Definition:ex·tra·nom·i·cal /ˌikˈstranämikəl-/adjectiveextranomical 1. awesome, greater than expected or remarkable value."the extranomical tour was one of the best days of my life!"Synonyms: extraordinary, astronomical, amazingExtranomical Tours, founded in 2002, is a San Francisco sightseeing tour company that specializes in tours for people who generally do not like to take tours. Our clientele is very independent and likes to venture to places where most tour companies don't go to. Due to the small size of our groups, our guests receive a more personalized and exclusive experience from us. Our tours offer a distinct "traveling with friends" feel, so that most people interact with each other and so we are able to visit locations larger vehicles do not. For example, we have a short hike up to the Giant Sequoia grove on our one day Yosemite tour from San Francisco. On our California wine country tours, we visit small family-owned boutique wineries (too small for large buses) that produce such limited quantities you can only buy their wine at their winery!We are fully insured and licensed by the State of California Public Utilities Commission and are regulated and inspected annually by the California Highway Patrol. We are proud members in good standing at the San Francisco Travel Association. All of our drivers are drug tested at the time of hire as well as at random times throughout the year. We make sure that our vehicles are always in excellent mechanical condition by inspecting daily and keeping a rigid maintenance schedule.We train all of our guides one-on-one to make sure that they are knowledgeable, courteous, and most of all, safe. All of our guides are also friendly, informative, and experienced. We test drivers on a periodical basis on their knowledge of the areas we visit. We also maintain a training program and a resource library for guides to stay current on relevant material.We carefully select the locations we explore on our tours to maximize your time and see the best of the best, while always maintaining an adventurous yet easy-going atmosphere. On our tours we have a comfortable amount of time where you are with the group, but we also give you enough time on your own so you can choose from different activities that interest you such as hiking, shopping, museums, or just taking in the beauty.We know you work hard all year long to take a vacation so we make sure to do everything in our power to make your tour a memory that you'll treasure for a lifetime!Happy travels,Extranomical Tours.
Written by the business, not verified by us.
Is Extranomical Tours legit?
Extranomical Tours (www.extranomical.com) has a 4.7 out of 5 rating on OK.one, based on 200 user reviews collected here. It is listed under Travel & Vacation and its reputation is excellent. Praise is nearly unanimous, with 96% rating it 4 stars or higher; The business has replied to 57% of negative reviews; 50 of them were added in the last 12 months. Last updated 2026-08-12.
What reviewers say
AI generated
Reviewers overwhelmingly had a great experience with this company. Customers frequently share that the tour guides are incredibly friendly, exceptionally knowledgeable, and skilled at keeping everyone entertained and fully informed throughout the long daily journeys. Travelers really enjoy exploring the astonishingly beautiful natural sights and deeply appreciate the well-organized stops along the way.
Some reviewers were not happy with the logistics, specifically mentioning rushed schedules at major viewpoints and occasional pickup complications at the start of the tour. A few other people also felt that the itinerary provided too little free time for independent exploration, leaving them wishing for longer visits at specific scenic locations.
Auto-generated from all reviews of this business. For reference only.
What people say
Angelia DameUnited States · 1 review · Experienced 2026-07-29 ·
★★★★★
It was easy and smooth pickup right on…
It was easy and smooth pickup right on time. Our driver was great but a little too talkative at times when people wanted to relax. I liked him and appreciated his point of view but not sure everyone else did. The air/heat on the bus could be regulated a lot better. Also I missed having a guide with us on the trail to the redwoods I’m not even sure we got to see everything.
Reply from Extranomical Tours2026-08-02
Hello, Angelia! Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We're glad to hear your pickup was smooth and on time and that you enjoyed your driver. We also appreciate your comments regarding the onboard temperature and narration, and we'll be sure to share them with our team.
Muir Woods is a self-guided experience, allowing guests to explore the trails at their own pace. We understand, however, that some guests prefer a guided walk, and we appreciate you sharing your perspective. Thank you again for your valuable feedback, and we hope to welcome you on another tour in the future.
E
Elizabeth A'VantUnited States · 2 reviews · Experienced 2026-07-23 ·
★★★★★
Unacceptable last‑minute cancellation
Unacceptable last‑minute cancellation
Absolutely unacceptable. I booked this tour well in advance, and on the one day I had available for sightseeing, the company canceled — at 7:04 a.m., as I was literally walking out the door. I had three days in town and only one window to explore, and a last‑minute email to my party of three shut it down completely.
This level of disorganization is extremely disappointing. I will not book with this company again, and I want other travelers to be aware of how poorly last‑minute cancellations are handled.
