From a historic Gaslamp Quarter walking tour to snorkeling with the leopard sharks to a twilight sail on the Big Bay, taking a tour with an experienced sightseeing guide is a great way to get a local's take on San Diego.
With more than 4,200 sq. miles in San Diego County, a guided tour can help you cover more ground, faster, and see it by land, sea, air or bike. Whether you are a first-time or fiftieth-time visitor to San Diego, the diverse range of guided sightseeing tours available means there's something for everyone. Most tours are available daily and include the necessary equipment, plus a trained and knowledgeable guide.
From going behind-the-scenes at San Diego attractions, to kayaking, horseback, hot air balloon, whale watching, surfing, shopping and helicopter sightseeing tours, Another Side of San Diego Tours also offers Segway trips through the Gaslamp Quarter, Coronado and La Jolla. Their professional guides are well-versed in San Diego lore and selected with an emphasis on their storytelling abilities.
Ahoy Mateys! Brave seafarers can now have the adventure of a lifetime driving a mini speed boat with San Diego Speed Boat Adventures on a guided and narrated tour of the San Diego Harbor. This tour with a twist allows you to follow trained and knowledgeable guides as you experience the best of both worlds—the thrill of driving your own mini speed boat and the safety of having a skilled guide close by as they introduce you to the beauty surrounding the San Diego Harbor. See Navy ships, aircraft carriers, Coronado Bridge, the famous Star of India, the historic ships of the Maritime Museum, the cruise ship terminal, Seaport Village and the downtown skyline all from the water!
With San Diego Sailing Tours, you can relax with a glass of wine while enjoying the waters of San Diego Bay by day or the lights of the San Diego skyline by twilight. Charter rentals are also available.
The protected reserve of La Jolla Cove makes it a perfect place to kayak or snorkel. In the company of a trained guide, you can explore La Jolla's seven sea caves as well as the abundant marine life on the cliffs and in the water. For a real treat in the summer months, you can even snorkel with leopard sharks—they are harmless!—that gather in the shallow waters of La Jolla Shores. A variety of kayak and snorkeling tours, including whale watching from a kayak, are available from the following companies:
San Diego's only amphibious excursion, Seal Tours - Sea & Land Adventures begins as a bus ride through downtown San Diego and ends at Shelter Island, where the "bus" changes into a "boat" and this 90-minute narrated trip continues along the north end of San Diego's Big Bay.
Witness the majesty of the 10,000+ whales that migrate past San Diego in the winter and spring (Gray Whales) and summer and fall (Blue Whales) aboard a daily whale watching cruise. Popular cruise operators include Flagship Cruises & Events and Hornblower Cruises & Events. Read more on whale watching from the land or sea.
Bike tours make it easy to enjoy the diverse neighborhoods of La Jolla, Mission Bay, Coronado and downtown San Diego in more detail. The invigorating ride from the top of Mt. Soledad is very popular. Or experience the vastness of San Diego County with an off-road mountain bike trek in San Diego's North County.
Explore all the biking options offered by the following companies:
Enjoy "America's Finest City" on a two-hour, fully narrated, historic city tour of San Diego and Coronado with Old Town Trolley Tours of San Diego. This excursion covers approximately 25 miles and over 100 points of interest in a fast-paced two-hour narrative. Depending on your start time, you may use your ticket to enjoy the trip in segments by hopping off at one or more of the 11 distinctive stops on the loop.
San Diego Photography Tours offers private and small group tours all over San Diego. Whether a shuttled driving tour or walking tour, you'll enjoy taking pictures of the iconic spots and hidden gems of San Diego with an experienced professional photographer as your guide. Learn about the history and culture of our area while learning how to take better photos on your vacation!
A lifestyle tour company, So Diego Tours offers a variety of unique outings that showcase the nightlife, restaurants and history of San Diego, including culinary and history tours through Old Town, the Gaslamp Quarter and Little Italy.
Join San Diego Walks on small-group walking tours throughout popular local neighborhoods like Balboa Park, Liberty Station and Coronado and Old Town. They'll get you off the beaten path while you'll learn about the people who shaped San Diego's past, and what lies ahead for its future.
For the beer crazy and those who simply appreciate a really good mug of suds, a behind-the-scenes San Diego brewery tour is a must-see. With over 100 craft breweries in San Diego to choose from, a brewery excursion with Brew Hop or Brewery Tours of San Diego is the safest way to tour and taste San Diego's finest brews.
If you're interested in sampling more than just beer, San Diego Beer and Wine Tours offers the best of San Diego's beer, wine and food, enjoyed one of three ways—by train, foot, or chauffeur driven car. Their unique and fun trips are available throughout San Diego County.
Take to the skies and enjoy breathtaking views of San Diego from a helicopter with Corporate Helicopters of San Diego. Flights range from 30 minutes to 3 1/2 hours. Also available is the "Fly, Float, Feast" excursion which includes a coastal ride and 3-hour brunch or dinner cruise.
If you prefer to avoid the crowds, but still get to know San Diego from a local point of view, try a self-guided, narrated tour with GoCar Tours. Choices range from GPS-guided "storytelling" cars, beach cruisers, surreys, electric bicycles and mini speed boats.
Why stop there? Continue exploring San Diego on your own with a tour of San Diego's arts and culture scene or a scenic drive of San Diego's top sights.
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