At a Glance
Traverse and taste the culture of California’s wine country, exploring the best of the awe-inspiring Napa Valley and Sonoma County on this tantalising 5-day hiking journey. From oak studded mountain to ancient redwood groves, from Napa Valley to Sonoma, enjoy hiking paired with a gourmet affair and indulge in delights where your wine list is as delicious as your views.
This amazing hiking journey starts in San Francisco, California. Enjoy a picturesque view of surrounding vineyards as you explore the Sonoma Valley while tasting their most sought-after wines. Annex to your science as the winemaking masters gives you informative tutoring on winemaking operations. Discover the peaceful coastal town, Jenner. Hike along the trail of the Pomo Canyon and relish the sights of its beautiful wildflowers. Get captivated by the fascinating sight ...
Trip Highlights
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What's Included
- 5 nights accommodation in luxury hotels and resorts on a twin share basis
- All luggage, airport and hotel transfers as specified in itinerary
- Brief orientation in San Francisco on Day 1
- Meals as specified in itinerary
- Professional guiding: two support vans, 6:1 guest to leader ratio on average
- Hiking, sightseeing and activities as stated in the itinerary
- Park and other entry fees
- Comprehensive travel planner with detailed pre trip information
- Expertise and services of our experienced Trip Leaders
- Snacks and beverages between meals
- Van shuttles to support a variety of route options
- All gratuities at hotels and restaurants
Itinerary
DAY 1 Level 1, Approx. 6km (4 miles), Elevation gain: 152m (500 ft) DAY 2 THREE HIKING OPTIONS: Upon arrival on the first day, you will meet your tour leaders at 10 am. Please arrive on time and dressed in your hiking attire and bring your luggage along with all the gear you may want for the journey (your luggage will be transferred to our first night’s location). Begin with a tour of a Sonoma wine estate and learn about the winemaking process from an expert. Enjoy the amazing view at the mountain top wine tasting. A hike through sky-high coastal redwoods through the Pomo Canyon will bring us to beautiful wide grasslands and rugged chaparral. Relish the view of the Pacific Ocean and the mouth of the Russian River and be on the lookout for seals and surfers amidst the crashing surf. Journey to the charming small coastal town, Jenner-by-the-sea, and explore its hidden gems. |
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You’ll stay at a 250-acre eco luxury oasis at Montage Healdsburg in the heart of Wine Country. Set amidst rolling vineyards and oak tree groves, unwind in your bungalow inspired design rooms. Rejuvenate to a relaxing massage session at the 11,500 square foot spa, take a dip at the zero-edge pool or enjoy a soothing drink at the Scout Field Bar. Note: Day 2 is an opportunity for you to explore the region’s exquisite restaurants and enjoy an exotic dinner at your own expense. |
DAY 3 THREE HIKING OPTIONS: DAY 4 THREE HIKING OPTIONS: DAY 5 TWO HIKING OPTIONS: |
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Revel through majestic ancient redwoods as you traverse amongst the tallest living things on earth in Armstrong Redwoods State Reserve before a delightful fresh farm-to-fork lunch. Spend your days engaging in tranquil experiences doing as much or as little as you please. Bring your competitive spirit and play bocce ball with your new friends. Dine in the exotic Solbar restaurant in Calistoga. Enjoy the hike along a historic mining trail and glimpse the theatrical lava pinnacles. Borrow a bike from the hotel, tour the world-renowned Calistoga town, known for its natural healing geothermal water and mud bath traditions. Experience California’s astonishing cuisine during an al fresco dinner in the valley where farm fresh seasonal ingredient creates unique and flavorful dining affairs. This amazing journey comes to an end as we visit the alluring St.Helena. Indulge in a gourmet picnic and wine tasting, and enjoy the sights of San Francisco on a smooth ride back. You’ll stay at a picturesque 22 acres oasis embraced by sweeping mountain views at Solage Calistoga. Enjoy a relaxing swim at one of Travel + Leisure World’s Best pools with a magnificent view of the Mayacamas and Palisades Mountains. Dinner is not included on Day 5. NOTE: This itinerary is provided as an example only – prevailing conditions and local arrangements may cause variation. |
Dates & Prices
Please contact us for private departures and group bookings. Single Supplement is available on request.
More Info
The departure and finish point is San Francisco
Major commercial flights provide convenient access to San Francisco
Defined by mountain ranges and influenced by its proximity to the Pacific Ocean, the Napa Valley enjoys a dry Mediterranean climate. Each season in the wine country is unique. In the spring, the days are warm and the evenings are cool. A layer of low clouds and fog often moves inland during the night and retreats mid-morning. Summers can be intensely hot during the day with evenings bringing cooler temperatures. Rainfall is negligible June through September. In the fall, warm weather continues with October being characterized by spring-like temperatures, but with rain likely. Guests on trips departing in March, April, November and December especially should come prepared for rain and cold weather. The warmest time of year is generally late August to early September where highs are regularly around 86.5°F (30.3°C) with temperatures rarely dropping below 51.8°F (11°C) at night.
The routes on this trip are rated Levels 1-3.
