Experience the breathtaking city of San Francisco’s eclectic and diverse neighborhoods at night and savor the city’s unique atmosphere after night fall
Highlights
Explore the breathtaking city of San Francisco at night in a luxury SUV with a passionate tour guide. Experience San Francisco’s eclectic and diverse neighborhoods and savor the city’s unique atmosphere after night falls.
Experience the City by the Bay’s top sights after dark, for a completely new perspective on the city. San Francisco shines under a different light at night, and it’s worth exploring on a private city guided tour. The night tour experience varies greatly from the daytime tour. See the dazzling lights of the city skyline and bridges from atop spectacular overlooks. Join an enthusiastic local tour guide who will transport you to amazing sights unknown to most visitors. Enjoy the beauty and unique atmosphere of the “City by the Bay” as we take you across the Oakland Bay Bridge to Treasure Island and across the Golden Gate Bridge for spectacular views of the San Francisco Bay Area.
Drive on Broadway and admire the vibrant nightlife of “Little Italy” in the North Beach neighborhood and stop at the picturesque Telegraph Hill to take in panoramic views of the San Francisco Bay. Drive up to the elegant Nob Hill square and then twist and turn down the famous Lombard Street in Russian Hill. Take some special snaps at Marin Headland overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge plus at the Twin Peaks that provides amazing wide-ranging views of San Francisco.
Your guided tour will be jam-packed with exciting attractions and memorable neighborhoods from the elegant to the lively, as you cruise through crowds out for a night on the town. The tour includes but is not limited to Union Square, the Embarcadero, Fisherman’s Wharf after dark, Castro and its nightclubs, the Palace of Fine Arts, Chestnut and Union Streets, Alamo Square and its world-famous “Painted Ladies” Victorian houses, the Civic Center, Opera House, California and Market streets, the Financial District, Chinatown, Japan town, plus Fillmore Street and its jazz clubs. Explore Pacific Heights and take a look at its multi-million-dollar mansions or see what’s happening in Haight-Ashbury, and so much more.
Description
Explore the breathtaking city of San Francisco at night in a luxury SUV with a passionate tour guide. Experience San Francisco’s eclectic and diverse neighborhoods and savor the city’s unique atmosphere after night falls.
Experience the City by the Bay’s top sights after dark, for a completely new perspective on the city. San Francisco shines under a different light at night, and it’s worth exploring on a private city guided tour. The night tour experience varies greatly from the daytime tour. See the dazzling lights of the city skyline and bridges from atop spectacular overlooks. Join an enthusiastic local tour guide who will transport you to amazing sights unknown to most visitors. Enjoy the beauty and unique atmosphere of the “City by the Bay” as we take you across the Oakland Bay Bridge to Treasure Island and across the Golden Gate Bridge for spectacular views of the San Francisco Bay Area.
Drive on Broadway and admire the vibrant nightlife of “Little Italy” in the North Beach neighborhood and stop at the picturesque Telegraph Hill to take in panoramic views of the San Francisco Bay. Drive up to the elegant Nob Hill square and then twist and turn down the famous Lombard Street in Russian Hill. Take some special snaps at Marin Headland overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge plus at the Twin Peaks that provides amazing wide-ranging views of San Francisco.
Your guided tour will be jam-packed with exciting attractions and memorable neighborhoods from the elegant to the lively, as you cruise through crowds out for a night on the town. The tour includes but is not limited to Union Square, the Embarcadero, Fisherman’s Wharf after dark, Castro and its nightclubs, the Palace of Fine Arts, Chestnut and Union Streets, Alamo Square and its world-famous “Painted Ladies” Victorian houses, the Civic Center, Opera House, California and Market streets, the Financial District, Chinatown, Japan town, plus Fillmore Street and its jazz clubs. Explore Pacific Heights and take a look at its multi-million-dollar mansions or see what’s happening in Haight-Ashbury, and so much more.
Itinerary
Explore the breathtaking city of San Francisco at night in a luxury SUV with a passionate tour guide. Experience San Francisco’s eclectic and diverse neighborhoods and savor the city’s unique atmosphere after night falls.
Experience the City by the Bay’s top sights after dark, for a completely new perspective on the city. San Francisco shines under a different light at night, and it’s worth exploring on a private city guided tour. The night tour experience varies greatly from the daytime tour. See the dazzling lights of the city skyline and bridges from atop spectacular overlooks. Join an enthusiastic local tour guide who will transport you to amazing sights unknown to most visitors. Enjoy the beauty and unique atmosphere of the “City by the Bay” as we take you across the Oakland Bay Bridge to Treasure Island and across the Golden Gate Bridge for spectacular views of the San Francisco Bay Area.
Drive on Broadway and admire the vibrant nightlife of “Little Italy” in the North Beach neighborhood and stop at the picturesque Telegraph Hill to take in panoramic views of the San Francisco Bay. Drive up to the elegant Nob Hill square and then twist and turn down the famous Lombard Street in Russian Hill. Take some special snaps at Marin Headland overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge plus at the Twin Peaks that provides amazing wide-ranging views of San Francisco.
Your guided tour will be jam-packed with exciting attractions and memorable neighborhoods from the elegant to the lively, as you cruise through crowds out for a night on the town. The tour includes but is not limited to Union Square, the Embarcadero, Fisherman’s Wharf after dark, Castro and its nightclubs, the Palace of Fine Arts, Chestnut and Union Streets, Alamo Square and its world-famous “Painted Ladies” Victorian houses, the Civic Center, Opera House, California and Market streets, the Financial District, Chinatown, Japan town, plus Fillmore Street and its jazz clubs. Explore Pacific Heights and take a look at its multi-million-dollar mansions or see what’s happening in Haight-Ashbury, and so much more.
Rates
Our Private Tour Rates
We offer high quality private custom tours and competitive prices. Our main goal is customer satisfaction. Our services and fees are detailed below.
Private Tour By Luxury SUV
Private Tour By Van (Minibus)
This VAN tour is totally private and not available for public or individual reservations. The price is per party and not per person.
Included: Complimentary, pick-up and drop off in San Francisco (Downtown, Fisherman’s Wharf, Haights-Ashbury, Bernal Heights, China Basin, Castro, Mission District, Presidio and Marin District), 3.5hour private city guided tour by SUV or van based on your choice of vehicle, with many stops along the way and tour narration by a local passionate tour guide, all applicable taxes, parking, and bridge toll fees. We also provide bottled water, hand sanitizer and masks on all tours.
