Transfer and Other Options:

Day 1. Hike to Giant Forest and Moro Rock in Sequoia National Park, Wuksachi Lodge
For a real taste of solitude, we begin with a hike into the backcountry of Sequoia National Park. From Giant Forest we meander through one of the most majestic stands of Sequoia trees in the world. The General Sherman Tree, the world's largest living thing, towers above our path. Stroll through beautiful Crescent Meadow where brilliant wildflowers adorn its lush grounds. John Muir is said to have called this lovely, grassy open area the "gem of the Sierra". Now we connect with the High Sierra Trail, with incredible breathtaking views that make this a favorite of the Sierra's backcountry enthusiasts. After an exhilarating climb up Moro Rock, complete with steps and railings in places, we shuttle just a few miles to Wuksachi Lodge, located in the heart of Sequoia National Park.

• Hike from Giant Forest to High Sierra Trail and to Moro Rock [up to 6 miles, 500 feet of elevation gain/loss]
• Moro Rock option [600' climb, then descent]

Day 2. Hike to Pear Lake, Sequoia National Park,Wuksachi Lodge
After a hearty breakfast and a short shuttle to the trailhead, we ascend through rich forest of white fir, cedar and sugar pine enroute to the high country. We’ll be traveling along the famed Watchtower route where we can see far into the Tokopah Valley, where the biggest waterfall in the park, Tokopah Falls, tumbles over 1000 feet. Above tree line, Heather, Aster, and Emerald lakes will welcome us along the way to Pear Lake. After enjoying lunch at our high country location, we descend back to the trailhead and enjoy a second relaxing evening at Wuksachi Lodge.
• Pear Lake hike [12.4 miles; 2250 feet of elevation
gain/loss]

Day 3. Hike in Mariposa Grove, Yosemite National Park, Yosemite View Lodge
After a morning shuttle to Yosemite, we hike in Mariposa, the Park's largest of three groves of Giant Sequoias. Mariposa Grove contains several hundred of these monarchs, including two of the 25 largest trees in the world. We begin the hike at The Fallen Monarch which fell more than three hundred years ago and continues to resist the process of decay.
The Bachelor and Three Graces are a group of four trees, three of them growing very close together with the fourth a little more distant. Their roots are so intertwined that if one of them were to fall it would likely bring the others along with it. The Grizzly Giant is the Grove's oldest tree and most commonly thought to be the largest but that title goes to a less inspiring tree named The Washington Tree. Estimated at 2700 years old, the Grizzly Giant is 209 feet tall and 25.5 feet in diameter. The California Tunnel Tree was cut in 1895 to allow coaches to pass through it (and as a marketing scheme to attract visitors to the grove), and is now the only living tree with a tunnel in it since the fall of the Wawona Tunnel Tree in 1969. The Faithful Couple is a rare case in which two trees grew so close together that their trunks have fused together at the base. The Telescope Tree has been left completely hollow by decades of repeated fires. In spite of that, the tree is still living, as Giant Sequoias do not require a whole trunk to survive. It is possible to walk inside the tree and to look up at the sky. The Columbia Tree is the tallest tree in the grove and in Yosemite National Park.
We continue our day with a late afternoon shuttle to Yosemite Valley, the site of our lodging for the next two nights.

Day 4. Hike the Panorama Trail from Rim to Valley in Yosemite National Park, Yosemite View Lodge
You couldn't ask for a better way to experience the majestic splendor that Yosemite has to offer than by hiking the Panorama Trail. As its name implies, this trail offers incredibly panoramic views of Yosemite's cascading waterfalls, soaring granite monoliths and of the verdant valley floor below.
Beginning with views of Half Dome and Clouds Rest from Glacier Point, the trail crosses behind Illilouette Fall after two miles and continues partially uphill along the Panorama Cliff. At the top of Nevada Fall, we descend past Vernal Falls on the Mist Trail, concluding at Happy Isles Nature Center.

• Panorama Trail [8.5 miles, 3200 feet of elevation loss]

Day 5. Hike to Lower Cathedral Lake from Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite National Park, Tuolumne Tent Cabins
Following a shuttle from the Valley to the high country of Tuolumne Meadows, we begin our hike to Lower Cathedral Lake. The trail is an ancient Indian Path and is now part of the John Muir Trail, a famed backpacking thoroughfare. Lower Cathedral Lake is among the most impressive of Yosemite's granite-wrapped High Sierra Lakes. It's surrounded by Cathedral Peak to the east and by Echo and Tressider Peaks along the southern shore, all over 10,000 feet in elevation.
The eastern shore of the lake is a wide rock shelf that, besides being picturesque in its own right, makes a great place to hang out and recover from the swamp crossing we executed to reach it. If you trek to the far end of the lake, look west, Tenaya Lake lurks below.
We stay tonight in the Tuolumne Meadows Tent Cabins. Our stay here evokes the early days of travel to Yosemite. The canvas-covered tents are wood-framed on a cement platform. There is no electricity but candles are provided for lighting. Shower and restroom facilities are located in the center of camp. The dining room, situated alongside the Tuolumne River, provides rustic a la carte dining for breakfast and dinner.

