2021 & 2022 Globus Guided Tours - Globus® Vacation Packages

Northern California's Finest (AL)

9 Day Tour from San Francisco to San Francisco

2026 Tour Details View 2024 Tour Details » View 2025 Tour Details »

Southern California may be known for its movie stars, but Northern California is the home of true legends that stand the test of time. The real larger-than-life superstars you’ll encounter here are found in the stunning landscapes of Yosemite National Park and the rocky coast along Monterey’s famous 17-Mile Drive. From the dramatic hills of the streets of San Francisco to the towering giants of Sequoia and King Canyon National Parks, you’ll be a fan for life on this nine-day tour through Northern California. Visit a family-owned winery in the serene Sonoma Valley to taste their award-winning wines. Other stellar experiences to toast on this Northern California vacation? Stargazing under the sequoias and saying goodnight from the comfort of classic stone-and-cedar national park lodges.

Small-Group Discovery Dates Available

Select Globus 2021 North America tours are limited to an average of just 24 guests per tour. There’s always room to roam with extra space between you and other travelers—while still getting up close and personal to the experiences you’ve been dreaming of. Small-Group Discoveries include all the features of a traditional Globus North America tour, complete with expert Tour Director, Driver, and Local Guides who ensure that your health and safety is our top priority. A Small-Group Discovery Europe vacation is the perfectly sized tour—without the crowds.


Dates & Prices Book Online
800.268.3636
Northern California's Finest map
National Park Tours – National Park Foundation

 Photo Highlights

 Meals

 Meals & Itinerary

Breakfast daily, 4 dinners

 Itinerary

Day 1 ARRIVE IN SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA

Welcome to San Francisco! At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome drink.

ENHANCED FREE TIME
EXPLORE MORE in San Francisco with a walk on Fisherman’s Wharf, a bowl of clam chowder with famous sourdough bread, or a Ghirardelli chocolate or two in the stunning city by the bay. Your Tour Director has suggestions for your night, and your GlobusGO mobile app puts all the possibilities right at your fingertips.

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Day 2 SAN FRANCISCO

The City by the Bay This morning, enjoy a sightseeing tour of San Francisco to take in its famous sights. Enjoy free time to explore the Golden City before dinner at a local restaurant.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
CITY SIGHTS San Francisco is a city to be loved. Maybe that’s why so many visitors really do leave their hearts here. From Golden Gate National Recreation area and the stunning Japanese Tea Gardens to the iconic and incredible Golden Gate Bridge to the historic Presidio, you’ll also soak in the sea air with sights of Fisherman’s Wharf, Union Square, and more.

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Breakfast Breakfast
DinnerDinner

Day 3 SAN FRANCISCO–SONOMA–SACRAMENTO

Bridge to Bountiful Travel across the Golden Gate Bridge to Sonoma for a city tour and free time for lunch on your own. Delight in a tasting at a Globus Local FavoriteGlobus Local Favorite family-owned winery. Continue to the capital of California, Sacramento, for a sightseeing tour and a free evening. Tonight, venture out to explore one of the many restaurants, craft breweries, and wine-tasting rooms.

LOCAL FAVORITE
LOCAL TASTES Visit a beautiful winery, where estate-grown, sustainably farmed wines have flowed for over a century. Taste the California vintages that thrive here with a tradition of generations.

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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 4 SACRAMENTO–YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK

Treasures of the High Sierras Travel south through the Sierra Nevada Mountains to Yosemite National Park. Best known for its waterfalls, but with nearly 1,200 square miles, you can also find grand meadows, ancient sequoias, and much more. Continue to the Tenaya Lodge for a memorable 2-night stay.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
ACCOMMODATION SPOTLIGHT Tenaya Lodge is nestled among towering Sugar Pines in the Sierra National Forest offering an elegant stay with access to multiple eateries, a world-class spa, three swimming pools, and refined guestrooms with deluxe amenities. Enjoy the night sky and sweet snack at the fire pit with a s’mores kit. The pinnacle of Yosemite-area lodging, Tenaya Lodge offers Globus travelers something special.

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Breakfast Breakfast
DinnerDinner

Day 5 YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK

Nature’s Cathedral Today, descend into the 4,000-foot valley for an open-air Valley Floor Tram Tour to explore the famous sites of El Capitan, Cathedral Spires, Yosemite Falls, and Half Dome. Enjoy free time for the balance of the day in Yosemite National Park.

ENHANCED FREE TIME
EXPLORE MORE in Yosemite National Park. The place which Theodore Roosevelt described as a “great solemn cathedral, far vaster and more beautiful than any built by the hand of man.” After camping with naturalist John Muir, the president was so moved by the natural and sacred beauty of this pristine land that he established the National Forest Service, followed by hundreds of national monuments, protected parks, and wildlife sanctuaries—preserving more than 200 million acres of wilderness for generations to come. Your Tour Director can offer recommendations on how to fill your day.

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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 6 YOSEMITE–SEQUOIA & KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARKS

Forest Giants & Heavenly Objects Travel to Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks. Tonight, enjoy dinner followed by a Globus Local FavoriteGlobus Local Favorite stargazing experience.