Note: For time considerations, we don’t drive across the Golden Gate Bridge
Not Included: Meals, driver’s gratuity, overtime and optional activities or features.
- The itinerary may change based on your time, road or weather conditions, pick-up location and preference. When it is rainy or foggy, we have to skip some areas /places for safety considerations or due to the lack of visibility.
- Please note that many sites, attractions, landmarks and neighborhoods are restricted and prohibited to large vehicles and vans with more than 7 persons, including places like Lombard Street, Russian Hill, Telegraph Hill, Sea Cliff, Marina, Alamo Square (Painted Ladies), and all other areas restricted by law to van or bus tours. The SUV tour option is the perfect choice as you can go anywhere in the city where larges vehicles are prohibited.
Cancellation & Refund Policy
Cancellation & Refund Policy
Booking Terms, Payments, Refund and Cancellation Policy:
Booking, Terms & Refund Policy
To cancel your booking or make another request, email us using the same email address to which we confirmed your booking. All cancellations must be made in writing not via telephone. If you are unable to locate your confirmation email or are unsure of the address you used, please contact us through the live chat function on our website.
– If you cancel your reservation at least 15 business days (weekends and holidays not included) before your reserved trip or service, you will receive a refund of 91% of the total transaction to the payment method you used to make the payment originally. used when you made the payment. The 9% of the transaction that remains is for the relevant bank and merchant transaction fees. This is 4.5% per transaction, with the booking one transaction and the refund as a second one. Note we get charged for every transaction by the merchant and bank as well as paying other fees, so we appreciate your understanding in this matter.
– If you cancel your reservation at least 7 business days before the date of your service or tour (weekends and holidays not included), 50% of the total transaction value will be returned back to you via your original transaction method.
– If you cancel at least 5 business days before the date of your tour (weekends and holidays not included), 15% of the total transaction will be returned to you via your original transaction method.
– If you cancel your tour within 4 business days before the date of your trip (weekends and holidays not included), 0% of the total amount will be returned to you via your original transaction method. This also applies if you don’t show up at the scheduled time and pickup location.
NOTE: All refunds attract credit card and merchant’s fees charged to our small business by credit cards companies and merchant providers. Transaction fees vary between 3.9% to 9.8% of your total purchase value depending on the type of credit card and the relevant bank’s extra fees, the country in which the bank is located, and the necessary conversion fees applied to the transaction. International transactions are often subject to extra origination and conversions fees.
PLEASE CONSIDER: When you make a reservation with us on our website, we schedule that book for the relevant time/date of your tour. This means we reserve that tour slot for your booking and do not take other booking for that tour date/time. As such, when you book, we keep a tour guide and SUV on hold so that we can fulfill your tour on your booked date. In addition, once you have made your booking, we begin making all relevant bookings and organization required for your tour to ensure that you have the best experience and don’t miss out on the top sites and attractions. For this reason, we ask you to avoid cancelling or changing your booking date and recommend holding off booking until your travel plans are set. A last-minute cancellation means we have a gap in our schedule that will be difficult to fill, so please respect our business by showing up for your booking so we can fulfil the plans of our other customers.
Due to its extra fraud protection systems, American Express commonly rejects the first transaction made on our website.We have no control over this, but recommend you try again or use another credit card or PayPal to make your payment.
General Terms
– Trip Reservation and Email Confirmation: Once you have finalized your booking on our website, an email will automatically be sent upon approval of your payment, containing a merchant receipt for your order. A second email will arrivewith confirmation of your tour from SF Tours, including a tour voucher if required. This email confirmation is evidence of your tour booking and will include your tour date and pick-up time. It is only valid for the date(s) listed, which reflect your booking on our website, and only apply to the customers listed via the booking system on our website. Tours are not transferrable to other persons or parties.There is no guarantee that you can switch the date of your tour after booking, as we have other tours to fulfill. Tour date changes are not offered within 15 days from your scheduled tour date, and no other dates will be available afterward.
So that we can satisfy all of our tour customers, SF Tours reserves the right to partner with other tour operators, freelancers, and/or our sister companies. After we receive your confirmed transaction, you will be provided the exact name and contact information of your tour operator, which will be included on your tour voucher.
– Because we may receive numerous tour bookings at the same time, all tours are subject to availability. Even if you have received an approved payment transaction, this does not guarantee that your tour has been booked. A booking is only ensured once you have received confirmation from us via email. All Alcatraz tours, Muir Woods, hot air balloon and horseback rides can only be confirmed when we receive confirmation from these third-party companies. Each of these attractions require booking in advance. If your preferred tour is unavailable, you will receive a full refund minus the transaction fees.
Declined Transactions:
NOTE: If your transaction is rejected, we will not receive notification of this. As such, your reservation is not confirmed unless you have received written confirmation via email. If you are having problems making a payment, contact us immediately. However, we cannot honor your tour without an email confirmation and tour voucher.
If your bank rejected the booking transaction, check your bank information (such as the names on the credit card, zip/postal code, or billing address) to ensure it is the same as what you provided on our website when making your booking. Insufficient funds may be another cause of a failed transactions. We cannot confirm your tour via a confirmation email until your bank clears the transaction. We acknowledge this can be inconvenient, but is a necessary safeguard on your bank’s part to prevent fraud and other issues.
Even after your transaction has gone through, our tours are still subject to availability. We will endeavor to confirm your booking via email ASAP, as well as the reserved tour(s) and date(s). Unless otherwise stated, all our tours are given in English. If your tour will be in a language other than English, this will be stated in the email or tour voucher confirmation we will send you after your transaction is approved.
Special events, weather conditions, road closures, vehicle problems, unforeseen circumstances, unavailability and/or last-minute reservations may mean that we have to offer you substitutes to your original tour itinerary. All other circumstances beyond our control are included and we reserve the right to make the necessary adjustments. We are unable to promise any particular arrival or departure times, or that any stop on the tour will occur at a specified time, due to the reasons just listed. However, we will strive to fulfill your tour itinerary and schedule to the best of our ability.
