Organizing trip for 16 people - suggestions?

Hello! My immediate family (2 adults, 2 kids) have been to Yosemite 5 times in the last 4 years. We have finally succeeded in convincing our extended family to join us next year. We will be 16 people total (ages 4-18 and 40s-50s), and we all have rooms booked at the Ahwahnee over the July 4 holiday weekend.

I know generally what I want to suggest that we do (highest priorities: bike around the Valley, including to Yosemite Falls; hike to Vernal Falls; drive to Glacier Point; float the Merced on our own rafts; one person wants to attempt Half Dome).

And I know generally where I’ll suggest that we eat (Ahwahnee dining room; Mountain Room; Mountain Room Lounge; Degnan’s Deli; the Curry Village bar and pizza place), and I’ll make reservations early for those first two restaurants.

I feel comfortable putting together a rough, flexible schedule based on our own experience. My question is more about any advice about the specific logistics of planning with a large group, since I only have experience getting my own family of four around.

For example:
- Is there a private tour/guide I can book that has a van/bus that can carry all 16 of us to places like Glacier Point / Mariposa / Tunnel View, or should we just caravan in our own cars? And deal with shuttles for the places along the Valley shuttle route?
- Is there a bike rental service that would deliver the bikes to us in the Valley and let us keep it for multiple days? Otherwise we’ll need to get up early and take up most of the Ahwahnee’s rental bikes. (Most of our cars can’t accommodate a bike rack to bring our own.)
- Any other suggestions appreciated.

(I know I’m super early to be thinking about next year, but we just got back from our annual Yosemite trip and it’s all fresh in my mind, so I want to write down all the ideas now.)

Thanks!

Posted Jul 6, 2026, 8:55 PM UTC

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