Los Angeles · GUIDED
The good guided tours clear out on weekends and holiday Mondays. Below: the 15 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.
See Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Venice, and Downtown LA by open-top bus with flexible hop-on hop-off routes and audio commentary.
“Got to see a lot of historical places! Wheelchair accessibility was great! I give this tour a 8 out of 10... only because NO air conditioning inside the bus! Very HOT!”
See Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Griffith Observatory, and more in 5.5 hours on a comfortable guided Los Angeles bus tour.
“The tour guide had a large body of information about tour area. She provided details as if she was a news reporter. The information was captivating.”
See Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Venice, and Downtown LA by open-air bus, with flexible stops, audio commentary, and real-time tracking.
“Moody drivers, incredibly dated commentary and unable to make the purple loop if you go to Santa Monica!! I’ll be requesting a refund!”
Hike Griffith Park to the Observatory for Hollywood history, sweeping LA views, and memorable shots of the Hollywood Sign with a local guide.
“I wasn’t sure whether to book a hiking tour or to use a trails app to do a solo hike. But I’m so glad we did it as part of a tour, we had Sarah as our tour guide and she made us feel safe and gave us so much interesting information and also tips on our visit in LA. If you’re unsure on booking a group hike or going by yourself, book this tour! Thank you Sarah!”
Explore Joshua Tree by car with offline GPS audio stories, park history, scenic stops, and a bonus Hidden Valley walking tour for $16.99.
“We debated between hiring a tour guide or going on our own with this audio guide and we are so glad we used the Viator Guide. It knew our route/location, without having to touch the screen it prompted us with interesting info about our exact location in the park allowing us to go our own pace! I will definitely be looking for other guides like this when we travel!”
Review of LA’s two-hour celebrity homes tour, with open-top van views, Hollywood Hills stops, guide tips, pricing, and honest drawbacks.
“Great tour from Rodney! We enjoyed seeing all the celebrity tours, and Rodney was very knowledgeable.”
Review of Avalon’s private golf cart tour, with island history, hilltop views, Pebbly Beach, Casino Point, and practical booking advice.
“Dudley was an excellent guide! Showed us all around beautiful Avalon, the popular sites as well as some hidden gems.”
Review of Star Track Tours’ two-hour Hollywood and Beverly Hills bus tour, with celebrity homes, Rodeo Drive, Sunset Strip, and Hollywood Sign views.
“Great tour. We really enjoyed it. Jolly and professional guide. Highly recommended 😊”
Hike to both sides of the Hollywood Sign with a local guide, city views, photo stops, Hollywood stories, water, and parking included.
“I found this place to be very nice, and I was happy to visit. More importantly, Katie was an excellent tour guide—charming and helpful at every moment during our tour. She assisted me with my carry-on bags and even put them in her car. Was that a nice gesture? Yes, it was! On top of that, she is also a professional photographer, and I absolutely love the pictures she took of me!”
Review of Santa Barbara’s private guided kayak tour, with harbor views, sea lions, beginner-friendly instruction, route choices, and practical tips.
“The weather was perfect and our guides were awesome. They told us some very interesting information about the Santa Barbara harbor.”
Hike Malibu vineyards, Chumash cave paintings, native oaks, and an organic garden, then take home two cans of wine.
“We had a beautiful day together on the vineyard hike. Our guide “Tug” was awesome! He made our experience extra special and fun! He was very friendly and funny and also patient and polite as well as super knowledgeable and informative. We had a blast!! It was a great day!! Thank you Tug! And thank you MGVH!”
A practical Long Beach whale-watching review covering wildlife, boat comfort, harbor sights, price, parking, timing, and what to expect at sea.
“I had the most incredible experience on the Guided Whale Watching tour in Long Beach! We were lucky enough to see pods of dolphins, a gray whale, and even a humpback whale—all in one trip. Watching these animals in their natural habitat was truly awe-inspiring. They are so majestic that it’s hard to find the right words to describe the feeling. The entire experience was wonderful from start to finish, and it’s something I’ll carry with me for a long time. I would absolutely do this again and highly recommend it to anyone looking for an unforgettable ocean adventure. Special shout-out to Zack, our guide (I hope I have the…”
A funny one-hour Hollywood Sign hike with LA views, water, snacks, and guide-shot photos for $15. Learn what to expect before booking.
“What an incredible experience! Jon is extremely funny, knowledgeable and kind. He brought water bottles and oat bars for everyone. The entire tour was full with anecdotes about the Hollywood sign and LA. He has amazing photographer skills and truly made time to take pictures of everyone. This tour was the highlight of my stay in LA!! Thanks Jon”
Explore Palm Springs celebrity homes, mid-century design, desert trails, Sinatra lore, and Coachella Valley stories on a flexible audio drive.
“overall a very fun experience. EZ instructions, EZ application, well worth the cost. very pleasant experience.”
See the Getty Center, Hollywood Sign, Beverly Hills, and Griffith Observatory on a private six-hour Los Angeles tour with an air-conditioned vehicle.
“The entire trip was great if you want a comprehensive view of LA. The tour guide we had, Matt, was engaging and knowledgeable. Plus, we didn't have to drive! 10/10 would recommend.”
Pick a coastline, a canyon or a back lot.