Hot-Air Balloon Special Cancellation and Refund Policy: On this tour, your safety is our #1 priority. Your balloon ride will occur before sunrise according to the weather conditions on the day. This guided tour takes 8 hours, door to door when leaving from San Francisco, or 6 hours when departing from Napa or Sonoma Valley. Other sites like Yolo County or Pope Valley may be utilized when the weather conditions in Napa make us unable to fly safely. Rainy conditions or winds higher than 12 mph will always lead to cancellation of the balloon ride.
Please note: Alternative launching sites are available if the Napa Valley weather conditions prevent safe take off from the valley. This allows us to give you the best chance possible to enjoy this experience.
Non-refundable for No-Show or last-minute changes: You can expect to receive communication from our office staff by 5 pm on the day before your hot-air balloon tour. This timing is necessary since we collect you from your hotel in San Francisco or Napa at 4 and 5 am on the day of the tour, so it is necessary to confirm arrangements prior. If we cannot reach you before 5 pm via your email or cell phone, or you do not return our calls, your driver will still arrive at 4 am as planned. If you do not show up for collection, this will be regarded as a no-show and consequently, the total cost of your tour will be non-refundable, in accordance with our refund terms and cancellation policy. As such, we recommend making every effort to confirm your pick-up the day prior and ensure you are prompt for collection.
Balloon Ride Refundable Amount: If you choose to cancel your balloon ride, you must do so at least 4 days prior to the tour. Rest assured that if the pilot cancels the balloon ride due to bad weather or other safety concerns on the day of the tour, you will receive a full refund. If you decide not to participate in the balloon ride and cancel 4 days prior to the tour; the tour guide will collect, you at 9 am rather than 4 am and you can enjoy the wine tour as planned.
Regardless of weather conditions, the wine tour itself is not refundable. If you wish to take your chances with the weather regarding the balloon ride going ahead, your tour guide will pick you up as planned at 4 am. NOTE: We have scheduled this tour just for you and rejected other reservations to secure your tour date. If you cancel last-minute, all wages and business expenses still need to be paid by us. As such, the hot-air balloon ride part of this tour package is not refundable EVEN IF YOU CANCEL IT BEFORE 5 PM THE DATE PRIOR TO YOUR TOUR.
If this case, you will get a $190 refund per person, which will be returned via your original transaction method within 7 business days. Bookings made directly with Viator are subject to their terms and policy.
Please note: No changes or modifications can be accepted within 4 days of your tour. Our office closes at 5 pm and your driver will need to wake up at 2 am to collect the required vehicle in time to greet you at 4 am at your hotel.
Our policies regarding unforeseen weather conditions, our cancellation policy and terms are all provided with the utmost transparency for your benefit and to avoid misunderstanding and blame. It is your responsibility to read these terms carefully. Remember, our drivers are people too! They go to bed very early to ensure they arrive at your hotel at 4 am. As such, do not make last-minute changes after 5 pm on the day before your tour. Our offices are closed after 5pm, so we will not even receive your cancellation until the next day, by which time your driver will have already gone to collect you!
Other terms and information
Wheelchair and Handicap Accessibility issues: Unfortunately, our vehicles do not have wheelchair access. Only very small, foldable wheelchairs fit into our vehicles. Further, the height of our vehicles makes it extremely difficult for customers with a disability get it in and out of our vehicles, and there are liability issues involved. Tours involving kids, seniors, and wheelchairs naturally take longer than average, meaning we have to pay overtime. For this reason, $179 will be charged to your credit card for every additional hour in excess of 12 hours by van or $129 per hour by SUV.
Pets: No pets are permitted in our vehicles. Please respect our other guests who have pet allergies.
Smoking: Smoking is prohibited in our vehicles.
Clothing: This day-long tour is full of adventure so please dress appropriately for cold weather, and wet and uneven roads and hiking trails. Wear comfortable waterproof hiking shoes, especially for snow in winter and spring. An overnight tour package is recommended for groups with kids and seniors, as the full-day tour can be taxing for them.
Parks, Attractions and Site’s Closures: We will not be held responsible for weather and travel conditions. Nor will we be held liable for these factors. State and national parks can close at any time without notice, for reasons such as the weather or unsafe road conditions. In such situations, no refund will be issued, regardless of the reasons provided for the trip being cancelled. In addition, if you need to cancel or stop the tour for personal or health reasons, no refund is available, nor can you change your tour to a future date.
Guided tours in foreign languages: Additional fees are applied to all tours in foreign languages. This is necessary to account for the expertise of tour guides or freelancers we may employ to fulfill your tour needs.
Travel Agents: When a customer does not tip their driver or tour guide, their travel agent will be liable for a 20% gratuity. Travel agents must supply their customers’ full name and contact information, or the tour will not proceed. Further, travel agents must cover all overtime unpaid by their clients, and a credit card for this purpose will be kept on file. We barely cover our business expenses and wages because of the high cost of conducting business in California. As such, all our tours are at non-commissionable rates.
Gratuity:As is customary in the USA, a 15% to 20% gratuity is expected. Typically, a tip should be 15% to 20% of the total purchase amount, or a flat amount that close to the relevant percentage. Tipping is subjective, and your generosity is appreciated. Gratuities form an important part of tour guides earnings, and they can’t survive in this expensive state without them. Plus, without tour guides, we can’t run our business! So thank you for your understanding and for tipping appropriately.
Muir Woods National Monument new regulations: You will enjoy a more tranquil setting in Muir Woods National Monument compared to what previous tourists encountered. That’s because Muir Woods has become the first national park to require advance reservations for entry. No one can visit or access Muir Woods anymore without prior reservations and permits. Dedicated commercial and parking permits are provided as well to preserve the attraction’s peaceful environment. This extra cost and the inconvenience of the reservations process will likely put off numerous visitors and tour companies. Luckily for you, included in our private tours and small group custom trips are all the necessary arrangements for entry into this attraction – you don’t have to do a thing! We’ll make the reservation for you and pay for the parking and permits. Please note: Your Muir Woods tickets are not included in the tour price (the cost is currently $15 per person at time of writing but please check updated prices).
NOTE: Tour guides are not permitted to run guided tours to Alcatraz or Muir Woods. As such, your experiences of these attractions will be self-guided tours (including the excellent self-guided audio tour of Alcatraz prison), as we communicate on our website. To keep costs at a minimum, drop-off at your hotel after you visit Alcatraz is not included. This means you won’t pay overtime or for your driver to wait for you while you’re exploring Alcatraz Island. The Fisherman’s Wharf hotels are a short walk from Alcatraz landing, plus public transportation is very affordable and accessible in that area.
