Private Tour
PCH: Big Sur Self-Guided Audio Tour from Monterey & Morro Bay
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
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.
Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.
Additional Info
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
Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.
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.
For the best experience, please use an iPhone running iOS 15 or later, an Android device running version 9 or later, or an iPad/tablet with GPS and cellular connectivity, as these are recommended for navigation.
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
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Easy-to-use app: download Action’s Tour Guide App onto your phone
Great value: purchase per car, not per person. More affordable than bus or guided tours!
Engaging storytelling: Uncover unique tales and thrilling history for a memorable journey!
Perfect narrator: nothing can beat listening to a great voice. Proven with tons of rave reviews!
Offline maps: no signal, no problem! Works perfectly without cellular or wifi.
Comprehensive route and stops: See it all, miss nothing, leave no stone unturned!
Go at your own pace: Start anytime, pause anywhere, enjoy breaks for snacks and photos freely!
Hands-free: audio stories play on their own based on your location. Easy to use!
Attraction passes, entry tickets, or reservations
What To Expect
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.
We'll continue driving past Carmel and into the natural wonder of Point Lobos Natural Reserve.
Options
PCH: Big Sur Self-Guided Audio Tour from Monterey & Morro Bay
Reviews
100 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Worth purchasing
ucregan,
Sep 5, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This audio tour was well worth the purchase. My husband and I used it for our drive from Monterey to Santa Monica. Despite spotty reception along some of California's most remote coastal areas, the information offered on this audio tour was useful and added interesting context to our long, gorgeous drive.
Brings the Drive to Life!
tx2ca95,
Aug 14, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I'll never take a scenic drive again without one of your audio guides. We've done 3 now and they bring the drive alive with interesting places to note, history, art, nature & geology, and more. We noticed things and definitely learned things we wouldn't have with just a quiet drive through the beautiful landscape.
With the money.
Joe S,
Jun 23, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Download ahead before heading out. Spotty cell service throughout. Start from wherever within the PCH between the beginning and end with the based on my location button.
Would recommend.
joestrange69,
Jun 22, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Really enjoyed the app. Drive halfway down to McWay Falls and started the northbound your using the my location option. It picked up most of the locations but did miss Pfeiffer Beach. Definitely worth the money.
Interesting and convenient PCH tour
charlenea396,
Jun 13, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00Interesting commentary. Nice voice. Well worth the $15. Tells you things as you approach. It's nice it works without service and either direction!
Download the app before...
Kathy M,
May 1, 2025
- Review from Viator
4.00Download the app before your trip. There is very spotty cell service along the route. Interesting tidbits about construction of Highway 1 and bridges Pointed out sights
Monterey to Big Sur audio guide
LBIseventy,
Apr 28, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00Recommend downloading before you start as cell service is spotty. Learned interesting facts about building Highway 1, bridges,and places to pull off. Good recommendation lunch stop + Phoenix gift shop. Fabulous views
We are happy we thought to use this self-guided tour!
SEATraveller2,
Apr 27, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The self-guided tour of this drive was well worth it! The rich descriptions of the highlights were great. The bonus was the hidden gems that are not well marked along the road; the app gave great descriptions and directions. Perhaps the only drawback (if you can call it that!) is to allow plenty of time because you'll want to stop at many of the places highlighted! Buying and installing took a few steps, so be sure you take care of that before you leave areas with cell service, as service is not available at many points along this drive. (Lack of cell service does NOT impact the use of the app once downloaded.
Need to update
O68ZZjohnk,
Mar 12, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
3.00The guide needs to be updated to show the more recent closures on Hwy 1. Especially south of Monterey. Other than that, it is pretty good.
Great place to visit
CataniaG,
Feb 4, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
3.00Good app but it should be stated that one should use earbuds as listening on speaker is not allowed. I tend to agree with them as this is nature at it's best and simply listening to the natural noise is amazing.
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Operated by Adventures with Action