National Parks Wonders
9 Days from $2,695 per person
Journey past the icy peaks of the Grand Tetons, bubbling mudpots of Yellowstone and lawless backwater towns, where the legends of Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane and Crazy Horse once ruled.
Overview
Journey past the icy peaks of the Grand Tetons, bubbling mudpots of Yellowstone and lawless backwater towns, where the legends of Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane and Crazy Horse once ruled.
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Day 1: Arrive Salt Lake City
The gateway to Utah and center of the Mormon faith extends its signature 'Our City, Your City' warm welcome as you prepare to embark on your in-depth journey through America's West. Explore Salt Lake City on your terms before meeting your Travel Director and fellow travelers for a Welcome Reception.
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Day 2: Salt Lake City – Montpelier – Jackson (2 Nights)
Saddle up for a wild ride back to a time when brave pioneers loaded their wagons and head West. Experience the grueling 2,000 mile trek first-hand at the Oregon Trail Center in Idaho, sit around the campfire and gain insights into the daily lives of America's early explorers. Enjoy lunch in a covered wagon-themed restaurant before continuing to Jackson. Ascend to the summit of Rendezvous Mountain, boarding an Aerial Tram (seasonal) for staggering panoramic views of Snake River Valley and the Tetons.
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Day 3: Grand Teton National Park Sightseeing
Spend a full day at leisure connecting with the dazzling natural scenery of Grand Teton National Park. Enjoy a challenging hike or consider an optional guided float trip down the Snake River (seasonal). This evening, join your Travel Director and travel companions for a Chuckwagon Regional Meal.
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Day 4: Jackson – Yellowstone National Park (2 Nights)
We continue our exploration of the Tetons this morning before heading to the UNESCO-listed Yellowstone National Park. 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.
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Day 5: Yellowstone National Park Sightseeing
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.
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Day 6: Yellowstone National Park – Cody – Sheridan
Gain insights into the history of the American West at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody. This evening, we Connect with Locals and enjoy a traditional Western-style Be My Guest dinner.
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Day 7: Sheridan – Deadwood – Rapid City (2 Nights)
Head through the windswept prairies of the American Frontier and into the Black Hills of South Dakota, admiring the looming fortress of Devils Tower en route. Arriving in the infamous Gold Rush town of Deadwood, we join Kevin Costner's Original Deadwood Tour. Meet a Local Specialist to hear about the days of Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane and Potato Creek Johnny. Journey to Rapid City, where you have the option of visiting Mount Rushmore this evening to see the evening illumination ceremony.
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Day 8: Black Hills Excursion
This morning, we pay tribute to Crazy Horse, peering at the immortalized face of the famed war chief of the Lakota people etched from the granite rock of the Black Hills. Make a Difference by learning how your visit contributes to its preservation. We continue to Mount Rushmore featuring the enormous carvings of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. Returning to Rapid City, we join our Travel Director and fellow travelers and Dive into Culture during a festive Farewell Dinner and Make a Difference by learning how Stephen Yellowhawk works to preserve Native American heritage. who shares his tribe's history through dance and song.
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Day 9: Depart Rapid City
Bid farewell to your travelling companions and take a transfer to Rapid City Airport or extend your stay in Rapid City at The Rushmore Hotel.
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30 Day Refund Guarantee
We promise you’ll enjoy a stress-free travel experience from the minute you start your vacation planning or we’ll refund your deposit. Make your reservation with a $350 deposit. If you change your mind for any reason within 30 days of booking, we’ll offer you a full refund.
