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            [HighlightText] => Gaze up at two iconic granite monoliths, Half Dome and El Capitan
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            [HighlightText] => Hike to Vernal, Nevada and Yosemite Falls for outstanding views
            [Description] => Hike to Vernal, Nevada and Yosemite Falls for outstanding views
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            [HighlightText] => Springtime offers abundant waterfalls and fall provides golden foliage
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            [Description] => half dome woman
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            [Description] => lake
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            [Description] => valley
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Your Guides

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The best people to immerse you in a destination are the ones who live there, which is why we feature local Adventure Guides on our trips. Here are a few that you might meet on this adventure.

Preston H.

Preston grew up frolicking in the fields and forest of northwest Wisconsin before completing a B.S. in outdoor education, guiding and teaching in the remote wilderness everywhere from Arkansas to Hawaii. He is a certified Wilderness First Responder. He enjoys all kinds of outdoor adventure, whether running the Front Range trails or rollerblading near his home in Boulder, Colorado, surfing in Mexico, or climbing in Cuba.

Greg B.

Based in the mountains of Lake Tahoe, a setting where outdoor adventure comes with the territory, Javier loves nothing more than sharing the thrill and beauty of nature with others. He is a certified Wilderness First Responder and enjoys leading backcountry snowboarding guiding clinics and spending his free time splitboarding in winters. Summers mean managing a camp retreat, exploring other corners of the world, and guiding guests to new experiences.

Simon B.

From an early age, Simon began fostering a curiosity about what lies around the next bend. His passion for facilitating outdoor experiences began at the age of 15, when he guided river trips along the East Coast, to the northern reaches of Canada, and even into Mexico! Simon continued to share his love for the outdoors by leading trips for his university’s outdoor program. Over the past decade, Simon has been fostering a deep connection with the awe-inspiring national parks of the West. From the surprisingly lush oases that is Zion to the towering hoodoos of Bryce Canyon, the starkly beautiful Death Valley, and the striking walls and wildflowers of Yosemite, Simon has cultivated a wealth of knowledge to share.

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                    [Headline] => Hike to a hidden viewpoint to see Yosemite Valley\'s natural wonders
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                    [ItinBlock] => We meet our guides in Fresno, California, this morning and transfer to Yosemite National Park, where we enjoy a picnic lunch at the iconic Tunnel View entrance. We enjoy a picnic lunch with incredible views into the Valley as our guides provide insight and interpretation. Our first hike from El Captain Meadow along the old Big Oak Flat Road is an ideal introduction to a park where grandeur is the norm and awe is the expectation. In the afternoon we settle into our private lodgings in Yosemite West and gather for a home-cooked dinner and orientation of the week ahead. Lunch and dinner included.
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                    [Travel_Type] => 2.5 hours private van transfer
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                    [Latitude] => 36.759
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                    [Headline] => Hike to Mirror Lake and along Tenaya Canyon with views of Half Dome
                    [ActivityOverview] => 7 miles hiking with 300\' elevation gain and loss
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                    [ItinBlock] => This morning we circumnavigate the valley floor beneath the soaring granite walls of Tenaya Canyon. Beginning at the Ahwahnee Hotel, we hike to Mirror Lake on a trail sheltered by the cover of quiet woods. Mirror Lake offers a jaw-dropping view of Half Dome soaring 5,000\' directly above us. Exploring in the spring months, we see that Mirror Lake has plenty of water and the reflections of the surrounding cliffs are excellent. Trips in the autumn provide beautiful colors that create captivating reflections along Tenaya Creek. Our hike takes us to the very end of Tenaya Canyon, below Clouds Rest, where we gaze up at the steep granite walls around us. Returning to our cozy cabins, we have dinner and perhaps sit out on the deck for stargazing. All meals included.
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                    [Dinner] => 1
                    [Travel_Type] => 1.5 hour private van transfer
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                    [Latitude] => 37.64
                    [Longitude] => -119.71
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                    [Headline] => The Mist Trail\'s granite stairs bring us to Vernal and Nevada Falls
                    [ActivityOverview] => 7 miles hiking with 2,000\' elevation gain and loss
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                    [ActivityLevel] => 
                    [ItinBlock] => We transfer to Happy Isles to tackle what is arguably Yosemite\'s signature hike: the Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall Loop. We follow our guides up the park\'s \"giant staircase\" where we are rewarded with close-up views of these two falls and numerous geological features. Negotiating hundreds of granite stairs that take us through the misty rainbow created by the 317\' Vernal Fall, we continue on to the top of 594\' Nevada Fall. The vistas of two famous rock monuments, Liberty Cap and the back side of Half Dome, combined with the sweeping scenery of Yosemite Valley, are spectacular. Hiking back to the valley floor, we follow a short stretch of the fabled John Muir Trail and relish a final glimpse of Yosemite\'s impressive granite formations. We return to our accommodations for dinner.
                    [Breakfast] => 1
                    [Lunch] => 1
                    [Dinner] => 1
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                    [Latitude] => 37.64
                    [Longitude] => -119.715
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                    [Headline] => Follow the switchbacks to the top of Yosemite Falls for dramatic vistas
                    [ActivityOverview] => 7.2 miles hiking with 2,559\' elevation gain and loss
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                    [ItinBlock] => Our goal is the top of Yosemite Falls, a one-of-a-kind hike with panoramic views of the Valley and the lower and upper falls. We hike one of the park\'s oldest trails, built between 1873 and 1877, to the top of North America\'s tallest waterfall. The falls cascade 2,425 feet to the valley floor and, if the sunlight and water droplets cooperate, we may see a single or even a rare double rainbow. En route to the top, we pause at Columbia Rock for a snack and to take in the rewarding views of the valley, Half Dome and Sentinel Rock. The trail is rocky and steep with numerous switchbacks, so we take our time. Reaching the top, we pause to appreciate the surrounding views while listening to the sounds of the massive waterfall. Returning to the Valley floor, we transfer back to our accommodations for another delicious dinner prepared by our guides. All meals included.
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                    [Lunch] => 1
                    [Dinner] => 1
                    [Travel_Type] => 1 hour private van transfer
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                    [Latitude] => 37.64
                    [Longitude] => -119.71
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                    [Headline] => Hike the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, then return to Fresno
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                    [ItinBlock] => We load our luggage into the support vehicle, then drive to the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoia, the largest and most impressive grove of giant sequoias in the park. After our hike through the grove we say farewell to Yosemite National Park and return to Fresno. Breakfast and lunch included.
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                    [Lunch] => 1
                    [Dinner] => 0
                    [Travel_Type] => 2.5 hours private van transfer
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                    [Latitude] => 36.75
                    [Longitude] => -119.778
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    [ActivityHighlight] => Trip members should be capable of hiking up to 9 miles while carrying a daypack that weighs 10-15 pounds on trails with elevation gains/losses of up to 2,700\'. Trails will include some steep sections, stairs, and exposed overlooks. The trip guides will brief trip members on the rigorousness and exposure of each hike prior to setting out. Most excursions take place between 4,000-8,000\' in elevation.
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Accommodations

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Comfortable lodge-style accommodation in a five-star alpine setting.

Yosemite West Private Lodging

Comfortable Hotel

Each private vacation home features two bedrooms—typically, one room with two queen beds and another with one king bed—along with two bathrooms, a fully equipped kitchen, and laundry facilities. The living room and kitchen are shared spaces among all occupants of the home.