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Scenic Parks Explorer

15 Day US Tour from Yellowstone | Operated by Trafalgar

  • 15 Days

  • 1 Country

    United States
  • 21 Cities

    Las Vegas, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Salt Lake City, Jackson, Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone National Park, Cody, Billings, Little Big Horn, Crazy Horse Memorial, Rapid City, Mount Rushmore, Denver, Vail, Moab, Canyonlands National Park, Arches National Park, Mesa Verde National Park, Monument Valley, Grand Canyon
  • 23 Meals

    1 Welcome Reception, 14 Breakfasts, 2 Lunchs, 6 Dinners
  • Pace: Active

    Faster paces with mix of 1–2-night stays in each location. Typically features 4+ miles of walking on some days and may involve steep hills and uneven surfaces, such as cobblestones.

Trip Itinerary

Day 1: Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas

From glitz and glitter to lavish dining, the desert playground of Las Vegas extends a warm welcome. More than a high energy city of tempting nightlife, the soul-stirring surrounding landscapes make up America’s most beloved national parks. Kick off your US National Park tour meeting your Travel Director for a Welcome Reception and then soar 550 feet above the center of the Las Vegas Strip on the High Roller, North America’s tallest observation wheel.

 

 

 

 

Hotel: Horseshoe Las Vegas
Included Meals: Welcome Reception
Iconic Experience: High Roller Las Vegas A true must-see. Live “Viva Las Vegas” from the sky as you hop on the High Roller, North America's tallest observation wheel standing 550 feet tall. The 30-minute ride offers breathtaking 360-degree views of the glittering lights and neon signs of the Strip below.
Notes
Day 2: Ride Through Colorful Zion National Park

There’s no better place to admire the Southwest’s multi-color landscape than the towering cream, pink and red cliffs of Zion National Park. Drive through the park hugged by red cliffs and stop for lunch at Zion Lodge. Be sure to keep your camera at-the-ready for the enchanting landscapes of Bryce Canyon. Feel dwarfed by the otherworldly rusty red limestone hoodoo spires that rise surreally from the desert floor to Utah’s skies. Join Ebenezer’s Barn & Grill and The Bryce Canyon Wranglers for an unforgettable evening of live country music and a delicious BBQ dinner.

Hotel: Best Western Plus Bryce Canyon Grand Hotel
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Iconic Experience: Visit Zion National Park Unlock geological history as you walk the paths and trails of Zion National Park, following in the footsteps of Native Americans and the earliest pioneers. The lush vegetation, wild rivers, roaring waterfalls and towering cliffs of this park will have you reaching for your camera over and over again. You’ll even drive through the amazing 1.1-mile, sandstone Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel built from the late 1920s through 1930, when it was the longest tunnel of its type at the time.
Iconic Experience: Bryce Canyon National Park After stopping at Sunset Point this afternoon, Bryce Canyon awaits. You’re right in the heart of it all with your accommodations just three miles from the park entrance, maximising the time you'll spend in the park.
Iconic Experience: Ebenezer's Dinner and Show Giddy up and get ready for an unforgettable evening of old-fashioned western fun, music and great cowboy food at Ebenezer’s Dinner and Show in Bryce Canyon. This favorite will have you tapping your toes and smacking your lips after a filling, tasty meal of flat iron steak, baked salmon or BBQ chicken.
Notes
Day 3: Uncover The History Of Salt Lake City

Fortunately for you, you have a second day in Bryce Canyon National Park, where you’ll unlock the park’s iconic hoodoos. Next up in Salt Lake City, discover the local secrets of Utah's capital seeing its Mormon center, Temple Square and discovering the beliefs and history of the Mormon pioneers who settled here. Salt Lake City is a vibrant and progressive city with cafes, boutiques and new restaurants popping up all the time – so you’ll have plenty of choice as you explore the city today. Ask your Travel Director for recommendations of dining options that suit your mood as you explore the city surrounded by picturesque mountains.