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Definite Departure
| Start Date | Return Date | Price | Discount | Availability | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Jun 19 | 30 Jun 19 |
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$2,850pp | AARP members save an additional $100 | Request Quote Book Now | ||
| 8 Aug 19 | 16 Aug 19 |
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$2,825pp | AARP members save an additional $100 | Request Quote Book Now | ||
| 17 Aug 19 | 25 Aug 19 |
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$2,825pp | AARP members save an additional $100 | Request Quote Book Now | ||
| 22 Aug 19 | 30 Aug 19 |
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$2,825pp | AARP members save an additional $100 | Request Quote Book Now | ||
| 5 Sep 19 | 13 Sep 19 |
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$2,875pp | AARP members save an additional $100 | Request Quote Book Now | ||
| 7 Sep 19 | 15 Sep 19 |
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$2,875pp | AARP members save an additional $100 | Request Quote Book Now | ||
| 12 Sep 19 | 20 Sep 19 |
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$2,795pp | AARP members save an additional $100 | Request Quote Book Now | ||
| 14 Sep 19 | 22 Sep 19 | $2,750pp | AARP members save an additional $100 | Request Quote Book Now | |||
| 15 Sep 19 | 23 Sep 19 |
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$2,750pp | AARP members save an additional $100 | Request Quote Book Now | ||
| 19 Sep 19 | 27 Sep 19 | $2,725pp | AARP members save an additional $100 | Request Quote Book Now | |||
| 21 Sep 19 | 29 Sep 19 |
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$2,725pp | AARP members save an additional $100 | Request Quote Book Now | ||
| 26 Sep 19 | 4 Oct 19 | $2,725pp | AARP members save an additional $100 | Request Quote Book Now | |||
| 28 Sep 19 | 6 Oct 19 |
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$2,725pp | AARP members save an additional $100 | Request Quote Book Now | ||
| 5 Oct 19 | 13 Oct 19 | $2,695pp | AARP members save an additional $100 | Request Quote Book Now |
Price is per person and is based on two people sharing a twin bedded room. Single rooms are available at a supplement.
Single Room Supplement: $1,350.
Gratuities: Option to pre-pay gratuities for Travel Director and Driver $96 per person.
AARP Members are entitled to an exclusive Member Benefit Discount on all Grand European Travel vacations. Plus receive a free travel gift! Call Toll Free: 1-866-847-3858 for details.
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Professional Travel Director
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Sightseeing with Local Experts
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VIP Access
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WIFI on Coach and in Hotels
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Expertly Selected Hotels
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Hotel Tips
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Most Meals
Meal Summary
14 meals, 8 full breakfasts, 1 lunch, 5 dinners.
Included Highlights
Cultural Insight
- Meet Stephen Yellowhawk, a son of the Lakota and Iroquois Nations, who is helping to keep the important traditions and history of his tribe alive through song and dance
Connect with Locals
- Learn about the early 20th century history of the old town of Sheridan with an exclusive dinner at PO News and Flagstaff Café
Local Specialist
- For included sightseeing in Deadwood
Sightseeing Highlights
- Orientation of Jackson
- Visit the Oregon Trail Center, 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
- Scenic drive through Deadwood
Request a Quote
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30 Day Refund Guarantee
We promise you’ll enjoy a stress-free travel experience from the minute you start your vacation planning or we’ll refund your deposit. Make your reservation with a $350 deposit. If you change your mind for any reason within 30 days of booking, we’ll offer you a full refund.
Reviews
Request a Quote
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30 Day Refund Guarantee
We promise you’ll enjoy a stress-free travel experience from the minute you start your vacation planning or we’ll refund your deposit. Make your reservation with a $350 deposit. If you change your mind for any reason within 30 days of booking, we’ll offer you a full refund.
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Packing
We suggest bringing a variety of lightweight clothing items that can be layered to save space in your suitcase and give you more options for how to dress. For more helpful information please refer to our Packing Tips & Packing List.
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Gratuity
At the end of your guided vacation, it’s customary to offer your motor coach driver and Travel Director a gratuity. We recommend $4-5 per person/per day for your driver and $6-7 per person/per day for your Travel Director. Recommended gratuity for a Local Host and Local Specialist is 1-2 dollars per person, paid at the conclusion of each guided visit. A convenient option is to prepay your tips before your departure.
