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

See all

I never expected to love Yosemite. I've been fortunate enough to travel to different places and have 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. read more

See all

In short this was an epic and amazing tour!! Read on if you want details of why. We got very lucky by picking up one of those brochures at our hotel. We made reservations the day before (I recommend doing it in advance though, we got very lucky!). Ken is a wealth of knowledge and probably the best tour guide I have ever had on any tour of a park, museum, anything. (He has a co-worker but we did not get a chance to meet them, but having been trained by Ken I would find it hard to believe they are any less stellar then his teacher.) With an amazing back ground in geology, and ex professional rock climber he has a unique and captivating way to guide you through this incredible National treasure. A comprehensive history both of how the rocks got their shapes and names, as well as the people that made this area their home all the way to notable individuals that have helped make the park what it is today. This is an easy and very accessible tour for people of all ages. Ken is very flexible and allows you more then enough time to take in the sites and as many photos as you want. Any small walk/hike he takes you on is well worth the journey and very easy (well the last one is a little tougher but it's well worth it for the view). Bring your best camera, get some rest the night before and have a great time! read more

See all

When we checked into the Yosemite Valley Lodge, we look at the brochure and immediately thought, 'too pricey'. However, when we figured out what the entrance fee, lunch, gas and the sheer mania of driving, we opted to go and we are thrilled we did. Our tour guide, Ira is simply amazing and knew some 'nooks & crannies' that I'm sure the average visitor does not know. He's a wealth of information - easily discussing rocks, trees, minerals, history in a easy-to-understand manner. In addition to being a former teacher, he is a professional photographer enabling the photo phoebes to set up the picture perfectly. We had a full van - 11 people - and I wished he had used a microphone as I'm certain I missed a lot. I would recommend taking this tour, even if you've visited the Park previously, especially if Ira is available. I would suggest the tour company upgrade their vans. While this was a 'work horse' Dodge (of something) van, a newer one - doesn't have to be brand new - would heighten the experience. read more

This was our first time to Yosmite, and we decided to book a tour with Close Up Tours. Ken was our tour guide, and he was simply terrific. Ken had a master's degree in geology or anthropology, and he used to teach as well- it felt like we were on an outing for school! ;) Ken is the kind of tour guide you would hope for. He was very knowledgeable about the trees, rocks, and nature! The tour company also provided lunch. The turkey sandwich was amazing! We highly recommend Ken and the tour company! read more

The tour was interesting, but it was long - and not sure if I would ever do it again. I think my review is best by listing the Pro's and Con's. Pro's: Ira's driving was excellent, never felt fearful. Ira set up a tripod binocular for viewing climbers as well as a telescope (tour highlight) Ira had a wealth of knowledge of Yosemite Con's Ira's jeans and clothes were filthy. The jeans appeared to not have been washed for a long period of time. There did not appear to be any awareness of the capabilities of passengers. I was traveling with folks 70+ years and there were a lot of on's and off's. The passengers in the front row did not offer up their seats. Also, our lunch spot was on the trunk of a tree where my mother could not sit. A picnic table would have been more appropriate. He even had folks go up on a rock and then down to a river to start the trip. My company had to stay behind at the van and missed the presentation. Heat/air conditioning varied - you were either hot or cold. The second and third rows of the van could not hear Ira speak. Would have preferred specific times to meet up back at the van. Felt like there was no regard to time. Being dropped off after 7pm made for a really long day. A car followed the van during the tour. They got "half-off" tour price. I would have preferred to travel that way. Ira paid more attention to the car following than those in the van (they were cuter for sure). The lunch was not gourmet - but by the time we ate (1pm and I was starving after being picked up at 7:30am) it filled the need. Only offered one bottle of water the entire trip (at lunch). I think next time I will be my own tour guide. And remember to bring my own binoculars! read more

The absolute best tour ever! Daniel was not only very informative but with his rock climbing background, gave insights and took us to places that other tourists never see. He was patient, kind and funny and had the unique ability to make each stop fun and a learning experience. I have taken many tours in many different cities but this tour was by far more personal and enjoyable. read more

Yosemite Close Up Tours - Taken by Daniel - Tours Near Me - Mariposa, California

Our first trip to Yosemite was wonderful thanks to Ira Estin! Ira is a wealth of information and our trip could not have turned out better! He guided our tour through Yosemite showing us all the highlights and details every first time visitor wants and needs to know. His knowledge and experience is second to none. He is also a prize winning photographer and gave us many invaluable tips for taking the best photos. Ira recommended two additional day trips which we took and not only did they compliment his tour, they completed our trip far beyond our expectations. He was pleasant, funny, patient and it was our pleasure to be his guests. I highly recommend Yosemite Close Up Tours for all first time visitors. Go Ira ! read more

