Great American West

Journey through America’s National Parks and learn about the region’s indigenous culture

See natural wonders in South Dakota, Wyoming and Montana on this 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 Buffalo Bill Center of the West Museum. With two nights at Yellowstone National Park, you’ll have time to track wolves with an expert naturalist and watch the Old Faithful geyser spray water high 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 people and explore Glacier National Park on a guided hike and river rafting trip. With a knowledgeable local leader by your side to handle everything, you can focus on soaking up the beauty.

Trip code: SSEAC

Start: Rapid City, USA

End: Missoula, USA


Duration
13 days
Group size
1 to 12
Minimum age
18 years old
Style

Basix: Simple accommodation, local transport and lots of free time

Original: Tourist-class hotels, some meals included and a great mix of included activities and free time

Comfort: Comfortable accommodation, with a relaxed pace of travel and many included meals and activities

Premium: Our best accommodation, exclusive inclusions and our most experienced leaders

Comfort
Theme

Our themes categorise trips based on a common interest or activity, while showcasing the highlights of a destination.

Explorer
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


From
NZD $12,800

Why you'll love this trip

  • 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.
  • Safari in a jeep with an expert guide and see buffalo, pronghorns and elk up close in Custer State Park.
  • Visit Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial and walk to the summit to see these famous mountain sculpture.
  • Hike through Yellowstone National Park, where grizzly bears, herds of buffalo and elk roam free, and join an expert naturalist guide for a wolf tracking expedition.
  • Explore Glacier National Park by foot and raft, standing at the base of waterfalls, walking under the canopy of ancient forests and tucking into a homemade lunch in the wilderness.
This itinerary is valid for departures from 01 January 2026 to 31 December 2026.

View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2025 - 31 December 2025

Itinerary

Map of Great American West including United States Of America

Inclusions and activities

Destinations
USA
Meals

11 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 1 dinner

Transport

Private vehicle

Accommodation

Cabins (2 nights), Hotels (10 nights)

Included activities
  • Badlands National Park – Hiking
  • Badlands National Park – Scenic Drive
  • Custer State Park - Buffalo Safari
  • Custer - Crazy Horse Memorial
  • Black Hills - Mount Rushmore
  • Deadwood visit
  • Cody - Leader-led orientation walk
  • Cody - Buffalo Bill Center of the West
  • Yellowstone National Park - Northern Loop Featuring Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone & Norris Geyser Basin
  • Yellowstone National Park - Southern Loop Featuring Old Faithful Geyser & Grand Prismatic Spring
  • Helena - Walking tour with a local guide
  • Bozeman - Leader-led walking tour
  • 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

This trip generates 27 kg of CO2-e per person per day

Learn more about our climate commitment.

When you travel with us, The Intrepid Foundation gives you more opportunities to support important causes in destinations you visit.

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 10.5 km (6.5 mi) guided hike. 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.
  • This trip involves a whitewater rafting experience in which you will be required to manoeuvre in and out of a raft, and a 10.5 km (6.5 mi) guided hike. 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.

Dates and prices

Loading trip dates and availabilities...

Important notes

1. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 10am 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.

5. We are not able to book airport shuttle service for North America trips. North America has convenient taxi and rideshare options from all airports, as well as public transport systems in major hub cities. Please check the joining and finishing point instructions listed in the Essential Trip Information.

Essential Trip Information

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.

Reviews

5 . 4 reviews
Reviews are from travellers who have completed their trip and want to share their experience. We show all reviews, but may remove any that include profanity or inappropriate content, are unrelated to the trip or reveal personal details.

Filter by rating

4
0
0
0
0
Julia
Traveled August 2025
Heath
Traveled June 2025
Gregory
Traveled August 2024
Diana
Traveled July 2022
Great American West
From
NZD $12,800