National Parks Wonders
9 Days from $2,351 per person
Tap into your inner adventurer and follow America's great Western migration, past the icy peaks of the Grand Tetons, bubbling mudpots of Yellowstone and the lawless backwater town of Deadwood, where the larger-than-life legends of Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane and Crazy Horse once ruled.
Overview
Tap into your inner adventurer and follow America's great Western migration, past the icy peaks of the Grand Tetons, bubbling mudpots of Yellowstone and the lawless backwater town of Deadwood, where the larger-than-life legends of Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane and Crazy Horse once ruled.
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Day 1: Arrive Salt Lake City
Welcome to Salt Lake City. Check in to your hotel and relax. At 6 p.m., gather at the hotel with your Travel Director and fellow travelers for a Welcome Reception. -
Day 2: Salt Lake City – Montpelier – Jackson (2 Nights)
Traveling north into Idaho, trace the footsteps of the pioneers at the Oregon Trail Center in Montpelier. Through interactive exhibits, travel vicariously with a covered wagon train in America's great western migration. You'll even enjoy lunch in a covered wagon themed restaurant before you'll be on your way to scenic Jackson. Get spectacular 360-degree views of the Snake River Valley and Grand Teton National Park on an aerial tram ride (seasonal) to the summit of Rendezvous Mountain. -
Day 3: Grand Teton National Park Sightseeing
If you like, hit the water this morning on an optional guided float trip* down the Snake River (seasonal). This evening, join your Travel Director and travel companions for a Chuckwagon Regional Meal. -
Day 4: Jackson – Yellowstone National Park (2 Nights)
Spend the morning discovering the natural glories of Grand Teton National Park. Then it's on to Yellowstone, established in 1872 as the world's first National Park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Watch in awe as Old Faithful's waters arc high into the air—as it has done approximately every 90 minutes since the Washburn Expedition discovered it. Tonight, dine and stay inside the park. Each lodge inside the park has its own unique setting and atmosphere. Lodges featured are the Old Faithful Inn, Old Faithful Snow Lodge, Grant Village, and the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel. Specific lodges will be confirmed in your documents. -
Day 5: Yellowstone National Park Sightseeing
Begin the day looking for wildlife in Hayden Valley en route to the impressive Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone with its stunning waterfalls. Continue on to Dunraven Pass and the Lamar Valley, some of the most ruggedly beautiful regions of the park. At Mammoth Hot Springs, admire the mineral terraces that resemble frozen waterfalls cascading down into the valley. -
Day 6: Yellowstone National Park – Cody – Sheridan
Head to the town of Cody, named for its most famous native son, Buffalo Bill. Get a glimpse into the fascinating history of the American West at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West where you'll meet a Local Specialist and delve into the history of the cowboy, the role of the firearm in the early days, and the culture of the Plains Indians. Join your fellow travelers for a Be My Guest dinner in true Western style at a historic café complete with an old-time tobacco shop. -
Day 7: Sheridan – Deadwood – Rapid City (2 Nights)
Proclaimed by Theodore Roosevelt as America's first national monument, Devils Tower rises nearly 1,300 feet (396 meters) above the Belle Fourche River. Head into the Black Hills of South Dakota and the boomtown of Deadwood, which arose after the Gold Rush of the 1870s. Join Kevin Costner's Original Deadwood Tour where you'll meet a Local Specialist to hear about the days of Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane. Journey on to Rapid City, where you have the option of visiting Mount Rushmore this evening to see the magical illumination ceremony. -
Day 8: Black Hills Excursion
This morning discover more of the natural wonders of the Black Hills as you travel to the base of Crazy Horse Memorial, a massive mountain carving of the famed war chief of the Lakota people. Visit Mount Rushmore, designed by sculptor Gutzon Borglum to celebrate the "founding, expansion, preservation and unification of the United States" through enormous carvings of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. Return to Rapid City before gathering with your Travel Director and fellow travelers for a festive Farewell Dinner featuring Stephen Yellowhawk who shares his tribe's history through dance and song, a Cultural Insight. -
Day 9: Depart Rapid City
Bid farewell to your traveling 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
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Black Hills Pow Wow
| Depart Date | Return Date | Price | Discount | Availability | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Black Hills Pow Wow |
30 Sep 18 | 8 Oct 18 |
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$2,650$2,518pp | Early PaymentPay by Apr 26 | Request Quote Book Now | |
| 13 Oct 18 | 21 Oct 18 |
|
$2,475$2,351pp | Early PaymentPay by Apr 26 | Request Quote Book Now |
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Black Hills Pow Wow: This departure features the traditional Black Hills Pow Wow.
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: from $1,125.
Gratuities: Option to pre-pay gratuities for Travel Director and Driver $91 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.
Past Travelers: Save an additional 5% off the Land Only price of the vacation..
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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
13 meals, 8 full breakfasts, 1 lunch, 4 dinners, all with tea and coffee.
Included Highlights
Hidden Treasure
- Enjoy at least one surprise Hidden Treasure
Cultural Insight
- A son of the Lakota and Iroquois Nations, meet Stephen Yellowhawk who is helping to keep the important traditions and history of his tribe alive through song and dance
Be My Guest
- 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 at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West and 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.
JACKSON
*Snake River Float Trip Through Grand Teton National Park
Adult Price: 83.00
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
RAPID CITY
Mount Rushmore Evening Lighting Ceremony
Adult Price: 25.00
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. Operates seasonally, starting at 9 p.m. Approx. duration: 4 hours
Badlands National Park Excursion
Adult Price: 40.00
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: 4 hours
Bear Country USA
Adult Price: 29.00
Nestled between towering pines and along rolling meadows over 250 acres just eight miles south of Rapid City, Bear Country U.S.A. offers visitors intimate views of most North American mammals. Take a leisurely three-mile journey aboard your coach through several enclosures and encounter black bear, elk, reindeer, deer, cougars, bobcats, rocky mountain goats, bighorn sheep, Dall sheep and buffalo. You’ll watch these clowns of nature frolic in a pool, climb trees and amble across the road. At this “home of the largest collection of privately owned black bear in the world,” you’re guaranteed to see more wildlife than you expected. Approx. tour length: 2 hours
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.