We did a private sunset dinner tour with our group of 6 people. The cost of the tour was very affordable for what we ended up getting. Our guide, Ira, met us at our rental in west Yosemite and we drove him to different locations in the park. Ken, the tour owner, was easy to communicate with through email and was very accommodating when planning the trip. He was flexible with helping us plan a custom tour to our needs. Ira was a delight to tour with and is a wealth of information. He showed us secret must see spots in the park and was full of information about everything. He brought his telescope and we were able to watch climbers on El Capitan. He also showed us the climbing equipment the climbers were using and explained how they scale the mountain. We also visited glacier point then climbed up to the top of sentinel dome for dinner. The meal was delicious and we even brought a bottle of wine up to enjoy. Watching the sunset and enjoying the top of the dome was perfect. We then waited for the stars and planets to appear in the sky. Ira had binoculars and star maps to help us locate the stars. Finally we walked down the dome in the dark and all drove back to our rental. Ira was professional, entertaining and extremely knowledgeable about the park and its surroundings. Our entire group thought it was worth every penny and felt that the tour made our trip. We will absolutely be recommending Yosemite Close Up Tours! read more

Ira Estin took us on a photo tour which included seeing the moonrise over Sentinel Dome. We were dazzled. He is an incredible photographer and was very generous with photo tips and good locations to see wildlife. We also loved his bear hat! Very friendly with a great sense of humor, we had a fabulus funfilled day! Thank you. read more

The Yosemite day tour our family had on Apr. 3 with Ken Boche (tour guide and owner) of Yosemite Close Up Tours was extremely memorable, interesting and enjoyable. Ken is a very knowledgeable and talented professional guide who cares about providing his guests with an intimate and special set of Yosemite experiences. Our family group (composed of 4 senior citizens, 2 young boys and 4 adults) of 10 ended up having our own private tour since we filled the small van. Ken took note of our special interests/needs/requests, customized a tour plan and enthusiastically answered questions. He is passionate about Yosemite's natural wonders and provided unique insights as a skilled mountain climber and naturalist. He brought us to spots to avoid the crowds and arranged the scheduling the best way possible to ensure we enjoyed the beauty and serenity of Yosemite. We feel very lucky to have seen/felt the wonders of Yosemite through a fun and informative day with Ken. Highly recommend! read more

Beyond our expectations, we booked this tour because the regular tours in the valley were sold out. We were greeted by John, a young man who was enthusiastic as we anticipated of a great day. John spent the day talking of Yosemite folklore, history, and facts while walking short distances to many sites. Beyond the wonderful El Capitan and Half Dome, we viewed ancient petrographs, wildlife, caves, and a beautiful rainbow within one of the falls when captured at a particular time of day. However, what was the most impressive to me was that we tailored the tour to service 6 people over the age of 60, and one about 30. We all got to know one another and found ourselves wonderful travel campanions to each other. Thank you JOHN! read more

We Loved this tour! There were only 8 of us in the very air conditioned van, they were all from different countries and wonderful to meet. I definitely recommend our tour guide Ira!! He was funny, knew everything and discussed all of the specific interests of each of us. If I went again, I would ask for Ira. read more

Great Tour! Our guide, Ken, was just a fountain of knowledge allowing him to bypass much of the traffic, as well as informing us of the geology, biology and history of the park! Just a fantastic experience all around. His flexability really helped us to get the photos we needed to document our visit. read more

We recently visited Yosemite with my elderly parents, so I chose Yosemite Close Up Tours because they offer smaller vans and more personalized service. We were not disappointed! We were very privileged to have just the four of us on our tour. Our tour guide was Dan and he was just great! We were all impressed with his vast knowledge of the history of Yosemite, the foliage and wildlife, not to mention his rock climbing experience. He shared many stories and answered our multitude of questions with patience and knowledge. We were able to take our time and not feel rushed. Dan was prompt and professional. We all thoroughly enjoyed the entire day. Now, I have just one small suggestion.....the van was pretty dirty, and I know it must be difficult to keep the floors clean with people getting in and out all day, but someone should see that at the very least the windows are touched up every night and the van should be cleaned on a regular basis. read more