Level 1, 2-5 hours, 3-8km (2-5 miles), Maximum Elevation Gain 244m (800 ft)
Level 2, 2-4 hours, 6-11km (4-7 miles), Maximum Elevation Gain 396m (1300 ft)
Level 3, 3-5 hours, 8-14km (5-9 miles), Maximum Elevation Gain 610m (2000 ft)
Level 4, 4-6 hours, 10-18km(6-11 miles), Maximum Elevation Gain 914m (3000 ft)
Level 5, 5-7 hours, 11-21+ km (7-13+ miles), Maximum Elevation Gain 1219m (4000+ ft)
Onlyluxe Travel acts as travel agency and work with different tour operators.
Payment Detail
All pricing is in Australian dollars and are quoted on a per person twin share basis. A supplementary price is available (see below). Bookings are not confirmed until full payment and the signed Booking Form has been received by Onlyluxe Travel.
A non-refundable 30% deposit is payable within 7 days of your booking, with the final balance due 120 days prior to departure. If a booking is made 120 days or less before departure, the full payment is payable immediately. Last minute bookings are payable before arrival. Failure to pay on time may result in automatic cancellation of a booking with cancellation penalties payable to Onlyluxe Travel. If you pay by credit card or PayPal a surcharge will be added to the total price.
Single Supplement
All accommodation is twin share. Single guests will share with someone of the same gender. If a single room is demanded, a supplementary price of will apply. The supplementary price refers to our quotation and needs to be stipulated at the time of booking.
General Cancellation Policies
- Outside of 120 days monies will be refunded less 30% of full fee
- Within 120 days prior to arrival all monies will be forfeited
- No refunds will be given in the event of non-arrival, any unused services or unused nights due to flight or weather disruption
- We strongly recommend guests protect themselves with travel insurance and medical insurance
Please Note: Cancellations must be advised in email and will take effect from the date they are received.
Liability
The participant agrees to indemnify Onlyluxe Travel, and its servant, tour operator and agents, in relation to any liability, loss and damage which the tour operator, or its servants and/or agents may incur as a result of the participants, negligence or misconduct during the tour.
Smoking is not permitted on the bus, or in tents or in other accommodation being used by tour operator at the time that a trip is being conducted.
Child Policy
Please consult travel consultant on age limit.
Changes to Itineraries
Local conditions may necessitate changes to sightseeing, walking and driving routes, camping and accommodation locations. While every effort will be made to provide the services and experiences as offered in our brochure, on our website, and in our trip letters, we reserve the right to vary your itinerary. In the event that we are forced to change your arrangements, substitute arrangements of a similar standard will be provided. The tour operator will not be liable where interruptions to itineraries are caused by weather conditions, technical problems to transport used by the tour operator, industrial action, political or civil commotion or other circumstances beyond our control. We refer you to the conditions regarding travel insurance.
Changes in Prices
While we will do its utmost to honour its pricing unforeseen circumstances may mean that prices may be subject to change without notice.
Pre-Existing Medical Conditions and Age Limits
You need to advise Onlyluxe travel and the tour operator on any pre-existing medical condition, mobility impairment and/or disability that might reasonably be expected to increase the risk of your requiring medical attention, or that might affect the normal conduct of a trip and the enjoyment of other trip members. Onlyluxe Travel and the tour operator may require an assessment of your medical condition from a qualified medical practitioner. If you fail to adequately notify the tour operator of any pre-existing medical conditions and/or disability, the tour operator reserves the right, at its reasonable discretion, to cancel your participation in a trip at any time, including after the commencement of your trip, with no right of refund if your medical condition, mobility impairment and/or disability could be reasonably expected to affect the normal conduct of the trip and the enjoyment of other trip members.
Cancellation by The Tour Operator
The tour operator is at the mercy of nature in all her beauty and all her fury. The tour operator will under no circumstance knowingly place at risk the health and well-being of our guests and guides. In the case of natural threats, acts of God and the like (e.g. bushfires, impassable snow, etc) the tour operator may need to cancel a tour with very little notice. In some cases, this can occur after the tour has commenced. The tour operator reserves the right to cancel any tour up to 60 days prior to departure if the minimum number requirement is unable to meet for a tour. If the tour operator needs to cancel for any reason, the cost of the tour or any other costs associated with travel to the designated pick up point, overnight accommodation, meals, etc will not be covered by the Onlyluxe Travel and therefore we strongly recommend travel insurance be taken out prior to travel.
Force Majeure
'Force Majeure' means (without restriction) any event which Onlyluxe Travel or its third party providers could not, even with due care, foresee or avoid. Force Majeure covers events such as, but not limited to, adverse weather conditions, fire and all similar events beyond our control. In the case of Force Majeure Onlyluxe Travel will not accept liability, and reserves the right to change and cancel trips.
Evacuations
In rare circumstances, due to injury or unforeseen illness, the tour operator may need to evacuate you from a remote part of the walk. Helicopter evacuations are expensive and in most cases will be at a cost to the customer.
For Australian residents, under the Australian Government Medicare Act, it is prohibited for any domestic travel insurance product to provide any financial reimbursement with regard to ambulance or air ambulance services. We therefore strongly advise our customers to take specific ambulance cover through their health insurance provider. Evacuation cost will not be covered by the Onlyluxe Travel and therefore it is also strongly recommended that our customers take out travel insurance to cover (amongst other things) the costs associated with evacuation.
Travel Insurance
In view of the heavy cancellation penalties applied to cancelled reservations in certain circumstances, we strongly recommends suitable travel insurance be purchased at the time the holding deposit is paid. We recommend insurance cover that covers any loss which may be suffered due to cancellation. We also strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance against loss of baggage and medical expenses.