Best of Montana

Best of Montana

6 Days Starting in Bozeman and ending in Missoula

Visiting: Bozeman, Helena, Great Falls, West Glacier / Glacier National Park, Missoula

Tour operator:

Intrepid Travel

Tour code:

SSEM

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

1 - 12

Physical rating:

Medium

Age range:

18-99 years

Tour operated in:

English

Interests:

Cultural

From: $3395

NB: Prices correct on 05-Nov-2024 but subject to change.

This tour is no longer available, please see similar tours below or send an enquiry

Tour Overview

Taking you from Bozeman to Missoula via Glacier National Park, this six-day trip showcases the customs and history of Native American culture and the natural beauty of Montana. With a knowledgeable leader guiding the way, you’ll experience a landscape shaped by the elements over thousands of years as you immerse yourself in local history and enjoy delicious picnic lunches surrounded by the scenic splendour of mountains, rivers, glaciers and lakes. Head out on a scenic river cruise, explore the mountains on hikes and get your heart pumping on an exhilarating rafting experience.

Highlights

  • Raft down the Flathead River in Glacier National Park – a wilderness area in Montana’s Rocky Mountains – and soak up the views from a different perspective.

  • Spend a full day learning about Native American history in First Peoples Buffalo Jump State Park from a member of the Blackfeet tribe, hiking in Giant Springs State Park and exploring the land and culture.

  • Follow in the path of Lewis and Clark exploring the Gates of the Mountains on a scenic river cruise along the Missouri River.

  • Spend a full day on a locally guided hike through the incredible Glacier National Park, where you’ll stand at the foot of waterfalls, walk under the canopy of ancient forests, and enjoy a homemade lunch in the wilderness.

  • End your trip in Missoula with an included lunch and beer tasting at a local brewery, where you’ll sample some local Montana huckleberry beer.

  • By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support our Intrepid Foundation partner, the Cultural Heritage Economic Alliance. Donations help them create inclusive and equitable opportunities for Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC) tourism businesses.

  • End your trip in Missoula with an included lunch and beer tasting at a local brewery, toasting your efforts on an adventure well spent!

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1: Bozeman

Location: Bozeman

Accommodation: Hotel

Welcome to Montana! Your adventure begins in Bozeman at 10 am with a welcome meeting. After, your leader will take you on an orientation walk through this Rocky Mountains town, which serves as the perfect starting point for exploring Montana’s history and natural beauty. Take some time for lunch then head to Helena, where you’ll spend the night. After arriving, join a local guide for walking tour through the city’s downtown, where you’ll hear about how it transformed from its beginnings as a rowdy mining camp to the capital of Montana. This evening, you might like to head out for dinner with your group.

Included Activities:
-Helena - Walking tour with a local guide
-Bozeman - Leader-led walking tour

Day 2: Helena

Location: Helena

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: breaksfast

After breakfast, you’ll follow in the footsteps of the explorers Lewis and Clark and venture to the Gates of the Mountains on a scenic river cruise. You’ll sail alongside limestone cliffs to a set of towering stone walls which appear to open like a gate as your boat approaches. Little has changed since the two explorers first visited this stretch of the Missouri River, and the region’s untouched beauty remains. Your night is free in Helena to rest and recharge or find a good dinner spot – your leader is always on hand with suggestions.

Included Activities:
-Helena - Lewis and Clark River Cruise

Day 3: Great Falls

Location: Great Falls

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch

After an early breakfast, hit the road and drive to First Peoples Buffalo Jump State Park – home to the largest buffalo jump in America, used as a hunting tool by Native American tribes for at least 1000 years. This is a special and unique experience to learn about the history of the land firsthand. Get to know the landscape with a member of the Blackfeet tribe, who will take you on a full day experience including hikes, walks, talks and a cultural exchange on their homelands. Then, sit down and soak up the scenery over an included lunch where you can ask questions and learn more. Spend the night in Great Falls, where you’re free for dinner.