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Baggage
Baggage on our trips is restricted to one large suitcase per person with dimensions not exceeding 30x19x10 inches and a maximum weight of 50 pounds. You are also permitted one piece of hand luggage, which should be small enough to fit under your coach seat or on the small overhead shelf compartment. Please note that luggage with an adjustable handle and wheels will not fit in the overhead compartment of the coach. Hotel porterage is included in your vacation.
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Health and Fitness
You will need to be comfortable on your feet, walking and standing for up to three hours in various weather conditions. All of our vacations involve walking, often on cobblestone and uneven surfaces in historic city centers. In order to get the most out of your vacation you need to be able to comfortably walk 1-3 miles unassisted in one day, be in good condition and be able to keep pace with the group.
If you need any medications, it is important that you bring enough to last you the whole trip and keep them in your carry-on bag while you travel.
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Insurance
We highly recommend our optional Travel Protection Plan, which allows you to cancel for any reason up to 24 hours before departure. The plan also includes trip interruption, baggage loss or delay, and medical and emergency assistance. Click here for a summary of coverage details, terms and conditions.
Request a Quote
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30 Day Refund Guarantee
We promise you’ll enjoy a stress-free travel experience from the minute you start your vacation planning or we’ll refund your deposit. Make your reservation with a $350 deposit. If you change your mind for any reason within 30 days of booking, we’ll offer you a full refund.
Optional Experiences are subject to change. Your Travel Director will supply you with a final list of Optional Experiences available on your trip. Optional Experiences cannot be booked online; they can be purchased during your trip through your Travel Director.
Grand Teton
Snake River Float Trip Through Grand Teton National Park
This gentle 10-mile float trip runs entirely within Grand Teton National Park, and covers the most scenic stretch of the Snake River in the Jackson Hole Valley. The Snake River is a lifeline to the park’s bison, elk, moose, beaver, pronghorn, deer, bear and 300 different species of birds, including osprey and eagles. Your experienced guide offers in-depth information on the geology of the Grand Tetons and the habitats of the animals you may see. Although we can’t guarantee multiple animal sightings, your chances of spotting wildlife on the Snake River – with its lush willows to feed on and deep-water pools for animals to swim in – are greater here than anywhere else in the park. Operates late May – mid Sep, subject to weather conditions. Approx. duration: 3 hours
Adult Price: $89
Rapid City
Mount Rushmore Evening Lighting Ceremony
Join a park ranger at Mount Rushmore’s outdoor amphitheater for this moving patriotic program and sculpture lighting ceremony. The program begins with a short inspirational talk, focusing on the presidents, patriotism and the nation’s history, and is followed by a 20 minute film, “Freedom: America’s Lasting Legacy.” Watch in wonder as the evening culminates in the slow exposure of light to the monument until it is fully illuminated. Be sure to bundle up as the evenings can be cool. Approx. duration: 1 hour
Adult Price: $25
Black Hills
Badlands National Park Excursion
Badlands National Park in southwest South Dakota preserves 244,000 acres of sharply eroded buttes, pinnacles and spires blended with the largest protected mixed grass prairie in America. Without a doubt, a hidden gem in the national park system, the unique beauty of the Badlands landscape is like no other. Sightseers as well as scholarly scientists are attracted to the area for its astounding beauty and the opportunity to peek into an ancient world. And no trip to the Badlands would be complete without a stop at famous Wall Drug. An establishment which became known for offering free ice water to thirsty travelers in the 1930s is today one of the top roadside attractions in the country. Approx. duration: 3 hours
Adult Price: $40
Request a Quote
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30 Day Refund Guarantee
We promise you’ll enjoy a stress-free travel experience from the minute you start your vacation planning or we’ll refund your deposit. Make your reservation with a $350 deposit. If you change your mind for any reason within 30 days of booking, we’ll offer you a full refund.
