Yosemite & California's National Parks

DAY 1: WELCOME TO CALIFORNIA!

Arrive into the Bay Area for dinner and an overnight stay. D

DAY 2: PINNACLES NATIONAL PARK

Start your National Parks journey in nearby Pinnacles National Park. Be on the lookout for a California Condor! Once an endangered species these magnificent birds are frequently seen, Pinnacles Park is the only national park that is a release site for captive-bred California Condors. Continue east into the Sierra Nevada and check in for a three-night stay at Yosemite View Lodge on the banks of the Merced River. B, D

DAY 3: YOSEMITE VALLEY

Explore the incomparable beauty of Yosemite Valley aboard an open-air tram and discover views of waterfalls, deep valleys, and rock formations. With such spectacular scenery–it’s easy to grasp why Yosemite is one of the nation’s most photographed parks! Enjoy leisure time in what John Muir called “Nature’s Greatest Cathedral.” B, D

DAY 4: GLACIER POINT

Ascend 3,500 feet on a guided tram tour into the high Sierra for the most spectacular scenery Yosemite has to offer. Take in 360-degree views of the valley floor below and marvel at the top-down views of Half Dome, El Capitan, and Nevada Falls. Spend time at the top, exploring the paths that lead from one breathtaking view to next. After the tour, enjoy an afternoon at leisure in the park. B, D

DAY 5: SUGAR PINE RAILROAD

Enjoy a final look at the beauty of Yosemite as you travel the scenic Wawona Road into Sierra National Forest. The sounds and scenes from the era of steam powered railroad logging come to life aboard the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad. After a delicious lunch, continue to Wuksachi Lodge, deep in the heart of a lodgepole pine grove in Sequoia National Park, for a 2-night stay. B, L

DAY 6: SEQUOIA/KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARK

It’s time to explore Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks with a guide from the Sequoia Field Institute. These parks are home to giants: immense mountains, deep canyons, and huge trees. Behold the largest tree in the world, General Sherman, more massive than 10 blue whales combined! Visit General Grant, designated as the nation's Christmas Tree by Calvin Coolidge in 1929. After a day among giants, continue to Bakersfield for an overnight stay. B, L

DAY 7: ALABAMA HILLS

Travel to one of California's best kept secrets, the town of Lone Pine, where an other-worldly red rock landscape sits beneath the tallest peak in the contiguous U.S. — Mount Whitney. A scenic drive takes you into Death Valley National Park and an overnight stay at The Ranch Resort at Death Valley. B, D

DAY 8: DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK

With a park expert, explore the locations that make Death Valley perhaps our most misunderstood National Park. Step out onto the salt flats of Badwater Basin — the lowest elevation on the continent — and marvel at the landscape of the Mojave Desert from Zabriskie Point. Overnight in Las Vegas. B, D

DAY 9: RETURN HOME B

*Please Note: the September departure will follow a reversed version of this itinerary.

ACCOMMODATIONS:
Night 1: Bay Area Hotel (TBD)
Nights 2-4: Yosemite View Lodge, El Portal, CA
Nights 5-6: Wuksachi Lodge, Sequoia National Park
Night 7: The Ranch at Death Valley
Night 8: Doubletree, Las Vegas Airport

Departure Cities:

• St. Louis
• Kansas City
• Springfield, MO

Depart: August 26, 2026 sold out
Return: September 3, 2026 sold out

Depart: September 17, 2026 sold out
Return: September 25, 2026 sold out

Price Per Person:

• DB $4,039
• TP/QD $3,630
• SG $5,069

Price includes roundtrip airfare from STL/MCI/SGF. Call for other gateway cities.

Mobility Note
Guests should be comfortable walking and standing at scenic overlooks, museums, historic areas and national park sites, with surfaces that may include pavement, gravel, packed dirt, inclines and uneven natural terrain. At Glacier Point, a short paved trail leads from the unloading area to the overlook, which sits more than 3,200 feet above Yosemite Valley. The General Sherman Tree is reached by a paved trail, but the high elevation can make even moderate walking feel more strenuous.

Average Temps
Yosemite Valley: Daytime around 87°F; Overnight around 51°F
High Sierra: Daytime around 65–75°F; Overnight 35–45°F
Sequoia & Kings Canyon: Daytime 65–80°F depending on elevation; Overnight 35–50°F
Death Valley: Daytime often 110°F+; Overnight 80–90°F

Temperatures can change dramatically with elevation, especially between Yosemite Valley, Glacier Point, and the giant sequoia groves.

Elevation
Yosemite Valley: Approximately 4,000 feet
Glacier Point: Approximately 7,200 feet
General Sherman Tree: Approximately 6,900 feet
Mount Whitney near Lone Pine: 14,505 feet
Badwater Basin: 282 feet below sea level

This tour includes one of the most dramatic elevation contrasts of any Sunrise Tours itinerary, from below sea level in Death Valley to views of the highest peak in the contiguous United States.

