PCH: Big Sur Self-Guided Audio Tour from Monterey & Morro Bay Discount Tickets

4.0
★★★★★ ★★★★★
Based on 104 reviews |
location pin icon 750 Hearst Castle Road, San Simeon, California, 93452, USA
location pin icon San Simeon
4.0 /5
104 reviews
View all PCH: Big Sur Self-Guided Audio Tour from Monterey & Morro Bay photos
View all PCH: Big Sur Self-Guided Audio Tour from Monterey & Morro Bay photos

Get your discount tickets for the PCH: Big Sur Self-Guided Audio Tour from Monterey & Morro Bay, save up to 9% !

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PCH: Big Sur Self-Guided Audio Tour from Monterey & Morro Bay
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Overview

Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone can listen together! Experience the iconic Big Sur road trip with a self-guided driving audio tour! As you drive, learn about the fairytale cottages of Carmel, the purple sand at Pfeiffer Beach, & the enormous elephant seals at San Simeon. Drive over Bixby Bridge, marvel at McWay Falls, & enjoy the rugged coastline along the Pacific Coast Highway / Route 1. Big Sur is the most scenic segment of the Pacific Coast Highway(a must-do road trip), which you can start in either Monterey or San Luis Obispo. After booking, check your email/text to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action while connected to WiFi or mobile data. Enter the password, download the tour, and enjoy it offline. Follow the audio instructions and route from the designated starting point. New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Start southbound on CA-1 (Cabrillo Hwy) near Edgewater Shopping Center in Sand City (Monterey area), with the shops on your left and the beach on your right. Suggested start; not affiliated, so staff won’t have tour info. Audio auto-starts—check email/text for setup, download on strong internet.

Language Offered

English-AUDIO

Spanish-AUDIO

Itinerary

1. Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park
Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park is a state park in Monterey County, California, near the area of Big Sur on the state's Central Coast. It covers approximately 1,006 acres of land. The park is centered on the Big Sur River. It has been nicknamed a "mini Yosemite." Redwood trees are known to live up to 2,200 years. NOTE: The tour is over 120 miles long, with more than 70+ 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.
2. Point Lobos State Natural Reserve
We'll continue driving past Carmel and into the natural wonder of Point Lobos Natural Reserve.
3. Pacific Coast Highway
Next, we enter the world-famous Big Sur portion of the PCH. The Pacific Coast Highway, popularly known as PCH, Highway 1, or Route 1, is one the most scenic roadtrips in the US.
4. Partington Cove
Small, remote inlet & rugged beach reached by a dirt trail, wooden bridge & tunnel.
Duration: 5 mins
5. Garrapata State Park
The scenic drive takes us through Garrapata State Park, where we'll have the chance to stop and check out the Garrapata Beach. As we drive, we'll learn about the wildfires that often rage through forests like these.
Duration: 5 mins
6. Bixby Creek Bridge
Our self-guided drive now brings us to Bixby Creek Bridge! This is one of the most photographed bridges in California due to its aesthetic design, graceful architecture, and magnificent setting. It is a reinforced concrete open-spandrel arch bridge.
Duration: 5 mins
7. Point Sur State Historic Park
We'll continue driving, while admiring and learning about Point Sur and the Point Sur Lighthouse.
8. Andrew Molera State Park
Our tour then takes us through the Andrew Molera State Park, another natural wonder of this drive. We'll also learn about Big Sur's literary fame.
9. Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge
Bixby isn't the only beautiful bridge in Big Sur; Pfeiffer Canyon Bridge has it's own charm.
10. Pfeiffer Beach
Pfeiffer Beach in the Big Sur area is definitely off the beaten path, but well worth the detour. Just south of Big Sur Station on Highway 1 is unsigned Sycamore Canyon Road which winds its way down to the shore.
11. Grimes Point Scenic Overlook
Grimes Point Scenic Overlook has got one of the best views of the Big Sur coastline. It's easy to see what brings people to a place like Big Sur.
12. Seal Beach Scenic Overlook
Our self-guided drive takes us to Seal Beach Overlook where -- you guessed it! -- we'll be able to spot some sunbathing seals.
13. McWay Falls
Another must stop is at McWay Falls. This stunning 80-foot-tall waterfall on the coast of Big Sur in central California that flows year-round.
14. Big Creek Bridge
Next, we drive over the Big Creek Bridge. This is a 589-foot-long, open spandrel, concrete deck arch bridge connecting this scenic, mountainous coast.
15. Big Creek Cove Vista Point
Big Creek Cove Beach is under the Big Creek Bridge on Highway 1 along the Big Sur Coast. Landels-Hill Big Creek Reserve is the land area adjacent to the creek and the California marine protected areas named Big Creek State Marine Reserve and Big Creek State Conservation Area.
16. Limekiln State Park
Our tour continues to Limekiln State Park, featuring beaches, forests, and more.
17. Pitkins Curve Bridge
As we cross the Pitkins Curve Bridge, we'll learn all about the landslides, mudslides, rockfalls, earthquakes, and other natural disasters that continue to threaten the PCH infrastructure.
Duration: 5 mins
18. Jade Cove
Jade Cove features a beach full of nephrite jade.
19. Nathaniel Owings Memorial Redwood Grove
Nathaniel Owens Memorial Redwood Grove is one of the largest redwood stands for miles. Did you know that the coastal redwood is the tallest living thing on the planet? It's true! These behemoths can grow to around 350 feet, which is as tall as a 35-story building!
20. Ragged Point
The stretch of highway between San Simeon and Ragged Point is some of the most picturesque in the world. The roadway follows where the majestic Santa Lucia Mountains meet the Pacific Ocean, with jaw-dropping views around every twist and turn. As you drive, plenty of turnoffs offer moments for taking in the region’s grandeur. As you drive to Ragged Point, you will feel like a star in your own private car commercial on Highway 1.
Duration: 10 mins
21. Piedras Blancas Light Station
As we drive past the Piedras Blancas Lighthouse, we'll have the option to stop and detour for a visit.
22. Elephant Seal Vista Point
Nothing beats the Elephant Seal Vista Point. The largest seal in the northern hemisphere, the Northern Elephant Seal migrates to the rookery, twice each year. While offshore, the elephant seal spends eight to ten months diving up to 5,800 feet deep for up to two hours. The remaining months of the year, they mate, birth, molt, and rest onshore between trips.
23. Hearst Castle
As we drive through San Simeon, we'll have the option to detour to Hearst Castle. Conceived by William Randolph Hearst, the publishing tycoon, it was built between 1919 and 1947.
24. Moonstone Beach
Moonstone Beach Drive, a beautiful detour along Moonstone Beach. Don’t worry, you’ll be able to get back on the highway easily enough!
Duration: 5 mins
25. Nitt Witt Ridge
The one with the blue paint and all the terraces? That’s Nitt Witt Ridge, a peculiar landmark here in Cambria. You might not be able to tell at first glance, but a lot of that house is built from trash. Seriously! It was built by an eccentric artist named Arthur Harold Beal who had an odd fascination with garbage. He actually worked as a garbage collector in the mid-1900s and used some of what he collected to build his home. There are beer cans, car rims, washer drums, you name it, built into the structure of the house. **
26. Morro Bay
Finally, we'll reach Morro Bay, San Luis Opispo, and Pismo Beach, where this segment of our PCH tour ends. You've now experienced the beauty of Big Sur!
Duration: 10 mins

