Experience the wonders of Yosemite on this 5-day Camping Tour! With comfortable tent accommodations and shuttle service to trailheads, you'll enjoy the perfect balance of adventure and relaxation. You'll have plenty of time to really soak in the beauty and grandeur of iconic sites such as the Mist Trail, Mt. Hoffman and May Lake. Don't miss the chance to explore the majestic Tuolumne Grove of Sequoias and learn all about the history and wildlife of the “grandest of all the special temples of nature” John Muir was ever permitted to enter.
You will meet your guide and other participants at Curry Village at 4 pm. This will be followed by group orientation and introductions. After getting settled in the campsite, have dinner and go for an evening stroll of the eastern side of the Yosemite Valley. After the walk, gather around the campfire and get to know each other.
Meals: Dinner
Hiking: 2-4 miles/ 3-6 km
After breakfast, shuttle to the Happy Isles trailhead to hike the famous Mist Trail. This hike gets you right up next to two of Yosemite’s most well-known waterfalls, Vernal and Nevada Falls, and along the eastern edge of the aptly named Panorama Cliff. You will complete your loop and return to the valley via the famous John Muir Trail, offering new perspectives of the waterfalls you just hiked beside. Catch the shuttle back to the campsite for dinner and relaxation.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Hiking: 7.2 miles/ 11.6 km
After an early morning breakfast, head to Glacier Point, where you will spend time taking in the views and history of this famous landmark. From Glacier Point, hike to the summit of Sentinel Dome at 8,122’ for amazing 360-degree views. After descending Sentinel Dome, you will follow along the southern rim of the valley to the famous Taft Point for an amazing view into Yosemite Valley from the cliffs above.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Hiking: 7 miles/ 11 km
In the morning, shuttle to the May Lake parking lot where you will have the option to summit Mt. Hoffman at 10,850’. This is the geographical center of Yosemite as well as John Muir’s favorite view in all of Yosemite. On your way back, you will have a chance to take a dip in May Lake. As time permits, you might shuttle into Tuolumne Meadows for a quick look, and perhaps, another amazing sunset opportunity. Share a warm cooked meal around the campfire when you return back to camp.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Hiking: 6 miles/ 9.6 km
During breakfast your guide will present some options for a self-guided tour on your way out of Yosemite such as further exploration within the Yosemite Valley, a visit to the Tuolumne Grove of Sequoias (Hwy 120-west), a visit to Tuolumne Meadows (Hwy 120-east), or the Pioneer Village & Wawona along Hwy 41 south. Plan to leave the campsite by 10 am. As coordinated, you can also plan for a 12:30 pm meeting at the Tuolumne Grove of Sequoias with your guide for further interpretation along this hike. Your own transportation would be needed to get to/from the Tuolumne Grove.
Meals: Breakfast, snack
This is a sample itinerary only. Although we do our best to follow this itinerary; it can and will change for matters out of our control. Should weather, fire, and/or delayed seasonal openings affect the chosen itinerary, a different itinerary will be offered. Also, as a group you can work with your guide to develop new daily itineraries by request.
What you get on this adventure:
What’s not included:
There are bathrooms at every campground, but not always showers. Expect to shower every other day. Showers are not included in the price of this trip.
Single travelers will be provided with single tents at no additional charge.
The best thing about this camping tour in Yosemite is that it is suitable for all skill levels. You will hike 2-7.2 miles/ 3-11.5 km per day, totaling about 27 miles/42 km. You don’t need previous experience of multi-day hikes but you should be at a fairly good level of fitness. You need to be able to hike for 4 full days, carrying just a daypack with things you’ll need throughout the day.
You will shuttle out daily from your campsite to selected hiking destinations. Along the way, your professional and knowledgeable guide will share the history of Yosemite as well as information about the geology, natural history, plants, and animals of the area. This is a top-choice for first-timers to Yosemite!
Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:
Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.
Every night you will stay in a comfortable campsite. Your guides will provide all of the luxury camping gear, including top-of-the-line tents, sleeping bags and pads, tent lighting, camp furniture, and eating gear.
You can leave the cooking to your experienced outdoor guides, known for providing tasty and satisfying meals. The night will come to an end with stories and laughter around the campfire. S’mores are on us.
Although your guides are able to accommodate many specific dietary constraints and choices, they prepare foods in a facility with peanuts, gluten, soy, and other major allergens, and are not certified as an ‘allergen-free’ facility. They will take steps to limit the risk of cross-contamination, but cannot guarantee that foods they prepare will be fully free of major allergens. They have experience accommodating a variety of dietary choices and concerns.
Group sizes and pricing
Hiking and camping in Yosemite can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements
If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
You will meet your guides at Curry Village in Yosemite National Park at 4 pm on Day 1. To get to Curry Village, CA, most people fly into Fresno/Yosemite International Airport (FAT), 2 hours away. Other options include coming from Sacramento (3 hours away) or San Francisco (4 hours away).
From there, you can rent a car or take a shuttle service. The public roads are maintained year-round—except for the eastern entrance on Tioga Road (Highway 120 through the park). Cars are welcomed in Yosemite National Park, and visitors pay an entrance fee of $35. There is free parking in Yosemite but it is limited.
We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with both emergency medical and travel insurance.
With medical insurance, if you have an accident or medical emergency on or off the mountain, you’ll avoid paying out of pocket for costly expenses. This covers everything from hospital treatments to emergency air transportation and more. Travel insurance covers canceled flights, natural disasters and other scenarios that may interrupt your travel plans.
We also expect you to respect local regulations and take measures to protect yourselves, your guides, and the communities you’re traveling to. For more information on travel recommendations and restrictions in Yosemite National Park, please refer to the California Department of Public Health.
If you need assistance selecting the right insurance for your group, let us know and we will be happy to help!