandemic. But Santaella was uncaring and even vindictive. It is unfortunate that small businesses are subject to the type of people who believe they can inflict harm on their ability to earn a living because the disgruntled guest felt like they overpaid for their trip. I will not let that happen to YExplore and will defend our reputation vigorously. The incident on the trail was reported to the authorities of Yosemite National Park. John P. DeGrazio YExplore Owner

Very good experience

Dayananda, Jan 2021

Very good experience for a first time hiker in Yosemite. The guide reached on time and showed us around. Since I could not climb steep elevation, he kept it easy as possible for me. We walked around the valley and he kept explaining about all the vantage points. It was a good experience overall.

Response from Host, Feb 2021

Thank you for your kind review. We appreciated you joining us for your tour and were very happy to customize it for you. Many thanks.

Wonderful experience

darlene_r, Aug 2020

Wow wow wow. Better than we hoped. Super fantastic guide. So knowledgeable and relaxed at the same time. Learned so much while enjoying out last day in Yosemite. Kids loved him too. John D was a star guide.

Response from Host, Sep 2020

Thank you so much for joining us for a tour, Darlene. We appreciate your kind words and are glad you had a positive experience.

Perfect for First Time Visitors

Joyce_D, Jun 2020

All of the booking was seamless and Catherine was so patient and helpful answering all of our pre-trip questions. Once we arrived to our tour, Ashley was such a fun and cheerful guide! She not only was cognisant of our capabilities in hiking the different terrain but she was so knowledgeable about everything! From the type of plants growing, to the history behind the names, down to the science of all the magic that is Yosemite. If this is your first time visiting, I highly recommend this tour to get your feet wet, and it will help you set up your future visits to be even better and more productive.

Response from Host, Sep 2020

Thank you so much for your positive words. We are glad you had such a wonderful experience in Yosemite.

Walking with a friend

Doris_C, Jun 2020

Ashley is pleasant to be with. It’s like walking with a good friend. She took us on an age appropriate walk and we found out relevant infos on Yosemite and made us appreciate this blessed place more. Thank you.

Response from Host, Sep 2020

Thank you for your kind words about Ashley, Doris. We are glad you were able to appreciate your time in Yosemite and that you made a new friend.

Tour recommended

Tim_R, Sep 2019

Fully recommended tour. Our guide, Ashley, was very knowledgeable and friendly, and adapted the walk to our level. The route we took saw Glacier point, Taft point and Sentinal Dome.

Response from Host, Sep 2020

Thank you for recommending our Yosemite tours. We are pleased that you had a positive experience.

yosemite

Rhonda_K, Jul 2019

I booked especially because of the private guided tour that mentioned being personalized to what we want. The staff is really really sweet and wonderful to work with. However, we didn't get the 'Personalized" part applied to our tour. They offered two tours and were a little unclear what we were exactly doing. So we went along with the 10 mile 7 hour tour they suggested. Our main objective was to see as many parts of yosemite as we could in one day. 2.5 miles into our hike, we were spending 7 hrs to just hike around the half doom. 7 hours of looking at half doom. we realized that after this venture we would be too tired to do any additional sightseeing. So at 3 miles we requested that we turn around and use our time and energy to see other sights. Our guide was great about it and took us to a few other additional sights and it all worked out but because we stepped up and spoke up mid-tour. Again, the staff is wonderful but maybe they should improve how to "customize" their tours.

Amazing Experience

Trek393515, Apr 2019

Since this trip to Yosemite was the first for my husband, our 10-yr old daughter, and myself, as an adult, we made the right decision to book a moderate private guided hiking tour. Our guide was Ashley and she was amazing! She provided us with a lot of information during our hike, and was also very engaging with our daughter and took time to educate her on some plants, little crawlers, and birds we encountered on the trail. We started at lower Yosemite falls and ended at Mirror Lake. We saw so many incredible, breathtaking and picturesque scenery, abundant waterfalls and flowing creeks! We can’t wait to book another hiking event with YExplore. They are extremely organized and provided good communication! Highly recommended.

Whilst we had fun we felt that our...

Ruth M, Mar 2018

Whilst we had fun we felt that our guide could have given us more education along the way.

Great tour! Trevor, our guide, was...

Johnny Brent J, Aug 2017

Great tour! Trevor, our guide, was very experienced and helped us navigate some challenging terrain with our two children. The length of the tour and the chosen trails were perfect. I highly recommend!

amazing tour, very well organized...

didier a, Aug 2017

amazing tour, very well organized, plenty of lead time, our guide was fantastic, really knowledgeable and adjust the hike to our expectation and level. strongly recommended

Our guide Jay was ready and waiting...

Peter M, Aug 2017

Our guide Jay was ready and waiting for us as we arrived early for our first Yosemite hike. Our beginners hike was exactly that. Jay led the hike keeping my 6-year-old daughters interests and ability foremost, which is exactly what I wanted. Jay was knowledgeable and experienced, as well as very friendly. He was even prepared with antiseptic and Band-Aid to fix a small scrape when my daughter slipped. The map and driving directions prepared by Catherine were precise and absolutely perfect. We were first-time visitors to Yosemite but left with so much thanks to Jay, John and Catherine of Yexplore. I would recommend this hike to anyone!