Great American West
Great American West
Great American West
13 Days Starting in Rapid City and ending in Missoula
Visiting: Rapid City / Custer, Custer, Sherridan , Cody, West Yellowstone, Yellowstone National Park, Yellowstone Wolf Tracking / Bozeman, Bozeman to Helena, Helena, Great Falls, West Glacier / Glacier National Park, Missoula
Tour operator:
Tour code:
SSEAC
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 12
Age range:
18-99 years
Tour operated in:
EnglishInterests:
Tour Overview
See natural wonders in South Dakota, Wyoming and Montana on a 13-day small group adventure. Uncover the beauty of Badlands National Park, travel to Mount Rushmore, spot buffalo in Custer State Park, soak up wild west history in Cody and Deadwood and visit the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. With two nights at Yellowstone National Park, you’ll have time to track wolves with an expert naturalist and watch Old Faithful spray water into the air. Then travel from Bozeman to Missoula via mountains, rivers, glaciers, and lakes. Learn about the customs and histories of the Blackfeet Native American culture and explore Glacier National Park on a guided hike and a scenic river rafting trip. With easy to moderate hikes, comfortable accommodation, and a knowledgeable leader, this nature-focussed adventure is big on beauty.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Rapid City / Custer
Location: Rapid City / Custer
Accommodation: Cabin
Meals Included: dinner
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 cabin where you can 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.
Included Activities:
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Day 2: Custer
Location: Custer
Accommodation: Cabin
Meals Included: breaksfast
Enjoy breakfast at the lodge, 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 – this is a great spot to grab a photo! Tonight, you’re free to grab dinner at your accommodation or a nearby local restaurant.
Included Activities:
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Day 3: Sherridan
Location: Sherridan
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch
Have a final breakfast in Custer, and then drive north to the city of Deadwood. Made famous for playing host to Wild West names like Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickok, many of its Gold Rush-era buildings are preserved to this day. Your leader will take you on an orientation walk, and then you’ll have free time to do some exploring of your own – why not get fitted out in a new cowboy hat? Regroup for an included lunch, and then head back out on the road heading to Sherridan. It’s a long afternoon of driving, so sit back, relax and enjoy the rolling prairie views. Check into your accommodation, and then settling in for the evening.
Included Activities:
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Day 4: Cody
Location: Cody
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch
After breakfast, drive to the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. There, you’ll join a 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. Grab lunch after your visit, and then make your way to Cody, Wyoming. Join an orientation walk with your leader around the quintessentially western town, scoping out the best spots for a BBQ dinner or your own pair of cowboy boots.
Included Activities:
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Day 5: West Yellowstone
Location: West Yellowstone
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
Depart Cody and drive west towards Yellowstone National Park – one of the country's most popular, expansive, and beautiful national parks. 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.
Included Activities:
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Day 6: Yellowstone National Park
Location: Yellowstone National Park
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
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. Tonight, you’re free for dinner, so maybe get your group together and say a pre-final day goodbye over a couple of drinks.
Included Activities:
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Day 7: Yellowstone Wolf Tracking / Bozeman
Location: Yellowstone Wolf Tracking / Bozeman
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
You'll be up before the sun this morning, but it's for a good reason! 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. Afterward, travel to Bozeman, where you will have the evening free.
Included Activities:
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Day 8: Bozeman To Helena
Location: Bozeman to Helena
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
This morning there will be a meeting at 10 am to welcome any new travelers to the trip. 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:
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Day 9: 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:
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Day 10: 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:
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Day 11: 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:
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Day 12: 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:
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Day 13: 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:
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What's Included
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Accommodation
Cabins (2 nights), Hotels (10 nights) -
Badlands National Park – Hiking
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Badlands National Park – Scenic Drive
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Black Hills - Mount Rushmore
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Custer State Park - Buffalo Safari
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Black Hills - Crazy Horse Memorial
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Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument -guided tour with a Crow Nation Guide
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Yellowstone National Park - Southern Loop Featuring Old Faithful Geyser & Grand Prismatic Spring
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Yellowstone National Park - Northern Loop Featuring Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone & Norris Geyser Basin
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Yellowstone - Wolf Tracking Expedition
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Bozeman – Museum of the Rockies
What's Not Included
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Tipping and Gratuities
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Airport Transfers at Destination
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
- Cabins (2 nights), Hotels (10 nights)
Important Information
- 1. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 9am on day 1. Please make your own way to the Joining Point Hotel listed in the Essential Trip Information for this itinerary.
- 2. This trip is a combination of two of our most popular itineraries. As such the composition of your group and your leader may change on day 8.
- 3. This trip finishes at approximately 3pm in Missoula on day 13. 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.
- 4. 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.
Mode of Transport
- Private vehicle
Check out our Q&As
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Is this trip right for you
This trip involves 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 travellers, 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.
This trip includes time spent travelling in a private vehicle with your group. Extra space can be tight, and conditions may feel a little cramped. It’s all part of the adventure and a great way to get to know your fellow travellers. Please read the itinerary carefully for travel time estimates. -
What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers around the world for over 30 years
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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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Terms and Conditions