Yosemite 360 Tours - Epic Private & Group Tours by Tenaya at Yosemite
Hi friends! I’ve been spending the week with Tenaya at Yosemite, an incredible hotel & resort located just outside of Yosemite National Park, and I’m excited to continue my partnership with them today on their exclusive Yosemite tour service. Join me as we head out on an adventure with Yosemite 360 Tours.
If you’re interested in learning more about my stay with Tenaya at Yosemite and their Explorer Cabins, please check out my property and hotel review here.
Yosemite 360 Tours provided by Tenaya at Yosemite
Yosemite 360 private Winter tour of Yosemite Valley
About Yosemite 360 Tours
Yosemite 360 Tours is a guided tour service provided by Tenaya at Yosemite. Both group and private tours are offered and available throughout the year. The Summer and Winter tours are full day tours beginning and ending at Tenaya Lodge, with times and destinations varying on the season. They can be booked online at VisitTenaya.com or by calling the Tenaya Lodge concierge desk at (559) 692-8985.
Tenaya at Yosemite began offering Yosemite bus tours for its guests in 2018, and in 2022 the service was revamped with a new fleet of all-terrain buses and SUVs that are designed to travel year-round and to maximize the viewing experience for its guests. Inside you’ll find comfortable seating, USB ports for keeping your devices charged, and large panoramic windows on all sides, as well as an oversized moonroof to easily view Yosemite’s iconic granite features that tower above the valley floor.
When you venture out with Yosemite 360 Tours, you can expect to see some of Yosemite’s most iconic features, including Tunnel View, Bridalveil Fall, Yosemite Falls, and Valley View, allowing you to experience the majesty of Yosemite National Park without you having to navigate crowded parking lots or drive in wet or icy conditions. Park entrance fees and any required reservations are covered by the tour service, which is a huge bonus for guests traveling to the park in 2024.
Yosemite 360 group tour offered by Tenaya Lodge
Inside the Yosemite 360 Tours all-terrain yellow group bus
Yosemite 360 Tours all-terrain yellow group bus at Tunnel View
Group Tours
Guests that join the Yosemite 360 group tours are welcomed onto one of the signature yellow all-terrain buses, which can hold up to 12 people. A knowledgeable and seasoned tour guide will take you along one of the itineraries below while providing insights to the park’s history and natural wonders. You’ll also have an opportunity to explore Yosemite Valley on your own, either on your own two feet or via the free Yosemite shuttles.
Sample Winter Itinerary : Pioneer Yosemite History Center, Tunnel View, Bridalveil Fall, Cook’s Meadow, Yosemite Falls, El Capitan Meadow, Valley View
PLEASE NOTE: Group Winter Tours will be suspended between January 11, 2024 to March 14, 2024. Private tours will still be available during that time.
Sample Summer Itinerary: Tunnel View, Bridalveil Fall, Cook’s Meadow, Yosemite Falls, El Capitan Meadow, Valley View, Glacier Point
Yosemite 360 Tours private tour SUV near El Capitan
Yosemite 360 Tours private tour Suburban at Bridalveil Fall
Private Tours
Guests who book private tours provided by Yosemite 360 get to enjoy the sights and sounds of the park in an all-terrain Suburban. The spacious interior is equipped with plush seats, large windows, and an oversized moonroof. The itinerary is completely customizable...it can mimic the group tour schedule, or you can work with the Tenaya Lodge concierge to plan your perfect day in Yosemite. You can also plan guided hikes along your journey, and lunch is included! The tour guides are also extremely flexible in case you want to adjust your plans on-the-go.
El Capitan seen through the oversized moonroof in the private tour SUV
Yosemtie 360 Tours guide Tyler at Tunnel View
My Private Tour Experience
After spending a couple rainy days cozied up in our Tenaya Explorer Cabin, Nate and I were excited to head out on a Yosemite adventure with Yosemite 360 Tours. Our guide was Tyler, and he was extremely insightful, passionate, and enjoyable to spend the day with. Throughout our journey, he provided so many fun facts about Yosemite’s history and nature that were not only fascinating, but new to me! I love growing in knowledge about this beautiful place, and I certainly did along this journey.
We made a few stops that were apart of the group itinerary, such as Tunnel View, Valley View and Bridalveil Fall. We were super excited for the Bridalveil Fall stop, because this area just opened after undergoing a major rehabilitation project since 2019. Our guide, Tyler, even pointed out a feature in the granite that we’d never seen before – an image of Snoopy!
