Horrible experience. Booked and paid a deposit a year in advance. Was to pay the rest of the amount…read moreon August 2. Heard from no one so contacted the company (if you can call it that- I think it may be a one guy operation) on August 3. Got an email back stating that they could not do the tour due to business operations and had no guide. Very unprofessional. Would give a zero if I could. Warning back out of tours- would not recommend to anyone.

We found Pat serendipitously when there was a error in our Yosemite day pass. As I write this…read morereview, it is August 2020 and Covid is rampant in the United States, so access to Yosemite park was limited. We found Pat and his services and he saved our trip! The experience was great. Pat is knowledgeable about the park and an expert with Photography. He knows exactly the route to take his guests to maximize our time in the park and capture them with ours or his camera. The day we were scheduled with Pat, he had a guide that he was training. They were both very receptive about the feedback about photo composition, lighting etc. At first there was a little sticker shock of $850/day for a family of four. however, if you compare this rate with other companies operating semi private tours, Pat's rate is a bargain! A half a day in a semi private tour will cost you about $700. Pat met us in Oakhurst at 8 AM and our tour ended at 3 PM. It was the highlight of our week. Thank you.

Review for Lasting Adventures and Guide Isaac V…read more Backpacking Half Dome with Lasting Adventures was an unforgettable experience, made even better by our incredible guide, Isaac V. It was just my spouse and me on the trip, which made it feel really personal and special. Isaac was not only knowledgeable and professional but also had a great personality that made it easy to talk openly and honestly with him. He gave us the confidence we needed to take on this adventure and was encouraging every step of the way. Thanks to his guidance and support, this trip was a true success. We would absolutely recommend Lasting Adventures--and Isaac specifically--to anyone looking for a meaningful and empowering outdoor experience. We're already looking forward to doing another trip!

I did the guided 3-day yoga and backpacking retreat at May Lake/amount Hoffman in Yosemite and it…read morewas AMAZING. The location was so beautiful and serine, and not far enough to scare off an absolute backpacking beginner like me! I kinda pinched myself several times to make sure it was all real. The yoga instructor Britta was fabulous. She had amazing insight, knowledge, and overall her "do what your body tells you" guidance approach to yoga was above and beyond what I expected. She's also just such a warm and encouraging person, which helped me engage spiritually and openly in every practice. Also, I loved that she guided us how to use yoga in our hikes and various activities throughout the day (like breathing technique and TOE YOGA!) The guide Dawson was so chill, knowledgeable and an ASTONISHING cook! I went in expecting to eat nothing but berries and raw avocado, but he made delicious meals I'd gladly eat any day anywhere (like vegan French toast with berries, chia seeds and syrup...never would have thought that was do-able on a backpacking trip!). His mellow and trustworthy demeanor made everything feel so effortless and eased so much anxiety I had going into the whole thing. Overall, it was the trip of a lifetime in such a beautiful place. I made new friends, I saw new things, I never felt judgement, and I'd do it again in a heartbeat!

Best sight to see here just make sure you go early and find the right time for the waterfall which…read moreis in spring which is when the snow caps are melting. Hikes can range with difficulties but there are simple trails for kids

I never expected to love Yosemite. I've been fortunate enough to travel to different places and…read morehave seen some truly breathtaking natural wonders. And so when I stepped off the Yosemite Close Up Tours van as Ken (our guide and the tour owner) parked it beside a few rocks to test our climbing/walking ability, I wasn't expecting much. But it's pretty appropriate that this tour group has this name, because Ken gave us a close up and intimate glimpse into the beauty of Yosemite. They say mountaineering is a lonely experience and so it is a very close/tight-knit community. They also say that there is something about Yosemite that brings people together. We were fortunate enough to have Ken bring both these things to us, as he shared his decades of experience scaling Yosemite's mountains and hiking its trails; imparted his knowledge about the delicacy and power of the nature around us; and allowed us to experience his lifelong love story with this national park. In our one day tour on a bright spring day, Ken taught us: - Balance: He started the tour by asking our group of 10 to walk up and down a few rocks, just so he could see what level we were each at. The 5 year olds in our group loved this 'playtime' while the 60+ year olds in our group loved this proactive calibration of how much (or little) help was needed throughout the day. - To look up, out and inward: While Ken was great at picking spots for photo opportunities, I loved it most when he picked spots that were set-ups for stories. He would ask us to look up at specific sections on the mountains and talk about how climbers would tackle this crevice or that ridge. So as we looked up at El Capitan or the Half Dome, we not only saw the beautiful shots seen in pictures and screensavers, but also the solitary suffering and the exhilarating exhaustion of challenging oneself, of being one with that challenge, and of finally and triumphantly scaling the top (and getting down afterwards). - Respect for the danger/risk: Ken lightly but seriously talked about this book he had that detailed different ways people had died in Yosemite (e.g., there's a whole chapter on rivers). It wasn't meant to be morbid or macabre, but matter-of-fact. And it made us aware and respectful about what was around us. - Conservationism without the hard sell: In between the more tour guide-y stories, Ken made sure to drop some geological/biological knowledge on us. For example, he explained what meadows were and how they came to be (which was his thesis if I remember correctly) and talked about the regular volunteer work that climbers do to clean up the park. - The evolution of climbing: Mid-tour, Ken brought out his different hooks and clamps to show us how climbing gear has changed and become more sophisticated over the years. And this may sound like a boring history lesson but it actually helped us appreciate Yosemite's mountains - and the people who dream/do climb them - even more. - Picnics are the best: I'm not sure whether it was because we had been walking a lot, or because Ken's tour provides locally sourced food, but that picnic lunch of sandwich+chips+cookie+apple absolutely hit the spot. Ken ended our tour with a funny/folksy song about 2 climbers at Yosemite. And in a way, I thought that was a kinda perfect way to end the day. Because it was only later on when, through good ol' Google, that we found out Ken was a sort of mountaineering legend, with many initial ascents (i.e., first time anyone ever scales a mountain) credited to him. But at that moment, as he was singing his folksy song to bid us goodbye, he wasn't Ken Bouche, a known mountaineer. He was just another guy who was completely in love, and wanted to playfully share that love with the people he was entrusted with that day. 5 stars. Highly recommended.