Hotel: Sheraton Salt Lake City
Included Meals: Breakfast
Iconic Experience: Orientation Tour of Salt Lake City Get ready for the key features and local secrets of Utah's capital on an orientation tour with your Travel Director. Check out its Mormon center and Temple Square as you delve into the past of its Mormon settlers.
Iconic Experience: Morning in Bryce Canyon National Park Hello, hoodoos. As you arrive at Bryce Canyon National Park, enjoy seeing the pink, orange and rusty-red limestone spires, known as hoodoos, rise up from the valley floor. Explore the visitor center to learn more about the history and geology of the park before a scenic drive along Bryce Canyon Road with possible stops at Sunrise Point, Sunset Point and Inspiration Point. You’ll love seeing how Bryce Canyon, home to the largest collection of these spires in the world, is in a league of its own.
Notes
Day 4: North to Jackson

Get ready for a change of scenery on your US National Park tour today, taking in views of Powder Mountain and Bear Lake as you head north from Salt Lake City to Jackson. Standing in the shadows of the Teton Range’s icy peaks, this mountain town has an Old West look with a modern twist. Get a feel for the outdoor vibe - home to three ski areas and many rugged trails – on your own. Grab dinner this evening in one of the old-timey saloons and steakhouses destined to fuel your adventures through Western Frontiers.

Hotel: Modern Mountain Motel, Jackson
Included Meals: Breakfast
Iconic Experience: Jackson, Wyoming Spend the afternoon exploring the charming cowboy town of Jackson, WY. Stroll through the antler archways at Jackson Town Square before heading to the famed Million Dollar Cowboy Bar and grab a seat on a horse saddle. Walk through local art galleries and boutique shops to find the perfect souvenir.
Notes
Day 5: Travel Through Scenic Grand Teton National Park

Grand Teton National Park’s alpine landscapes of eight peaks tower over 12,000 feet above you. Learn how, established in 1929, Grand Teton is home to a 40-mile mountain range straddling Idaho and Wyoming with views of wildlife, glacier-carved lakes and alpine terrain. Inhabited first by Native Americans and later American pioneers, Grand Teton is the perfect place to explore over 200 miles of hiking trails and take in views of the Tetons from the Snake River. Get your bearings choosing to join a gentle Snake River Float Trip in the Park, learning from your guide about the park’s resident wildlife. The promise of Yellowstone’s geothermal wonderland leads to your next destination. Arriving in Yellowstone, stay right in the heart of it all overnighting at one of the lodges in this iconic national park.

Hotel: National Park Lodges Yellowstone
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Iconic Experience: Grand Teton National Park Head to Grand Teton National Park for sightseeing of its alpine landscapes featuring eight peaks towering 12,000 feet above. At the Craig Thomas Visitor Center, gaze out at the Teton Range rising above. Inside the Center, explore the themes of place, people, preservation, mountaineering and Native Americans as you contemplate the past and future of this park. With your Travel Director enhancing your visit through narrative, drive by Jenny Lake, a glacier-carved lake at the base of the Teton Mountains.
Notes
Day 6: See the Grandeur of Yellowstone National Park

See how Yellowstone National Park - one of the world’s oldest national parks with over 500 geysers – is in a league of its own. At the end of your visit, you’ll surely appreciate its vastness, variety of landscapes and terrains, wildlife, vegetation, lakes and geologic wonders like the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River. Alongside your Travel Director, marvel at Old Faithful, the thousand-year-old geyser which has been shooting water into the sky every 90 minutes for centuries. Stop at Lake Yellowstone, containing the largest number of wild cutthroat trout in North America, before viewing Artists Point. Savor a quiet moment at this viewpoint to watch the stunning cascade of the Lower Falls. Finish off an epic day of sightseeing at the impressive Fountain Paint Pot area where bubbling mud pots and geysers invite you to stand back and watch the show.

