Company and Tour Information

Cancelation & Return Policy, and FAQs

Cancelation, and Return Policies

Three Friends making silly poses in front of a snow covered root structure of a fallen sequoia tree. The friends are in winter clothes of various colors such as red, blue and tan. The tree's roots are twisted and tangled and a brownish grey color.

All Transactions have a service fee(s) that goes to the processing agencies (credit card companies, PayPal, or tour companies such as AirBnB or other). Some are large and some are small. I do not have access or authorization to refund those fees.
Custom Tours: The Itinerary Fee is non-refundable. The remainder of the tour is subject to the following cancellation structure.
30+ days before tour = Full refund minus service and itinerary fees.
30 to 7 days before tour = 50% refund minus service and itinerary fees.
7 days or less before tour = No refund.
Tours that were booked on my pre-scheduled calendar are subject to the following cancellation structure.
More than 48 hours before tour = 75% refund minus service fees.
48 hours or less before tour = No refund.
Client Session Photography: Cancellation of the photography session falls under the same cancellation category as Custom Tours (above). Cancellations of prints are as follows. If canceled before the photography lab prints, there can be a full refund minus previously mentioned service fees. If the photography lab has already started the print, there can be a 50% refund minus the previously mentioned service fees.
If canceled before the photography lab prints, there can be a full refund minus previously mentioned service fees. If the photography lab has already started the print, there can be a 50% refund minus the previously mentioned service fees.
Unless damaged, full refunds minus the previously mentioned service fees are available.
In the event that we are not able to meet as planned, I will first try to find a suitable replacement meeting time or tour option. These events that are ‘of no fault of your own’ can include; my personal illness, government shutdowns, or closures of park roads and/or facilities set by the National Park Service. These alternate tour options can manifest in a change of tour type, new tour location, date or time. If there is no suitable alternative all refund eligible funds will be refunded. Eligible funds include hourly tour rates and lump sum tour rates. Non eligible funds include Non-refundable Itinerary Fees, Short Notice; Non-refundable Itinerary Fees, and service fees.
Because my tours are outside and can achieve social distancing I do not offer a special covid cancelation policy. Due to the nature of illness I recommend taking out a travel or trip insurance policy to encompass your hotel, transportation, tours, and activities. This will protect you from changes in your plans due to illness or weather.
If you attend a tour or program while testing positive for covid you will be asked to wear a CDC approved KN95 mask and to social distance a minimum of 6 feet (2 meters).
This itinerary creation fee, also known as a deposit, allows me to create an amazing experience for you without the worry of lost business. These fees are only applied to customized tours. With this deposit you can take the itinerary and enjoy your trip on your own or experience the knowledge and deeper understanding you will find with a guided tour from me.

For itineraries created within 72 hours of the desired tour date are considered ‘Short Notice’. These short notice tours accrue an additional fee of $100. This fee helps cover the extra time spent working on the itinerary, as well as the necessity to rearrange my schedule to accommodate it.

All itinerary creation and short notice fees are non-refundable.

FAQs

A winter scene of a low flowing river. The rocks and trees in and around the river are covered in snow.

Subject to NPS rules. Pets are not allowed on trails.
Trained or Training ADA approved Service Animals: Yes, for all tours.
Pets: No, for hikes and tours. Yes, for astronomy in parking lots only.
For More Information visit nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/pets
Offered on All Tours:
Knowledgeable guide (bachelor's degree in wildlife biology and 10 years of experience in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks); first aid trained guide; first aid kit; wildlife safety and knowledge; hand warmers; emergency kit equipped with emergency communication, rations; and more
Offered on Select Tours:
snowshoes (when conditions permit); telescope (with select astronomy tours)
No worries, I will hang around for a good chunk of time in case you get held up somewhere. I will stay around 30 minutes. If we meet 29 minutes after your designated start time expect amendments to the itinerary. If we miss each other 29 minutes after your scheduled start time, I am sorry we missed each other. Missing the designated start time means you have financially missed the tour. Staying 30 minutes after is a courtesy to you.
Yes. Big Trees Tours does not provide vehicles or drivers for any tours or programs. Transportation can be tricky around the parks. There are only a few roads in and out of the mountains. They are all full of sharp corners and many are along cliff edges. If you prefer not to drive these there are a few tour operators in Three Rivers that offer driving tours.
Yes. There are almost always long lines at park entrances in the summer. Between July 4th and August 10th anticipate 30 to 60 minute lines at the Three Rivers Entrance between 10AM and 3PM.
There has also been a tremendous amount of damage to the roads throughout the parks during 2022-23 winter. This damage is still being repaired. There will be construction delays throughout the parks. Some delays are five minutes and others can be as long as two hours. Check nps.gov/seki/planyourvisit/conditions for up-to-date information about construction closures and delays.

Travel Tips

Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT)

This smaller airport is great for getting you to and from Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks; and Yosemite National Park. Fresno is about an hour drive from the General Grant Tree in Kings Canyon and a two hour drive from the General Sherman Tree in Sequoia. Besides Sequoia and Kings Canyon NP, other destinations within a reasonable drive of Fresno are Shaver Lake, Yosemite NP, Morro Bay, and many local attractions.
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

This is the largest airport in southern California. Without traffic LAX is about 3.5 hours from the gateway community of Sequoia National Park called Three Rivers. Similarly, LAX is also about 4.5 hours away from the base of the General Sherman Tree. Flying into LAX will give you a great opportunity to explore southern California. Besides Sequoia and Kings Canyon NP, other destinations within a reasonable drive of LA are Joshua Tree NP, Death Valley NP, Channel Islands NP, Venice Beach, Santa Barbara, and Los Padres National Forest.
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

This is the largest airport in Northern California. Without traffic SFO is about a 4.25 hour drive from the General Grant Tree. Similarly, SFO is about 5 hours from the General Sherman Tree. Flying into SFO will give you a great opportunity to explore northern California. Besides Sequoia and Kings Canyon NP, other destinations within a reasonable drive of SF are Golden Gate National Rec Area, Redwood NP, Muir Woods Nat. Monument, Yosemite NP, Lassen Volcanic NP, Tahoe, and the Napa Valley.
Harry Reid International Airport: Los Vegas (LAS)

While Los Vegas is a little farther away from the General Sherman Tree and General Grant Tree, it is notorious for having cheaper flights. Without traffic LAS is about 5.75 hours from the Gateway community of Three Rivers, CA. Similarly, it is about 6.75 hours from the General Sherman Tree. Flying into Los Vegas will give you the opportunity to explore Nevada, northern Arizona, eastern California, and parts of Utah. Besides Sequoia and Kings Canyon NP, other destinations that are within a reasonable drive from Las Vegas include Zion NP, Bryce Canyon NP, Grand Canyon NP (north rim), Lake Powell, the Hoover Dam, Death Valley NP, Tahoe, Mount Whitney, and more.