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South Dakota to Yellowstone Parks Explorer


See natural wonders in South Dakota and Yellowstone National Park on this six-day small group adventure that packs plenty of wonders into a short amount of time. Uncover the beauty of Badlands National Park before you travel to Mount Rushmore, spot buffalo in Custer State Park and continue to Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. With two nights at Yellowstone National Park, you’ll have time to spot wildlife and watch Old Faithful spray water into the air before joining a wolf-tracking expedition. With easy to moderate walks, comfortable accommodation and a knowledgeable leader, this nature focussed adventure is big on beauty.

6 days, from

$2,970

per person

GROUP SIZE

12 people max

ACTIVITY LEVEL

 
2
Trip code: SSED
Style: Comfort
Theme: Explorer

Details

Countries Visited:  United States Of America
Accommodation: Lodge (2 nights), Hotel (3 nights)
Transportation: Private vehicle
Included Meals:

  • 5 breakfasts
  • 2 lunches
  • 1 dinners

Group size: Minimum 1, Max 12

  • Enjoy the changing landscape of Badlands National Park as you explore the scenic loop drive, looking out for bighorn sheep and antelope.

  • Visit Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument and join your Crow Nation Guide to learn about the history of the area.

  • Jump in a jeep with an expert guide to see buffalo up close and personal in Custer State Park along with pronghorns and elk.

  • Marvel at Mount Rushmore where a hike will take you up close to this famous mountain sculpture.

  • Join an expert naturalist on a wolf tracking expedition at Yellowstone National Park.

Itinerary

Show Full Itinerary

Day 1: Rapid City

Welcome to Rapid City! Your tour starts at 9am with a group meeting followed by a short drive 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. We'll take a short hike on one of the scenic trails before continuing to the nearby 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 lunch (at own expense).

Day 2: Rapid City

Drive to Custer State Park and wander through the State Game Lodge, a stately residence which was built in the 1920 and has played host to several presidents. Then it’s time to jump in a jeep and go wild on a Buffalo safari. Trek through the park in an open-air jeep as your expert guide shares historical and educational facts and helps you spot pronghorns, elk, and buffalo. Continue on to the famous Mount Rushmore to walk the Presidential Trail.

Day 3: Sheridan

It's an early start for the drive to the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. After a stop along the way for lunch, join your Crow Nation Guide for a three-hour tour which provides an Apsaalooke perspective on the conflict. With a tribal historian at your side, 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. After the tour, drive to Sheridan where you might like to visit the Sheridan Inn for a drink and a chance to learn about the history of Buffalo Bill who auditioned new members for his “Wild West” show from the front porch of this historic inn.

Day 4: West Yellowstone

After breakfast, you’ll spend the day driving to Yellowstone National Park so settle back and enjoy the scenery, or perhaps listen to an audio book or your favourite tunes as the miles roll by. Along the way, your leader will choose the perfect scenic spot for everyone to stretch their legs and a enjoy a delicious picnic lunch.

Day 5: Yellowstone National Park

Spend the day exploring Yellowstone National Park where grizzly bears, wolves and herds of buffalo and elk roam free. Watch as Old Faithful sprays over 4000 gallons (14,000 litres) of boiling water into the air, then be hypnotized by the startling colours of the Grand Prismatic Pool. Other highlights include the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone with its geysers along the north and south loop.

Day 6: Yellowstone Wolf Tracking / Bozeman

You're up before the sun this morning, but we promise it's for good reason. We're heading 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 and high-powered spotting scopes for each person, so no one will miss out. After lunch, travel to Bozeman where your adventure ends at around 4pm.