Alcatraz tours and tickets and the use of our online calendar: Our website’s calendar receives a lot of traffic, as it is used for all our tours and is offered in over 10 different languages – that means ten times the number of tour options! For this reason, when Alcatraz tickets are sold out (as they often are due to the popularity of this attraction), we are unable to block out our calendar for these specific date(s) as that would prevent all other clients from making bookings for other tours and according to their language needs. As Alcatraz makes up only 1% of our tours, we prioritize access to our many other tours that are the foundation of our business. As such, we have changed the terms and conditions on our website regarding Alcatraz tour and tickets, stating clearly and plainly these terms:
-All our tours including Alcatraz are subject to availability. This is the case even if the payment transaction has been approved. If it turns out that Alcatraz tickets are already sold out for the date you booked, we reserve the right to void or refund your transaction. Please understand this is totally out of our control since the U.S. National Park Service is the only provider of Alcatraz tickets and tours.
-During the peak season, holidays and week-ends, 8 business weeks in advance is required when booking our Alcatraz tour. The peak season runs from April to the end of October.
-When Alcatraz is sold out, we’ll offer you alternative tour options. If you decline, we’ll fully refund your transaction. This will take about 10 business days as per the “voided and refunded transactions” clause.
Common mistakes to avoid: When people see that Alcatraz tickets are sold out through other venues, some customers hurry to book our Alcatraz tour on our website. They ignore our terms and conditions, not realizing that, if the tickets are sold out, they’re sold out everywhere. We take no responsibility for this, as we have taken every measure to ensure transparency about the fact that we have no control over Alcatraz ticketing! This is why we require at least 8 business weeks in advance for Alcatraz bookings.
The misconception about private tours: Yes, public group tours are more cost-efficient for the tour operator than private tours. The input cost of private tours and public tours are approximately the same, as both provide one driver or tour guide, one vehicle, the same trip length, and both assume the same business expenses and commercial insurance liability. However, private tour operators (like ours) make 95% less profit than public group tours. The reason is that all our resources are dedicated to a party or family tour (and solo travelers), while the sheer volume of customers in a public tour means those operators make 10 times more profits! It’s extremely costly to operate private tours in California due to increasing taxes and business expenses, but we believe the customized experience and better quality is worth it for our customers.
Additional Terms & Tips for visitors and hikers
– If you suffer car or motion sickness, please consider acquiring medication from your doctor. We don’t want you to miss out on the best parts of our tour due to feeling unwell. Also consider altitude sickness, as we do reach some great heights on some of our tours. An excessive number of stops due to these problems don’t make for a great tour experience, so please consult your doctor in advance for preventative measures.
– Travel light and have more room for the journey. Consider leaving unnecessary luggage at your hotel.
– Our tours involve walking and hiking so wear appropriate footwear, such as snowshoes in winter. Don’t forget to pack a swimsuit to enjoy the hotel’s swimming pool and hot tub.
– Other necessities, depending on the season, include sunscreen, bug spray, extra memory cards for photos, and batteries for your camera (if applicable).
– Warm layers are the way to go for San Francisco’s cooler weather. Bring a raincoat in case of summer showers.
– The high altitude means it’s a good idea to drink plenty of water. Don’t risk hiking alone; we offer fully-guided tours.
– We are not responsible for injuries or accidents on our tours, inside or outside of Yosemite National Park. Please read our terms and conditions carefully for more information.
– When visiting the sequoias, you’ll be in rocky terrain with narrow, uphill, and winding hiking trails. You’ll need to hike downhill and then return uphill to the parking lot. At the beginning of the trail, the route is very steep, but rest assured it flattens out as you get closer to the parking lot. All groves require some hiking to access, but the nature of the hike depends on the one your driver selects for you. For both top groves, the elevation at the trail head is about 6,200 feet (1,860 meters). The Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias is a favorite of many, at a distance of about a 2.5-mile (4 km) round trip. You’ll need to do about 1.5 – 2 hours of hiking, but it’s appropriate for everybody who can hike including kids.
-California Gold Country: Located between Yosemite and the Eastern Sierra where a major highway leads to Tahoe, Tioga Pass is sometimes closed due to heavy snow. This may occur as early as October until about June or July. In this instance, day 2 and 3 of your tour will take you through the notorious, yet celebrated, California Gold Country instead.
-Please note that the order of your journey may vary. We may start in Lake Tahoe and then go to Yosemite National Park or the reverse. It all depends on the hotels’ availability, the season, the weather, and road conditions. We do not work on commission, so please book your own hotel if you’d prefer. However, if you want to avoid that hassle, we can organize that for you. Simply select ‘hotel included’ from our shopping cart.
Hotel Reservation: Each guest is charged only around $100 per night, for a three-star hotel situated in and around the Yosemite Valley area. This is determined by availability. Of course, if you’re looking for a certain quality of hotel accommodation, and would like to upgrade, you can book directly with your proffered resort or hotel. The Awhanhee is the only 4-star hotel in the Yosemite Valley. A suite at tis lodging may cost from $600 to $1200 per night depending on the season and availability. NOTE: Within Yosemite itself, there is limited accommodation available. As such, it is typically sold out 6 to 12 months in advance. If you want to stay inside the park, we therefore recommend booking ASAP. If you need to make your reservation closer to the tour date, we are often able to find availability at one of the small resort or motel-style hotels in the Yosemite area, fairly close to the park.
More Terms and Miscellaneous
Foreign Languages: Unless your tour voucher states otherwise, your tour will be given in English. Note that some other languages attract additional fees. To have your tour in another language, book a Private Tour and not a semi-private one. This is subject to availability. If you require more than one language other than English, further additional fees may apply. All semi-private tours can be shared with other clients and are conducted in English. Please be aware that semi-private tours are no longer available for booking on our website. Our bilingual tour guides book up months in advance, so get in early to avoid disappointment.
Miscellaneous:Unless indicated by your tour confirmation email or voucher, meals and tour guide/driver gratuities are not included in our tour prices.
Additional fees such as for wine tasting and tours, accommodation, and entry fees to see attractions and sites are not included in tour prices, unless stated on your tour voucher or email confirmation.
-Our partner and sister company Golden Horizon Travel Inc operates all our vehicles and tours. As per state and federal laws, they do not allow smoking on board.
