12 Days | A showcase of National Parks, famous landmarks and indigenous culture
See natural wonders in South Dakota, Wyoming and Montana on a 12-day small group adventure that packs plenty of National Parks 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. 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.
Trip overview
- Start
- Rapid City, United States
- Finish
- Missoula, United States
- Theme
- Explorer
- Destinations
- United States
- Physical rating
- Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
- Style
- Comfort
- Ages
- Min 18
- Group size
- Min 1 - Max 12
- Trip code
- SSEAC
- Join an expert naturalist on a wolf tracking expedition at Yellowstone National Park.
- Spend a full day with a member of the Blackfeet tribe learning about Native American history in First Peoples Buffalo Jump State Park, hiking in Giant Springs State Park and exploring the land and culture.
- Jump in a jeep to safari with an expert guide and see buffalo up close, along with pronghorns and elk, in Custer State Park.
- Visit Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument and join your Crow Nation Guide to learn about the history of the area.
- 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.
- Marvel at Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial where a walk will take you up close to this famous mountain sculptures.
- Hike Yellowstone National Park where grizzly bears, wolves and herds of buffalo and elk roam free.
- Follow in the path of Lewis and Clark exploring the “Gates of the Mountains” on a 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.
- 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 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.
- 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.
Itinerary
View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2025 - 31 December 2025
Inclusions
10 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 1 dinner
Private vehicle
Lodge (2 nights), Hotels (9 nights)
- Badlands National Park – Hiking
- Badlands National Park – Scenic Drive
- Black Hills - Mount Rushmore
- Custer State Park - Buffalo Safari
- Black Hills - Crazy Horse Memorial
- Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument -guided tour with a Crow Nation Guide
- Yellowstone National Park - Southern Loop Featuring Old Faithful Geyser & Grand Prismatic Spring
- Yellowstone National Park - Northern Loop Featuring Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone & Norris Geyser Basin
- Yellowstone - Wolf Tracking Expedition
- 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
Dates and availability
Important notes
1. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 10 am on Day 1 in Rapid City. Please make your own way to the Joining Point 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 7.
3. 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.
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.
5. June Departures: 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. 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.
Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.
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