Hotel: National Park Lodges Yellowstone
Included Meals: Breakfast
Iconic Experience: Visit 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 splendor of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, keep an eye out for bison in Hayden Valley, and witness Old Faithful blow off some steam.
Trafalgar Difference: Yellowstone National Park Lodges Nothing beats staying close to all the action. Your accommodation for the next two nights is inside the National Park granting you all day access to the park and hotel amenities. Enjoy an evening stroll when the day-trippers are gone and appreciate the natural beauty surrounding you.  
Notes
Day 7: Experience Blue Skies And The Wild West

Welcome to "Buffalo Bill’s" hometown of Cody where the "Spirit of the American West" lives on. Visit the Buffalo Bill Center of the West Museum to unlock the town’s history before taking your wild west adventure to the next level in Big Sky Country. At the historic Billings Depot, you're treated to a Western dinner Be My Guest experience. Meet a local historian from the nearby Western Heritage Center who’ll share Billing’s railroad history from how the depot was built in 1903 as a hub for three major railroads. Get your fix of western hospitality and fare enjoying local Chef Jordan Hodson’s three-course menu featuring local produce, a choice of entrees, a seasonal dessert and beer and wine.

Hotel: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Billings
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Iconic Experience: Visit The Buffalo Bill Center 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. 
Be My Guest: Dinner at the Historic Billings Depot Welcome to old Billings. Learn all about Billing's railroad history during a Be My Guest experience at the historic Billings Depot. Built in 1903 as a hub for three major railroads passing through town, it is now a non-profit organization designed to give you a feel for Billings in the early 1900s. A historian from the nearby Western Heritage Center will be your host for the evening and will share the rail industry's importance to Big Sky Montana. Afterwards, a local chef will delight you with a three-course menu.
Notes
Day 8: Unlock The History of Little Big Horn

Today on your US National Park tour, explore history and living traditions starting with a visit to Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, the battlefield where the ill-fated Custer led his men against a battalion of Sioux and Cheyenne warriors now known as Custer’s last stand. From battlefields to the Black Hills, make your way to the base of Crazy Horse Memorial, an iconic monument representing the Oglala Lakota warrior 'Crazy Horse'. Admire the colossal carved face and learn about its origins during a walk-through of The Indian Museum of North America before arriving in Rapid City. Light up your night on an Optional Experience joining Mount Rushmore by Night with a Park Ranger. The sculpture lighting ceremony culminates as the faces of the monument are fully illuminated.

Hotel: The Rushmore Hotel & Suites
Included Meals: Breakfast
Iconic Experience: Visit Crazy Horse Memorial 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.
Iconic Experience: Visit Little Bighorn National Monument There’s no better place to learn about the Battle of Little Bighorn than visiting the famous historical site itself. Explore the Visitor Center to get oriented with the history of Custer's Last Stand. With your Travel Director driving along Battlefield Tour Road where General Custer and his men were roundly defeated by combined forces of Sioux, Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribal warriors in 1876, feel echoes of the past come alive on this one-of-a-kind experience. 
Notes
Day 9: Delve Into Native American Culture

Whether or not you caught the show last night, the must-see sight of Mount Rushmore National Memorial makes a dramatic start to your day with the opportunity to take the perfect picture. View the faces of former American presidents etched into the granite rock-face. Later, you could join an Optional Experience venturing into Badlands National Park to explore 244,000 acres of sharply eroded buttes, pinnacles and spires blended with the largest protected mixed grass prairie in America feeling like you’ve entered an ancient world. A special MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience awaits this evening as you meet Lakota Tribe Member Stephen Yellowhawk who shares his passion for his culture over stories of his tribe’s history during a festive evening of singing, dance and music.

 

 

 

Hotel: The Rushmore Hotel & Suites
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®: Discover Lakota Culture through Song and Dance 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.
Iconic Experience: Visit Mount Rushmore National Memorial The grand faces of Mount Rushmore National Memorial await. View the faces of four of America’s most important presidents - George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt - dramatically etched into the granite rock. Mount Rushmore tells the story of the birth, growth, development and preservation of the United States. From the history of the first inhabitants to the diversity of America today, visitors will come face to face (literally) with the rich heritage we all share. 
Notes
Day 10: Journey Through The Prairies To Denver

Travel south on your US National Park tour through the expansive, rolling prairies of Wyoming to Denver, the Mile High City at 5,280 feet known for its thriving coffeehouse and brewery scene. Along the way, trade tales with your travel companions of all the stunning sights you’ve seen. Cap off the day enjoying dinner at a local restaurant.