-We hire freelance tour guides/drivers, subcontractors, and/or contractors to run our tours, shuttle services, and travel packages and reserve the right to do so.
– If your tour is impeded due to weather and/or poor road conditions, we will strive to reach every location, site and destination using substitute routes. However, we are not liable nor accountable for such unforeseen circumstances and no refunds will be issued.
-We reserve the right to make use of all photos or videos of our customers or passengers taken by our staff during the tour, trip, or transfer, on our website. and Under no circumstances can customers dispute our use of photos or videos in this manner.
-All sales are final Unused part of the tour(s) cannot be refunded or substituted. .
-By not showing up or leaving portions of your tour unused, you forfeit the right to any refund.
-If you cancel your booking and are eligible for a refund or voided transaction, please allow up to 2 weeks for the refunded amount to be returned to your account. This applies to credit or debit cards, or payments made via PayPal.
Our hot-air balloon rides are subject to last-minute cancellations due to weather events. Rides are not guaranteed to depart and arrive back in Napa Valley. Your ride may occur anywhere within an 80-mile radius of Napa Valley. This decision will be made by your pilot based on the weather conditions.
-We reserve the right to refuse service to any person or business who fails to comply with our safety instructions or scheduled tour itinerary. Further, anyone who poses any harm or threat to our customers and/or our tour guide-drivers will also be denied service. Under any circumstances, screaming at or insulting tour guide-drivers or fellow passengers or third-party businesses and subcontractors will not be tolerated. Such behavior will result in immediate termination and cancellation of your tour without any refund. Under any circumstances, discrimination against a customer or a tour guide–driver for any reason will not be tolerated.
Cancellation due to unforeseen weather conditions: Fires, landslides, road closures, vehicle problems, medical emergencies involving our drivers or tour guides, or any other weather conditions or unforeseen circumstances may occur before or during your tour. In these situations, where possible, we reserve the right to offer you substitute tours or alternative destinations for the scheduled duration of your tour.
Modifications of these terms and conditions: SF Tours and our affiliated websites or contractors reserve the right to change any of the terms and conditions listed on this website. We reserve the right to alter our web contents, make amendments to our terms and privacy policy at any time. Such changes will occur at our discretion without prior warning. Find out more about our privacy policy and complete terms and conditions.
Our Terms, Refund and Cancellation Policy are as follows:
Term & Refund Policy
-91% of the total amount will be refunded to your credit card if you cancel your trip at least 15 business days prior to the scheduled tour (or the date of the tour or service). The remaining 9% covers the required transaction fees; that’s 4.5 % per each transaction (booking is one transaction and refunding is a second transaction for which we get charged as well). (weekends and holidays don’t count).
-50% of the total amount will be refunded if the tour is canceled at least 7 business days prior to the scheduled tour date or service. (weekends and holidays don’t count).
-15% of the total amount will be refunded if the tour is canceled at least 5 business days prior to the scheduled date of the tour (weekends and holidays don’t count).
-0% of the total amount will be refunded if the tour is canceled 4 business days, or less, prior to the day of the scheduled tour or service. This includes no-shows. (weekends and holidays don’t count)
Please note that all refunds are subject to credit card and merchant’s fees imposed on us by credit cards companies and merchant banks or providers. The average amount of credit cards and merchant’s transactions fees may range between 3.9 % to 9.8% of the total amount of your purchase (transaction) based on the type of credit card you use when booking this tour, the credit card issuer, country and conversion fees we are subject per transaction. Many foreign countries apply additional origination and conversions fees.
Important: Please note that we reserve the date(s) you requested and booked on our website for you and we decline taking other tours for these date(s) to honor yours. We keep a tour guide and a luxury vehicle on hold and make all required reservations and arrangements for you and your party, so please don’t change the date or cancel at the last minute as we have other customers and tours to honor.
General Terms
– Reservation and Confirmation: As soon as you book online, a merchant receipt is generated automatically and sent to you via email. We will also confirm your reservation by email and send you a tour voucher or email confirming your booking date, tour and pick-up time. This tour confirmation or voucher is only valid for the specific date(s) you reserved on our website, and only valid for the names listed on the booking. You can’t transfer the names or ask for a different date(s), as we have other tours to honor. You may not change the tour date within 15 days from the date of the scheduled tour you booked, and there will be no alternative days offered.
In an effort to honor all tours, we reserve the right to partner with other tour operators, freelancers, and/or our sister companies. The exact name and contact information of your tour operator will be stated on your tour voucher and the trip confirmation will be issued especially for you after we received your approved transaction.
-All tours are subject to availability as we may get several tour requests at the same time. Approved payment transactions do not guarantee your tour unless it has been confirmed via email.
Declined Transactions:
Please note that when transactions are declined, we do not receive any information in this regard, so do not expect your reservation to be in place unless you received written confirmation. Please contact us asap, but do not expect us to honor your tour without an email confirmation and tour voucher from us.
If your booking was declined by your own bank, this is often due to a mismatch between your bank information (such as the names on the credit card, zip/postal code or billing address) compared to the bank information you provided on our website when placed your order. Sometimes, transactions are declined due to insufficient funds as well. Your tour(s) will not be confirmed until your new transaction is approved by your own bank. We apologize for the inconvenience, but your own bank did so to prevent fraud and protect your credit card information or due one of the above factors.
All our tours are subject to availability even when the transactions are approved. We will get back to you as soon as possible and let you know if the required tour(s) and date(s) still available. Also, all our tours are conducted in English unless otherwise stated in the email or tour voucher confirmation we will send you soon, once your transaction is approved.
We reserve the right to offer you suitable substitutes or changes to your itinerary, tours or services due to special events, weather conditions, road closures, vehicle breakdowns, unpredictable circumstances, unavailability and/or due to last minute reservations. We assume no responsibility for delays caused by accidents, breakdowns, unforeseen accidents or events, road, weather conditions and/or all other circumstances beyond our control. We do not guarantee to arrive to, or depart from, any point at a specific time for the same above considerations. However, we will do our very best to honor your tour itinerary and schedule accordingly.
Hot-Air Balloon Special Cancellation and Refund Policy: This is an 8-hour guided tour (door to door when leaving from San Francisco or 6 hours when leaving from Napa or Sonoma Valley).
Your balloon ride will be scheduled before sunrise depending on weather conditions. Your safety is our #1 priority. Some rides may launch from other sites like Yolo County or Pope Valley when Napa weather conditions don’t allow us to fly the balloon. Balloons will never fly when it rains or in winds higher than 12 mph.
