Ultimate Lake Tahoe Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour
- 3–4 hours
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- Guided in English
- Instant confirmation
Highlights
Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone can listen together! Explore Lake Tahoe’s dazzlingly blue waters and stunning mountainous backdrop with this self-guided audio tour! Drive around the entirety of the lake as you learn about its origins, admire its breathtaking vistas, and dive into its Gilded Age history. Explore hikes, historic homes, and waterfall views along the way. This self-guided driving tour allows you to experience all of Lake Tahoe with maximum flexibility and value. After booking, check your email/text to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action while connected to WiFi or mobile data. Enter the password, download the tour, and enjoy it offline. Follow the audio instructions and route from the designated starting point. New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want. This isn't an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.
Inclusions
What's included
- Just bring your car and phone; the app guides your tour.
- Support is available via chat, email, or phone if you need help.
- Planning tools, route maps, scenic stops, and area previews included.
- Private tour experience for your family, in your own car.
- Lifetime access: use the tour anytime and keep it for future trips.
- Works offline with GPS route guidance and automatic audio stories.
- One purchase covers everyone in your car, not per person.
- Flexible tour: start, stop, and pause anytime during your trip.
- Access your tour in our separate audio tour app after booking.
- Hidden gems and local stories included along the route.
What's not
- No live guide. Entrance fees, parking, food, and car rental are separate.
Itinerary
Your tour of Lake Tahoe begins at the Tahoe South Visitor Center in South Lake Tahoe. From here, you'll embark on a scenic journey around the lake which some have called the most beautiful lake in the United States. Along the way, you'll pick up essential history, pass top notch hiking trails, and of course have plenty of opportunity to visit the lakeshore! NOTE: The tour is over 65+ miles long, with more than 70+ audio stories, and takes about 3-4 hours to complete. New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.
The Pope Cabin owes its name to its eccentric former owner, George Pope. Pope called this home the Vatican, and would bring celebrities out for all kinds of crazy parties. While Pope and his family vacationed here, they hired a retinue of 35 servants!
Pope Beach is one of Lake Tahoe's 40 public beaches. It's defined by dunes and pine trees and makes for a perfect swimming, boating, or picnicking spot. Entry is $8 most days, but can go up to $20 on peak holidays.
Like Valhalla, Vikingsholm is built to emulate the architecture of Scandinavian castles. This 38-room mansion sports Norse carvings around the entrances and Nordic dragons on its roof. It also boasts a view that rivals any of Norway's fjords!
Emerald Bay gets its name for the lovely green hue created by the sun shining on the bay's crystal clear waters. At Emerald Bay State Park, you'll have the opportunity to embark on all manner of activities in this water, from kayaking to scuba diving and beyond. If you didn't bring your own gear, don't worry, the park offers rentals!
Eagle Falls Trail leads to the only waterfall that flows into Lake Tahoe. This moderate, 2-mile hike is a hugely popular stop, and for good reason. The trail boasts not just the beautiful waterfall at the end, but also some splendid views along the way.
Meeks Bay features a pristine white sand beach that's perfect for lounging lakeside. The water also remains shallow for a long way out, making this a great spot for families. This beach can get pretty crowded in the summer, so it's important to plan ahead.
An optional detour can take you to Ed Z'berg Sugar Pine Point State Park. As the name would suggest, sugar pines dominate this park. Interestingly, a huge portion of this 2,500-acre park is new growth forest due to heavy logging in the 1800s.
If you're visiting in the winter, you won't want to miss this detour. Olympic Valley, high in the Sierra Nevada, offers some of the best skiing areas in the region. It has actually hosted the Winter Olympics, hence the name!
The Tahoe City Visitor Information Center marks just how far you've come. Located on the north side of the lake, it's a great place to pause, find restrooms, and pick up snacks for the final leg of your journey.
Carnelian Bay is a popular, picturesque spot which was once famous for something besides its postcard beauty. Back in the 1930s and 1940s, this was a major destination for boat racing! Today, it's a great spot for fishing, paddleboarding, and all sorts of other activities.
Kings Beach is one of the warmest beaches on the lakeshore, so if you're wary of the chilly alpine waters, this is the spot for you! The recreation area also features a playground and a basketball court, and there are plenty of well-shaded picnic tables here as well. It's got a little something for everyone.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Reviews
4.5
- 5336
- 492
- 326
- 210
- 124
Ratings come from 488 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.
Know before you go
- Meeting point
- South Alternate Entrance: Start at 2206 Emerald Bay Rd, South Lake Tahoe. Continue north on CA-89 and look for the Lake Tahoe sign on your right as the tour begins. Suggested start only; we’re not affiliated with nearby businesses or locations. Audio starts automatically—check email/text.
- Pickup
- Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operated by
- Adventures with Action
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Important Note: Construction may cause closures and delays, so please plan your tour accordingly and check the North Tahoe Community Alliance website for more details.
- Please note that Tallac Historic Site, Pope Beach, and Eagle Falls Trail are closed for the winter season due to weather, safety concerns, and limited access. For the latest updates, please visit the official website.
- Easy to use: GPS-triggered audio plays automatically along the route for a hands-free experience.
- Private tour: Explore in your own vehicle without crowded buses or large tour groups.
- At your own pace: Start anytime and pause for hikes, picnics, photos, or scenic stops.
- Works offline: Once downloaded, the tour works using GPS without Wi-Fi or cellular service.
How it compares in Lake Tahoe
- Its from-price is 91% below the median of the 169 experiences we list in Lake Tahoe.
- It is longer than most of them.
- By number of reviews it ranks 3 of 169.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
About Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe is a deep alpine lake on the California-Nevada border, ringed by Sierra Nevada peaks, with beaches, ski resorts and pine forest.
Lake Tahoe lies high in the Sierra Nevada, straddling the California-Nevada line at about 1,900 metres. It is about thirty-five kilometres long and more than 500 metres deep, among the deepest lakes in North America, and its water is exceptionally clear and blue. Emerald Bay, on the south-west shore, has a tiny island and Vikingsholm, a Scandinavian-style mansion. Sand Harbor, on the Nevada side, has boulders and sandy beaches.
Top-ranked sights in Lake Tahoe: Emerald Bay State Park, Sand Harbor, Lake Tahoe.
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Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.
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