Hotel: Sheraton Denver Downtown
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Notes
Day 11: Roam The Rockies

Kickoff your day stopping in Vail, an alpine village and one of Colorado's great playgrounds known for its epic powder-filled basins that have attracted skiers since the 1960s. Then discover local organic products and meet local farmers over a one-of-a-kind Be My Guest experience at Field to Fork, a four-season organic farm and boutique fruit stand, growing and celebrating the flavors of every season. You’ll love learning the local secrets of organic farming over a tour from the owners followed by a meal of farm-fresh ingredients. This evening in Moab, opt for an exhilarating Optional Experience flying over Canyonlands National Park during sunset.

Hotel: Best Western Plus Canyonlands Inn
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Iconic Experience: Visit Vail Village Welcome to one of Colorado's great playgrounds. While the winter attracts the ski crowds, the summer draws in guests to the European-style Vail Village. Surrounded by towering Rocky Mountain peaks, the pedestrian village offers a unique mix of shops, restaurants, pubs and cafes. Feel the friendly local vibe that makes Vail cosmopolitan and unpretentious.
Be My Guest: Field to Fork Farm Unlock the local secrets of the land over a meet-and-greet at Field to Fork, an organic fruit and vegetable farm that cultivates 10 acres for vegetable production in addition to a fruit orchard of rare heritage stone and pomme fruit. Welcomed by owners Jessica and Scott, you’ll learn about the farm, its history and Jessica and Scott’s passion and expertise for organic farming. Then, take a walking tour of the farm discovering horticulture and how they grow organic fruits and vegetables, including a greenhouse and barn tour. Cap off your experience with a meal of crudité, salad, pizza topped with local ingredients and dessert featuring local seasonal fruit.
Notes
Day 12: Take In The Views of The Canyonlands

Get ready to gasp. Arches National Park is packed with striking natural arches. On your jaw-dropping exploration, learn how these 6,000 natural sandstone arches were formed by rain and wind on this guided reserved visit led by your knowledgeable Travel Director. From one stunning landscape to the next in Canyon Country, see how the power of the Colorado River carves through the rocky red landscape at Canyonlands National Park. Drive onto the Island in the Sky - a mesa resting 1,000 feet (305 meters) above the countryside offering spectacular views over the dramatic sandstone formations. Take your experience to the next level with an Optional Canyonlands by Night light show, complete with a lip-smacking cowboy-style Dutch Oven Dinner and a trip on the Moab Queen II jet boat cruising by the lit-up canyon walls.

Hotel: Best Western Plus Canyonlands Inn
Included Meals: Breakfast
Iconic Experience: Visit Arches National Park Nature's creations spring to life at Arches National Park, home to the greatest concentration of natural arches in the world. Some 6,000 natural sandstone arches can be found within the boundaries of the national park. On your visit, unlock all the science and history of how these 6,000 natural sandstone arches were formed by rain and wind. Take in the sights of Delicate Arch and Balanced Rock while admiring the ever-changing landscapes as you traverse the park. 
Iconic Experience: Visit Canyonlands National Park There’s no better spot to witness the power of the Colorado River carving through rocky red landscapes than at Canyonlands National Park. Take in the sights of Mesa Arch, views from the Green River Overlook, and be inspired by the vast expanse of high desert canyons at Grand View Point.  
Notes
Day 13: Journey to the Heart of Monument Valley

Within UNESCO-listed Mesa Verde National Park, admire some of the over 600 ancient cliff dwellings - including the largest in the country, the amazing dwelling known as Cliff Palace - carved in the sandstone of the canyon walls. Established by Teddy Roosevelt in 1906, the Park protects some of the best-preserved Ancestral Puebloan archaeological sites in the United States. Deepen your connection with the first nations of this land heading toward Monument Valley - home to the Navajo Nation and the backdrop of many famous Hollywood Western movies.