Reply from Extranomical Tours2026-07-27
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We sincerely apologize for the frustration and disappointment caused by the cancellation, especially given that you had only one opportunity to take the tour during your visit. We understand how upsetting it is to have your plans disrupted at the last minute.
While we make every effort to operate every scheduled departure, there are rare occasions when unforeseen operational circumstances prevent us from doing so. We know that this does not lessen the inconvenience, particularly when your itinerary is limited.
Because we were unable to provide the tour as planned, we immediately processed a full refund for your booking. We recognize that a refund cannot make up for the lost opportunity or the disruption to your travel plans, and we're truly sorry for the experience you had. We appreciate your feedback and will use it to continue improving our operations.
E
ECUnited States · 1 review · Experienced 2026-06-19 ·
★★★★★
The visit in Yosemite was amazing but the rest of the trip was not.
The visit in Yosemite was amazing. The bus was old and tough to be on such a long trip with no way to charge phones. Our driver, Rob, was very grouchy by the end of the trip. His driving was at times rough with heaving breaking and constant judgement of other drivers on the mic. He also told us more about his personal life than the area. We learned his son was going to rehab… the same one he went to when he was young and in prison, he had to move back in with his ex-wife, his other son was shot and killed… we heard this 3x, he tried to buy a piece of land but after his son was killed he couldn’t afford it on his own…
There was a lot of opportunity to teach about the area and a comfortable coach would be nice. Also stops for breakfast, lunch and dinner were misleading. We stopped at Safeway for breakfast and were told to buy lunch there because the park would be overpriced and not good. For dinner, we were dumped in a parking lot with another grocery store option or fast food. I would have rather been told to pack food - my expectations would have been better.
Reply from Extranomical Tours2026-08-02
Thank you for taking the time to share your detailed feedback. We're glad to hear you found Yosemite amazing, but we're sorry that several aspects of the tour did not meet your expectations.
We appreciate your comments regarding the coach, onboard commentary, driving experience, and meal stops. Your feedback will be shared with our operations team, as we always strive to provide informative, professional, and comfortable tours. We also appreciate your suggestion about setting clearer expectations regarding meal stops and recommending that guests pack food if they prefer. Thank you again for your valuable feedback—it helps us continue improving the experience we provide.
Maureen BlackUnited States · 1 review · Experienced 2026-06-16 ·
★★★★★
Mixed bag
The tour started out rough because they changed the location for pick up four times. After we were picked up, our tour guide Keith LaDue turned the mood around and we had a great time! Muir Woods is amazing and the wineries were a lot of fun.
Reply from Extranomical Tours2026-08-02
Thank you for sharing your feedback! We sincerely apologize for the confusion and inconvenience caused by the multiple pickup location changes at the start of your tour. We understand how frustrating that must have been, and we appreciate your patience.
We're delighted to hear that Keith was able to turn the day around and make your experience enjoyable. We’ll be sure to share your kind words with him. It’s wonderful to know you enjoyed the beauty of Muir Woods and the winery visits. Thank you again for joining us, and we hope to welcome you on another adventure soon!
My wife and I took a tour from San Francisco to Yosemite National Park. We stayed overnight and completed the tour over two separate days. Both drivers were excellent - both Rob and Alberto. They each gave good commentary, and stopped at photo locations and rest breaks. The directions to reconnect with the bus on the second day were clear and everything went smoothly.
Thankyou
Gloria and Brian
Reply from Extranomical Tours2026-08-02
Thank you, Gloria and Brian, for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed your overnight Yosemite tour and that both Rob and Alberto helped make your experience so memorable. It's great to know their commentary, photo stops, and clear instructions made for a smooth and enjoyable trip. We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you on another adventure with us soon!
Thank you for your kind words! We're thrilled to hear you had an amazing day with Randall. We'll be sure to share your feedback with him—it will mean a lot. We hope to see you on another tour soon!
Chuck BraunUnited States · 1 review · Experienced 2026-05-25 ·
★★★★★
Wine was great
Wine was great, Muir Woods was incredible. Randall was a wizard on tour.
Reply from Extranomical Tours2026-08-02
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear you enjoyed the wine, the incredible beauty of Muir Woods, and that Randall made the day even more memorable. We'll be sure to pass along your kind words to our "tour wizard!" We hope to welcome you back for another adventure soon!
c
customerUnited States · 2 reviews · Experienced 2026-05-25 ·
★★★★★
Randall was so informative
Randall was so informative. Very friendly and went out of his way to make sure we were totally informed. You can tell he loves what he does.
Reply from Extranomical Tours2026-08-02
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're so glad to hear that Randall's knowledge, friendliness, and passion for what he does made such a positive impact on your experience. We'll be sure to share your kind words with him. We hope to welcome you on another adventure soon!