Packing Tips
Pack sturdy walking shoes, lightweight clothing, sunscreen, sunglasses, a brimmed hat and a refillable water bottle. Removable layers are especially important because mornings in the Sierra can be cool while Death Valley may be extremely hot. Bring a light jacket for Glacier Point and other high-elevation stops, along with a compact rain jacket for occasional summer thunderstorms.

Hotel Note
Yosemite View Lodge provides a three-night stay directly along the Merced River in El Portal, just outside Yosemite National Park. Staying this close to the park reduces daily travel time and gives guests a more immersive Yosemite experience than lodging farther away.

The Ranch at Death Valley is located inside Death Valley National Park beside the Furnace Creek Visitor Center. The former working ranch has welcomed guests since 1933 and features a spring-fed pool, restaurants, general store, and date palms that create a surprising oasis in the middle of the desert.

Notes on Highlights
Yosemite was first federally protected in 1864, decades before the National Park Service existed. President Abraham Lincoln signed the Yosemite Grant protecting Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove, helping establish the idea that extraordinary landscapes should be preserved for public enjoyment.

Glacier Point provides one of Yosemite’s most dramatic perspectives because guests are looking down into the valley rather than up from its floor. From the overlook, Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, and the surrounding High Sierra can all be seen from roughly 3,200 feet above Curry Village.

General Sherman is the largest known living single-stem tree on Earth by volume and is estimated to be around 2,200 years old. Roughly one-third of the world’s naturally occurring giant sequoias grow within Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.

The Alabama Hills create a visual contrast between rounded desert rock formations and the sharply rising Sierra Nevada. The landscape has served as a filming location for hundreds of Westerns, television shows and movies because filmmakers could create dramatically different “Western” settings within a relatively small area.

The overnight inside Death Valley is especially valuable because it allows guests to experience the park outside the hottest midday hours and avoids the long drive required from lodging outside the park. The resort’s spring-fed pool is an unusual amenity in one of the hottest and driest landscapes in North America.

Other General Information
Tour Communications: You will receive three key communications leading up to your tour:

• Get Ready: Your email confirmation and initial tour information, sent after you register.

• Get Set: An email with additional tour details, sent approximately two months before departure.

• Go: Your final trip documents, mailed via USPS approximately three to four weeks before departure. This packet will include your daily itinerary, luggage tags, and final departure information.

Travel Protection: Travel Protection is optional but highly recommended and may be purchased until the day before departure. Sunrise Tours offers plans through battleface. Additional information will be included with your Get Ready email and can also be found HERE.

Inclusions: Unless otherwise noted, your Sunrise Tour includes:

• A professional Sunrise Tour Director

• Meals as indicated in the itinerary

• Local step-on guides, including gratuities

• International tour guide gratuities when specified for the individual tour

• Deluxe motorcoach transportation with an onboard restroom

• Admission to activities and events as indicated

• Airfare from designated airports

• Transportation to and from designated airports from our convenient local pickup points*

• Luggage handling at hotels when available

Gratuities: We believe tipping is a personal and discretionary interaction between our guests and staff. A typical gratuity for your Sunrise Tour Director and motorcoach driver is $6 to $10 per person, per day of the tour. Sunrise Shuttle drivers also appreciate gratuities for excellent service, with a suggested amount of $5 per person. Our staff will not solicit gratuities or distribute gratuity envelopes.

Refreshments: We are happy to provide refreshments on most motorcoach travel days. We also recommend bringing a refillable water bottle to help you stay hydrated throughout your tour.

Pickup Points: If fewer than four travelers request a particular pickup point, we may ask those guests to select another available pickup location. Travelers are also welcome to join a tour from a city that is not listed as a departure point. Please contact our friendly reservations team to discuss available arrangements. For departure cities not listed, airfare is typically $100 more than the published fare for domestic tours and $200 more for international tours.

TSA: PreCheck and Airline Rewards Numbers: TSA PreCheck, Known Traveler Numbers, and airline rewards numbers must be provided to our reservations team at least 60 days before departure. Numbers received after this deadline may not be applied to your reservation.

Airline Seating: Preferred seating may not be available with group airfare. In some cases, seats are not assigned until travelers arrive at the airport. Your tour fare includes an economy-class seat but does not include advance seat selection. Seat upgrades may be available for an additional cost.

Motorcoach Capacity and Seating: To provide one of the most comfortable motorcoach experiences in the industry, Sunrise Tours generally limits motorcoaches to 80% capacity. This allows for a maximum of 44 passengers on a motorcoach designed to accommodate 55. Sunrise Tours reserves the right to amend this practice. Your Tour Director will rotate motorcoach seating each day of the tour. Payment of a single-occupancy fare does not guarantee two motorcoach seats, and you may be seated beside another friendly Sunrise Tours guest.

Terms and Conditions
Please refer to our policies HERE for more information on our terms and conditions.