Hotel: Goulding's Lodge, Monument Valley
Included Meals: Breakfast
Iconic Experience: Explore Mesa Verde National Park There’s no better place to learn about the ancient cliff dwellings of the Ancestral Puebloan people than at Mesa Verde National Park. View the carvings in the sandstone of the canyon walls at the several hundred of these dwellings – astounded by the history presented before you. This UNESCO-listed park also features thousands of well-known preserved archaeological sites. Take in the sites of this protected area as you ride along the Mesa Top Loop and Cliff Palace Loop, where you can see the magnificent Cliff Palace.
Notes
Day 14: Tour The Remarkable Grand Canyon

Your big day of bucket list sites on your US National Park tour begins in Monument Valley. Enjoy a unique exploration with a Local Specialist driving in an open-air vehicle past its towering sandstone buttes and mesas that rise from the barren landscape on a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Continue through the ancestral home of the Navajo, winding along Desert View Drive, surrounded by mesmerizing multi-colored depths. Stop at Desert View Intertribal Cultural Heritage Site to hear stories, family histories and cultural demonstrations by tribal members on another MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. We've saved the best for last: the Grand Canyon. Get a unique perspective from geological expert Canyon Tim who reveals the geological wonders on a private nature talk. Join your fellow travelers for a Farewell Dinner toasting to America’s National Parks at your accommodations inside Grand Canyon National Park.

Hotel: National Park Lodges Grand Canyon
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®: Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park Tour, a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER ® Experience Immerse yourself in the landscape of the Navajo people journeying through the desert to Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park accessing roads, places, sites that are closed to the general public. Get a feel for the land and its people climbing aboard an open-air, all-terrain vehicle to explore the valley with your Navajo guide as you pass its towering sandstone buttes and mesas, many of which have been featured in prominent Western films including John Wayne’s ‘Stagecoach’. Your exclusive Navajo Tribal Park tour with a Navajo guide helps preserve the integrity of the land and culture. Your visit directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 10: Reducing Inequalities.
Dive Into Culture: Grand Canyon National Park with a Geology Expert The great outdoors is your classroom today when you meet geologist Canyon Tim for an enlightening talk about the Grand Canyon at the South Rim . Having over 30 years of geological experience, Tim’s fascinating talk reveals how this natural marvel was formed millions of years ago and how the different layers that make up the Colorado Plateau are still visible today.
Iconic Experience: Explore Grand Canyon National Park One of the seven natural wonders of the world and the second most visited national park in the United States. Explore the Visitor Center and get familiar with the history of the Grand Canyon, grab a coffee at a local café and take a walk along the Rim Trail. Keep your camera on-hand as you explore some of the 278 miles of the Colorado River and adjacent canyonlands at one of the most spectacular examples of erosion anywhere in the world with unmatched vistas along its rim.
MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®: Grand Canyon Inter-tribal Cultural Heritage Site, a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER ® Experience Feel good knowing you’re doing good visiting Desert Viewpoint Inter-tribal Cultural Heritage Site where members of 11 traditionally association Indigenous tribes share their stories, family histories and cultural demonstrations. Discover Native crafts watching a carpet weaving demonstration, or you may enjoy traditional song and dance performances. Your visit and donation provide a continuous source of funding for the on-going development of the Cultural Heritage Site while allowing guests to engage directly with Indigenous community members. The experience directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities and Goal 11: Responsible Production and Consumption.
Notes
Day 15: End Your Journey In Las Vegas

Consider an optional helicopter or fixed-wing aircraft flightseeing trip over the canyon. End your journey in Las Vegas where a transfer is provided to Las Vegas International Airport arriving at approximately 3:30 pm, or to Horseshoe Las Vegas for guests extending their stay.

Included Meals: Breakfast
Notes
This itinerary is for reference only. Upon booking with GET, guests will receive tour documents which will list all confirmed hotels and itineraries based upon the guest's departure date.

