Tours by local guides and the chance to meet local people and enjoy authentic experiences are a big part of this fabulous eight-day itinerary taking in Jackson, Yellowstone National Park, Cody, Grand Teton National Park, Rapid City and the Mount Rushmore National Memorial, with sought-after national-park accommodation in Yellowstone and Grand Teton included.
As well as taking you beyond the ordinary and off the typical tourist radar, this is also a trip where all the hard work, planning and logistics are taken care of, including luggage and airport transfers, and where one upfront price means no hidden costs – meaning you can simply relax and take it all in.
Arrival Wyoming and the Tetons | Snake River rafting, Mormon Row & Jackson | Yellowstone National Park | Yellowstone's Grand Canyon and more | Discovering the West in Buffalo Bill's Cody | The Bighorns and ranch life | Crazy Horse & Mount Rushmore in the Black Hills | Journey home
This fascinating trip takes you to the soul of the American West, with its inspiring array of landscapes ranging from breathtaking canyons, looming mountains and dense forests to geo-thermal features including bubbling mud pots and geysers. This is also a place of man-made wonders, from larger-than-life sculptures at Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial to working ranches and the ‘rodeo capital’ of Cody with its adventurous stories of the ‘Old’ West and its nightly rodeo shows (the world’s longest-running).
Along the way, you’ll go on a rafting adventure along the Snake River, surrounded by the spectacular Tetons, visit the Mormon Row Historic District inside Grand Teton National Park, and explore extensively the world’s first national park, Yellowstone. Other highlights include a day at an authentic working cattle guest ranch homesteaded in 1884 – one where where you can still see the bullet holes from a county-war shootout between cowboys in 1892. Here you can meet a horse whisperer, learn roping techniques from cowboys, ride in a horse-drawn wagon and saddle up for a horseback ride.
Where you stay is all part of the experience on this once-in-a-lifetime trip. Among the fantastic places to stay, memorable in their own right, are Jackson Lake Lodge in Grand Teton National Park, with wilderness views of the Tetons rising out of the sky above the Snake River from the vast picture windows and of wildlife ambling near the lake shore. Offering the only swimming pool in the National Park, it hosts outdoor activities including horseback riding, float trips and boat excursions.
Then there’s the Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone National Park, designated a National Historic Landmark for its the way its architecture harmonises with the grandeur of the landscape – especially the unique seven-storey-high log lobby. The inn is just steps from the world-renowned Old Faithful Geyser with its hourly plume of steam. Also in Yellowstone (where it is the oldest historic hotel, built in 1891), the Lake Yellowstone Hotel has a graceful, refined ambiance and superb lake views.
And in Wyoming, The Ranch at Ucross is a a real dude ranch where some of the accommodation comes with views of horses, and where days start with an authentic cowboy breakfast spread and end with the delicious likes of grilled trout, Wyoming beef and apple pie. You can horse-ride, swim, and play tennis, football and horseshoes here.
To book your Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks tour, with full financial protection, call your Travel Counsellor today. Prices start at £3,590pp based on a 20 May 2023 departure.
Aruba beckons with its serene beauty, making it an irresistible choice for those seeking a luxurious tropical getaway. Aruba boasts award-winning, uncrowded, white-sand beaches that promise a slice of paradise where you can unwind to your heart's content. With guaranteed sunshine, crystal-clear waters, and stunning architecture, Aruba is a gem waiting to be discovered.
The personal experiences of our Travel Counsellors, together with their combined insider knowledge of hotels, resorts, and destinations, ensure that they can hand-pick the very best holidays for your needs.
Continuing the pioneering spirit of the innovative, award-winning Virgin Voyages cruises, Brilliant Lady is set to cross the United States in her highly anticipated 2025 debut season. Highlights among the once-in-a-lifetime five- to 16-night journeys will include a voyage through the Panama Canal and a trip through the glaciers and fjords of Alaska.
