Mountains to Monuments

Transcription

1 11 Days / 10 Nights DEVELOPED FOR Couples and Families HIGHLIGHTS Full Day Private Tour of Yellowstone National Park Two Hour Trail Ride at Jackson Lake Private Morning Wildlife Tour of Grand Teton National Park Private Tour of the National Museum of Wildlife Art with a Docent Morning Whitewater Adventure or Scenic Float Trip on the Snake River Sunset Tour of Badlands National Park Full Day Private Guided Tour of the Black Hills Region Dinner, Show and Cody Nite Rodeo 1/13 :

2 ITINERARY DAY 1 Arrive Rapid City, SD / Sunset Tour of Badlands National Park Arrive in Rapid City, South Dakota and secure your rental car (arranged independently). Meet your private guide and head out for a sunset tour. The Badlands are especially dramatic in the evening, when the towering rock layers absorb the warm sunset hues. Enjoy an introduction to the park's geology and linger on the trail as the moon rises. Continue from the park to a nearby restaurant for dinner with your guide, options are limited but your guide knows the best locations. Return to your hotel in the late evening. (D) 2/13

3 DAY 2 Full Day Private Guided Tour of the Black Hills Region Meet your private guide this morning for a full-day private tour of the Black Hills region, focusing on Mt. Rushmore National Monument, Custer State Park, and Crazy Horse Memorial. A herd of 1,300 bison roam freely throughout Custer State Park, comprising one of the largest publiclyowned herds in the world. Bison and pronghorn antelope can be seen along the 18-mile Wildlife Loop Road. If you wish, your guide will arrange for a visit to the Black Hills Institute in Hill City. It is one of the world's leading organizations in paleontological excavations and preparation since 1974, helping supply museums and collectors the finest in professionally prepared fossils and cast replicas. The Institute has a small museum and an extensive gift shop you can browse. Note: Mt. Rushmore is such a special place, you may wish to visit the monument in the morning (when the light is especially good for photography) and then return in the early evening when the lights are turned on. Whatever option you choose, your guide will be happy to accommodate you. Return to your hotel in the late afternoon or early evening. (L / D) 3/13

4 DAY 3 Drive to Cody, WY /Dinner, Show and Cody Nite Rodeo Following breakfast and check-out, continue six hours to Cody, Wyoming. We recommend taking a detour to Devil's Tower along the way. A fun way to get oriented to Cody is to take the Cody Trolley tour that lasts one hour. The trolley departs from the Irma Hotel and The Buffalo Bill Center of the West. Three of the many attractions in and near Cody are the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, Old Trail Town and the Heart Mountain Interpretive Center. Old Trail Town features a collection of historic buildings, furnishings and artifacts. The buildings were disassembled, moved and then reassembled by noted western historian Bob Edgar. One of the preserved cabins was used by Old West outlaws Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. The Heart Mountain Interpretive Center is located just 14 miles east of Cody. It is a world-class museum dedicated to the experience of the Japanese Americans that were confined here during WWII. The museum features photographs, artifacts, oral histories and interactive exhibits. In the evening, you will attend the Cody Nite Rodeo, a real professional rodeo held every summer evening. It includes bronc riding, calf roping, barrel racing and bull riding. The master of ceremonies and rodeo clowns add to the merriment. A barbecue dinner will be served near the rodeo beforehand. Overnight in the best available accommodations. Lodging based on double occupancy. (D) 4/13

5 DAY 4 Private Tour of the Buffalo Bill Center of the West / Drive to Yellowstone National Park After checking out of your hotel this morning, enjoy a private tour of the Buffalo Bill Historical Center. The Center features several museums under one roof. Here you can learn about Buffalo Bill Cody and his Wild West Show, learn about the greater Yellowstone ecosystem in the Natural History Museum, explore the lives of the Northern Plains Indian peoples, and see beautiful works of western art. After your tour, drive 2 hours to Yellowstone National Park. 5/13

6 DAY 5 Full Day Private Tour of Yellowstone National Park Today you will have a full day with a private guide to explore Yellowstone, with stops at many of the park's signature destinations, geothermal features, wildlife view sites and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River. Your guide will lead you on short walks while interpreting the hot springs, fumeroles, mud pots and geysers. Your guide will choose a beautiful area to enjoy a picnic lunch, giving you a chance to relax and enjoy the beauty surrounding you. After lunch, continue your journey through the park. Return to your hotel in the late afternoon. (L) DAY 6 Free Day in Yellowstone National Park Enjoy a full day exploring Yellowstone on your own. Drive to the northeast section of the park to the Lamar Valley for unparalleled wildlife viewing opportunities. Stop by Tower Fall, a 132-foot waterfall accessible by a short, paved trail, and cool off in the light mist. We recommend continuing to Mammoth Hot Springs this afternoon, then driving a short distance north to the Boiling River. Bring along your swim suit and take a short hike to the river, where you can soak in natural hot springs. The Boiling River is located on the 45th Parallel, the circle of latitude marking the halfway point between the equator and the North Pole. 6/13

