Compare Yellowstone Winter Wonderland by Globus vs South Dakota to Yellowstone Parks Explorer by Intrepid Travel
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5 | Excellent
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4.5 | Great
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| Duration | 7 days | 6 days |
| Price From | $ 4,399 | $ 2,376 |
| Price Per Day | $ 628 | $ 396 |
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| Trip Style | Group tour | Small group tour |
| Lodging Level | Premium | Premium |
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| Flights & Transport | No | Ground transport included |
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| Meals Included | N/A | N/A |
| Description | Sleigh bells ring, are you listening? In the peaceful quiet of winter, it’s also easier to hear the howl of the coyote, the scream of the bald eagle, and the distinct crunch of elk hooves trudging through the fallen snow. It’s a little known secret that one of the coolest times of year to see the wonders of Yellowstone is when its golden hues turn to glistening white. Fewer crowds of people are replaced with bigger herds of bison while the favorite modes of transportation become snowcoaches, skis, and snowshoes. Get ready to gush as you see the steaming spurts of Old Faithful, the thundering Lower Falls, and the wildlife-filled Lamar Valley in a totally different light. This Yellowstone vacation takes you to the winter wonderlands of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho where additional highlights include traveling through the peaks of the Grand Tetons and a sleigh ride through Jackson’s National Elk Refuge. Jingle all the way. |
See natural wonders in South Dakota and Yellowstone National Park on this six-day small group adventure that packs plenty of wonders into a short amount of time. Uncover the beauty of Badlands National Park before you travel to Mount Rushmore, spot buffalo in Custer State Park and continue to Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. With two nights at Yellowstone National Park, you’ll have time to spot wildlife and watch Old Faithful spray water into the air before joining a wolf-tracking expedition. With easy to moderate walks, comfortable accommodation and a knowledgeable leader, this nature focussed adventure is big on beauty. |
Day 1: ARRIVE IN JACKSON, WYOMING
Welcome to the “Wild West” town of Jackson At 6 pm, meet with your travel companions for a welcome drink. Your Tour Director will prepare you for your upcoming adventure.
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Day 2: JACKSON–GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK–YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK
Sleigh Bells Ring! Your day begins in the nearby National Elk Refuge with a fun and exhilarating included [LF] sleigh ride excursion. You’ll depart Jackson and travel through Grand Teton National Park, where some of the majestic peaks soar beyond 13,000 feet. At Flagg Ranch, board a snowcoach and begin your journey through Yellowstone National Park, the world’s first national park. Along the way, marvel at the West Thumb Geyser Basin on the shores of Lake Yellowstone, the Continental Divide, and Shoshone Point Overlook before arriving at the Old Faithful Snow Lodge for a relaxing 2-night stay. (Breakfast,Dinner)
LOCAL FAVORITE EPIC RIDE As many as 10,000 elk congregate here each winter, the largest concentration of wintering elk in the world. Your sleigh will travel among these magnificent creatures for a truly up-close experience. Be sure to keep your camera ready as we watch for a wealth of other wildlife in residence this time of year, including wolves, coyotes, moose, bison, trumpeter swans, hawks, and even bald eagles.
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Day 3: YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK
America’s First National Park Wake up this morning to the fresh, crisp air of Yellowstone in the winter. After breakfast, enjoy a guided walking tour of the Upper Geyser Basin. The remainder of the day is at leisure. Why not try a typical winter activity like snowshoeing or cross-country skiing? Later, relax with a warm drink by the crackling fire. (Breakfast,Dinner)
TOUR HIGHLIGHTNATURAL WONDERS Experience the otherworldly beauty of Yellowstone in winter with a guided walking tour of the Upper Geyser Basin. The greatest geothermal basin on Earth, this region also features the extraordinary sights of world-famous Old Faithful, which erupts with regularity throughout the day, as well as other less predictable geysers, including Castle, Daisy, Riverside, and Grand Geysers. An incredible and invigorating experience.
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Day 4: YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK
Geysers, Pots, and Falls Travel north through the park today by snowcoach, with stops to see the Lower Geyser Basin’s famous Fountain Paint Pots—named for the reds, yellows, and browns of the mud. At the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, see the thundering Lower Falls which are nearly twice the height of Niagara (weather permitting). Have your cameras ready as winter is ideal for wildlife spotting in the bright reflective snow. Later, enjoy a box lunch while continuing to the northern part of the park for mesmerizing Mammoth Hot Springs, where heat, water, limestone, and rock fractures have created a unique terrace feature. Overnight at historic Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel where relaxing in the Map Room with a glass of wine are among the activities you can enjoy. (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT INTO THE WILD Yellowstone in winter offers wonderful opportunities to view its breathtaking geological features as well as magnificent wildlife—from grizzlies and black bears, wolves, mountain lions, elk, bison, pronghorn, moose, and bighorn sheep. Capture the chance to spot a wealth of winged wildlife and birds of prey, including bald eagles soaring overhead.
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Day 5: YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK–WEST YELLOWSTONE, MONTANA
Wild by Nature This morning, join our excursion to [LF] Lamar Valley, the magical “Serengeti of North America.” Next, we travel to Bozeman, Montana, before heading south to the town of West Yellowstone. With your free time this afternoon, consider visiting the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center to learn more about these intriguing predators as you encounter them up close. (Breakfast)
LOCAL FAVORITE WILD & WONDERFUL Situated in the northeast section of the park, Yellowstone’s Lamar Valley carves a vast U-shaped valley from millions of years of glaciers during the last ice age. Here, you’ll have the perfect vantage point from which to spot thrilling wildlife in their natural habitat. Watch for elk, bison, and wolves in this high-country paradise!