Heads-up: The hot-air balloon pilots offer alternative launching sites when Napa Valley weather conditions don’t permit them to take off from the valley. This maximizes your chances to fly from other sites even when weather conditions are not ideal in Napa.
Non-refundable for No-Show or last-minute changes: Our office staff will notify you by 5 pm the day prior to your hot-air balloon tour (generally, we pick our customers between 4 and 5 am at your hotel in San Francisco or Napa). If we are unable to reach you before 5 pm the day prior to your balloon tour because you don’t respond to your email or cellphone, or because you decided not to return our calls, your driver will still show up at 4 am as scheduled. However, if you don’t wake up , this will be a no-show and therefore, the entire cost will be non-refundable as per our refund terms and cancellation policy.
The Refundable Portion of the balloon ride: If you decide to cancel the balloon ride portion of the tour, you must do so at least 4 days in advance. The hot-air balloon ride is only refundable when the pilot cancels it the same day due to bad weather or for any other considerations. If you cancel the balloon reservation is 4 days in advance; the tour guide will pick you up at 9 am instead of 4 am and proceed with the wine tour as scheduled.
The wine tour itself is not refundable regardless of weather conditions. However, if you wish to proceed and take your chance, your tour guide will pick you up as scheduled at 4 am. Please keep in mind that we have reserved this day just for you and turned down other reservations to honor your tour, we still get charged and pay all wages and business expenses. For that, only the hot-air balloon ride portion of this package is refundable IF YOU CANCEL IT BEFORE 5 PM THE DATE PRIOR TO YOUR TOUR. If so, you will receive a $190 refund per person, which will be credited back to you within 7 business days. If you book directly with Viator, please review their own terms and policy .
Again, no changes or modifications are accepted within 4 days prior to your trip. We close our office at 5 pm and your driver goes as early as 7 pm to be able to wake up at 2 am and come over to the office to pick up the required vehicle and meet you at 4 am at your hotel.
We are extremely transparent about these unforeseen weather conditions ,cancellation policy and terms. Please read these terms carefully so we avoid any misunderstanding or blame. Our drivers are humans and go to bed incredibly early to be able to show up at your hotel at 4 am. Please do not make any last-minute changes after 5 pm the day before your departure/tour. We will not even get your message until the next day!
Other terms and information
Wheelchair and Handicap Accessibility issues: We apologize but our vehicles are not equipped with wheelchair access. There is no room for a wheelchair in our vehicles unless it’s a very small and foldable wheelchair. However, the main concern is the customers’ ability to get it in and out of the vehicles for liability issues. When kids, seniors, and wheelchairs are part of the tour, this will slow down the trip, and requires overtime. $179 will be charged to your credit card for each additional hour added to the tour after 12 hours by van, and $129 per hour when touring by SUV.
Pets: Pets are not allowed in our vehicles out of respect for those who have allergies to pets.
Smoking: Our vehicles are also non-smoking.
Clothing: Please be prepared for cold weather, slippery roads and hiking trails, so have comfortable waterproof hiking shoes to walk on the snow in winter and spring. This long day-tour is hard on kids and seniors, we therefore recommend the overnight tour package.
Parks, Attractions and Site’s Closures: We are not responsible, nor liable, for road and weather conditions. State and national parks’ closure can happen at any time and without a prior notice, due to bad road and weather considerations. No refund will be issued, regardless the reasons for which the trip may not reach its destination. If you cancel or stop the tour for personal or medical reasons, there will be no refund or change of tour or dates offered either.
Guided tours in foreign languages: All tours in foreign languages are subject to extra fees to cover tour guides or freelancers we may hire to honor your tour in the required language.
Travel Agents: Travel agents are liable for 20% gratuity when their customer does not tip the driver or tour guides. We require customers’ full name and contact information from all travel agent or the tour will be cancelled. Travel agent are also liable for all overtime when their clients do not pay for, and a credit card will be needed on file. Due to high cost of conducting business in California, we barely cover our business expenses and wages, therefore, all our tours are non-commissionable rates.
Gratuity: 15% to 20% gratuity is required and customary in the USA. Generally, a tip may vary between 15% to 20% of the total purchase amount, or it can be a flat amount that is near the appropriate percent. It really depends upon the situation, and your generosity because without gratuity tour guides can’t thrive in this expensive state of California, and without tour guides, we can’t run this business. Thank you for your generosity and understanding.
Muir Woods National Monument new regulations: Once in Muir Woods National Monument, you’ll find out that it has become less crowded and even very peaceful because Muir Woods has become the first national park to require reservations in advance with special commercial and parking permits. This extra cost and in addition to the complicated reservations process turn off manty visors and tour companies from visiting Muir Woods. No one can visit or access Muir Woods anymore without prior reservations and permits. But don’t worry, thanks to our private tours and small group custom trips, we will take care of all the required arrangements and offer you a worry-free tour package, we do reserve and pay for your parking and Muir Woods permits, however, your Muir Woods tickets are not included in the tour price and will be at your charge ($15 per person, but may go up again).
Please note that tour guides are not allowed to conduct guided tours to Alcatraz or Muir Woods. Your Alcatraz and Muir Woods are self-guided tours as stated on our website (an audio self-guided tour on your own for Alcatraz prison). Also, in order to keep the cost down, we therefore do not include a drop-off at your hotel after you visit Alcatraz, so you don’t pay overtime or have a driver waiting for you while visiting Alcatraz Island. The Fisherman’s Wharf hotels are walking distance from Alcatraz landing. Public transportation is very affordable and available everywhere.
Alcatraz tours and tickets and the use of our online calendar: The only online calendar available on our website is extremely hard to manage and update on daily basis. This calendar governs all our tours and available in over 10 different languages which multiplies the number of tour options by 10! When Alcatraz tickets are sold out, we cannot simply block the calendar for these particular date(s) because this will prevent all other clients from booking any of our tours in 10 different languages, this would put us all out of business! Alcatraz represents only 1% of our tours and it’s extremely impossible to block the calendar each time Alcatraz is sold out. For that reason, we have amended these terms and conditions on our website stating clearly unequivocally the following terms regarding Alcatraz tour and tickets:
-All our tours including Alcatraz are subject to availability even if the transaction is approved. We do reserve the right to void or refund your transaction when Alcatraz tickets are sold out, this is totally out of our hands as the only provider of Alcatraz tickets and tours are governed by the U.S. National Park Service.
