Overview
Itinerary
Welcome to Jackson! Home to an array of wildlife and the center of outdoor adventures, explore Jackson on your own before meeting your Travel Director and fellow travelers for a Welcome Reception. Excitement builds as your Travel Director outlines the sites to come in your exploration of national parks. (WR) Stay: The Lodge at Jackson Hole
Spend a full day at leisure connecting with the dazzling natural scenery of Grand Teton National Park.
This afternoon, we'll sail into the sky on an aerial tram ride to the peak of Rendezvous Mountain. The Jackson Hole Aerial Tram in Teton Village is the gateway to your national park experience. Soar from the valley to the summit of Rendezvous Mountain rising 4,139 vertical feet as you take in 360-degree views of the Tetons, Jackson Hole, the Snake River Valley, and Grand Teton National Park. Or, seasonally dependent, we'll ride the Bridger Gondola taking us 2,700 feet above the valley floor. (B)
This morning, you may take an optional float trip down Snake River. Sit back and relax as your expert guide points out the sites and wildlife which may include beaver, cutthroat trout, cliff swallows, pelicans, osprey, and bald eagles. No matter what critters come into view, you'll surely enjoy the mountain views. We continue our exploration of the great American West as we head to the world's first National Park. Yellowstone. Your encounter with its geothermal wonders will leave you in awe. Witness Old Faithful's waters arc high into the air as it has done approximately every 90 minutes since the Washburn Expedition discovered it. We stay amidst the colorful pools of hotsprings, mudpots and geysers tonight at one of the park's signature lodges. (B/D) Stay: National Park Lodges Yellowstone
Keep a keen eye out for bison, grizzlies and elk as you journey through Hayden Valley en route to the rusting walls of Yellowstone's Grand Canyon. Drive along Dunraven Pass and past Montana's Lamar Valley, home to herds of elk, bison and grizzlies. Admire the gentle cascade of water running down the multi-colored mineral terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs as they descend into the valley. (B)
Head to the infamous town of Cody, named for its most famous native son, Buffalo Bill. Gain insights into the history of the American West at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West and delve into the history of the cowboy, the role of the firearm in the early days, and the culture of the Plains Indians.
This evening we enjoy a traditional Western-style Be My Guest dinner at a historic café, complete with an old-time tobacco shop. (B/D) Stay: Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Sheridan
Head through the windswept prairies of the American Frontier and into the Black Hills of South Dakota, admiring the looming fortress of Devils Tower, a geological monolith that seems to rise up out of the prairie. You'll learn why Devils Tower is considered sacred to local Native American tribes while appreciating its distinct beauty. Journey to Rapid City, where the evening is yours to enjoy at your leisure. (B) Stay: The Rushmore Hotel & Suites
Today is your first full day in Rapid City to do as you please. Relax at your hotel or opt for one of our exciting optional experiences. Choose to visit Badlands National Park with your Tour Director exploring some of the 244,000 acres of sharply eroded buttes, pinnacles and spires amongst the largest protected mixed grass prairie in America. You'll even make a stop at the famous Wall Drug Store, one of the top roadside attractions in the country.
Later, see a different side of Mount Rushmore and enjoy a ranger talk at an outdoor amphitheater for a moving patriotic program and sculpture lighting ceremony as the evening culminates in the slow exposure of light until the monument is fully illuminated. (seasonal) (B)
Travel to South Dakota to pay tribute to Crazy Horse, the largest mountain carving in the world, peering at the immortalized face of the famed war chief of the Lakota people etched from the granite rock of the Black Hills. We continue to Mount Rushmore featuring the enormous carvings of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln dramatically etched into the granite rock face. On tonight's MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, meet with cultural ambassador Stephen Yellowhawk for a Farewell Dinner over stories about the history of his tribe and how he came to learn the traditional dances. (B/D)
Bid farewell to your traveling companions, or extend your stay in Rapid City at The Rushmore Hotel. (B)
Welcome to Jackson! Home to an array of wildlife and the center of outdoor adventures, explore Jackson on your own before meeting your Travel Director and fellow travelers for a Welcome Reception. Excitement builds as your Travel Director outlines the sites to come in your exploration of national parks. (WR) Stay: The Lodge at Jackson Hole
Spend a full day at leisure connecting with the dazzling natural scenery of Grand Teton National Park.
