17-Mile Drive Self-Guided Audio Tour from Monterey & Carmel
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About This Tour in Monterey & Carmel
Why Visit Monterey & Carmel?
Monterey & Carmel, USA offers a wealth of attractions, cultural experiences, and activities for visitors. From historic landmarks to modern attractions, Monterey & Carmel provides an unforgettable travel experience with something to discover around every corner. Explore local cuisine, discover unique culture, and create lasting memories in this remarkable destination.
Getting to Monterey & Carmel
You can reach Monterey & Carmel, USA by air, train, or road depending on your starting location. From the airport, you can take a taxi, rideshare service (Uber, Lyft), or public transportation to reach the city center. Many hotels also offer shuttle services, and rental cars are widely available for exploring the area.
What's Included
- Text transcripts of audio narration & Self-paced format (start/pause/resume anytime)
- Pre-recorded audio commentary (downloadable or streamable)
- This is a GPS-powered, self-guided audio tour that works through an app
- Lifetime access (no expiration) with Customer support (chat/email)
- This tour is NOT a ticket to any attraction or site
- Suggested walking/driving itinerary with stop-by-stop directions
- Offline GPS-enabled route map
- NO in-person guide or physical equipment (bring your own device & headphones)
What's Not Included
- Entrance fees, in-person guide, headphones, transport, parking, food,Wi-Fi or cellular data, rentals
Cancellation Policy
Additional Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- How To Access: After booking, you’ll get an email and text with setup instructions and password (search “audio tour” in emails and texts). • Download the separate tour app by Action • Enter the password sent by email and text. • MUST download the tour while in strong wifi/cellular. • Works offline after download.
- How to start touring: Open Action’s separate audio tour guide app once onsite. • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If multiple tour versions exist, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction.
- Go to the starting point No one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided Enter the first story’s point and the audio will begin automatically Follow the audio cues to the next story, which will also play automatically. Enjoy hands-free exploring. If you face audio issues, contact support. Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
- Travel worry-free: Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace. Skip anything you don’t care about or explore bonus content for everything that interests you
- Savings tips: Driving tours: purchase just one tour for everyone in the car
- New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.
- Audio Setup: Connect your phone to your car's stereo system using Bluetooth, USB, or AUX. For the best experience, consider using headphones for walking tours. Audio playback is compatible with Apple CarPlay, with navigation features coming soon. Support for Android Auto is also on the way.
- The tour requires a supported mobile device for navigation. Please use an iPhone with iOS 15 or later, an Android device with Android 9 or later, or an iPad/tablet with GPS and cellular service.
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Customer Reviews
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Meeting and Pickup
Meeting Point
The Pacific Grove portion of our Monterey tourStart on Carmel Way just past the Carmel Gate entrance to 17-Mile Drive, with the entrance station behind you and a stone garage on your left. This is the suggested starting point. We’re not affiliated with the entrance station or nearby businesses. Audio starts automatically—check your email/text.
End Point
Start on Carmel Way just past the Carmel Gate entrance to 17-Mile Drive, with the entrance station behind you and a stone garage on your left. This is the suggested starting point. We’re not affiliated with the entrance station or nearby businesses. Audio starts automatically—check your email/text.
Pickup Information
Pickup Option: All travelers must meet at start point
Itinerary
Tour Itinerary
The Pacific Grove portion of our Monterey tour... 10 minutes
The Pacific Grove portion of our Monterey tour is now over; the famous 17 Mile Drive portion is about to begin. This is Monterey's most famous "attraction" and one of the most beautiful coastal drives in the world. Note: The tour is over 16 miles long, with more than 35 audio stories, and takes about 2-3 hours to complete. New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.
We'll embark on this scenic drive in downtown... 5 minutes
We'll embark on this scenic drive in downtown Monterey, near the historic Fisherman's Wharf.
Our explorations along Monterey's Pacific Grove bring us...
Our explorations along Monterey's Pacific Grove bring us to Cannery Row, immortalized by John Steinbeck.
Our drive down Cannery Row ends at Monterey's...
Our drive down Cannery Row ends at Monterey's second most famous attraction: the Monterey Bay Aquarium. This is an optional stop, for those looking to get up close and personal with a huge variety of sea creatures.
