FAQ about California Nature Tours
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What's a California Nature Tour?
A fun, active tour of beautiful places that are home to California’s extraordinarily diverse wild plants and wildlife (including some places in the City of San Francisco), and experience all that Nature has to offer, while also exploring local history -- the human stories of people who once lived here.
What if I really want to go on a certain California Nature Tour, but I can’t go on the day(s) it’s scheduled?
First, check our schedule – some tours are offered more than once a year. Or, if you can find at least two more people who want to go, contact us, and we can schedule a custom tour for your group on a day that works for everyone.
What if I want to design my own tour for my family, friends, or group?
We can help you plan custom tours with us that go anywhere in California, including transportation, meals and accommodations.
How do I reserve a place on a tour and pay for it?
Your place is reserved as soon as we receive your payment, either online through the signup page (where you can pay with a credit card through Google Checkout, or use PayPal) or by check or money order mailed to California Nature Tours, 235 Douglass St., San Francisco, CA 94114; Attn: David D. Schmidt. You will receive an email confirmation.
What if I've paid for a trip but want to cancel and get a refund?
If it's a one-day hiking or biking tour, you must notify California Nature Tours by phone (415-971-5201) or email (info@californianaturetours.com) at least seven days before scheduled starting date to get a refund. To cancel from 7 days until 48 hours before the tour start time, notify California Nature Tours by phone and you can reserve a spot on another comparable tour of your choice. No refunds or comparable tours for no-shows or cancellations less than 48 hours from start time.
If it's a van tour or multi-day tour, you must notify California Nature Tours (415-971-5201) at least 30 days in advance of tour start time to get a full refund; cancellations from 29 to 14 days before tour start time get a 50% refund. No refunds for cancellations less than 14 days in advance.
What should I bring?
A few days before each day trip, and weeks before a multi-day trip, we send an email to everyone who signed up regarding what to bring and what conditions to expect. Just like California weather, it varies a lot by season and location. In the Sierra, sometimes it rains in the summer; along the coast, it almost never rains in summer, but is often cool and windy.
How do I know if a tour will be too strenuous for me?
Each trip description on the website includes distance to be walked, whether it’s hilly, and minimum age for participants. If it’s challenging, the trip description will say so. Almost all of our tours are suitable for healthy people over 10 years old and under 65 –- as well as a lot of very fit people over 65. If you are not sure or have special needs, tell us before you sign up. We’ll try to meet your needs. Custom tours can be tailored for any age.
What if I don’t have a car, or have one but don’t want to drive to a tour starting point?
For scheduled one-day or half-day tours, just indicate on the sign-up form that you need a ride and we’ll give you a ride from San Francisco (with free pickup at any hotel), space permitting, on a first-come, first-served basis. We can also provide contact information for others to car pool with, or public transit directions upon request. For custom tours and multi-day tours, we provide or arrange transportation.
Can kids go too?
The minimum age for each tour is listed in the description. For reasons of safety and stamina, some of our tours are not suitable for younger kids.
What happens if there’s bad weather on the day of a trip I’ve already paid for?
Nearly all tours go ahead rain or shine. However, if an extraordinary storm or other conditions make it unsafe to go, we’ll notify everyone by phone that the tour will be rescheduled.
Why pay for a guided tour when I can take the same route on my own?
For the same reason you’d take a guided tour of a medieval cathedral in Europe. You can go there on your own, and you’ll find it’s big, beautiful, old, grey, and ornate. But on the guided tour, you’ll hear the stories of God, the saints, and Satan in every stained glass window and carving, from Adam and Eve to the final Judgment, and the meaning of the soaring architecture, and how it's all designed to awe and educate medieval churchgoers, who could not read. Similarly, Nature and California history have their own awesome and intricate stories. Plus, you’ll meet great people!
Is lunch or other meals included on your tours?
On day tours, gourmet lunches with fresh, organic California-grown foods will be available upon request from May through September for $25 each. Lunches are included on custom tours and multi-day tours. Multi-day tours include meals, unless otherwise stated (see individual tour descriptions).