This afternoon, we'll sail into the sky on an aerial tram ride to the peak of Rendezvous Mountain. The Jackson Hole Aerial Tram in Teton Village is the gateway to your national park experience. Soar from the valley to the summit of Rendezvous Mountain rising 4,139 vertical feet as you take in 360-degree views of the Tetons, Jackson Hole, the Snake River Valley, and Grand Teton National Park. Or, seasonally dependent, we'll ride the Bridger Gondola taking us 2,700 feet above the valley floor. (B)
This morning, you may take an optional float trip down Snake River. Sit back and relax as your expert guide points out the sites and wildlife which may include beaver, cutthroat trout, cliff swallows, pelicans, osprey, and bald eagles. No matter what critters come into view, you'll surely enjoy the mountain views. We continue our exploration of the great American West as we head to the world's first National Park. Yellowstone. Your encounter with its geothermal wonders will leave you in awe. Witness Old Faithful's waters arc high into the air as it has done approximately every 90 minutes since the Washburn Expedition discovered it. We stay amidst the colorful pools of hotsprings, mudpots and geysers tonight at one of the park's signature lodges. (B/D) Stay: National Park Lodges Yellowstone
Keep a keen eye out for bison, grizzlies and elk as you journey through Hayden Valley en route to the rusting walls of Yellowstone's Grand Canyon. Drive along Dunraven Pass and past Montana's Lamar Valley, home to herds of elk, bison and grizzlies. Admire the gentle cascade of water running down the multi-colored mineral terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs as they descend into the valley. (B)
Head to the infamous town of Cody, named for its most famous native son, Buffalo Bill. Gain insights into the history of the American West at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West and delve into the history of the cowboy, the role of the firearm in the early days, and the culture of the Plains Indians.
This evening we enjoy a traditional Western-style Be My Guest dinner at a historic café, complete with an old-time tobacco shop. (B/D) Stay: Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Sheridan
Head through the windswept prairies of the American Frontier and into the Black Hills of South Dakota, admiring the looming fortress of Devils Tower, a geological monolith that seems to rise up out of the prairie. You'll learn why Devils Tower is considered sacred to local Native American tribes while appreciating its distinct beauty. Journey to Rapid City, where the evening is yours to enjoy at your leisure. (B) Stay: The Rushmore Hotel & Suites
Today is your first full day in Rapid City to do as you please. Relax at your hotel or opt for one of our exciting optional experiences. Choose to visit Badlands National Park with your Tour Director exploring some of the 244,000 acres of sharply eroded buttes, pinnacles and spires amongst the largest protected mixed grass prairie in America. You'll even make a stop at the famous Wall Drug Store, one of the top roadside attractions in the country.
Later, see a different side of Mount Rushmore and enjoy a ranger talk at an outdoor amphitheater for a moving patriotic program and sculpture lighting ceremony as the evening culminates in the slow exposure of light until the monument is fully illuminated. (seasonal) (B)
Travel to South Dakota to pay tribute to Crazy Horse, the largest mountain carving in the world, peering at the immortalized face of the famed war chief of the Lakota people etched from the granite rock of the Black Hills. We continue to Mount Rushmore featuring the enormous carvings of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln dramatically etched into the granite rock face. On tonight's MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, meet with cultural ambassador Stephen Yellowhawk for a Farewell Dinner over stories about the history of his tribe and how he came to learn the traditional dances. (B/D)
Bid farewell to your traveling companions, or extend your stay in Rapid City at The Rushmore Hotel. (B)
Trip Inclusions
- Discover Jackson
- Visit the towering peaks of Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone National Park, the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody, Devils Tower National Monument, the Black Hills of South Dakota
- View Crazy Horse Memorial, Mount Rushmore
- Explore the many facets of Yellowstone National Park with it's geysers, hot springs, deep canyon and wildlife
Be My Guest
- Sheridan: Learn about the early 20th-century history of the old town of Sheridan with an exclusive dinner at PO News and Flagstaff Café.
