BIg Sur and Carmel Day Tour
12 Hours | Round-Trip Transportation
Big Sur | Carmel | 17-Mile Scenic Drive
Small Groups. Amazing towns.
Amazing Coastline
The legendary Highway 1 from San Francisco has enchanted visitors to Northern California for more than a century. From the spectacular rocky ocean waves to the iconic historic towns, Highway 1 provides an experience you rarely find anywhere in the world.
This tour combines history, awe-inspring beauty and a the bounty of California — all in just one day. We begin along miles-deep Monterey Bay, that has an unparalleled abundance of sea life. Perhaps you may even spot a whale! You will have time to dine along Cannery Row at one of the wonderful seafood resaurants and shop and some extrodinary boutiques.
This will be followed by drive down the famous 17-Mile Scenic Drive (including a stop at the famed golf resort Pebble Beach) where we will view multimillion dollar homes with multimillion dollar views. There will be several chances for photo stops at the Lone Cypress, Bird Rock, Lovers Point or Point Pinos.
We arrive in the beach town of Carmel, home to celebrities such as the late Doris Day and Clint Eastwood, where you can shop in quaint, unique shops and grab a pastry at any of the artisinal bakeries and coffee shops.
We then head down to Big Sur – a miles-long stretch of rugged California Coastline that with amazing views around every curve and turn. The abundance of nature has been inspiring guests for hundreds of years. We will see the Bixby Bridge and Hurricane Point, the iconic highlights of Big Sur.
The drive back to San Franciso will be a chance to enjoy the spectacular scenery along the coast. And, depending on the time of the year, there may be a spectacular Northern California sunsets over the ocean as we make our way back to San Francisco.
Big Sur
Pebble Beach Golf Course
17 Mile Scenic Drive
Hotel Pickup /Dropoff
Sample Itinerary
| 6:30 – 7:00 am | Pickup from your San Francisco hotel in most downtown and waterfront areas including Fisherman’s Wharf, Union Square, and Lombard, among others. |
| 7:00 – 10:00 am | Enjoy a relaxing drive south past Silicon Valley and through Gilroy and Castroville, the garlic and artichoke capitals of the world. We arrive in Monterey along the awe-inspiring Monterey Bay. We will stop at the town’s famous Cannery Row to grab a coffee and fresh pastry at Steinbeck Plaza. |
| 10:00-11:30 am | Drive along the rocky shores of Pacific Grove, known as “Butterfly Town USA” because of the thousands of Monarchs which migrate every year. We will drive down the private 17-Mile Drive through Pebble Beach — famous vistas, exquisite homes, and maybe some local wildlife. Stops along the way may include Bird and Seal Rock and the Lone Cypress. And golf lovers will be able to stop at the famous 18th green at Pebble Beach. |
| 11:30 am – 1:00 pm | Free-time in Carmel-by-the-Sea – a storybook village with artisan bakeries, exclusive stores and wine-tasting. You will have time to experience the charm of town that has attracted writers and film-industry luminaries for over 100 years. |
| 1:00 – 2:00 pm | Shoreline drive to Bixby Bridge and Hurricane Point. This is a great time for photo stops of these icons of Big Sur that many people will recognize from many films and television series. |
| 2:30 – 6:30 pm | Slow drive north along Highway 1 for more views of the shoreline as we wind our way back to San Francisco through Santa Cruz looking for the perfect photo of a Pacific sunset. |
*Tour times are approximate
What you can expect with Best Bay Area Tours
You get to learn more: From the time of morning pickup at your San Francisco hotel to drop off in the late afternoon, your guide shares anecdotes and history about the places you get to visit on this full-day experience.
You’ll be entertained: What’s the point of doing a tour if you can’t have fun? Every aspect of your tour has been carefully thought out so you get the most out of your visit to the Bay Area.
You get a truly local experience: Best Bay Area Tours is owned and operated by San Francisco locals. We create intimate, relaxed experiences that allow you to truly get to know all the beauty and bounty of the region.
FAQs
How long is the tour?
The tour is 12 hours long. We begin pick up at almost all SF hotels at 6:30 and plan to return at approximately 6:30. We ask guest to be flexible in case of traffic and weather.
How far is Carmel/Big Sur from San Francisco?
Depending on traffic, a straight shot with no stops can take 2.5 hours to Carmel and an additional 30 minutes to Big Sur.
Is food included in the tour? What food options are available?
Because of the wide range of guests and food options in Carmel, we do not include food in the ticket price. There are restaurants and cafes all over the village. And also note that passengers are welcome to bring their own food for a picnic on the beach.
What should we wear?
With the unpredictable fog on the California Coast, the weather can change drastically on a dime. Therefore (on this tour and on any day in San Francisco) we recommend wearing layers so you can be ready for anything.
Are there bathrooms on the bus?
We specialize in small group tours so our 15-passenger buses do not have restrooms aboard. However, we make restroom stops at least every two-hours for the comfort of our guests.
Our Cancellation Policy
Parties of 4 persons or less, fully refundable up until 24 hours ahead of departure time. Within 24 hours of departure time, non-refundable.
Parties of 5 more subject to a 20 percent cancellation fee up until 24 hours prior to departure time. Within 24 hours of departure time, non-refundable.
Failure to confirm your pick up and/or no shows are non-refundable.
Tour Pricing
| Adults | Children (15 and under) | |
| Tour Price | $193 | $183 |
Always Small Groups
We don’t do big bus tours. We create intimate, relaxed experiences that allow you to truly get to know the Bay Area and its surrounding region.
Best Bay Area Tours Reviews
4.9 out of 5 stars from 896 Reviews on Google
Kristen S
This tour was fantastic! It was the perfect balance of guidance and free time. Had we tried to visit the park on our own, we would not have got to everything we were able to hit on this tour. Brian was a fantastic guide…
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and shared a lot of interesting stories and facts that made us appreciate the park more. We are looking forward to coming back for another tour!
Mike U
Brian was an excellent guide. Extremely knowledgeable about the sites and history. He kept the drive fun and interesting, and he set up telescopes for us to spot climbers on El Capitan. It is clear that he loves his job and…
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has a passion for nature and the parks. This just makes the experience all the more enjoyable, and Brian works hard to ensure everyone has the best experience possible.
The entire process of working with the tour company was fantastic. They kept us updated on meeting times and locations, and they were very understanding and accommodating when 2 Uber drivers and 1 lift driver cancelled on us. Brian redirected us to one of the later pick up points to ensure we didn’t miss the tour and miss out on this fantastic experience.
Carol P
Excellent tour from start to finish. Our guide was informative and enthusiastic! He even made the morning drive out enjoyable with an excellent playlist! Yosemite was breathtaking. We had multiple stops and never once felt…
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rushed. If you only have one day to spend in the park, this is the trip for you!