Bridalveil Fall viewing area open in Yosemite Valley
Snoopy seen on the granite near Bridalveil Fall
We then enjoyed our complimentary picnic lunch at Valley View, which was the perfect scene to have a meal while watching the clouds roll above the valley floor.
Other Yosemite Valley highlights we chose to check out were El Capitan Meadow, Stoneman Meadow, Cook’s Meadow, Sentinel Bridge, Yosemite Valley Chapel, and Lower Yosemite Falls. We were so thrilled to discover a new spot to see Lower Yosemite Falls from...Tyler led us to a viewing location that didn’t have the crowds and we had never seen before! Here also gave us a fun little tidbit about the trees in park. Did you know that when the bark is dry, ponderosa pine trees smell like vanilla and Jeffrey Pine smells like butterscotch? Next time you’re in the park, give the bark a sniff, and you’ll be shocked like I was!
Ponderosa pine trees frame Yosemite Falls
Secret viewing area of Lower Yosemite Falls
Before heading back to Tenaya Lodge, we stopped along Hwy-41 just west of the Wawona Tunnel for one last look at El Capitan and Half Dome. We set up cameras for a short timelapse, and it was magical to see the clouds roll in and completely cover the valley. It was a perfect way to end our spectacular guided tour with Yosemite 360 and Tenaya at Yosemite.
Explorer Cabin at Tenaya Lodge just outside of Yosemite National Park
Tenaya at Yosemite Overview
Tenaya at Yosemite has been welcoming guests since 1990 and it’s about the closest hotel you can find outside of the park. Owned and operated by Delaware North, the property offers over 300 luxurious lodge rooms, suites, cottages, and cabins, as well as numerous dining options, luxurious spa services and countless family-friendly activities. Tenaya at Yosemite continually ranks at the top of hotels in and around Yosemite National Park. In fact, it received Trip Advisor’s Travelers’ Choice award for 2023, as well as the 2018 Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Award.
On my recent stay, Nate and I were treated to an Explorer Cabin. These luxurious cabins are nestled among the forest in an exclusive area of the resort. There are a few variations of Explorer Cabins, each featuring an extended living space of over 500 square feet, including two bedrooms, a cozy living room with a kitchenette, and a large covered porch to relax and soak in the sights and sounds of nature.
For more information on staying with Tenaya at Yosemite during Winter, check out my complete Tenaya property and hotel review...or if head straight over to VisitTenaya.com to book your own special stay.
Yosemite 360 Tours with views of Half Dome & El Capitan in Yosemite National Park
Know Before You Go
• You can book a group tour online at VisitTenaya.com . Private tours must be booked by calling the Yosemite Lodge concierge desk at (559) 692-8985.
• Tours are available to non-Tenaya guests, however people with booked stays with Tenaya at Yosemite get priority.
• Summer Tours meet promptly at 7:15am and return at 5:00pm, while Winter Tours board at 8:30am and return to the Lodge at 4:30pm.
• Group Winter Tours will be suspended between January 11, 2024 to March 14, 2024. Private tours will still be available during that time.
• The group tour itinerary can change depending on road work/closures and weather. For the most up-to-date information, please call the Tenaya Lodge concierge desk at (559) 692-8985.
• Park passes, fees, and reservations are not required for passengers on Yosemite 360 Tours.
• For the most up-to-date park information, make sure to visit the official Yosemite NPS website for the latest road conditions and closures.
Yosemite 360 Tours all-terrain yellow group bus at Tenaya Lodge
In Summary
Thanks so much for joining me this week inside Yosemite National Park, and I’d like to give a special thank you to the sponsor of this post, Tenaya at Yosemite. For a virtual visit of my private Yosemite 360 Tour, make sure to watch my Behind the Blog video located at the top of this post, or watch it on YouTube here. Until next week, I hope you find adventure and encouragement wherever you go.
El Capitan and Merced River seen along private tour of Yosemite National Park
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About Me
I’m Dawn Marie, a travel and lifestyle blogger based out of Southern California. With in-depth articles, travel guides, and reviews on hotels & products, I seek to share my journeys to help you plan for your own. My adventures take me all over California, the western United States, and around the globe...and every Monday I post new content here, including a comprehensive blog post and YouTube video.
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What are the best places to stay in Yosemite National Park? Today I'm sharing one of the best Yosemite hotels for your next national park vacation. Centrally located near iconic landmarks, hiking trails, and viewpoints, Yosemite Valley Lodge is one of the top spots to stay in the park. Hike to the base of Lower Yosemite Falls, see Half Dome from Cooks Meadow, and grab food at on-site restaurants.