Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks

•   Pioneer lunch at the National Oregon / California Trail Center in Idaho, where displays and an interactive presentation re-enact a glimpse of pioneer life on the trail in the 1850s

Day 1: Arrive Rapid City
Welcome to Rapid City, gateway to the Black Hills of South Dakota. A transfer is included from the Rapid City Regional Airport to Radisson Hotel Rapid City. Join us for a welcome reception and dinner tonight. 
Overnight: Radisson Hotel Rapid City, SD
Meals Included: Dinner

Day 2: Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse Memorial
You’ll long remember the first time you see the faces of former presidents Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln carved in rock on the steep granite walls of Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Continue on to view the still-in-progress Crazy Horse Memorial; begun in the 1940s, it is one of the largest sculptures in the world. Your travels take you to Wyoming’s beautiful Bighorn Mountains for a visit to The Ranch at Ucross, where a true taste of cowboy life awaits.
Overnight: The Ranch at Ucross, WY
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 3: Bighorn Mountains
Spend the morning at leisure at your western ranch and join us for a horseback ride.* Enjoy the scenic splendors of the Bighorn National Forest as we traverse winding mountain roads into the open oil and cattle lands of western Wyoming’s cowboy country, descending through the canyons to Cody. Founded by frontiersman “Buffalo Bill” Cody in 1896, this historic town changed little during the 20th century. Depending on the time of year you are visiting, enjoy a performance at the Cody Rodeo (seasonal) or the Dan Miller Cowboy Music Revue, promising an evening of songs and comedy of the Old West.
Overnight: Holiday Inn Cody at Bufallo Bill Village, Cody, WY
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 4: Explore the "wild west" in Cody and on to Yellowstone
Spend the morning learning more about the amazing life and legacy of William F. Cody at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center – you’ll be among the first visitors to the new Buffalo Bill Museum opening May of 2012. The Buffalo Bill Historical Center is much more, however, than just the story of “Buffalo Bill”; it’s a “celebration of the spirit of the American West,” and is home to the world’s largest collection of artifacts depicting the culture, history and art of the American West. You’ll explore Greater Yellowstone natural history, western art, cultural stories and histories of the Plains Indian peoples, and other exhibits during your visit. After some free time in the town of Cody, depart for Yellowstone National Park for a two-night stay. Arrive late afternoon in Yellowstone National Park, established in 1872 as America’s first national park; spend tonight on the shores of Lake Yellowstone in a landmark hotel listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Dine à la carte tonight.
Overnight: Lake Yellowstone Hotel, Yellowstone National Park, WY
Meals Included: Breakfast, dinner

Day 5: Yellowstone National Park
With 10,000 hot springs, thundering waterfalls and two-thirds of the world’s geysers, Yellowstone truly inspires awe. Tour the Lower Grand Loop Road, including Hayden Valley and the Fountain Paint Pot, view the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, explore the Upper Geyser Basin and see Old Faithful Geyser live up to its name – just steps from the Old Faithful Inn.
Overnight: Old Faithful Inn, Yellowstone National Park, WY
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 6: Grand Teton National Park
Depart the wonders of Yellowstone and travel to Grand Teton National Park. The magnificent Tetons boast a complex geologic history, and are home to an abundance of wildlife and approximately 900 varieties of wildflowers. Enjoy a visit to the town of Jackson and continue on to Grand Teton National Park. Spend the next two nights at the Jackson Lake Lodge nestled amidst scenic landscapes in the heart of the park.
Overnight: Jackson Lake Lodge, Grand Teton National Park, WY
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 7: River rafting in the Tetons
Today is free to do as you wish. There are many optional activities available to you at the Lodge, from horseback riding to fishing. If you choose, join us for a scenic ten-mile float trip on the Snake River* as it meanders through mountainscapes alive with wildlife. You’ll also have an opportunity to volunteer on a special service project with park experts, schedule permitting.
Overnight: Jackson Lake Lodge, Grand Teton National Park, WY
Meals Included: Breakfast, dinner