Dive Into Culture
- In Yellowstone National Park's Norris Geyser Basin, join local guides who bring the landscape to life over accounts of early travellers, anecdotes from the scientists who study the geology and wildlife of Norris Geyser, and their personal stories from living year-round in Greater Yellowstone. Explore history, geology and living traditions here at the home of Steamboat Geyser, the world's tallest active geyser. As you stroll among the boiling springs, hissing steam and spouting geysers of Norris, you'll walk in the footsteps of the Native people who first called this powerful place home. You can opt for one of two one-mile walks. Take a loop walk in the Upper Basin (Porcelain Basin) with a steep decline and mostly flat boardwalk. Or, join a Lower Basin (Steamboat Geyser) out-and-back walk along the boardwalk with mostly a decline toward Steamboat Geyser and a slight incline back to the main trailhead.
Iconic Experience
- Grand Teton National Park: Get your cameras ready for Grand Teton National Park's shimmering peaks of the Teton mountain range rising up above forests and lakes. You'll love exploring the park's alpine landscapes with your Tour Director who shares details about the 40-mile Teton Range. Explore the Thomas and Colter Bay Visitor Centers, Jenny Lake and Colter Bay overlooking Jackson Lake, one of the highest altitude lakes in the United States.
- Yellowstone National Park: Yellowstone National Park. A bucket list destination and a must-see icon. Established as America's first National Park by President Grant in 1872, Yellowstone is famous for its hot springs, bubbling mud pots, vast canyons and lush forests and a variety of terrain including alpine mountains, prairies, valleys and waterfalls as well as a diversity of nature including the hydrothermal features. Explore the Southern Loop of Yellowstone with your Travel Director who shows you the must-sees and highlights, paired with background information of this huge, ever-changing national park. See the splendour of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, keep an eye out for bison in Hayden Valley, and witness Old Faithful blow off some steam.
- Cody: Jump into the playground of the wild west. Glimpse into the "Spirit of the West" at the Buffalo Bill Center for the West Museum complex. Boasting five museums on its campus, this “Smithsonian of the West” will immerse you in the sounds and sights of the Wild West. You'll feel like you've been transported back to a time of cowboys and cowgirls, outlaws and Native American warriors.
- Sheridan: Admire Devils Tower, a geological monolith that seems to rise up out of the prairie. You'll be able to see why Devils Tower is considered sacred to local Native American tribes, as it is totally unique and contrasts with the plains around it. The first National Monument in the USA (1906) the tower stands some 867-feet from summit to base. Native American's often refer to the monument as Bear Lodge Butte.
- Black Hills: Unlock the history of Crazy Horse Memorial. Learn how construction began in 1948 after Henry Standing Bear, a Lakota elder, commissioned Korczak Ziolkowski, who worked on construction of Mount Rushmore. While the original idea was to carve a face into rock like Mount Rushmore, the monument will ultimately have a full body and horse. There is no completion date yet, but the face of Crazy Horse was completed in 1998 at 87 feet 6 inches (26.7 m) high. Enhance your visit exploring The Indian Museum of North America that is also part of the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation.
Make Travel Matter®
- Rapid City: Get ready for a one-of-a-kind-experience meeting Stephen Yellowhawk to discover the history of his tribe during a festive evening of dance and song. A performer for more than 20 years, Stephen has a passion for dance and sheer determination to promote his Native American culture. Raised by his grandparents from the Lakota tribe and Onondaga Iroquois tribe, Stephen will share his family and tribal history, culture, and traditions with you. Your visit directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal: Reduced Inequalities.
- 1 Welcome Reception (WR)
- 8 Breakfast (B)
- 3 Dinner (D)
- Itinerary and inclusions are subject to change
- Price is for land, cruise and internal flights as specified. Flights not specified are not included
- Discover Jackson
- Visit the towering peaks of Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone National Park, the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody, Devils Tower National Monument, the Black Hills of South Dakota
- View Crazy Horse Memorial, Mount Rushmore
- Explore the many facets of Yellowstone National Park with it's geysers, hot springs, deep canyon and wildlife
Be My Guest
- Sheridan: Learn about the early 20th-century history of the old town of Sheridan with an exclusive dinner at PO News and Flagstaff Café.
