Touring Yosemite is a Full Day of Breathtaking Views, Spectacular Waterfalls, and Abundant Wildlife
11 Hours (Door-to-Door) – You’ll learn and discover the history of the park and the forces that have have shaped the landscape. We’ll hike to the oldest living trees on earth and likely see deer, coyotes, marmots, and possibly black bear. During your tour, you’ll experience: Tuolumne Meadows, Views of Half Dome, Hike to the Giant Sequoias, picnic by the Merced River, tour around the Valley Floor, Yosemite Falls, Royal Arches, El Capitan, Bridal Veil Falls, and much more! Yosemite is located only 45 minutes from Mammoth Lakes, that means you will spend over 9 hours inside one of the world’s most beautiful places.
I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in.
? John Muir
Once you explore Yosemite National Park, you will understand some of John Muir’s quotes, a man who loves the woods and mountains, the trees, the flowers, and the wild things, has in him some indefinable quality of charm, which appeals even to those sons of civilization who care for little outside of paved streets and brick walls. We can’t begin to describe what it’s like to stand beneath its soaring granite cliffs and hear the ice thundering over the waterfalls or to wander amidst the silence of the Giant Sequoias. Seeing one of the wonders of the world can be marred by the challenges of driving on winding mountain roads and craning to see 3,000-foot precipices from horizon-line car windows.
Yosemite National Park Tour Details and Pricing
MAWS Transportation, also known as Mammoth All Weather Shuttle (MAWS), offers two types of Yosemite National Park Tours; group tours and private tours. Group tours are offered to combine multiple groups at the same time, giving you the opportunity to meet new folks and share the tour with others. Our private tours cater to one group only, where all the passengers know each other, and book the tour together. Whether you are booking into a group tour or scheduling a private tour, you will thoroughly enjoy your tour of Yosemite!
All tours include the following:
- Pick-up time from your condo or hotel in Mammoth Lakes is between 7:00AM and 7:30AM, returning around 6:00PM and 6:30PM.
- Lunch included with choice of sandwich, snacks and drink. You are also welcome to bring your own food and beverages as well.
What are the benefits of booking a private tour? Customized stops based on what you are most wanting to see and experience during the tour. Pick-up and drop-off times can be adjusted to better meet your needs. MAWS also offers additional stops and extended tours (based on availability). The biggest benefit is that you and your group will have the undivided attention of your guide all to yourselves!
Pricing for Shared Yosemite Tour starts at $567.00 for the first 3 passengers to operate the tour, additional passenger or individual rate when joining a scheduled group is $189.00. Our tours can accommodate groups up to 14 passengers, and discounts are offered for larger groups. Book online or contact us for more information on pricing, scheduling, and availability.
Pricing for Private Yosemite Tour is $790.00, accommodates up to 4 passengers, additional passenger cost would be $189.00. Our tours can accommodate groups up to 14 passengers, and discounts are offered for larger groups. Book online or contact us for more information on pricing, scheduling, and availability.
5 Star Review on Yelp
Since it was our first trip to Yosemite, my family and I decided to have a tour. I found MAWS in the visitors guide for Mammoth. Lucas was the absolute best. He provided snacks and lunch, and his knowledge of Mammoth and Yosemite were outstanding. He took us to all the points of interest in Yosemite and explained everything we saw in detail. He gave suggestions on other things to see in Mammoth and recommended we visit Bodie. We did so on our way home and the town was amazing. Thank you Lucas for for your kindness and professionalism and for treating us like friends. My family and I were so impressed with you and now consider you a friend. We will see you again in May of next year. I highly recommend Lucas and his services.
– Elaine D. on 8/15/2013
Guided Yosemite National Park Tour to be Remembered
Seven miles long and a half-mile wide, Yosemite Valley makes up the heart of your Yosemite National Park tour, as it houses the vast majority of the park’s most famous sites. Half Dome, El Capitan, Yosemite Falls, Nevada Falls, Glaciar Point — all of the park’s most popular destinations can be found in Yosemite Valley’s majestic landscape. Framed by countless granite monoliths and rushing waterfalls, the valley’s natural appeal draws more than 3.5 million visitors to Yosemite National Park each year.
Tioga Pass lies at the East Gate entrance of Yosemite on Highway 120. At 9,945 feet, Tioga Pass is the highest vehicle pass in California, and serves as a short cut over the Sierra in the summer months. Tioga Pass was created in 1882 as a silver-hauling wagon trail and now carries a quarter of a million visitors to the park each year. Because of its high elevation, Tioga Pass is usually impassible from November until late May, depending on the snowfall. Tioga Road winds through some of the most stunning scenery in Yosemite on its way to Tioga Pass, giving motorists new views of Half Dome and a sweeping vista across Tenaya Canyon and Clouds Rest. Tuolumne Meadows is located along Tioga Road, just before the Tioga Pass. Beyond Tioga Pass are the less explored lands of the Ansel Adams Wilderness, Hoover Wilderness and Toiyabe and Inyo National Forests.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long will we be in the car?
About 5 hours of your tour total. We make several stops along the way, until we get to Yosemite Valley, then we make a straight shot back to Mammoth Lakes which takes roughly 2.5 hours.
Can we visit Glacier Point?
Yes with an extra charge. Visiting Glacier Point takes an extra 45 minutes each way, and ends up adding overall time to our day.
Do we visit the giant Sequoias trees?
Yes we do! We have to hike for 1 mile with a 400 foot elevation drop to see them. The whole tour takes approximately 1 hour.