About Urban Trek USA San Francisco Private Walking & City Tours

What is Urban Trek USA? 

• We are currently a private walking and city tour experience in San Francisco, CA
• Urban Trek USA is a one-man operation (Anton). Therefore, no need to request for Anton since Anton is the only one 😀 (Note: Urban Trek USA takes only approximately 3 reservations a month so making a reservation in advance is a plus.)
• Urban Trek USA started offering tours back in August 8, 2008
• Urban Trek USA is a 5-star rated San Francisco tour for over 10 years now
• As a result of the pandemic, Urban Trek USA is now only offering private San Francisco experiences

How was the urban trek concept developed?

The urban trek concept, which is to provide an immersive San Francisco experience by walking and taking public transportation, came about almost by accident. Anton's original plan was to do the usual walking tour that are offered by the majority of other tour companies. However, when Anton was attending a tour guide seminar, a bunch of seminar participants who were not from San Francisco asked Anton to show them around San Francisco since Anton is a local. Anton planned an itinerary where he took participants to his favorite local places in the city that are not well-known to visitors and also took  them for dinner at one of his favorite restaurants. Everyone loved it! So basically, that is how the urban trek concept was conceived. 

Another aspect of the urban trek concept was to be environmentally friendly and to help visitors learn how to navigate San Francisco on their own after the urban trek, hence taking public transportation was part of the urban trek. (Note: The Historical San Francisco itinerary has less of the public transportation aspect because it is only a half-day itinerary and most places are easy to walk to.)

The different itineraries always offer a local point of view and "secret spots" when possible in addition to the more well-known attractions. When lunch is part of the itinerary, Anton makes excellent recommendations depending on what you want to have.

Local point of view is defined as Anton's favorite places/neighborhoods that are not well-known to visitors (maybe even some locals) and/or neighborhood places (i.e. restaurants, bars, cafes, dessert places, etc.) that would be worth visiting after the urban trek to soak in more of San Francisco's way of life, food culture, etc.

Secret spots is defined as neat places that are not crowded and often have awesome views. You will notice from the videos, even at the Golden Gate Bridge, there are not many people even though the videos were taken in the middle of the day.

Maybe the most important aspect of the urban trek concept is that the urban trek service is not done for only the time during the urban trek. Urban Trek USA provides free tips and directions for self-guided exploration of more places in San Francisco that were not covered in the urban trek itinerary. Anton is always willing to provide you with helpful tips on whatever else you want to experience.

Note: Prior to offering only private tours, Urban Trek USA limited the total number of urban trekkers to 6 (in the beginning) so guests will have a private tour experience since it was always a small group. Later on, the number was raised to 7 in order to not raise the price. Urban Trek USA does not want to make guests feel like being part of a herd. Urban Trek USA's priority has always been and will always be to provide excellent service.  

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Why is walking and taking public transportation better?

You cannot get the real feel for a neighborhood if you do not walk the streets, alleys, etc. Walking is the only way to get a more intimate experience because you are not detached from the environment. Also unexpected things can happen when walking like being able to watch a movie being filmed in the neighborhood; or kids seeing a distressed baby seal and wanting to make sure it is cared for; or being offered to appear in a video to promote Earth Day.

As mentioned previously taking public transportation is a way to be environmentally friendly since there is no additional pollution being produced and no contribution to the the traffic congestion in San Francisco. You will also get a feel for the locals who live or frequent the different neighborhoods. And you will feel more comfortable exploring more of San Francisco on your own once you experience taking public transportation, which is a lot cheaper than other forms of transportation in the city. 

Click here for detailed descriptions of the different itineraries. 

How to make a reservation:

• Send an e-mail to anton@urbantrekusa.com
• Include the date you want to reserve and the private urban trek itinerary you want to do.

Things to do in San Francisco - San Francisco Scenery Private Walking and City Tour #SFSceneryUrbanTrek #SanFranciscoScenery

Things to do in San Francisco - San Francisco Scenery private walking and city tour by Urban Trek USA. (Note: Urban Trek USA is a one-man operation and takes only approximately 3 reservations a month so making a reservation in advance is a plus.)

The San Francisco Scenery urban trek includes two of the most iconic San Francisco attractions (i.e. Golden Gate Bridge, crooked part of Lombard Street) plus the also popular Palace of Fine Arts and the less popular billionaire's area of Pacific Heights. All of the places have beautiful views, but most important is you will get to experience some of the "secret spots" with awesome views without the crowd. In addition to the awesome views, you will also learn some historical information about the places and, as always, the insider's scoop on more recent events about them. 

(Note: Maybe if the promotional video for this urban trek goes viral then the "secret spots" will be less of a secret so do not share it. LOL.) 

The first place you will experience is Russian Hill where you will see the crooked part of Lombard Street, a very steep street and a couple of the "secret spots" noted above. 

The Palace of Fine Arts in the Marina neighborhood is the next stop, which has a beautiful architectural design and park for the neighborhood. 

After the Palace of Fine Arts, lunch break will be on Chestnut Street in the Marina neighborhood where you will have a wide variety of good choices for lunch. The Urban Trek Leader will provide you with excellent recommendations to help you make a good choice. (Note: The cost of your lunch and snack break, when applicable, is not included in the urban trek price and will be your responsibility.)

After lunch will be the Golden Gate Bridge. There will be quite a bit of time devoted to this area so you will see it from far and near, left side, right sie and under. You will have the option to walk to the first tower (closest to San Francisco) if you want to do so. Therefore, you will be very familiar with the bridge after you leave. Did I mention the "secret spots?"

After the Golden Gate Bridge is the billionaire's area of Pacific Heights which has a nice view and you will see where the ultra rich live in San Francisco. You will be given some scoop on who owns some of the mansions.

The itinerary for this private urban trek ends at this point. You have the option to stop for an afternoon coffee, tea, ice cream, snack at one of the places along Fillmore Street in Pacific Heights. Or the Urban Trek Leader can take you back to your hotel or take you to a location you want to go as long as it is within a reasonable distance and accessible by public transportation.

How to make a reservation:

• Send an e-mail to anton@urbantrekusa.com
• Include the date you want to reserve and the private urban trek you want to do.

Additional information:

• Start time: 9:30 am (or mutually agreed upon time)
• Approximate length of urban trek: 6.5 to 7 hours which includes one-hour lunch break and, if you want, an afternoon break for ice cream, coffee, hot chocolate, beer/wine.
• To make a reservation, send an e-mail to anton@urbantrekusa.com or WhatsApp and Viber 1-415-265-8229
• Price: 1 to 4 people $210 (total) plus $15 for each additional person (Note: Price does not include the cost of your meals, but it includes the cost of Muni fares <no cable car rides>)

 Fitness level for this urban trek:

This is a little above moderate urban trek mostly because it is a whole-day urban trek (with bus rides) and a few uphill walks to get the best vantage points and being San Francisco is a very hilly city and having to go down a lot of steps and up several steps. The trails around the Golden Gate Bridge area can also be narrow and uneven (dirt trail). But there is a one-hour lunch break to relax halfway though the urban trek. Everyone has to be fit in order to walk uphill for at least one city block and can spend hours on their feet. Of course, walking will not be constant since there will be a whole lot of standing stops while you hear commentaries and short stops to admire and take photos of the scenery. Resting will be fine but it will be hard for people who cannot walk for about 10 minutes without stopping to rest to do this urban trek and enjoy it. Each stretch of walking will be approximately 10 minutes before a short standing break while the Urban Trek Leader explains or says something about the place.