Dive Into Culture
- In Yellowstone National Park's Norris Geyser Basin, join local guides who bring the landscape to life over accounts of early travellers, anecdotes from the scientists who study the geology and wildlife of Norris Geyser, and their personal stories from living year-round in Greater Yellowstone. Explore history, geology and living traditions here at the home of Steamboat Geyser, the world's tallest active geyser. As you stroll among the boiling springs, hissing steam and spouting geysers of Norris, you'll walk in the footsteps of the Native people who first called this powerful place home. You can opt for one of two one-mile walks. Take a loop walk in the Upper Basin (Porcelain Basin) with a steep decline and mostly flat boardwalk. Or, join a Lower Basin (Steamboat Geyser) out-and-back walk along the boardwalk with mostly a decline toward Steamboat Geyser and a slight incline back to the main trailhead.
Iconic Experience
- Grand Teton National Park: Get your cameras ready for Grand Teton National Park's shimmering peaks of the Teton mountain range rising up above forests and lakes. You'll love exploring the park's alpine landscapes with your Tour Director who shares details about the 40-mile Teton Range. Explore the Thomas and Colter Bay Visitor Centers, Jenny Lake and Colter Bay overlooking Jackson Lake, one of the highest altitude lakes in the United States.
- Yellowstone National Park: Yellowstone National Park. A bucket list destination and a must-see icon. Established as America's first National Park by President Grant in 1872, Yellowstone is famous for its hot springs, bubbling mud pots, vast canyons and lush forests and a variety of terrain including alpine mountains, prairies, valleys and waterfalls as well as a diversity of nature including the hydrothermal features. Explore the Southern Loop of Yellowstone with your Travel Director who shows you the must-sees and highlights, paired with background information of this huge, ever-changing national park. See the splendour of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, keep an eye out for bison in Hayden Valley, and witness Old Faithful blow off some steam.
- Cody: Jump into the playground of the wild west. Glimpse into the "Spirit of the West" at the Buffalo Bill Center for the West Museum complex. Boasting five museums on its campus, this “Smithsonian of the West” will immerse you in the sounds and sights of the Wild West. You'll feel like you've been transported back to a time of cowboys and cowgirls, outlaws and Native American warriors.
- Sheridan: Admire Devils Tower, a geological monolith that seems to rise up out of the prairie. You'll be able to see why Devils Tower is considered sacred to local Native American tribes, as it is totally unique and contrasts with the plains around it. The first National Monument in the USA (1906) the tower stands some 867-feet from summit to base. Native American's often refer to the monument as Bear Lodge Butte.
- Black Hills: Unlock the history of Crazy Horse Memorial. Learn how construction began in 1948 after Henry Standing Bear, a Lakota elder, commissioned Korczak Ziolkowski, who worked on construction of Mount Rushmore. While the original idea was to carve a face into rock like Mount Rushmore, the monument will ultimately have a full body and horse. There is no completion date yet, but the face of Crazy Horse was completed in 1998 at 87 feet 6 inches (26.7 m) high. Enhance your visit exploring The Indian Museum of North America that is also part of the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation.
Make Travel Matter®
- Rapid City: Get ready for a one-of-a-kind-experience meeting Stephen Yellowhawk to discover the history of his tribe during a festive evening of dance and song. A performer for more than 20 years, Stephen has a passion for dance and sheer determination to promote his Native American culture. Raised by his grandparents from the Lakota tribe and Onondaga Iroquois tribe, Stephen will share his family and tribal history, culture, and traditions with you. Your visit directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal: Reduced Inequalities.
- 1 Welcome Reception (WR)
- 8 Breakfast (B)
- 3 Dinner (D)
- Itinerary and inclusions are subject to change
- Price is for land, cruise and internal flights as specified. Flights not specified are not included
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Trafalgar USA (2023-24)
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Trafalgar Worldwide Tours (2023-26)
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