Included Activities:
-Great Falls - Hikes with Blackfeet Nation guide

Day 4: West Glacier / Glacier National Park

Location: West Glacier / Glacier National Park

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: breaksfast

This morning, you’ll hit the road again after breakfast. Known as the ‘Crown of the Continent’, Glacier National Park offers an impressive array of activities for lovers of nature and the great outdoors. Today, you’ll board a raft and enjoy an exhilarating (and splashy) rafting experience down the Flathead River with an expert local guide – a must-do in this area! Then head into the town of West Glacier, where you’ll spend the night. After an action-packed day, feel free to relax and recharge, or chat with your leader for the best dinner recommendations in town.

Included Activities:
-Glacier National Park – Scenic Whitewater Rafting

Day 5: West Glacier / Glacier National Park

Location: West Glacier / Glacier National Park

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch

After breakfast this morning, you'll take on a full day locally-guided nature hike in Glacier National Park – a wilderness area in Montana’s Rocky Mountains, with glacier-carved peaks and valleys running to the Canadian border. First, we'll drive the iconic Going to the Sun Road to the trailhead where we'll begin our hike. Meander through sun dappled forests to the base of two waterfalls as you hear from your guide about the history of the people who have called Glacier National Park home. Stopping for a homemade picnic lunch with your group, soak up the beauty of your surroundings before making your way back along the trail. Tonight, you may like to drop into one of the local craft breweries or restaurants for dinner.

Included Activities:
-Glacier National Park - Full Day Guided Hike with Lunch

Day 6: Missoula

Location: Missoula

Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch

Enjoy a morning at leisure before hitting the road to Missoula. When you arrive, enjoy one last meal at a local brewery with your group to celebrate all you’ve done in this jam-packed adventure. Your adventure will end at around 3 pm.

Included Activities:
-Missoula - Local Brewery Tasting & Lunch

What's Included

  • Accommodation
    Hotels (5 nights)

  • Bozeman – Museum of the Rockies

  • Helena - Lewis and Clark River Cruise

  • Great Falls - Hikes with Blackfeet Nation guide

  • Glacier National Park – Scenic Whitewater Rafting

  • Glacier National Park - Full Day Guided Hike with Lunch

  • Missoula - Local Brewery Tasting & Lunch

  • Meals

    5 breakfasts, 3 lunches

  • Helena - Walking tour with a local guide

  • Bozeman - Leader-led walking tour

What's Not Included

  • Tipping and Gratuities

  • International Travel

Transport

  • AIRPORT TRANSFERS IN THE USA & CANADA
  • We recommend taxis and rideshare services like Lyft and Uber when traveling to and from hotels in the USA and Canada. These services are widely available across North America, offering convenient and accessible transportation options. Private transfers in North America incur high costs and present an increased risk of missed connections due to their fixed schedules. In contrast, taxis and rideshares offer both cost-effectiveness and flexibility, ensuring a smoother journey. With transparent pricing, GPS tracking, and on-demand availability, we believe that taxis and rideshare apps not only offer a reliable alternative to private transfers but also provide a secure, trustworthy, and budget-friendly transportation option for our customers.

Accommodation

  • Hotels (5 nights)

Important Information

  • 1. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 10 am on Day 1 in Bozeman. Please make your own way to the Joining Point listed in the Essential Trip Information for this itinerary.
  • 2. This trip finishes at approximately 3pm in Missoula. No accommodation is booked for this evening. If departing this day, please do not book any flights before 6pm. if you would like to spend more time in Missoula, we can request additional accommodation for you post tour. Please speak to your booking agent.
  • 3. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights on your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
  • 4. Glacier National Park roads do not fully open to vehicles until all snow is cleared from the high alpine passes. This usually happens in early to mid-June but can extend later into the month during especially snowy years. On departures that travel before the park roads fully open to cars, we will include guided e-biking on Going to the Sun Road instead of the full day guided hike. The e-biking typically lasts 4-5 hours and we ride 16-42 miles depending on road conditions. The minimum age to ride an e-bike is 18 years old.