-We do require 8 business weeks in advance when booking our Alcatraz tour during the peaks season, holidays and week-ends. The peak season refers to the period of April to the end of October.
-We reserve the right to offer you alternative tours when Alcatraz is sold out, if you decline our offer, we simply and fully refund your transaction which takes about 10 business days before your funds are available to you as stated above under section “voided and refunded transactions” clause.
Common mistake some customers do: When Alcatraz tickets are sold out, customers rush desperately to book directly Alcatraz tour on our website without taking the time to review our terms and conditions in this regard, we are not to blame in this case as we made it extremely clear that we have no control over Alcatraz tickets when they are sold out, for that reason we do require at least 8 business weeks booking in advance!
The misconception about private tours: There a misconception about private tours. Yes, public large bus group tours are more cost-effective for the operator, than private tours. In essence, the input cost of private tours and public tours are roughly the same – both provide one driver or a tour guide, one vehicle, same trip length whilst both companies assume the same business expenses and commercial insurance liability. However, private tour operators (like ours) make 90% less profit than public group tours, because all our resources are dedicated to a small group (couples or families), whilst the pubic tour operators make 10 times more profits thanks to the volume(quantity)! We, on the other hand, focus on quality as we never share our private tours with other customers. Yet, although we provide a higher quality tour service, and incur even greater expenses in many cases, the profit margins are limited. This makes some of our private tours barely profitable due to the increasing cost and liability of conducting business in California.
Additional Terms & Tips for visitors and hikers
– If you are subject to car or motion sickness, please consider asking your doctor for recommended medication. Some visitors underestimate this aspect and end up visiting only 50% of the tour as they suffer from this or altitude sickness and make an excessive number of stops along the way. Please consult your doctor and ensure you have the appropriate medication in advance.
– Consider leaving unnecessary luggage at your hotel and travel light so you have more room in the vehicle.
– Wear clothes and shoes suitable for walking and hiking (Snow shoes in winter are recommended, and a swimsuit to enjoy the hotel’s swimming pool and hot tub).
– Bring sunscreen, bug spray, extra memory cards, and batteries for your camera (if applicable).
– Warm layers for cooler weather and a raincoat for summer showers.
– Drink lots of water due to the high altitude and don’t hike alone, as we offer fully-guided tours.
– We are not responsible for injuries or accidents that may occur during this trip, in or out of Yosemite National Park. Please read our < href=”/terms-conditions”>terms and conditions for more information.
-Expect rugged terrain with narrow, steep, and very curvy hiking trails to the sequoias. Also, be prepared for a downhill hike and then back uphill to the parking lot. The trail is very steep right at the beginning on the way back up but mellows out as you get closer to the parking lot. It depends on the grove your driver will choose for you, but they all require hiking. The elevation at the trail head of both top groves is about 6,200 feet (1,860 meters). The most popular is the Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias, the distance is about 2.5 miles (4 km) round trip and takes about 1.5 – 2 hours of hiking, and recommended for everybody who can hike including kids.
-California Gold Country: When Tioga Pass road (located between Yosemite and the Eastern Sierra where a major highway leads to Tahoe) is closed due to heavy snow that may start as early as October until about June or July, we will drive through the infamous, yet legendary, California Gold Country on day 2 and day 3 of your adventure.
-Please note that we may start in Lake Tahoe first, and then head to Yosemite National Park or vice versa. This will depend on the hotels’ availability, the season, the weather and road conditions. We do not work on commission, so you are welcome to book your own hotel, but if you don’t want to deal with these details, we can take care of that on your behalf when you choose the option ‘hotel included’ from our shopping cart.
Hotel Reservation: To keep costs down, we charge each guest only about $100 per night, for a three-star hotel in and around Yosemite Valley area, based on availability. However, if you have high expectations of the hotel accommodation, and wish to upgrade, we recommend that you choose your own hotel and book it directly with the required resort or hotel. The Majestic hotel (the former Awhanhee) is the only 4-star hotel in the Yosemite Valley where a suite may go from $600 to $1200 per night based on availability and the season. Please note that there are a very limited number of hotels in Yosemite, and they are often sold out 6 to 12 months in advance, so the sooner you book the better. However, we often manage to get a hotel reservation nearby Yosemite Valley, in one of the small resort or motel style hotels in the area, for reservations closer to the tour date.
More Terms and Miscellaneous
Foreign Languages: Our tours are conducted in English unless otherwise indicated on your tour voucher. Some foreign languages are subject to additional fees. For all foreign languages, you must book a Private Tour and not a semi-private tour to enjoy the tour in the required language (subject to availability). Additional fees may apply on any additional foreign languages. All semi-private tours are conducted in English and can be shared with other clients. Semi-private tours will no longer be available on our website. Please book your private tour asap as our tour bilingual tour guides are booked up months in advance.
Miscellaneous: Meals and tour guide/driver gratuities are not included in our tour price unless indicated on your tour voucher or email confirmation.
Tour prices do not include additional fees including wine tasting, accommodations, and entry fees to see attractions and sites, winery tours, unless otherwise indicated on your tour voucher or email confirmation.
-All vehicles operated by Golden Horizon Travel Inc are non-smoking according to state and federal laws.
-Golden Horizon Travel Inc reserves the right to hire independent tour guide/drivers, subcontractors and/or contractors to facilitate our tours, shuttle services and travel packages.
-In the event that we are unable to facilitate your tour due to weather and/or road conditions, we will attempt to reach each location, site and destination using alternative routes, but we are not liable nor responsible for these unforeseen weather/traffic conditions. No refunds will be available.
-All photos or videos taken by our staff of our customers or passengers, during the capacity of the tour, trip or transfer, may be included on our website. Customers hereby agree to the use of these photos and videos and under no circumstances can customers dispute.
-No substitution or refunds for any unused part of the tour(s) will be issued. All sales are final.
-No refunds will be issued for a no-show or unused portion of the tour.
-All refund and/or voided transactions paid on our website by credit or debit cards or via PayPal may take up to 2 weeks before you receive the funds (refunds) back into your account.
Our hot-air balloon rides are no guaranteed to depart and arrive back in Napa Valley and subject to last-minute cancelation for weather considerations. Golden Horizon Travel inc reserves the right to fly anywhere within 80-mile radius of Napa Valley dependent on the weather conditions.
