Great American West

Intrepid Travel · 13 days

4.0

5 Reviews

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Duration

13 days

Tour Type

Small Group

Accommodations

Comfortable

Physical Rating

Average

Guide Language

English

Experience Overview

See natural wonders in South Dakota, Wyoming and Montana on a 13-day small group adventure.

Highlights

Learn about Native American history as you spend a full day with a member of the Blackfeet tribe in First Peoples Buffalo Jump State Park
Jump in a jeep to safari with an expert guide and see buffalo up close, along with pronghorns and elk, in Custer State Park.
Marvel at Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial where a walk will take you up close to this famous mountain sculptures.
Hike through Yellowstone National Park, where grizzly bears and herds of buffalo and elk roam free, and join an expert naturalist on a wolf tracking expedition.
Explore Glacier National Park by foot and by raft, standing at the foot of waterfalls, walking under the canopy of ancient forests and enjoying a homemade lunch in the wilderness.

Trip Details

Duration

13 days

Transportation

Private vehicle

Tour Type

Small Group

Guide Language

English

Starts

Rapid City / Custer, United States Of America

Finishes

Missoula, United States Of America

Accommodations

Comfortable

Travel Style

Explorer

Physical Rating

Average

Itinerary

Day 1: Rapid City / Custer

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:

Badlands National Park – Hiking
Badlands National Park – Scenic Drive

Accommodation:

Cabin (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 2: Custer

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:

Custer State Park - Buffalo Safari
Custer - Crazy Horse Memorial
Black Hills - Mount Rushmore

Accommodation:

Cabin (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 3: Sheridan

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 Sheridan. 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:

Deadwood visit

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 4: Cody

After breakfast, hit the road for Cody, Wyoming, home to the renowned Buffalo Bill Center of the West. This world-class museum brings together five themed exhibitions all under one roof, with the Plains Indian Museum as the standout highlight showcasing the rich culture and history of Native American tribes. You'll also find exhibits on the Yellowstone ecosystem, firearms, Western art, and Buffalo Bill's legacy. After your museum visit, grab some lunch in town and then join an orientation walk with your leader around this quintessentially western community, scoping out the best spots for a barbecue dinner or to pick up your own pair of authentic cowboy boots.

Included Activities:

Cody - Leader-led orientation walk
Cody - Buffalo Bill Center of the West

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 5: Yellowstone National Park / Gardiner

Depart Cody and drive west towards Yellowstone National Park – one of the country's most popular, expansive, and beautiful national parks. 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. After, you’ll check into your hotel in Gardiner.

Included Activities:

Yellowstone National Park - Northern Loop Featuring Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone & Norris Geyser Basin

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 6: Yellowstone National Park / Gardiner

Today after breakfast, you’ll continue to explore the gorgeous Yellowstone National Park, looking out for grizzly bears, wolves, buffalo and elk roaming free. 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. 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:

Yellowstone National Park - Southern Loop Featuring Old Faithful Geyser & Grand Prismatic Spring

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 7: Yellowstone Wolf Tracking / Bozeman

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 your adventure ends at around 4 pm this afternoon. If you’d like to stay in the area for longer, just speak to your booking agent.

Included Activities:

Yellowstone - Wolf Tracking Expedition

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 8: Bozeman to Helena

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:

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

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 9: Helena

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

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 10: Great Falls

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

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 11: West Glacier / Glacier National Park

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

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 12: West Glacier / Glacier National Park

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

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

Day 13: Missoula

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

Exclusions

Flights to and from origin and destinations
Airport transfers (arrival and departure)
Anything else not explicitly listed in tour inclusions
Recommended gratuities/tipping
Optional activities/tours
Personal expenses
Travel insurance
Visas, meals and beverages not stated in the list of inclusions.

Important Information

Meals

When meals are not included, your tour leader (where available) will be happy to help with restaurant recommendations, bookings, and directions. Please let us know if you have any dietary needs or preferences. We willdo our best to accommodate these, though we cannot guarantee that every request can be met.

Luggage

You are responsible for your personal belongings throughout the tour. You will need to carry your own bags between the vehicle and your hotel room. Drivers will assist with loading and unloading luggage from the vehicle.

Mobility

Travellers requiring wheelchair access should contact our sales and service team, who can make enquiries on your behalf.

Fitness Level

This tour requires an Average level of fitness. Activities are paced gently and include leisure time. You may be expected to join guided walks of up to one hour, navigate short stairways and mild inclines, and manage your own luggage. You should also be able to board and exit all transport without assistance.

Travellers are expected to be self-sufficient and capable of handling all aspects of their journey. Please discuss your circumstances and support needs with your booking agent to confirm this trip is suitable.

If you are unsure, we recommend consulting your doctor before booking or travelling. (Note: I assume each tour has a different description depending on level of fitness required).

Sightseeing

If a planned site visit is unavailable due to changes in operating hours or holiday closures, the itinerary may be altered, or a comparable activity will be substituted where possible and subject to availability.

Visas

Visa conditions can change. Once you receive your travel documents, check with the relevant embassy, consulate, or immigration office of your destination for the latest information.

It is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct and valid travel documents and to comply with all entry requirements.
Non-Australian citizens must also confirm visa and identification requirements with the appropriate consulate or visa agency.
Certain occupations (for example, journalists, government officials, or those working in charities) may face additional restrictions when applying for visas, which could affect the type of application required.

Departure Dates & Surcharges: See checkout for live dates and availability.

AUD $10,705

(Tour only)

Per Person Twin Share

Duration: 13 days

Trip Type: Small Group

Activity Level: Average

See natural wonders in South Dakota, Wyoming and Montana on a 13-day small group adventure.

Check Availability Brochure

Price based on per person in Double Room for departure 05 Jun 2027

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Customer Reviews

Overall Rating

Excellent

4.5

Guide

Excellent

4.5

Itinerary

Excellent

4.5

Accommodations

Excellent

4.5

Transportation

Excellent

4.5

Tour Operator

Excellent

4.5

Food

Excellent

4.5

5.0

Diana

Traveled, July 2022

03/10/2023

This was my first Intrepid travel and I was so happy with everything. I always wanted to do a road trip through the US and as a solo traveler this was an excellent solution. A lot of the hassle is taken away and you can just focus on the experience of travelling and marveling at the fabulous landscapes. The activities and cities we visited were well chosen and honestly I could have never had the opportunity to meet our amazing local guides. I particularly loved the native american perspective and learned so much! Greta who was our fantastic guide made this trip even better and I will never forget this adventure I had. I also appreciated immensely that our group was quite small and it felt like I was travelling with friends/family.

2.5

Gregory

Traveled, August 2024

09/05/2024

Our Great American West tour was well-planned and gave us a wonderful opportunity to learn about and experience the national and state parks in a way we never would have been able to otherwise. The included experiences were great at enhancing our knowledge of U.S. history, native cultures and wildlife.

Tour Operator

Intrepid Travel is a global adventure travel company, dedicated to providing sustainable, experience-rich travel opportunities. They’ve been the leader in ethical, small-group travel since 1989 - taking people around the world for more than 30 years. They’re the world’s largest travel B Corporation - dedicated to being the best travel company for the world. In 2002, they established The Intrepid Foundation so their travellers could make a lasting impact on the communities they had visited. Although Intrepid Travel absorbs all administrative costs of The Intrepid Foundation, they are separate legal entities, allowing The Intrepid Foundation to grow independently. Intrepid Travel is made up of a collection of tour operator brands and 28 destination management companies all united by one vision: To change the way we all see the world.

In Business Since 1989

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