Follow the Pony Express Trail to Virginia City and discover a former boomtown of Nevada’s silver strike. Learn how pioneers settled the area, enjoy an Old West ambiance, seek refuge in a tranquil church, and ride a raucous railway.

About this activity

Free cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund
Covid-19 precautions: Special health and safety measures apply. Learn more
Reserve now & pay later: Keep your travel plans flexible—book your spot and pay nothing today. Learn more
Duration 7 hours: Check availability to see starting times.
Live tour guide: English
Pickup included: Pick-up is available from the following places: Lake Tahoe Vacation Resort (Ski Run Blvd.) 8:15 AM, Marriott Resorts – bus stop on Highway 50 by Gondola 8:25 AM, Lake Tahoe Resort hotel - valet parking 8:35 AM.
Small group: Limited to 8 participants

Highlights

Ride along the Pony Express Trail
Visit a 19th century mining town
Learn about Virginia City's gold rush
Take a 7-mile ride on the Virginia and Truckee railroad (included)
Travel in the comfort of a luxury shuttle bus

Full description

Enjoy a full-day bus tour to Virginia City from South Lake Tahoe and discover a historic town along the Pony Express Trail. A tour guide will share the history of the city, once a boomtown of the mining industry. Discover how pioneers explored and settled the area after the discovery of silver and gold. Upon arrival, you will go to the F Street Train Depot to ride on the historic Virginia and Truckee Railroad, a 7-mile round trip through Wild West country to Gold Hill and back. After the train ride, proceed to the main C Street and Delta Saloon, established in 1859, where you can enjoy the Old West atmosphere before exploring the tiny but historic town, dominated by the piercing spire of the St. Mary in the Mountains church. Other highlights include the Mark Twain Museum, western wear stores, gold and silver stores, and a chance to go into a real mine.

Includes

Narrated tour
Train ride (Memorial Day through end of October)

Fees to museums and attractions
Lunch

Not suitable for

People with mobility impairments

Covid-19 precautions

You must book this activity online because the ticket office is closed

Safety measures in place

All areas that customers touch are frequently cleaned
You must keep social distance while in vehicles
The number of visitors is limited to reduce crowds

Traveler requirements

You are required to bring and wear a mask

Important information

Know before you go

This tour is not recommended for people with limited mobility

Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.8 /5

based on 12 reviews

Review summary

Guide
2/5
Transportation
5/5
Value for money
4.4/5
Safety
4.7/5

Sort by:

very good experience, only reason i didn't give 5 stars is the driver was giving info about the tour and a ton of his information wasn't accurate. then he started doing movie trivia about Tahoe actors... which had nothing to do with the tour and a lot of that info was incorrect.

July 23, 2021

Guide was knowledgeable and chatty.

We stayed at Hard Rock Hotel in Stateline, NV, and were told that we had to drive to a California hotel for pickup, which we did. This caused logistical problems for parking and a $13.00 parking fee. This was exasperating when on the return trip many passengers were dropped off at Nevada hotels, including one directly across the street from Hard Rock Hotel! We definitely would have preferred a Hard Rock Hotel pickup and drop off, the same service provided to others.

June 7, 2019

Enjoyed learning the history of Virginia City. The bus driver was very friendly and knowledgeable.

September 7, 2018

Virginia City Day Tour From Lake Tahoe

Virginia City Day Tour From Lake Tahoe

About this activity

Experience

Select participants and date

Overall rating

Review summary

Sort by:

Traveler type:

Star rating:

Guide was knowledgeable and chatty.