A cutsy B&B in the middle of no where. Not to far from Yosemite but not in town and late at night…read morecan be asy to miss. Very friendly older people running this place and they are quite accomadating. Did not have a problem gettiing two rooms last minute (had our own bathroom). There were other people there and while there is no curfew they do not give you a key since the door is normally left unlocked but of course the people locked us out and were kind of surprized when we knocked on the door at like 10pm. A nice breakfast where everyone waits for everyone. Joyce introduces everyone and conversation is made at the big table. 8:30 am is a little early for me but it was a good price for a room last minute so we did not complain. (Many B&B's around Yosemite have been closed for a while so do not rely solely on your GPS)

Yelp is an interesting place- definitely suffers from selection bias, based on the reviews. We had…read morethe "park" house which was quite large and perfect for our group of 9. When my family arrived, the heat wasn't working and one room was without power, but we called the number and it was quickly fixed. Other than that, this is a very clean, well-appointed place in the middle of the forest, about 30 minutes from the "main" stuff on the Valley floor. Had no issues with cleanliness, questions about how things worked, or anything like that. We made full use of all appliances- though did not use the TV. Mattresses are a little firm. You get some cool wildlife like a friendly raven that seems to hang out on the porch, and a bunch of deer on the last morning we were there. It's obviously very pricey, but you are RIGHT in the park!

We stayed at Sequoias East on Black Oak road. The location is the best thing about this property…read more It's beautiful, gorgeous trees and fresh mountain air. Internet is very sketchy but you're not really going to get consistent internet anywhere in Yosemite. The Satellite TV was also hit and miss (mostly miss), but again, you don't come to Yosemite for that. This particular property was clean, microwave was broken with a sign on it that says "don't use", outdoor grill had a lot of grease on the grates which resulted in lots of flames. It's pricey so I would expect everything to be in good working order.

Recently renovated by the owners. Beautiful house and very cool outdoor patio area to sleep…read moreeveryone comfortably. Walk down to the on-property river for your own little slice of the sierras! Overall awesome place to wind down after a long day in the park. Can't recommend enough if you're looking for a Yosemite base camp for a beautiful vacation.

A very lovely place to stay. Adam was so fun to be with. The place is so romantic. Dinner was great…read morewith personal touch. My wife loved the massage by Diane. We would definitely go back.

BEWARE - THEY WON'T ISSUE MY REFUND: I had made a booking through their website but ended up…read morecancelling a few days before and was eligible for a refund according to their booking policy. I was told on May 31 on the phone that I should be receiving my refund via PayPal within one business day. I had to email a reminder on June 4 to which they responded they were issuing the refund. It is now June 13 and I have not received my refund yet despite multiple emails and phone calls. My last direct communication was a phone call on June 6 during which I was told the refund should appear within one business day. I still have no refund and no response, and the lodge is not responding to my emails or phone calls. Update (June 17, 2022): I had to report a problem on PayPal. During the investigation, I still tried to call and email the lodge however no one responded to me. I eventually got my refund but only because I reported it in PayPal. To date, I have not heard from the lodge.

Such a Gem!!! I was in love with this cute little inn as soon as I drove down the driveway. I told…read moremy husband I wanna come back before even getting our room key. The staff was so kind and made us feel right at home. Our room was so nicely put in together and very clean. They offered complimentary water and coffee in our rooms which was such a treat. The evening wine reception and morning breakfast were fantastic. Definitely well exceeded any expectations we had. It was also nice getting a chance to mingle with some of the others staying at the inn. People traveling from all over the world to see the beauty of Yosemite. A short drive into the park and into the town of Oakhurst. Very convenient. All I can really say is this Inn will hold a special place in my heart and I can't wait to go back.

Charming boutique hotel, large rooms, comfortable beds, great location. Enjoyed getting to know the…read morefun and friendly staff who roll out the red carpet for all their guests. From the hot breakfast to the wine reception, I was beyond delighted. It was a short drive to Bass Lake and an enjoyable drive to Yosemite. I hope to come back every year.