• Shuttles from Yosemite Valley to Tuolumne Meadows [1.5 hours]
• Lower Cathedral Lake Hike [7 miles, 790 feet of elevation gain/loss]

Day 6. Hike from Tioga Road to Yosemite Falls and Yosemite Valley in Yosemite National Park, Fresno
Our final hike provides a spectacular conclusion to our week together. Beginning at Porcupine Creek Trailhead off Tioga Road, we hike through red fir and lodgepole forest, follow Lehamite Creek and cross Indian Canyon Creek before arriving at Yosemite Point. From here we have a commanding view of Yosemite Valley and of Yosemite Creek hurling over the edge of the hanging valley in a spectacular and deafening show of force. At 2425 feet, Yosemite Falls is North America's highest waterfall.
We then cross Yosemite Creek on a footbridge and begin the steep descent past the Upper Falls (1430 feet, alone one of the world's highest), "the cascades" (675 feet) and finally the Lower Falls (320 foot drop).
Following a shuttle to Fresno, we say our farewells at approximately 5.30pm in Fresno.

• Hiking [9.5 miles, 4000 feet of elevation loss]
• Shuttle to Fresno [2 hours, 15 minutes

Beautifully crafted of cedar and stone and located within Sequoia National Park, Wuksachi Lodge is perched on a rocky outcropping some 7,200 feet above sea level with panoramic views of the high Sierra. The Appletree Inn is a quaint cottage style resort situated on 11 wooded acres. Situated on the banks of the Merced River and at the doorstep to the national park, Yosemite View Lodge provides all the comforts of home.

Day 1 and 2: Wuksachi Lodge
Day 3 and 4: Yosemite View Lodge
Day 5:          Tuolumne Tent Cabins

Passports
Valid passport required by all nationals referred to in the chart ; validity varies - for most countries the passport must be valid for at least six months from the date on which the holder enters the USA. If not, the holder will be admitted until the expiration date on the passport; check with the embassy (see Contact Addresses).
Passport Note
(a) For nationals included in the Visa Waiver Program (see below), passports must be valid for at least 90 days from date of entry.
(b) All travellers entering the USA under the Visa Waiver Program require individual machine-readable passports. Children included on a parent's passport also now require their own machine-readable passport. Travellers not in possession of machine-readable passports will require a valid USA entry visa.
(c) Passports issued on or after 26 October 2005 will need to have a biometric identifier in order for the holder to travel visa free under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Machine-readable passports issued between 26 October 2005 and 25 October 2006 require a digital photograph printed on the data page or an integrated chip with information from the data page. Machine-readable passports issued on or after 26 October 2006 will require an integrated chip with information from the data page (e-passport).

The US has announced new measures that require all travellers to provide details online 72 hours prior to travel.
ESTA: The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) came into force on 12 January 2009. It is a fully automated, electronic system for screening passengers before they begin travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program. ESTA applications must be submitted at least 72 hours before travel to the USA. Some websites may charge you for the service but you can apply online for free at www.dhs.gov. The granting of an ESTA does not guarantee entry to the USA.

New Requirements for Travellers: As of 23 January 2007 all persons, including US citizens, travelling by air between the USA and Canada, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda are required to present a valid passport, or other approved document, when entering or re-entering the USA. Similar requirements for those travelling by land or sea will be introduced on 1 June 2009.

For further details about the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, visit the website of the US Department of State: (website: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html).

Visas
Not required by nationals referred to in the chart above for stays of up to 90 days except:
1. nationals of Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania and Slovak Republic, who do require a visa.
Visa Note
(a) Landed Immigrants of Canada and British residents of Bermuda who are citizens of, and have valid passports from, Commonwealth countries or Ireland are not eligible to enter the USA without a visa. (b) All passengers using US airports for transit purposes are required to obtain a transit visa. This does not affect qualified travellers travelling visa free under the Visa Waiver Program. (d) To qualify for visa-free travel under the Visa Waiver Program, nationals must travel on a valid passport, for holiday, transit or business purposes only and for a stay not exceeding 90 days. (e) Passengers must have the full address and ZIP code of where they are staying in the USA to be able to fully complete the I-94W form. Note: Airlines are also required to collect passenger details, including the address of their first night's accommodation in the USA, before they board the aircraft. (f) 2. Holders of UK passports with the endorsement British Subject, British Dependent Territories Citizen, British Protected Person, British Overseas Citizen or British National (Overseas) Citizen do not qualify for the Visa Waiver Program. A passport which states holder has right of abode or indefinite leave to remain in the UK does not qualify for visa free travel. (g) A visa does not expire with the expiry of the holder’s passport. An unexpired, endorsed visa in an expired passport may be presented for entry into the USA, as long as the visa itself has not been cancelled, is undamaged, is less than 10 years old and is presented with a valid non-expired passport, provided that both passports are for the same nationality. (h) Nationals of countries not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements (see Contact Addresses).
Types of Visa and Cost
Tourist, Business, Transit and Student: US$131.
Validity
Visas may be used for travel to the USA until the date it expires. Some visas are valid for multiple entries. The length of stay in the USA is determined by US immigration officials at the time of entry but is generally six months; there is, however, no set time.
Applications to:
Embassy or consulate (see Contact Addresses).
Working Days Required
Usually five after interview. Some cases may take up to 12 weeks – check with embassy/consulate.