-We reserve the right to refuse service to any person or business who may refuse to comply with our safety instructions, our tour itinerary, or to anyone who may pose a threat to our customers and/or our tour guide-drivers. Screaming at or insulting tour guide-drivers or fellow passengers or third-party businesses and subcontractors is not acceptable under any circumstances and will terminate and cancel your tour without any refund. Discrimination against a customer or a tour guide–driver for any reason is not acceptable either under any circumstance.
Cancellation due to unforeseen weather conditions: Weather/Unforeseen Circumstances like fires, landslide, road closure, vehicle breakdown, employees or driver’s medical emergency or due other weather conditions or unforeseen circumstances; we revere the right to offer you alternative tours, destinations for the same amount of time.
Modifications of these terms and conditions: Golden Horizon Travel Inc and its affiliated websites or contractors reserve the right to change any of these terms and conditions under which this website is offered. We reserve the right to change our web contents, update our terms and privacy policy anytime and at our discretion without a prior notice. Learn more about our privacy policy and complete terms and conditions
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Testimonials from real customers
“Everybody should visit Alcatraz Prison”
Definitely, plan your Alcatraz Island tour ahead of time! Be sure to get the audio guide before you enter the cell blocks as this will help you to create a real sense of what Alcatraz was like when it was a maximum high-security federal prison. The audio of the jail is authentic, and the narration is well done by real inmates and former security guards. The sounds of clanking iron bars as you walk through the cell blocks make it so eerie and real at the same time. I recommend wearing comfortable walking shoes.We also enjoyed our city tour with Adam by van.He is a fun, knowledgeable, and an amazing tour guide, plus he really went the extra mile to make us happy and comfortable. Our favorite stop was at the Palace of Fine Arts near the Presidio.We highly recommend Adam and San Francisco Tours.
“Awesome ferry tour in the SF Bay “
Taking a ferry boat tour is a must-do when visiting San Francisco. We took a bay cruise trip in the San Francisco Bay, sailing around Alcatraz Island and under the Golden Gate Bridge. The views of San Francisco from the bay are amazing! A blanket of fog covered the upper part of the Golden Gate Bridge, which was spectacular. SF bay can be sunny but cool at the same time, so dress in layers and always bring a jacket!
“The best day combo tour of San Francisco and Muir Woods “
Nothing is more refreshing than being in nature. The road to Muir Woods is scenic and beautiful and winds around the tree-covered sea cliffs. Last year, we drove on our own, but we couldn’t get into Muir Woods as they now require advance booking and parking reservation. This day combo tour of San Francisco and Muir Woods was the perfect getaway for my family. We didn’t have to worry about parking or tickets. San Francisco Tours is highly recommended!
“The perfect full day San Francisco Tour”
My family wanted to make efficient use of our short stay in San Francisco, and Jonathan provided the perfect city guided tour. He drove us into every corner of the city and entertained us with narration that was lively and full of intriguing historical and cultural details. He was thoroughly professional and considerate (stopping at just the right times for photos, walking , visiting places, or restroom breaks) and engaging; we whole-heartedly recommend the San Francisco full day tour – a must do!
“Muir Woods & Alcatraz tickets were sold out”
We wanted to squeeze in Alcatraz and Muir Woods in a half-day trip, but we couldn’t find any tickets available. San Francisco Tours accommodated us despite this last-minute booking. The tour guide was amazing and both attractions are a must-see for first time visitors. We didn’t care much for Sausalito, but we loved the houseboats tour.
“San Francisco, Sausalito & Muir Woods full experience”
We spent a superb day together with Patricia. Everybody enjoyed Patricia’s broad knowledge on historical as well as socio-cultural backgrounds of the Bay area. We highly appreciated Patricia’s sensitivity towards the interest point of our three teenagers. And finally, Patricia understood that touring SF and Muir Woods was for us as important as some chasing up of some old family roots in Ross, Marin County. Thus, thanks to Patricia’s personal effort, San Francisco Tours lived up to our expectations completely!
“This SF Night Tour was the highlight of our girls trip!”
Mary was our guide-driver and we were SO HAPPY we got her! She took us around to some great night-time neighborhoods we wouldn’t have ever thought of going to otherwise, but it was essential to our experience to see these authentic areas of San Francisco. The views were breathtaking all over the city, so amazing! She was our photographer, our storyteller, and even took us on our crazy In-And-Out burger request (we don’t have one where we live). So thank you so much Mary and to San Francisco Tours for matching us up with such a FAB lady!
“A fun Safari and Redwoods adventrue”
Fun and lots to see, enjoyable for both adults and young kids. I highly recommend this combo tour of Sonoma Safari and Armstrong Redwoods. We enjoyed the trip and the stops the driver made along the way. This trip was fantastic and fun, a bit expensive, but it was worth every penny we spent on this combo tour. Thumbs up!
“A fun horseback riding experience near San Francisco”
Great company to work with and a very helpful staff! It has become our tradition every year to visit San Francisco, but we never thought about going horseback riding in the San Francisco Bay area. We finally did it, and we felt safe riding the horses down on the beach near the Half-Moon Bay area. It was fun and exciting. Thank you, San Francisco Tours!
“The Best Napa Valley and Redwoods combo tour”
Our day trip to Muir Woods Forest and Napa Valley was fun and relaxing. We first visited Muir Woods National Monument, as it’s less crowded in the morning, and then stopped for lunch at Sonoma Plaza. In the afternoon, we visited two elegant wineries in Napa Valley that were booked for us in advance. The choice of wineries was perfect, and the wines were excellent.
“Reyes National Seashore is awesome”
If you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, Point Reyes national seashore is the perfect getaway without driving for too long. The Point Reyes parks, wildlife, and beaches are beautiful even when it’s foggy.We liked the walk to the lighthouse, but the highlight of our trip to Marin County was wildlife watching at Point Reyes. Getting there would have been a challenge, and I’m glad we didn’t have to drive.
“Must See once in a Lifetime – Spectacular!!”
Redwood National Park is a national treasure and exceeded our expectations. This temple of nature and towering redwoods is a must-see place for a once in a lifetime expereince when visiting Northern California. Don’t skip Del Norte and Prairie Creek – they are home to some of the largest redwood trees we have ever seen. I recommend the three-day tour package with accommodation.