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Day 6: WEST YELLOWSTONE–JACKSON, WYOMING
The Peak of Perfection After breakfast, board your motorcoach for a journey through Idaho. Get a different perspective of the Tetons as we travel along Idaho’s western side edge of Yellowstone and the western slope of the Tetons for breathtaking views of the highest peak on the range: Grand Teton itself, which rises to an elevation of 13,777 feet above sea level. Tonight, celebrate your adventure with a festive farewell dinner at a local restaurant. (Breakfast,Dinner)
TOUR HIGHLIGHTSPECTACULAR SIGHTS The Grand Teton Range is the youngest mountain range in the Rockies and some of the youngest peaks in the world. Mere youngsters, these jagged masterpieces born of earthquakes and glaciers just 2 million years ago. With eight peaks towering over 12,000 feet, the grandest of all is Grand Teton itself at over 13,700 feet. So treasured is this magnificent national park that three presidents (Coolidge, FDR, and Truman) all fiercely fought for more land to be protected and preserved in the 310,000-acre Grand Teton National Park enjoyed today.
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Day 7: JACKSON
Safe travels until we meet again! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (Breakfast)
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Day 1 Rapid City to Custer
Welcome to South Dakota! Your adventure starts at 10 am with a welcome meeting in Rapid City. After, take a short drive to the iconic Wall Drug Store – drawing millions of visitors every year, it’s hard to believe this store won over customers in its early days by offering something as simple as free ice water. Take some time to wander around and grab some lunch before heading to Badlands National Park. Have your camera handy to capture the sweeping prairie grass plains and dramatic rocky pinnacles. If you’re lucky, you’ll spot bighorn sheep, pronghorn antelope, chirping prairie dogs and American bison. Take a short hike on one of the scenic trails before continuing to your lodge in Custer. Your home for the next two nights will be a game lodge, established in 1920, where you can see bison wandering the property grounds and immerse yourself in the Western feel of this historic-style accommodation. Tonight, you’ll have a group dinner at the lodge to settle in and get to know your fellow travellers.
Day 2 Custer
Enjoy breakfast at State Game Lodge – your residence has played host to several presidents – then it’s time to jump in a jeep and go wild on a buffalo safari. Trek through the Custer State Park in an open-air jeep as your expert guide shares historical and educational facts and helps you spot pronghorns, elk and buffalo. After, you’ll visit the Crazy Horse Memorial – the largest mountain carving in the Black Hills (widely considered the Eighth Wonder of the World in progress). Then continue to the famous Mount Rushmore to walk the Presidential Trail – a bucket list location, this is a great spot to grab a photo! Tonight, you’re free to grab dinner at your accommodation or a nearby local restaurant.
Day 3 Billings
It's an early start this morning as after breakfast you’ll drive to the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. After a stop along the way for lunch, join your Crow Nation Guide for a tour that provides an Apsaalooke perspective on the conflict. With a tribal historian at your side, you’ll traverse the battlefield and learn how Lakota, Cheyenne and Arapaho warriors defeated the US Army on the Greasy Grass at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. After, head to Billings, where you’ll spend the night.
Day 4 Yellowstone National Park
This morning after breakfast, depart Billings and drive west towards Yellowstone National Park – one of the country's most popular, expansive, and beautiful national parks. Stop in Cody along the way – a western town in Wyoming famously named after Buffalo Bill Cody. Enjoy some free time for lunch and to explore Cody, and then carry on to the park. When you arrive at Yellowstone, you’ll head straight for a visit to the Old Faithful Geyser – a must-see for any trip to the park, Old Faithful is a cone geyser with striking colours and a predictable geothermal eruption (hence the name). Watch as it sprays over 4000 gallons (14,000 litres) of boiling water into the air, then be hypnotised by the startling colours of the Grand Prismatic Spring. After, you’ll check into your hotel in West Yellowstone.
Day 5 Yellowstone National Park
Today after breakfast, you’ll continue to explore the gorgeous Yellowstone National Park, looking out for grizzly bears, wolves, buffalo and elk roaming free. Visit The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone (a great spot for photos) and then explore the Norris Geyser Basin – the hottest and oldest geyser in the park. Along the way, you’ll enjoy a picnic lunch with your group, giving you some free time to sit down and relax or wander and take photos. Tonight, you’re free for dinner, so maybe get your group together and say a pre-final day goodbye over a couple of drinks.
Day 6 Yellowstone Wolf Tracking / Bozeman
You'll be up before the sun this morning, but it's for a good reason! After breakfast, you’ll head back into Yellowstone to join a wolf-tracking expedition with an experienced naturalist guide. There's no better place than Yellowstone to see these magnificent animals in the wild. Your guide tracks the movements and behaviour of Yellowstone wildlife almost daily and knows the best places to find the animals. There will be top-of-the-line binoculars for everyone and high-powered spotting scopes, so no one will miss out. After an included lunch, travel to Bozeman, where your adventure ends at around 4 pm this afternoon. If you’d like to stay in the area for longer, just speak to your booking agent.
