For 3 Days, 2 Nights From San Francisco
Picture a long weekend with a loved one as you journey down the breathtaking California coastline from San Francisco to Big Sur, with plenty of stops for scenic photos, memorable wildlife encounters and more. Your destination? One of the most enchanting small towns in America.
Once there, immerse yourself in Carmel-by-the-Sea’s fairytale cottages by strolling along its quaint sidewalks as you savor local wines, partake in a memorable dinner and witness an enchanting sunset over the Pacific Ocean. The next day, explore Big Sur’s infamous coastline, where California’s beauty comes to life.
All this awaits on your 2-night, 3-day Carmel Weekend Getaway. Our experienced White Wolf guide will greet you in San Francisco, offering a seamless private tour designed for couples seeking a luxurious and stress-free California weekend away.
Exploring the Big Sur coastline from San Francisco can be challenging for someone who’s never been to California before. With so many confusing “private tours” offered online, how do you know which is the right one for you? Speak with our guides on the phone, not online, and we’ll begin to honestly share your California Highway 1 luxury tour options based on your interests.
Your private tour can be long, short, feature urban or rural coastal hikes, fresh seafood restaurants and more. Designed to show you the balance between California’s cities and nature, our Big Sur Private Tour assures you have a charming and memorable weekend away.
From cruising along the scenic 17-Mile Drive and Pebble Beach, known as the Golf Capital of the World, to immersing yourself in Santa Cruz and the surf culture that invented the popular wetsuit, our private guides can show you the best of the California coastline from San Francisco with minimal effort on your part. Simply fly into San Francisco International Airport with no second-guessing, and we’ll handle the rest.
Luxury to us is about authentic, private exploration with experts.
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Each private tour will be altered based on your physical abilities and interests, with our expert guides collaborating on the best private itinerary for you.
Fairytale Cottage Getaway
Tracy and Murray, a married couple from Philadelphia, reached out to us to plan their bespoke Big Sur Private Tour. With just three nights and four days of spare time for their holiday in California, they wanted to immerse themselves in the beauty of the coast while avoiding the hustle and bustle of San Francisco. In addition, they desired to fly into SFO and not drive themselves, maximizing their free time to explore the Pacific Coast Highway over their long weekend.
Based on their request, we offered the couple a 3-day, 2-night private tour from San Francisco to Big Sur and back, with sightseeing stops in Monterey Bay, Pebble Beach, the giant redwood forest, and more.
Private Pickup from SFO
Their private tour began when we greeted them at the airport, carry-on luggage in hand. We then departed, ready to introduce them to the breathtaking coastline. Our first destination? The towering California redwoods, the tallest trees in the world, where the couple strolled beneath the swaying natural canopy, breathing in the crisp, fresh air—a perfect way to shake off their travel fatigue. As we continued on to Monterey, they were awed by the purple carpet blooms of the Asilomar beaches and coves.
First Carmel Evening
After lunch, they made their way down the scenic coastline to Carmel, where our private guide led the couple on a personalized tour of the charming town, pointing out key highlights, possible happy hour spots and a fairytale cottage scenic walk found nowhere else – all before reaching the couple’s luxury accommodation. With a good idea of the layout around them, we then provided Tracy and Murray with our homemade White Wolf map, filled with recommendations to enhance their evening.
Big Sur Coastline Elegance
The next morning, Tracy and Murray started their day with a delightful breakfast in their storybook cottage, followed by a serene stroll along the beach. Still on East Coast time, their early rise felt effortless, and they quickly fell in love with the town’s relaxed, dog-friendly charm.
After breakfast, they set off for Big Sur to explore its legendary coastline, with our private guide tailoring the itinerary based on the day’s weather and fog conditions. Highlights included Bixby Bridge and McWay Falls, a mixture of casual hikes and viewpoints, and a few secluded scenic coastal walks, paired with the couple’s interests.
Monterey Bay Whale Watching
Although we had already encountered Pacific Ocean wildlife, including sea otters, harbor seals and sea lions, it was now time for an even more thrilling experience: whale watching on Monterey Bay. Alternately, the couple could choose a more grounded experience in Carmel, strolling through its boutique shops and art galleries, followed by wine tasting.
But eager for a new experience, Tracy and Murray headed out to sea—and it proved to be an unforgettable decision. For the first time, the couple saw magnificent whales, including a rare and breathtaking encounter with a family of orcas in pursuit of a swift sea lion. It was a once-in-a-lifetime moment that left them in awe.
17-Mile Drive and Pebble Beach
After what felt like a blissful week condensed into two short days, it was time for the couple to return to SFO for their flight home. But before their afternoon flight, we embarked on one final adventure along the stunning California coastline, leaving Carmel to begin our drive up legendary California Highway 1.
We began with a cruise of 17-Mile Drive, where we spotted more playful sea otters and lounging harbor seals amongst the memorable coastal rocks, followed by Pebble Beach to hear about its fascinating golf history. And no road trip is complete without a visit to the Lone Cypress, show an appreciation of the Pebble Beach icon.
Saying Farewell
During our final drive up the coast, the couple felt the urge to check out Silicon Valley, so our private guide shared some interesting history as he showed them a few locations, such as the homes of Google, Apple and other tech giants. Just think: This is where the Internet took off.
The happy couple experienced all of this and more before checking into the Grand Hyatt, a luxury hotel attached to SFO, where they stayed before flying home to Philadelphia the next morning. Once arriving, they thanked us for showing them California privately and through our passionate lens, and we wished the couple a safe flight home.
By The Numbers
A Note from White Wolf Private Tours
Monterey Bay is a place we never tire of exploring from San Francisco. From stopping at an organic farm for a fresh berry snack along the way or posing for photos on the rugged coastline, our private guides will balance luxury with the casual wardrobe for hiking or exploring, allowing you to experience a comfortable weekend.
While we are a small company, we can confidently guide you throughout California whether you choose to explore the coastline, Yosemite, San Francisco or more.
On Our Carmel Weekend Getaway
Our Mission
We know that planning a trip to California can be time-consuming, which is why our Big Sur Private Tour is designed to make your journey effortless. For Tracy and Murray, all they had to do was arrive in San Francisco and we took care of everything else. No planning, no hassle—just a serene weekend escape, ready and waiting.
We recommend reserving with us so you can focus on what matters most: connecting with your loved ones while you enjoy California’s breathtaking scenery.