Mode of Transport

  • Private vehicle

Check out our Q&As

  • Is this trip right for you

    This trip includes a whitewater rafting experience in which you will be required to manoeuvre in and out of a raft, and a guided hike with a distance of 10.5 km (6.5 mi). While the included activities do not require any special physical preparation for most travelers, at least a moderate level of fitness is needed to make the most out of the trip.

    June departures may include a guided e-biking experience on Glacier National Park's iconic Going to the Sun Road instead of the full day hike if the high passes are not yet fully cleared of snow.

    You may also want to check out our Great American West trip if you have a longer time to explore the region: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/united-states/great-american-west-150416

  • What policies are in place for Covid-19?

    Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers around the world for over 30 years

  • Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?

    Yes

  • What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?

    Since 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has supported over 130 organisations across the world. We’re creating positive impact through the joy of travel, community and connection.

  • Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

    Over 50% of traveller travel solo with Intrepid. You can choose to share a room with another solo travelle of the same sex for no additional charge, or choose to pay a single supplement if you’d like your own room. Please request this when booking, and we will secure you a single supplement wherever possible. Please note, if you are booking a last-minute trip, it may be harder for us to secure a single room

Reviews of this operator

Maroochy Dazza (Google Reviewer)  

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Just leaving a review to share how much I enjoyed my Central America trip. I thought the guide, Aura was so knowledgeable and organised and clearly a great ambassador for Intrepid. She gave us lots of information on each region, helped us organise anything we needed and dealt with queries from passengers very well and diplomatically. She made the trip run smoothly. She was also keen to explain the Intrepid vision and how the company values making a difference to locals and is a credit to your company. I did Guatemala and beyond and thoroughly enjoyed it - very fast paced, lots to see and do and a great overview of the region. I would definitely recommend 👍

LivvyGrace 4 (Google Reviewer)  

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I just completed my first Intrepid tour which was 33 days travelling around Central America - I had the time of my life! It was great to have the benefit of a guide (Fluffy was amazing!) and be able to ask questions at any point, but I also liked the freedom that you were permitted throughout. The group tour made boarder crossings seamless and the whole process felt easy - there was never one hiccup. As a solo female traveller, I felt safe throughout, and I cannot recommend Central America enough - the people, the food, the sun and the activities were just amazing :) Can't wait to book my next adventure soon!

V Open (Google Reviewer)  

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I have just come back home after doing Intrepid's 10-day Vietnam Express Northbound tour. What a SUPERB tour. We saw lots and did lots, it was jam-packed full of sights and activities. Our tour leader, Tam, was the best ever. Very knowledgeable, organised and lots of fun too. The other 10 people on the group were all lovely. The places we visited were very interesting. We even visited local homes and ate just like the local people do. I highly recommend Intrepid to anyone considering touring a new country. This was my 5th tour with them and they have consistently been fantastic.

Jack Edwards (Google Reviewer)  

I have travelled with Intrepid...

03-Jun-2024

I have travelled with Intrepid a number of times now and can't recommend them enough. The trips are always exciting, full of history and immersive in the culture and environment. The office staff are great too and always happy to help with any questions you might have. Everywhere I have gone with the company has been different but the guides and itinerary have always been excellent and full of knowledge and passion for their country. Add in the social responsibility angle the company has and it top quality ethical practice and you can't go wrong

Jo Clayton (Google Reviewer)  

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Alice Norton (Google Reviewer)  

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1 Select your preferred date

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Jun 28, 2025 - Jul 03, 2025
$3395

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$3430

Book with Confidence

  • Free Date Changes

    Intrepid Travel allows you to make 10 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 56 days before the start of the tour.

  • Transfer as credit to Future Tours

    Intrepid Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform intrepid travel, 56 days before departure.

  • Low Deposit

    Intrepid Travel requires a minimum deposit of 400 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of intrepid travel charges.

    Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

    At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.

    At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.

    At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.

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