Price Includes

What's Included
  • - An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
  • - Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
  • - All porterage and restaurant gratuities
  • - All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
  • - Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
  • - Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
  • - Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
  • - All transport and transfers shown
  • - Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
  • - Optional Experiences and free time
  • - On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilized.
Dining Summary
  • - 1 Welcome Reception (WR)
  • - 14 Breakfasts (B)
  • - 2 Lunchs (L)
  • - 6 Dinners (D)
Iconic Experience
  • A true must-see. Live “Viva Las Vegas” from the sky as you hop on the High Roller, North America's tallest observation wheel standing 550 feet tall. The 30-minute ride offers breathtaking 360-degree views of the glittering lights and neon signs of the Strip below.
  • Unlock geological history as you walk the paths and trails of Zion National Park, following in the footsteps of Native Americans and the earliest pioneers. The lush vegetation, wild rivers, roaring waterfalls and towering cliffs of this park will have you reaching for your camera over and over again. You’ll even drive through the amazing 1.1-mile, sandstone Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel built from the late 1920s through 1930, when it was the longest tunnel of its type at the time.
  • After stopping at Sunset Point this afternoon, Bryce Canyon awaits. You’re right in the heart of it all with your accommodations just three miles from the park entrance, maximising the time you'll spend in the park.
  • Giddy up and get ready for an unforgettable evening of old-fashioned western fun, music and great cowboy food at Ebenezer’s Dinner and Show in Bryce Canyon. This favorite will have you tapping your toes and smacking your lips after a filling, tasty meal of flat iron steak, baked salmon or BBQ chicken.
  • Get ready for the key features and local secrets of Utah's capital on an orientation tour with your Travel Director. Check out its Mormon center and Temple Square as you delve into the past of its Mormon settlers.
  • Hello, hoodoos. As you arrive at Bryce Canyon National Park, enjoy seeing the pink, orange and rusty-red limestone spires, known as hoodoos, rise up from the valley floor. Explore the visitor center to learn more about the history and geology of the park before a scenic drive along Bryce Canyon Road with possible stops at Sunrise Point, Sunset Point and Inspiration Point. You’ll love seeing how Bryce Canyon, home to the largest collection of these spires in the world, is in a league of its own.
  • Spend the afternoon exploring the charming cowboy town of Jackson, WY. Stroll through the antler archways at Jackson Town Square before heading to the famed Million Dollar Cowboy Bar and grab a seat on a horse saddle. Walk through local art galleries and boutique shops to find the perfect souvenir.
  • Head to Grand Teton National Park for sightseeing of its alpine landscapes featuring eight peaks towering 12,000 feet above. At the Craig Thomas Visitor Center, gaze out at the Teton Range rising above. Inside the Center, explore the themes of place, people, preservation, mountaineering and Native Americans as you contemplate the past and future of this park. With your Travel Director enhancing your visit through narrative, drive by Jenny Lake, a glacier-carved lake at the base of the Teton Mountains.
  • 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 splendor of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, keep an eye out for bison in Hayden Valley, and witness Old Faithful blow off some steam.
  • 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. 
  • 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.
  • There’s no better place to learn about the Battle of Little Bighorn than visiting the famous historical site itself. Explore the Visitor Center to get oriented with the history of Custer's Last Stand. With your Travel Director driving along Battlefield Tour Road where General Custer and his men were roundly defeated by combined forces of Sioux, Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribal warriors in 1876, feel echoes of the past come alive on this one-of-a-kind experience. 
  • The grand faces of Mount Rushmore National Memorial await. View the faces of four of America’s most important presidents - George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt - dramatically etched into the granite rock. Mount Rushmore tells the story of the birth, growth, development and preservation of the United States. From the history of the first inhabitants to the diversity of America today, visitors will come face to face (literally) with the rich heritage we all share. 
  • Welcome to one of Colorado's great playgrounds. While the winter attracts the ski crowds, the summer draws in guests to the European-style Vail Village. Surrounded by towering Rocky Mountain peaks, the pedestrian village offers a unique mix of shops, restaurants, pubs and cafes. Feel the friendly local vibe that makes Vail cosmopolitan and unpretentious.