My husband and I arrived in Yosemite late one evening and while checking in, saw one of Ken's brochures. We decided to do the all day guide tour with Ken instead of heading out on our own...We are sooo glad we did. The day was fantastic and Ken's knowledge of the sites and of all Yosemite Valley really made the day informative. Well worth the money and time...it describes the day as about an 8 hour tour, but Ken didn't shut it off until he reached the last stop on his tour, we were out for 11 hours. All we have to say is a huge Thank-you to Ken and his colleague Dennis for a wonderful day. Both Ken and Dennis were anxious to answer questions besides the valley knowledge that they shared. Sincerely many thanks, Bill and Mary from Utica, OH. read more

We had our tour with Ira on a cold rainy day. We thought we were doomed and picked the worst weather possible to do the tour. But Ira was still able to go above expectations. We did a custom tour, so he was able to cater to our small groups sight requests. Ira was able to show and take us the best views of the sights. Ira used to be a photography teacher so was also able to give us some good tips along the way to shoot. We had a blast with him, and wish we could get this type of service everywhere that we go. He was funny, welcoming and made us feel safe in a new environment. Since we had couple of other days left on our stay, he also gave us some tips and advice to help preplan the rest of our vacation. He came with a wealth of information and knowledge and felt like a great history lesson along with our walks. I rarely write Yelp reviews, but had to just for the amazing experience. read more

We had the very good fortune to have Ken as our tour guide. It was perfect! Ken has a profound knowledge and love for Yosemite. As an elite rock-climber he has a perspective on the park that is unique. Though we are not climbers or even particularly outdoorsy, we learned and greatly enjoyed the information and tales. We have done many national park tours and enjoyed none more than Ken's. All the basics are there; i.e., easy reservations, timely pickup, comfortable van, good lunch. Beyond that, the knowledgeable presentation fulfills all I look for in a tour. I would easily anticipate that any other guides Ken has selected would be equally entertaining. Highly recommended. read more

We went to Yosemite for a family vacation back in August and this tour is well worth it! I've been a tourist and signed up for Tours in many places before but this is not one of those typical Tours. Ken is very informative, I like the way the he incorporated science in the tour, gives tips for the remainder of our time there, and the fact that its a small tour group made it special. They could taylor and adjust to based on the needs of the group, at least thats how I felt. We had our six year old with us and she even enjoyed it! I saw huge tour buses and trucks there, not sure how much they charge but I'm pretty sure they didn't get the experience that we had. I highly recommend taking the tour at the beginning of your stay at Yosemite if you are staying for a few days so you know the places where you want to go back to. Don't hesitate signing up for this, it worth it!!!! read more

Ken and Ira know more about Yosemite than anyone. They explain everything so clearly that you finish each tour feeling inspired to know so much more about Yosemite's history and geography. They are both natural teachers. You will fall in love with Yosemite and appreciate so much more due to their wonderful skills as guides. read more

This was my first visit to Yosemite which was in early July. I couldn't be happier that my husband & I booked this tour & our Guide was Ira. What a amazing & delightful man - from his Bear hat to his charming smile!!! His knowledge & love of Yosemite made this day one of the highlights of our trip. The cost is worth every penny & even more, so be ready to tip him. The lunch was delicious ( amazing, that a turkey sandwich & cookies could taste so good) & the location was a wonderful & restful hideaway - as well as the rest of the "secret" places he showed us along the way. Ira interacted with each person in our group & patiently answered all questions. I will recommend everyone I know to use this tour service.Wish we had more time together, the day flew by, but we never felt rushed.It felt like we saw enough of the park even tho Ira told us we were only seeing a small portion of it. He was organized but made us feel he was customizing his route to accommodate individual interests expressed in conversations. We would love to come back again & hope Ira will be our guide the next time too. We pray the recent fires didn't devastate this beautiful area & Ira & Ken are safe. Would LOVE to hear any updates ... read more

Stayed at less expensive hotel in Mariposa. Tour picks you up at your hotel and the fun day begins. Daniel, our guide/driver, was easy going, knowledgeable, and had a nice voice that could be heard in the van. We got an different point of view in that Daniel is an experienced rock climber. The tour is an good, easy-paced, day in the park. read more

I have taken tours with Ken Boche several times. Both Ken and Ira have traveled the world and know how to spin a yarn at just the perfect moment. The depth and breadth of Ken's knowledge of the valleys, grand meadows, and vast wilderness areas of Yosemite comes from his ability to marry his academic studies of this rare and beautiful California ecosystem and other natural places in the West with the many years of living the culture within the lower Sierra communities. He has explored every nook and cranny of the vast high country and climbed nearly every granite wall and spire that has been made famous by the legendary artists and photographers of the world. Ken and Ira are thorough and thoughtful trip planners, who know instinctively when flexibility is warranted. They give you an adventure and but also make you feel safe in your surroundings. I would definitely tour with them again. read more