Experience Lake Tahoe Camping Under the Stars

This experience is also available as a hotel tour, please contact us for more details.

The vast cobalt waters of Lake Tahoe have been a draw for visitors year-round for over a hundred years. Uniquely located on the border of California and Nevada and nestled in the mountainous landscape of the Sierras, this high alpine lake is a destination for everyone from active hikers to nightlife seekers. Find your Tahoe niche whether it’s by hiking the picturesque trails, kayaking on the sparkling lake, or unwinding at the blackjack tables in town. At the end of the day, relax with your new friends around the campfire and enjoy the calming sounds of the waves rolling on the lake shore.

We understand how important quality time with your friends and family is. We also understand the hesitation some customers may have in sharing a vehicle with people they don’t know. While we love the ease of travel & new friendships that shared tours provide, we have adapted to bring our customers more options when it comes to booking a tour.

This tour is available to book as a private excursion for up to 13 guests. You’ll receive the same itinerary and inclusions that our typical tours would provide, plus personal one-on-one attention from your guide and the ability to choose exactly who you’ll bring with you.

Reserve your Tahoe Escape Camping Tour as a private excursion now!

Our rates are based on a maximum of 13 guests with two people per tent:

Private tour for 1-13 guests: $4,430 total

Please contact us at (415) 642-7378 or info@incadventures.com to check available dates.

DAY 1 – San Francisco to South Lake Tahoe

Buckle up! After departing San Francisco, you’ll head through California’s capital city, Sacramento and into the Sierra Nevada foothills through famous Gold Rush Country. Make a stop in Placerville around lunchtime, a historic mining town with a slightly grim reputation. Grab an ice cream at the Hangman’s Saloon (they no longer serve beer!) or pick up some local goods from the Sunday farmer’s market (seasonal). 

Afterwards, ascend higher into the mountains and wind through large pine forests before embarking on a short hike. You’ll breath in the fresh mountain air and catch your first views of the glittering waters of South Lake Tahoe before heading to camp to set up. Tonight, enjoy a sunset over the lake before feasting on home-cooked fare and getting to know your fellow travelers around the fire.

DAY 2 – Full Day Lake Tahoe

After a restful night, we’ll rise early and take advantage of a full day of activities. Enjoy a peaceful morning kayaking on the water and/or hit the trails to conquer one of the many surrounding peaks. Your guide will recommend the best activities based on the group’s interest and time of year.

In the afternoon, browse the shops around Heavenly Mountain resort or hop on the gondola to reach the summit. This evening you’ll have dinner out and experience the nightlife that South Lake Tahoe holds. Feeling lucky? Roll the dice at one of the many casinos in Stateline, NV,  just a stone’s throw from the Heavenly Village. Rather class it up? Enjoy a sunset champagne cruise and enjoy the lake from a different perspective.

DAY 3 – Lake Tahoe to San Francisco

We’ll be sure to enjoy every last moment of Tahoe on our last day, getting another early start to pack up camp and head to Emerald Bay. With some of the best views around the entire lake, this pristine mountain paradise is not to be missed. Hop on the Rubicon Trail and hike through both Emerald Bay State Park and D.L. Bliss or rent a kayak and hang by the beach. Looking to be transported to another era? Check out Vikingsholm, the 38-room Scandinavian mansion completed in 1928 by the wealthy Tahoe elite. 

We’ll say our goodbyes to the Sierras as we start on our way back to the city by the bay. We’ll be following the historic Pony Express Trail through El Dorado National Forest, and pass through the state’s capital city once again before getting you back to the hotel drop-off in San Francisco by 9 pm.

Note: Some activities are not accessible in extreme weather or due to road closures. Every attempt will be made to find comparable activities if these options are not available during your trip.

Sample Itineraries: Please note that due to rapidly changing conditions beyond our control (weather, crowds, traffic) and the small size of our vehicles/groups, we allow our guides the flexibility to tailor your itinerary to best suit the needs of the group. While we guarantee that we’ll do our best to provide you with all of the highlights within this itinerary (conditions permitting), we do not guarantee them in this specific order.

This three day camping tour is designed to be comfortable for all levels of camping experience, from first time campers to veteran outdoors-people. We stay at a campsite with modern facilities and we provide all the equipment necessary to ensure you are well taken care of and have a great time.

This tour offers the full camping experience where group participation is part of the fun! Camp set up is a snap with our easy set-up tents, sleeping pads, and camp stove. The cookout dinner is a group event where everyone helps out, campers take turns cleaning up after meals, and we swap stories by the camp fire.

Campsite amenities include:

• On-site showers with hot water (don’t forget your towel and toiletries)
• Flush toilets
• Tents and sleeping pads
• Propane stove and cookware
• Fire pit for warmth/marshmallow roasting
• Sleeping bags available to rent (additional fee)