A
Alan SaneAustralia · 3 reviews · Experienced 2026-05-13 ·
★★★★★
Bus trip to Yosemite National…
Andy’s bus trip to Yosemite National park was great. Andy’s was very knowledgeable, with lots of history lessons on the way.
Reply from Extranomical Tours2026-08-02
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear you enjoyed your Yosemite trip with Andy. His knowledge and passion for sharing the history of the area truly help make the journey more memorable. We'll be sure to share your kind words with him. We hope to welcome you on another adventure soon!
Harrrowing Experience Would not even recommend to my enemy!
I booked a 2 person overnight Yosemite tour May 4-5. To begin with they missed picking us up at the pick up point in SFO and left the city without us. The scheduked departure was 5.50am and we we were there at 5.45 am.
And since they shared no contact information of any driver or guide to seek any help, their on call customer support team ( seemed like they were based in Asia) had no clue on the location of the bus or the driver. It took me 7 calls to push them to figure it out or refund. And finally at 7 am the bus arrived. Guess what instead the driver said “ we checked you in before we left” ! They failed in basic check and customer experience and showed no remorse. But it isnt over yet, the guide Sharon had no clue on the details of the bus that will get us back and told us to call the customer support next day.
And similar experience repeated next day! To top it all the driver next day was rude and almost racist! He commanded me and my son to sit in seat ( next to door) and said it is what was allocated. There was no such term and only after I out my foot down and refuse to budge in we were given decent seats.
Overall the management of the tour operators did not have the courtesy to call and apologise and have demonstrated abysmal incompetence in running this tour.
And mind you it is damn expensive bus ride to take you from SFO to Yosemite and back and nothing else.
I would give them 0 stars if possible.
Reply from Extranomical Tours2026-05-12
Hi Meenu,
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We are truly sorry to hear about your experience on your Yosemite overnight tour.
We want to clarify that our team did attempt to contact you after the tour to follow up and address the concerns raised, however we were unable to reach you at that time. We understand how frustrating this entire experience must have been, especially with the missed pickup, communication challenges, and coordination issues you described.
This is certainly not the level of service we aim to provide, and we sincerely regret that your trip was affected in this way. Your feedback regarding operations, communication, and on-the-ground coordination has been noted and will be carefully reviewed with our team for improvement.
We would still welcome the opportunity to speak with you directly and look into this further. Please feel free to contact us at [email protected] or (415) 357-0700 at your convenience.
Thank you again for your feedback.
Bruce CameronItaly · 8 reviews · Experienced 2026-04-14 ·
★★★★★
VERY slow to refund. BEWARE
I booked a Yosemite tour but then realized as a non US Citizen I faced $100 park entry fee and cancelled immediately
I was told 10-14 days for a refund which was not processed within that time and I had to pursue the company
Not my job to chase them… I doubt they would have refunded had I not pursued it
Reply from Extranomical Tours2026-08-02
Thank you for your feedback. We're sorry to hear about your experience. We understand your frustration regarding the processing time and apologize that you had to follow up with us. That certainly isn't the experience we aim to provide. We appreciate you bringing this to our attention, and we'll use your feedback to help improve our communication and service going forward.
Peyton McFarlaneUnited States · 1 review · Experienced 2026-04-11 ·
★★★★★
Amazing experience
Rob was the best tour guide I’ve had. He was funny, attentive, and knowledgeable about Yosemite as a whole. Would recommend to anyone who is intrested in a convenient relaxed journey to Yosemite
Reply from Extranomical Tours2026-04-21
Thank you for your wonderful review! We’re so glad to hear Rob made your Yosemite tour such a great experience with his humor, attentiveness, and knowledge. We truly appreciate your recommendation and are happy you enjoyed a relaxed and convenient journey to the park!
Lance GibbsUnited States · 1 review · Experienced 2026-04-11 ·
★★★★★
Rob is the man
Rob is the man, he is extremely funny and very attentive, he elaborated and explained history of Yosemite Park and the the surroundings, he’s an amazing Tour guide and an even Better person. I believe everyone should Book with ROB!!!!
Reply from Extranomical Tours2026-04-21
Thank you for your enthusiastic review! We’re so glad to hear Rob made your Yosemite experience so memorable with his humor, attentiveness, and knowledge of the park and its history. It’s wonderful to know he left such a strong impression. We truly appreciate your recommendation!
S
SCHong Kong SAR China · 1 review · Experienced 2026-04-10 ·
★★★★★
Best guide!
I took a 2-day Yosemite trip in April with guides Andy (with understudy Toby) on day 1, n Rob on day 2.
Shout out to Andy who was truly outstanding! He was a walking history book n a great storyteller, with a wicked sense of humour! I was moved by his stories n songs.