Our drive through Monterey continues along the Pacific...
Our drive through Monterey continues along the Pacific Grove, heading closer to the top attraction: the 17 Mile Drive. Along the way, we see beautiful waterfront properties, the scenic Lovers Point Park, and the unmistakeable Kissing Rock.
Our Monterey tour continues around the Point Pinos... 5 minutes
Our Monterey tour continues around the Point Pinos Bend, where we'll learn about the famous lighthouse.
Keep an eye out for our next sight: the Kissing Rock 5 minutes
Keep an eye out for our next sight: the Kissing Rock! This isn’t really a rock. It’s actually a natural formation of two granite rocks that have fused together over time. Since they appear to be kissing, this spot was officially named “The Kissing Rock” in April 1970.
The drive then takes us along Asilomar Beach,...
The drive then takes us along Asilomar Beach, known for it's tidepools, which teem with life.
Our first vista along the 17 Mile Drive... 10 minutes
Our first vista along the 17 Mile Drive portion of this Monterey tour is at Spanish Bay. We'll explore Monterey's history as we drive.
Our 17 Mile Drive tour then brings us to Point Joe
Our 17 Mile Drive tour then brings us to Point Joe. Here we'll learn the story of two well-known shipwrecks… the St. Paul and the Celia. We'll also understand why this ocean is known as “The Restless Sea”!
Point Joe is infamous as the site of numerous shipwrecks
Point Joe is infamous as the site of numerous shipwrecks. From the outside, this stretch of beach looks like the entrance to the Monterey Bay harbor. In reality, the beach has a rocky underwater lining that unsuspecting ships often crashed upon. And Monterey’s foggy weather certainly didn’t help matters!
The next stop on our 17 Mile Drive tour is at China Rock
The next stop on our 17 Mile Drive tour is at China Rock. This was the exact site of a small fishing village from the 1800s. We'll try to spot the marks from 1800s cooking smoke caked into the rocks!
This rock is a popular hangout spot for...
This rock is a popular hangout spot for the local fauna when they want some downtime. Set in a small cove at one of the best vantage points in the entire bay, it’s home to harbor seals, sea lions, and of course many, many birds. If you’re visiting between November and March, you might even see the far-away spouts of migrating grey whales! Make sure your camera and binoculars are handy.
This brings us to Bird Rock and Seal Rock, both always teeming with life
This brings us to Bird Rock and Seal Rock, both always teeming with life. We'll learn how to spot the difference between seals and sea lions, and identify a couple of the most common birds of the area.
As we continue to drive along the scenic...
As we continue to drive along the scenic 17 Mile Drive, we'll also be able to stop at the Fanshell Beach Overlook.
As we approach the 17 Mile Drive's most...
As we approach the 17 Mile Drive's most famous attraction, the Lone Cypress, we'll learn all about cypress trees -- and what makes them so resilient!
As we drive, we'll pass Crocker Grove, which...
As we drive, we'll pass Crocker Grove, which honors the man who almost single-handedly built the 17 Mile Drive. Crocker put in a lot of effort into beautifying the coastal drive while preserving its natural history and terrain.
Finally we reach the Lone Cypress
Finally we reach the Lone Cypress! The Lone Cypress stands dramatically at the edge of a cliff, shrouded in fog. Its roots are embedded in a rough outcropping on a granite hillside and it is framed by a backdrop of loud, crashing waves.
Pescadero Point is legendary with fans of the paranormal
Pescadero Point is legendary with fans of the paranormal. We'll hear all about the spooky tales of this stop.
Our scenic tour of Monterey's 17 Mile Drive... 10 minutes
Our scenic tour of Monterey's 17 Mile Drive ends at the world-famous Pebble Beach, a paradise of pristine white sand and sensational coastal cliffs.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cancellation policy?
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
How do I book this tour?
Click the "Book Now" button on this page to complete your reservation through Viator's secure booking platform. You'll receive instant confirmation via email.
Is this tour suitable for all ages?
Please check the age requirements and physical fitness level requirements listed in the tour details above. Some tours may have age restrictions or require a certain level of physical fitness.