  • Nature's creations spring to life at Arches National Park, home to the greatest concentration of natural arches in the world. Some 6,000 natural sandstone arches can be found within the boundaries of the national park. On your visit, unlock all the science and history of how these 6,000 natural sandstone arches were formed by rain and wind. Take in the sights of Delicate Arch and Balanced Rock while admiring the ever-changing landscapes as you traverse the park. 
  • There’s no better spot to witness the power of the Colorado River carving through rocky red landscapes than at Canyonlands National Park. Take in the sights of Mesa Arch, views from the Green River Overlook, and be inspired by the vast expanse of high desert canyons at Grand View Point.  
  • There’s no better place to learn about the ancient cliff dwellings of the Ancestral Puebloan people than at Mesa Verde National Park. View the carvings in the sandstone of the canyon walls at the several hundred of these dwellings – astounded by the history presented before you. This UNESCO-listed park also features thousands of well-known preserved archaeological sites. Take in the sites of this protected area as you ride along the Mesa Top Loop and Cliff Palace Loop, where you can see the magnificent Cliff Palace.
  • One of the seven natural wonders of the world and the second most visited national park in the United States. Explore the Visitor Center and get familiar with the history of the Grand Canyon, grab a coffee at a local café and take a walk along the Rim Trail. Keep your camera on-hand as you explore some of the 278 miles of the Colorado River and adjacent canyonlands at one of the most spectacular examples of erosion anywhere in the world with unmatched vistas along its rim.
Trafalgar Difference
  • Nothing beats staying close to all the action. Your accommodation for the next two nights is inside the National Park granting you all day access to the park and hotel amenities. Enjoy an evening stroll when the day-trippers are gone and appreciate the natural beauty surrounding you.  
  • Explore an iconic part of the Western USA on this Stays with Stories experience. Feel like you’re stepping back in time to when the lodge was founded in the 1920's. Then imagine you’re stepping onto a movie set - Goulding's Lodge was made famous by Hollywood movies filmed here. In addition to waking up to watch the daybreak over Monument Valley, you’ll also love how the hotel has supported the local Navajo community. 
Be My Guest
  • Welcome to old Billings. Learn all about Billing's railroad history during a Be My Guest experience at the historic Billings Depot. Built in 1903 as a hub for three major railroads passing through town, it is now a non-profit organization designed to give you a feel for Billings in the early 1900s. A historian from the nearby Western Heritage Center will be your host for the evening and will share the rail industry's importance to Big Sky Montana. Afterwards, a local chef will delight you with a three-course menu.
  • Unlock the local secrets of the land over a meet-and-greet at Field to Fork, an organic fruit and vegetable farm that cultivates 10 acres for vegetable production in addition to a fruit orchard of rare heritage stone and pomme fruit. Welcomed by owners Jessica and Scott, you’ll learn about the farm, its history and Jessica and Scott’s passion and expertise for organic farming. Then, take a walking tour of the farm discovering horticulture and how they grow organic fruits and vegetables, including a greenhouse and barn tour. Cap off your experience with a meal of crudité, salad, pizza topped with local ingredients and dessert featuring local seasonal fruit.
MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®
  • 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.
  • Immerse yourself in the landscape of the Navajo people journeying through the desert to Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park accessing roads, places, sites that are closed to the general public. Get a feel for the land and its people climbing aboard an open-air, all-terrain vehicle to explore the valley with your Navajo guide as you pass its towering sandstone buttes and mesas, many of which have been featured in prominent Western films including John Wayne’s ‘Stagecoach’. Your exclusive Navajo Tribal Park tour with a Navajo guide helps preserve the integrity of the land and culture. Your visit directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 10: Reducing Inequalities.
  • Feel good knowing you’re doing good visiting Desert Viewpoint Inter-tribal Cultural Heritage Site where members of 11 traditionally association Indigenous tribes share their stories, family histories and cultural demonstrations. Discover Native crafts watching a carpet weaving demonstration, or you may enjoy traditional song and dance performances. Your visit and donation provide a continuous source of funding for the on-going development of the Cultural Heritage Site while allowing guests to engage directly with Indigenous community members. The experience directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities and Goal 11: Responsible Production and Consumption.
Dive Into Culture
  • The great outdoors is your classroom today when you meet geologist Canyon Tim for an enlightening talk about the Grand Canyon at the South Rim . Having over 30 years of geological experience, Tim’s fascinating talk reveals how this natural marvel was formed millions of years ago and how the different layers that make up the Colorado Plateau are still visible today.