Day 8: Wyoming... Idaho... Utah
Travel southward through the southeastern corner of Idaho, a land rich in mountains, forests, rivers and lakes. Stop at the National Oregon / California Trail Center, built atop what was once a major stopping point for emigrant wagons on the original Oregon Trail, for a pioneer lunch. Cross into Utah along the Great Salt Lake to Salt Lake City, surrounded by the Wasatch Mountains. Dinner is on your own tonight. End your evening with a fascinating lecture about the ecology of the Great Salt Lake Basin with a local expert at your hotel. The largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere, the Great Salt Lake is known as America’s “Dead Sea;” its high salinity makes the waters uninhabitable for most wildlife, with the exception of brine shrimp, but abundant birds nest along its shores.
Overnight: The Grand America Hotel, Salt Lake City, UT
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch

Day 9: Discover Salt Lake City
Sightseeing today includes Salt Lake City’s unique downtown architecture, some residential areas and the This is the Place Monument – it was here that Brigham Young envisioned the building of this Mormon city. Travel to one of ten venues of the 2002 Winter Olympics; the rest of the afternoon is free to explore Salt Lake City on your own, perhaps visiting Temple Square, the Tabernacle, Beehive House or the Family History Library. We invite you to join us this evening for a farewell reception that is followed by an à la carte farewell dinner.
Overnight: The Grand America Hotel, Salt Lake City, UT
Meals Included: Breakfast, dinner

Day 10: Journey Home
Tour ends: Salt Lake City, Utah. Fly home anytime. Tauck includes a transfer from The Grand America Hotel to Salt Lake City International Airport. Allow a minimum of two hours for flight check-in.
Overnight:
Meals Included: Breakfast

Touring Date	Land Only	Land + Air	Single (Land Only)	Single (Land + Air)
5/31/2012 - 6/10/2012	$3,190
6/4/2012 - 6/14/2012	$3,690
6/8/2012 - 6/18/2012	$3,690
6/14/2012 - 6/24/2012	$3,690
6/18/2012 - 6/28/2012	$3,190
6/22/2012 - 7/2/2012	$3,690
6/26/2012 - 7/6/2012	$3,690
7/6/2012 - 7/16/2012	$3,190
7/10/2012 - 7/20/2012	$3,690
7/14/2012 - 7/24/2012	$3,690
7/24/2012 - 8/3/2012	$3,190
7/28/2012 - 8/7/2012	$3,190
7/30/2012 - 8/9/2012	$3,690
8/11/2012 - 8/21/2012	$3,190
8/15/2012 - 8/25/2012	$3,690
8/17/2012 - 8/27/2012	$3,690
8/19/2012 - 8/29/2012	$3,690
8/29/2012 - 9/8/2012	$3,190
9/2/2012 - 9/12/2012	$3,190
9/4/2012 - 9/14/2012	$3,190
9/6/2012 - 9/16/2012	$3,190
9/8/2012 - 9/18/2012	$3,190
9/10/2012 - 9/20/2012	$3,190
9/16/2012 - 9/26/2012	$3,690
9/20/2012 - 9/30/2012	$3,690
9/22/2012 - 10/2/2012	$3,690
9/24/2012 - 10/4/2012	$3,690
Note: Departures appearing above in green are guaranteed to operate by the tour operator.
Airfare Disclaimer A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link. Documents TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.

Ratings & Reviews:

This tour has no reviews yet. Have you experienced this tour? Write a review.

Related Travel Articles

• Travel Improves Your Health
• Adventures by Disney Invites Families to Experience the World in 2010
• Ever wonder why glacier ice looks blue?
• Costa Rica and Panama Ecotourism
• Best Time to See Fall Foliage
• About Ireland Tours
• Places to Visit in Chile
• Fall Foliage Season Approaches
• Touring Australia and New Zealand
• Spectacular South America
• Caribbean Cruises
• Best National Parks to Visit in the Spring
• Ecotourism in Costa Rica and Panama
• Hawaii Travel Highlights
• Family Reunion Cruises
• Best National Parks to Visit in the Spring
• Spectacular South America
• Wildlife Viewing in Alaska
• First Time Around Cape Horn
• World's Greatest Rail Journeys
• New England for All Seasons
• Reflections on the Canadian Rockies
• Kenya Off the Beaten Path
• Family Travel: Exploring the World Together
• Recommended Day Tours in San Juan Puerto Rico
• Explore the Grand Canyon
• Experience the Beauty of Alaska
• Best Places to Travel in August
• Explore the Magic of Kenya
• Alaska Cruise or Land Tour?
• UNESO World Heritage Sites
• Where Can Globus Take you in 2012
• Best Places to See Lions in Africa
• East vs. West African Safaris