Rob was also responsible in ensuring I made it on the bus back to SF.
Thank you, both!
Reply from Extranomical Tours2026-04-21
Thank you for your wonderful review! We’re so glad you had such a memorable two-day Yosemite trip and that Andy made a strong impression with his storytelling, humor, and engaging style. It’s also great to hear Rob helped ensure a smooth and safe return to San Francisco.
We truly appreciate your kind words and will be sure to share them with both Andy and Rob!
Zahid AhsanUnited States · 1 review · Experienced 2026-04-11 ·
★★★★★
Rob Muller is that guy!!
The company representative for the day was Mr. Rob Muller. In one word, he was nothing short of amazing. You can tell he is a veteran at what he does. He was punctual, had a pleasant command over the crew, knowledgable about the travel facts and provided us with practical insights on different phases of the expedition. Sometimes, simpler is better and he kept it simple for everybody. We probably got more out of this trip than many other more commercial guide teams. Last but not the least, he is the kind of personality you would wanna crack open a cold one with, although he hasn't touched alcohol in 40+ years. God bless him and us all.
Reply from Extranomical Tours2026-04-21
Thank you for your amazing and thoughtful review! We’re so glad to hear Rob made such a strong impression with his professionalism, knowledge, and approachable style. It’s wonderful that his simple, clear guidance helped make your trip even more meaningful and enjoyable.
We truly appreciate your kind words and will be sure to share them with him—he’ll be very happy to hear this!
Booking process and communication prior to the tour were outstanding. The tour itself was very good (it is a VERY long day). Dino our driver was entertaining and helpful but probably could have talked a little less. It would have also been interesting to go a different way home than drive exactly the same route in and out of the valley. Overall a good experience.
Reply from Extranomical Tours2026-04-21
Thank you for your honest and thoughtful feedback! We’re glad to hear the booking process and pre-tour communication were outstanding, and that you enjoyed the overall experience with Dino’s entertaining and helpful approach.
We also appreciate your constructive comments regarding the pacing of commentary and the return route. Feedback like this is very helpful as we continue refining the guest experience.
We’re happy it was a good overall day, and we hope to welcome you again in the future!
Catherine TremblayUnited States · 1 review · Experienced 2026-03-29 ·
★★★★★
This tour packs a lot into one day!
This tour packs a lot into one day!! My biggest two complaints are that the gourmet lunch option was not worth it. And the bus was too warm. Otherwise it was phenomenal! The wineries were fantastic, I wish I got more time at the woods!
Reply from Extranomical Tours2026-04-07
Thank you for your feedback! We’re glad to hear you enjoyed the tour and found the wineries fantastic. We appreciate your comments about the lunch and bus temperature and will share them with our team to improve future experiences.
D
Denise CookUnited States · 1 review · Experienced 2026-03-16 ·
★★★★★
Buyer Beware -No refunds given (even within the 24-hour cancellation policy)
Buyer Beware! For those who are considering Extranomical Tours, don't! Our flight from Chicago to SFO was canceled last weekend. I immediately called to let them know (within the 24-hour cancellation policy). Through no fault of our own, our family of four missed the tour. After multiple calls and attempts, I am still getting the runaround with no refund in sight. Just an FYI so you don't waste almost $500 of your hard earned money, like we did.
Reply from Extranomical Tours2026-08-02
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We’re sorry to hear about the disruption to your travel plans due to the canceled flight, and we understand how frustrating this situation must have been for your family.
We appreciate you reaching out to us promptly and regret that there was confusion regarding your request. We would like the opportunity to review your booking and communication history to better understand what happened and address your concerns. Please contact our Guest Relations team at [email protected] or +1 (415) 357-0700 so we can look into this further.
Thank you for bringing this to our attention, and we hope to have the opportunity to assist you.
Daniel HoSingapore · 1 review · Experienced 2026-02-27 ·
★★★★★
Great trip
Great trip. Driver and tour guide Robert was awesome, accommodating and friendly. Very knowledgeable as well. Would have done the overnight trip to have more time to hike.
Reply from Extranomical Tours2026-03-21
Thank you so much for your wonderful review!
We’re thrilled to hear that Robert made your trip so enjoyable with his friendliness, knowledge, and accommodating nature. We appreciate your feedback about the overnight option — it’s great to know more hiking time would have enhanced your experience.
We’re glad you had a great trip!
AliUnited Arab Emirates · 3 reviews · Experienced 2025-12-02 ·
★★★★★
They know what they're doing and…
They know what they're doing and they're the best in the region
Reply from Extranomical Tours2026-03-21
Thank you for your wonderful review!
We’re thrilled to hear that you think so highly of our team. We truly appreciate your kind words and support!
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