Optional Experiences

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.

Snake River Float Trip Through Grand Teton National Park (Available on Day 5)

Ready for relaxation? This gentle 10-mile float trip inside Grand Teton National Park covers the most scenic stretch of the Snake River in the Jackson Hole Valley. As you kick back on the gentle waters, learn how 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 local animals.  

Adult Price: $101 Child Price: $101 Mount Rushmore Evening Lighting Ceremony (Available on Day 8)

Mount Rushmore springs to life as you join a Park Ranger in an outdoor amphitheater for a moving patriotic program and sculpture lighting ceremony. You’ll start with listening to a short inspirational talk, focusing on the presidents, patriotism and the nation’s history, followed by a 20-minute film, “Freedom: America’s Lasting Legacy.” Watch in wonder as the evening culminates in the slow exposure of light, gradually illuminating the four presidents faces against the backdrop of the Black Hills dark sky (seasonal).  

Adult Price: $30 Child Price: $30 Badlands National Park Excursion (Available on Day 9)

A hidden gem in the national park system, the beauty of the Badlands landscape is like no other. Badlands National Park preserves 244,000 acres of sharply eroded buttes, pinnacles and spires blended with the largest protected mixed grass prairie in America. Sightseers as well as scientists are attracted to the area for its beauty and the opportunity to peek into an ancient world. 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. 

Adult Price: $48 Child Price: $48 Sunset Canyonlands National Park Tour – Fixed Wing Sightseeing (Available on Day 11)

Unlock the best of Canyonlands National Park at sunset. Make sure you have your camera ready -- the golden light in the minutes before the sun dips below the horizon is great for picture taking. Afterwards, the twilight sky and landscape lights up with vivid hues of reds and oranges. 

Adult Price: $285 Child Price: $285 Canyonlands by Night Dinner and Cruise (Available on Day 12)

We hope you brought your appetite. Start with a cowboy-style dinner overlooking the Colorado River before boarding the Moab Queen II jet boat and head upriver. Your guide points out all the sights before reaching the turnaround spot, where 40,000 watts of light illuminate the canyon walls. Sit back and be dazzled by the show choreographed with lights, sounds, music and narration as you hear stories about the formation, creation and history of the area.

Grand Discovery Air Tour South Rim - 45 Min. Fixed-Wing Aircraft Flight (Available on Day 15)

There’s no better way to experience the grandeur of the Grand Canyon South Rim than on a fascinating aerial tour offering unobstructed views. Sit back and feel the thrill of this Natural Wonder as you fly over the Kaibab National Forest, Kaibab Plateau, Confluence of Colorado, Little Colorado River, Imperial Point and Zuni Corridor. 

Adult Price: $196 Child Price: $196 Grand Kingdom - 40 Min. EcoStar Helicopter Flight (Available on Day 15)

Soar across the canyon rim on a helicopter flight, watching as the bottom seemingly drops out from under your feet. Gaze deep into the core of the canyon over 5,000 feet down to the confluence of the Little Colorado River. Then drift past Imperial Point - a rugged spire standing alone near the North Rim of the Canyon. Flying at the same altitude as the North Rim, you may feel you can reach out and touch the canyon walls. Then head back to Grand Canyon South Rim via the Dragon Corridor, another of the Grand Canyon's most picturesque sections.

Adult Price: $391 Child Price: $391 North Canyon Tour Helicopter Flight. Bell Aircraft - 25 minutes (Available on Day 15)

The Grand Canyon opens up before you on a memorable helicopter experience over its southern and northern rims. After flying over the Kaibab National Forest, enter the Dragon Corridor - the deepest and widest part of the Grand Canyon. Marvel at the canyon's legendary beauty through the specially designed oversized windows of your helicopter. Have your camera ready to capture the colorful stone walls and sweeping vistas surrounding you. Fly over the mighty Colorado River toward the canyon's rugged North Rim and soar along with rock formations, including the Tower of Ra and Vishnu Schist. 

Adult Price: $264 Child Price: $264