LOCAL FAVORITE
NATURAL WONDERS Explore the “Land of Giants” in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks to discover a land of stunning diversity and beauty with soaring mountains, deep canyons, vast caverns, and the world’s largest trees! This natural region is also blessed with some of the darkest night skies (free from city lights) that offer an amazing opportunity for spectacular stargazing. As you look skyward to the glittering heavens, hear ancient and cultural legends about the constellations you’ll witness in the night sky.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
ACCOMODATION SPOTLIGHT Feel like you're dreaming with a stay at the wonderful Wuksachi Lodge in the heart of Sequoia National Park. The beautifully crafted cedar and stone architecture offer panoramic views of the surrounding forest and High Sierra peaks from its spectacular alpine setting in the Sequoias.

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Breakfast Breakfast
DinnerDinner

Day 7 SEQUOIA & KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARKS–MONTEREY

Old-Growth Trees & Ocean Tides Spend more time this morning exploring these magnificent parks, which now protect nearly half the remaining sequoia groves in the world. See the General Sherman Tree, spend time at the Visitor Center, or simply relax in the tranquil settings. Continue across the farmlands of California to the coastal town of Monterey, home to the world-famous Cannery Row, for a 2-night stay.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
HISTORY & HERITAGE Immortalized by John Steinbeck in his novel of the same name, Cannery Row is filled with history and vibrant sights along the waterfront of Monterey Bay. Once a bustling district of sardine factories, the street is a brightly painted avenue of eateries and shops that harken back to a heritage of fishermen and rich stories. Tomorrow morning, stroll along the wharf for the chance to see whales, otters, and other sea creatures in the kelp forests of the Pacific Ocean shore.

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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 8 MONTEREY. EXCURSION TO CARMEL

The Rocky Shores of Pebble Beach This morning, spend your free time visiting historic Cannery Row and the pier at Fisherman’s Wharf. Other highlights today include a journey along scenic 17-Mile Drive and the seaside town of Carmel-by-the-Sea. Return to Monterey, where your Tour Director hosts a special farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
CULTURAL GEMS Feel the windswept spirit of the Pacific Ocean with a spectacular drive along 17-Mile Drive to the charming haven of Carmel-by-the-Sea. See its crooked cottages and twisted trees in the popular haunt of writers, artists, and celebrities. You’ll pass by sweeping sea views and rocky shores, visit the world-famous Pebble Beach Golf Course for a walk on the fairway, and see the iconic Lone Cypress clinging to its rocky perch.

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Breakfast Breakfast
DinnerDinner

Day 9 MONTEREY–SAN FRANCISCO

Safe travels until we meet again! This morning, travel back to San Francisco for your homebound flight. Please schedule flights after 1 pm.

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Breakfast Breakfast

 Tour Director

With GLOBUS, there’s no better way to get to know your destination than through the eyes of a Tour Director. We’d like you to meet one of our Tour Directors, who average over a decade of experience and are representative of the type of expert that will be with you on your vacation.

KEN HARTFORD

Escorting tours for more than 15 years

“The West has been my home since I was born, and its incredible diversity has kept me engaged since my earliest memories. It is a world of iconic places and undiscovered gems waiting to be explored. Experience the bustle of its cities and the serenity of its open spaces, hear the stories of its people, and embrace the wonder of its beauty. No matter who you are or where you come from, there is something about the West that will never leave you.”

Tour Director - KEN HARTFORD

 Accommodations

 Optional Excursions

No matter what you’re into: food, wine, history, art, music or anything else, we give you the freedom to personalize your vacation with optional excursions that speak to your interests.

When you book your excursions with us, you can be assured that every optional excursion that we offer coordinates with the free time that you'll have in your destination, so you'll never have conflicts between included and optional activities. Our team of travel experts carefully selects each optional excursion that we offer to ensure that you receive the highest quality at a great value. Our tried-and-true partners have a finger on the pulse of the city in which they operate so they deliver the very best experiences. We offer experiences you cannot create on your own and because you’re booking with us, we coordinate all your transportation and timing needs.

The following optional excursions are examples only for this vacation. These may or may not be offered, and availability is subject to days of operation and seasonality. Please select a departure date to view optional excursions and pricing for a specific date (due to currency fluctuation, pricing shown is subject to change until purchased). Optional excursions are available for purchase on our MyGlobus site 90 days prior to the tour start date.

Price Ranges

$ ($50 CAD and under)
$$ ($51 - $100 CAD)
$$$ ($101 - $150 CAD)
$$$$ (Over $150)

No Excursions are available at this time.



The “Starting at” or listed price is based on the lowest price available to book. Price is per person based on twin occupancy and any applicable port charges, non-commissionable taxes and fees and intra-vacation flight are included in the price shown. Any included overnight stay in Canada, applicable GST/HST is also included in the price shown. International airfare, however, is not included. If price is crossed out, the new price shown includes a limited time promotional offer(s). Please review current promotions or deals for additional information.