The Silver City Resort is located roughly 2.5 hours from Fresno, California. Check-in at the resort begins at 3 p.m., and we'll plan to meet at the resort restaurant at 6 p.m. for dinner, so travelers flying into Fresno Airport should plan to land by 2 p.m on Day 1. 

Our trip concludes the morning of Day 4. Check-out at the resort is at 12 p.m., but you’re welcome to depart Sequoia at your leisure. If you’re flying out of Fresno, we recommend booking a flight that departs in the late afternoon or evening of Day 4. 

This trip will require some physical activity. Travelers should be comfortable hiking between two and five miles per day, often in unmarked sections of the valley, and sometimes involving bushwhacking. You'll need sturdy hiking boots as well as protective clothing to prevent cuts and scratches to your arms and legs. We'll also be spending extended time in the forest after dark with headlamps and flashlights.

We'll be staying in spacious, shared chalets at the Silver City Resort in Sequoia National Park. Solo travelers should be prepared to share a room with two twin beds with another traveler of the same gender, depending on the composition of the group. Pairs traveling together will stay in shared rooms outfitted with queen beds. Each chalet has one bathroom and will accommodate six travelers.

You’ll be in close proximity to, or in contact with, insects and arthropods. Your researcher-guides are trained in handling these creatures, and they’ll help you learn how to approach the bees we’ll be observing and tracking. However, this trip isn’t recommended if you have a severe allergy to bee venom. It’s also important that you not touch the bioluminescent millipedes, which secrete cyanide.

Note that much of our trip takes place between 6,600 and 7,200 feet (2,012 to 2,195 meters), which can make activity more physically demanding. Altitude affects some more than others; if you’re sensitive to altitude, we encourage you to arrive a day or two early to acclimate.