Inclusion

Just bring your car and phone; the app guides your tour.

Support is available via chat, email, or phone if you need help.

Planning tools, route maps, scenic stops, and area previews included.

Private tour experience for your family, in your own car.

Lifetime access: use the tour anytime and keep it for future trips.

Works offline with GPS route guidance and automatic audio stories.

One purchase covers everyone in your car, not per person.

Flexible tour: start, stop, and pause anytime during your trip.

Access your tour in our separate audio tour app after booking.

Hidden gems and local stories included along the route.

Exclusion

No live guide. Entrance fees, parking, food, and car rental are separate.

Cancellation Policy

Check mark icon Refundable tickets

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

  • 100% refund if cancelled 1+ days before the start date
  • 0% refund if cancelled less than 1 day(s) before the start date

Additional Info

Public transportation options are available nearby

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Important Note: Highway 1 (Pacific Coast Highway) is closed between Big Sur and Ragged Point due to repairs from the Regent’s Slide. This 6.8-mile stretch is impassable. For current updates, visit the Caltrans site

As of April 16, 2025, the Overlook Trail to view McWay Falls at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park is closed due to a long-term retaining wall repair project. The project is expected to continue into 2026 and will also limit parking spaces within the park. At this time, the only available viewpoint for McWay Falls is a small roadside viewing area along Highway 1. The Ewoldsen Trail remains open.

Easy to use: GPS-triggered audio plays automatically along the route for a hands-free experience.

Private tour: Explore in your own vehicle without crowded buses or large tour groups.

At your own pace: Start anytime and pause for hikes, picnics, photos, or scenic stops.

Works offline: Once downloaded, the tour works using GPS without Wi-Fi or cellular service.

Good value: One purchase covers everyone in your vehicle, not each person separately.

More ways to save: Choose a single tour, a nearby bundle, or access to 200+ tours.

Download in advance: Download the Tour Guide app by Action and tour while connected to Wi-Fi or a strong cellular signal.

Follow the route: Begin at the suggested starting point or join anywhere along the route shown in the app.

Lifetime access: Preview the tour before your trip and revisit the stories, photos, and details afterward.

Supported devices: iPhone with iOS 15+, Android with version 9+, or a GPS-enabled iPad/tablet with cellular capability.

Travel Advisory: A section of Highway 1 in Big Sur is currently affected by closures and restricted through traffic due to the Timber Fire. Travelers should check the latest road conditions before starting their trip, as closure points and access restrictions may change based on fire activity and evacuation conditions.

The app’s audio will play through your car’s Apple CarPlay and Android Auto display, while the app’s map will display on your phone. You can connect your phone to the car via Bluetooth to listen to the commentary through the car stereo.

Supplied by Adventures with Action

Reviews

4.0

★★★★★ ★★★★★
Based on 104 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

5 stars
53
4 stars
24
3 stars
8
2 stars
7
1 stars
12

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