7 DAY 7 Drive to Grand Teton National Park / Two Hour Trail Ride at Jackson Lake After checking out of your hotel this morning, begin your journey south to Grand Teton National Park. As you drive south, the road borders Jackson Lake and the massive Teton Range dominates the western skyline. This afternoon, arrive at Jackson Lake Lodge for a two-hour horseback trail ride. Your wranglerguide will lead you and your horse through willow flats and pine forest, describing the geology, flora and fauna of the area. Keep an eye out for wildlife, as many species are often active this time of day. Climb to the shores of Emma Matilda Lake and look back at the spectacular views of Signal Mountain and the Grand Tetons. After your ride, continue on Teton Park Road to the small town of Moose, where the Grand Teton National Park Visitor Center is located. From Moose, proceed south on Moose-Wilson Road to Teton Village. The road is aptly named as moose are sometimes seen along the side of the road. Total transit time to Teton Village is about 3 hours with stops at vista points and for wildlife viewing. 7/13

8 DAY 8 Morning Whitewater Adventure or Scenic Float Trip on the Snake River / Free Afternoon Drive to the nearby town of Moose where you will meet your rafting guide for a scenic float on the Snake River. The 10-mile float starts from historic Dead Man's Bar, located just below the Snake River Overlook, to Moose Village. The trip covers the most scenic stretch of the Snake River within the entire Jackson Hole Valley with dramatic views of the iconic Grand Teton range throughout. The river trip is approximately four hours. -OR- The whitewater rafting section of the Snake River is located in the Grand Canyon of the Snake River, considered the deepest gorge on the Snake River in Wyoming. The whitewater stretch of the river is 25 miles south of Jackson, features a mix of Class II/III rapids and is perfect for people of all ages and experience. This is the only whitewater section of the Snake River in the area. The trip lasts between 3.5 and 4 hours, round trip out of downtown Jackson. Enjoy a free afternoon. 8/13

9 DAY 9 Free Day to Explore Jackson To you have the entire day to explore or relax on your own. Activity options include: Ride the tram to the top of Rendezvous Mountain to take in the spectacular views from the peak (10,500í). The view from the top is spectacular and there are some short hikes available. During the 15 minute ride, the tram ascends 4,139 vertical feet. Rent canoes or kayaks and paddle on Jenny Lake or Jackson Lake. Try stand up paddle boarding on nearby String Lake. Note: we can arrange for this to be a private guided activity. Rent bikes (road or mountain); there are many paved and off-road trails in and around Teton Village. Take the passenger ferry across Jenny Lake to walk the Cascade Canyon Trail to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point. 9/13

10 DAY 10 Private Morning Wildlife Tour of Grand Teton National Park / Afternoon Private Tour of the National Museum of Wildlife Art At daybreak, meet your private guide at your hotel and travel the nearby Moose-Wilson Road to view moose, elk, beaver and black bears. Your wildlife adventure will continue to locations where you may have the chance to view buffalo and antelope herds along the Gros Ventre River and Antelope Flats. Sweet rolls, coffee and hot chocolate will be served en-route. Your guide will orient you to Grand Teton National Park, so you can enjoy hiking and wildlife viewing on your. You will return to your hotel at about 11:00 AM. We suggest going into Jackson for lunch and seeing some of the town, which has many galleries, shops and other attractions. This afternoon, meet a Docent at the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson for a private tour. The museum overlooks the 25,000-acre National Elk Refuge, home to the largest elk herd in the world, with a population of more than 14,000 elk. Of this number, more than 7,500 spend the winter here thanks to a supplemental feeding program that has been in place since The museum collection features more than 550 artists and over 5,000 cataloged items, dating from 2500 BC to the present. 10/13

11 DAY 11 Depart Jackson After checking out of your hotel, drive to the Jackson Airport, return your rental car and depart on the flight of your choice. 11/13

12 TERMS 25% deposit due upon acceptance. Final non-refundable balance is due 90 days prior to departure date. Accommodations based on double occupancy. INCLUDED: Full Day Private Tour of Yellowstone National Park Two HourTtrail Ride at Jackson Lake Private Morning Wildlife Tour of Grand Teton National Park Private Tour of the National Museum of Wildlife Art with a Docent Morning Whitewater Adventure or Scenic Float Trip on the Snake River Sunset Tour of Badlands National Park Full Day Private Guided Tour of the Black Hills Region Dinner, Show and Cody Nite Rodeo Tickets Lodging as described in the itinerary, with all taxes and resort fees Meals as shown following each day in the itinerary by B, L, D, with taxes and gratuities All special equipment required for activities Final electronic documentation package Trip logistics and operations Trip monitoring during client travel NOT INCLUDED: Meals with gratuities, except for meals shown above 12/13

13 Rental car (to be arranged by your Travel Consultant) Entry fees to the National Parks when not accompanied by a guide Airfare for all flights Spa, other services and other optional activities booked at hotels Gratuities at resorts and for private guides, excepted listed above in inclusions Alcoholic beverages Trip cancellation and interruption insurance 13/13