Tour guides USA > California

5 ideas for guided tours in California

• Lake Tahoe

  

  On the border between California and the Sierra Nevada mountains, Lake Tahoe stretches out like a vast high-altitude mirror. Its crystal-clear waters, deep blue in places, are among the purest in the United States. Visitors come here as much to recharge as to enjoy the many activities that fill the year.

  Under shifting light, its blue-green reflections mingle with the dark outlines of surrounding peaks. Beaches such as Sand Harbor invite you to lay down a towel or set off by kayak, paddleboard, or sailboat, carried by the wind and the mood of the day.

  All around, the landscape draws both the eye and the hiker’s step. The Heavenly Gondola climbs to over 3,000 meters, offering a view that feels suspended between sky and water. Trails abound: the gentle 8 km loop along the lakeshore, or the Eagle Falls Trail, leading to waterfalls tucked away in a wild setting.

• Palm Spring

  

  Tucked at the foot of the San Jacinto Mountains in Southern California, Palm Springs radiates a sunny, distinctive charm. Just two hours separate this quiet oasis from the bustle of Los Angeles.

  Here, blue skies reign supreme. Life drifts along the peaceful rhythm of Palm Canyon Drive, lined with palm trees. Pastel façades and the clean lines of mid-century modern homes evoke a time preserved, almost cinematic.

  For a change in perspective, the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway carries you from the scorching desert to the cool forests of the Mount San Jacinto State Park. Up there, trails wind between pines and silence.

  Hidden in a quiet corner, the Moorten Botanical Garden reveals a miniature world of more than 3,000 plant species adapted to arid life. A suspended place, calm and preserved.

  Palm Springs also holds on to the memory of a Hollywood golden age. Strolling through the Old Las Palmas Neighborhood or the galleries of the Palm Springs Art Museum, you can still sense the passage of cinema’s legends.

• Big Sur

  

  Perched on California’s coast, Big Sur is a wild haven for nature lovers. This remote stretch offers a succession of breathtaking views over the Pacific Ocean and the rugged cliffs rising around it.

  Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park is the perfect starting point. There, McWay Falls plunges straight into the ocean, a scene as rare as it is poetic. Following the scenic highway, each bend reveals a new backdrop.

  A stop at Pfeiffer Beach is a must, with its granite rocks streaked with pink hues, sculpted by wind and water. Further along, Andrew Molera State Park charms with wooded trails and a quiet beach.

  Before leaving, don’t miss the Bixby Bridge. This iconic span, suspended nearly 80 meters above a canyon, offers one of the most memorable panoramas on the entire coast.

• Yosemite Park

  

  Yosemite National Park makes an impression from the very first steps, with massive cliffs and deep valleys that capture the eye. Across more than 3,000 km², wildlife thrives—black bears, coyotes, mule deer, cougars, and even elk roaming through forests and meadows.

  Hiking, climbing, rafting, mountain biking—everyone shapes their day as they wish. The central valley holds many highlights, including Half Dome, a vast granite monolith towering more than 1,400 meters above the valley floor.

  Tioga Road winds high above, a scenic route of switchbacks, alpine lakes, scattered forests, and peaks still dusted with snow early in the season. It leads to trails like the Panorama Trail, a natural balcony offering sweeping views of the valley.

  From Glacier Point, the sense of vastness is striking. Half Dome stands out sharply, along with Vernal and Nevada Falls. Throughout the park, more than 400 waterfalls carve the cliffs, including Yosemite Falls, often ranked among the tallest in the world.

• Death Valley

  

  Death Valley captivates with its raw landscape, strange geological forms, and discreet yet resilient life. At 1,340 meters below sea level, it holds the record as the lowest point in North America.

  Begin your journey at the Badlands, a maze of sandy hills, eroded ridges, and shifting colors. At dawn and dusk, the landscape glows in shades of gold and rose, under a light that feels almost unreal.

  Further on, the Ubehebe Crater impresses with its black and red walls. Born of a volcanic explosion three centuries ago, it offers sweeping views over the surroundings. Not to be missed: the Devil’s Golf Course, a salt and clay plain cracked and sculpted by time.

  The Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes form a moving landscape. Wind carves golden waves of sand that can rise up to 180 meters.

  Finally, make your way to Zabriskie Point, famous for its ridges carved by erosion. An almost surreal setting, frozen in ochre light, where silence reigns supreme.