California High Country Adventure

Welcome to Fresno, your gateway to the Sierra Nevada Mountains! Settle in and unpack before meeting your fellow adventurers at a Welcome Reception. Your Travel Director gives you the rundown of this exciting, active, self-paced tour. From easy strolls to hard-charger hikes, there are plenty of options and no shortage of natural beauty. (WR)

Up and at ‘em this morning for Yosemite National Park, famous for its giant, ancient sequoia trees, deep valleys, and grand meadows. Standing among these towering trees sets the tone for this week's experiences of feeling small within the vastness of nature.

After breakfast in Fresno, head to the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, home to over 500 mature trees and the largest sequoia grove in Yosemite. An important historical site, you'll learn how in 1864 President Lincoln signed legislation protecting the Mariposa Grove and Yosemite Valley, for the first time in US history setting aside scenic, natural areas to be protected by the federal government, even as the country was embroiled in the Civil War. You're a part of history and your surroundings as you walk the Big Trees Loop or Grizzly Giant Loop (two miles) amongst other options. The 3,000-year-old Grizzly Giant sequoia alone is worth the trip!

After your first full day of exploring, the adventure continues as we head to our home for the next two nights, Oakhurst, situated in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada.

Explore Yosemite National Park today, famed for its giant, ancient sequoia trees, grand meadows and iconic rock formations. Enjoy a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience as you meet a naturalist through the Yosemite Conservancy that will delve into the dynamic history of climbing in Yosemite through fascinating stories, photographs and demonstrations. The Yosemite Conservancy is a non-profit organization that has provided over $140 million to Yosemite for more than 700 completed projects that improve trails, restore habitat, protect wildlife and inspire the next generation of nature-lovers.

Spend the rest of the day in Yosemite to appreciate this bucket list destination, and choose the hike that suits you. Hike to Mirror Lake over 2.4 miles (3.8 km) or 4 miles (6.4 km). Or hike 1.2 miles (2 km) to Bridalveil Fall to see the 620-feet tumbling falls. The day can draw to a close at Sentinel Meadow & Cook's Meadow Loop for a 2.25 miles (3.6 km) flat, easy hike through meadows with multiple views of Yosemite Falls and Half Dome.

Another day of exceptional hikes begins on the journey from Oakhurst to Mammoth. Your first stop is Tuolumne Meadows where, whether it's an explosion of summer wildflowers or fiery fall colours, you'll bask in beauty. Choose between a hike to Dog Lake or a leisurely walk along Tuolumne River to Soda Springs and the Tuolumne Meadows Footbridge.

We'll then make our way through Tioga Pass (seasonal) to wildlife-rich Mono Lake and, if time allows, enjoy its one-mile (1.6 km) Tufa Trail where we'll walk among the tufa towers feeling as if we're in a cave of stalactites and stalagmites before finishing the day in Mammoth.

What better way to start the day than breakfast with a view? Sip your coffee as you take in 360 degree views of the Sierras and beyond on an aerial ride up Mammoth Mountain on the Panorama Gondola. Climbing 11,053 feet to the top of Mammoth Mountain, these sweeping views of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range can't be beat. The rest of the day is yours to continue your Mammoth sightseeing with another boots-on-the-ground exploration at Mammoth Lakes or a well-deserved rest.

Departing Mammoth Lakes, at Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, you'll walk among the oldest living trees in the world. Some of these living trees are over 4,000 years old, displaying spectacular growth forms of twisted and beautifully coloured wood.

Tonight, make your way to Bakersfield for an evening of trading tales and photos.

Next on our tour of incredible sights and sounds is Kings Canyon National Park. Home to the largest remaining grove of sequoia trees in the world with the focal being the General Grant Tree, the third largest in the world which was proclaimed "the Nation's Christmas Tree" in the 1920s by President Calvin Coolidge. Sit back and take in the views as we travel along the Kings Canyon Scenic byway to end up at Zumault Meadow Trail, where nature's diversity is on display with powerful rock formations and roaring rivers contrasted my lush, serene meadows.

Explore Sequoia National Park by starting the day visiting General Sherman Tree, the world's largest tree. We continue to the Giant Forest Museum where we'll have the option to hike the Big Trees Trail or Moro Rock Trail. The rest of the afternoon is yours to enjoy at leisure using the park shuttles. Having trekked Sierra Nevada's peaks, celebrate at tonight's Farewell Dinner followed by an evening MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience where a naturalist will guide you through the constellations in a stargazing adventure.

Say goodbye to Fresno as you return to the Fresno Airport for your return trip home. Airport arrival will be 11:00 AM, please be aware when booking your flights.