Guiding for Incredible Adventures FAQ

Q: What are the basic qualifications required to be a guide at Incredible Adventures?

A: In addition to being a safe driver, there are a number of qualifications required to guide for Incredible Adventures. Most of these requirements are mandated by federal and state laws, or by our insurance company. All guides are required to:

• be 23 years of age or older;

• have, or be able to obtain, a California class C commercial license with Passenger endorsements (we will train the right candidate);

• be a safe, courteous driver;

• have a ‘clean’ short form DMV record (this goes back at least three years; 10 if you already possess or have possessed a commercial license - Form H6 from the DMV);

• have a great personality, like working closely with people from all backgrounds and have the ability to drive long distances in a day;

• have a smile and patience;

• have the ability to act professionally at all times, especially under pressure;

• attend our guide training in San Francisco in the spring of 2024, and, if seasonal, work through October 31, 2023. Winter work may be possible for the right candidate.

Q: How much will I get paid?

A: Wages are per trip, with half day wages starting at $85 and full day wages ranging up to $265 per day, plus tips and commissions (when applicable). Wages for overnight, multi-day tours are per trip and range from $275-$525, plus tips. Our experienced guides can bring home more than $400 a day, including tips. Full time year-round guides are eligible for the following benefits:

• vacation;

• health insurance, dental and vision insurance, medical reimbursement accounts;

• 401(k) plan;

• long term disability benefits;

• paid sick leave in accordance with San Francisco, CA applicable laws;

• commuter benefits package;

• pro-deals

• guide incentive and safety bonus program.

Q: Is there staff housing?

A: There is no staff housing for Incredible Adventures. All of our guides live in or around the city in their own housing accommodations. We completely understand that searching for housing in San Francisco can be a daunting task but it is possible and there are always options. We will help you as best we can with resources for finding housing, but ultimately it is your responsibility to secure accommodation. Oftentimes, guides will team up during Guide Training to look for shared housing together. For Summer 2024, we are offering a housing reimbursement program that will help to partially offset rent costs in SF throughout the season.

Q: I see there are multi-day trips; how many nights are you typically in the city?

A: Multi-day trips start in the spring and get very busy throughout the summer. Depending on the trips you’re scheduled for you could be in the city anywhere from 4-6 nights/week. In the early spring and late fall your trips will mainly be day tours which will bring you back to the city every night.

Q: I’ve never been to the places we travel-- can I still work here?

A: Absolutely! Our guides are from all over. During training, you will learn a lot about the locations we travel to and also visit some of the places on your training trip. However, it is important to note that you will be expected to study these locations, their history, and information to share with passengers in order to best prepare yourself for the season ahead.

Q: Sounds fun, but isn’t being a guide a lot of hard work?

A: Yeah, you bet it is! While we do think most people have what it takes to be a guide with Incredible Adventures, those applicants not willing to work hard, smile through adversity, and rise to unexpected challenges will not be a good fit. 

Q: What’s the difference in the different guide positions you are hiring for in 2024?

A: For 2024, we will be hiring for two different guiding roles: Incredible Adventures San Francisco-based guides, and Overland or Remote guides.

San Francisco-based guides will run the day tours and overnight trips out of San Francisco and will require housing in the Bay Area. Overland or remote guides will run tours throughout the country and will not need any housing in the San Francisco area. These tours will range in length from 1-3 weeks and will require guides to have prior guiding experience. These tours can either be camping or hotel trips and guides will also be driving with trailers.

Q: How many days per week will I work?

A: Seasonal guides should prepare to be scheduled for four to six days per week. However, weather, seasonal patterns, park closures, and other issues can influence scheduling and demand.

Q: What do you look for in an Incredible Adventures guide?

A: We employ guides from all walks of life and backgrounds. We look for people who are safe drivers, great communicators, motivated, and work well with others. Our guides are patient and compassionate people who strive to provide amazing trips every day on the road.  More to the point, we look for hard working guides who challenge themselves and others, love showing our clients the beautiful destinations we visit throughout the western United States and beyond.

Q: I notice you offer day and multi-day tours. What’s the difference?

A: In a typical day on a one-day tour, a guide will pick up clients at any number of San Francisco hotels, provide informational narrative during the trip and in-destination, conduct a guided tour, and offer suggestions and directions for clients. In addition, guides may collect payment, communicate with the office throughout the day as necessary, and drive back to San Francisco to drop clients off at hotels. The day trips offer our highest daily rate of pay and provide our first-year guides the opportunity to hone their leading skills with the advantage of shorter trips. 

Incredible Adventures’ multi-day tours offer a different type of experience. Our guides love these trips because they provide more time in destination with our clients. This enables guides to gain a deeper appreciation of destinations we visit, build on the skills they’ve mastered on the day trips and to further engage with their group of travelers.    

Q: What might a typical day for a guide look like on a multi-day tour?

Here is an example of what one of your days on our Yosemite Escape 3 Day camping tour might look:

You wake up to the sound of the rushing Merced River and get coffee going for everyone. You’ll then review your plan for the day and take care of the pre-trip inspection on the vehicle while checking in with each of your guests. After a briefing with the group, you’ll load them up and head into the park for another beautiful day in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. They can bike, hike, walk, swim, or float in the Valley before heading back to camp. Campfires, s’mores, and cocktails might be in order after dinner. Get a good night's sleep, then wake up and repeat! 

For a more detailed look at sample itineraries, check out these pages:

Q: What time do you typically go into work? 

A: This changes depending on your trips. Some trips require you to come into the office as early as 5:30am whereas other days you may not start till 7am. Typically, your mornings are always on the early side and your day could end anywhere between 6-10pm. 

Q: Driving is not my favorite, how much driving is involved?

A: Although bringing your passengers around new places and being a wealth of knowledge is one of the best parts of being a tour guide, you are first and foremost a commercial driver. Safe and skilled driving is the most important part of this job. Driving varies from trip to trip. On a Yosemite Day Tour you can expect about 9 hours of driving, whereas a Wine Country Tour may only require about 4 hours.

Q: Do I need a car?

A: Some of our guides have their own vehicle and some do not. Although having a car can be helpful in certain situations it is not a necessity. There are many public transportation options to get around the city. Biking, electric scooters, and ride shares are also common modes of transportation in the city.