3
Introductory
Activities
  • 5 Days Snowshoe Walks
  • 1 Day Snow Coach tour to Old Faithful
  • Wolf watching with a naturalist
Accommodation
  • 7 nights hotels
Meals
  • 6 Lunches
  • 7 Breakfasts

Price

8 daysfrom

$2890USD

Overview

Trip code: YWW

Trip highlights


  • Discover Yellowstone National Park on snowshoe hikes and spot wildlife
  • Avoid the crowds in this stunning national park during winter
  • Learn about wolves and go wolf watching with a naturalist
  • Option of spotting bison, wolf, elk, deer and antelope
  • Marvel at the punctuality of Old Faithful geyser
  • Take in the stunning views of Grand Teton National Park
  • Sleigh ride in the National Elk Refuge
  • Amazing photo opportunities in a winter wonderland

Explore the renowned Yellowstone National Park by snowshoe, on winter wildlife walks. This massive park protects half of the world's geysers and some of the largest herds of mega fauna in the northern hemisphere. Yellowstone is teeming with wildlife, such as bison, wolf, elk, deer and antelope. While busy in summer, winter is a season of quiet solitude and an ideal time to experience its wilderness. Discover the wonders of Yellowstone and Grand Teton far away from the crowds. Marvel at the amazing phenomenon of "fire and ice" - exploding geysers in a winter wonderland of snow. Many of the park's animals spend winter in the valleys and can be found close to the roads and trails, making this an incredible time to observe wildlife up close. Along the northern entrance look for wolves and on snowshoes, walk over the calcite terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs. From the West Entrance, on a snow coach explore the Upper Geyser Basin - the world's largest geothermal area. Witness the explosion of Old Faithful, as it shoots up to 32,000 litres of boiling water up to 56 metres into the ice-cold air. Winter makes this experience particularly spectacular, as the hot water reacts with the winter air. Next explore the National Elk Refuge by sleigh, gliding through a herd of 7,000 wintering elk. Finally, snowshoe through the silent winter wilderness below the stunning peaks of Grand Teton National Park, before this memorable trip concludes at the famed cowboy town of Jackson, Wyoming.


Itinerary

Today is an arrival day in Bozeman, Montana. Please take the free airport transfer to the hotel near the centre of town. This airport shuttle is offered by our hotel. Overnight: La Quinta or similar.

Meals:  Nil

At 8:00am your guide welcomes you at the hotel and we drive to nearby Yellowstone National Park. We settle into our hotel near the Yellowstone River before exploring the park and the amazing travertine terraces at Mammoth Hot Springs. Then a remote trail takes us through the wildlife rich valley of Gardiner towards the Boiling River. We have a great chance to see elk, bison, antelope and deer. Overnight: Super 8 Gardner or similar. Drive time: 80 miles / 130 km or 1.5 hr Mammoth Hot Springs area: 2-3 hrs, ca. 4-5 miles / 4-8km, elevation difference: +/- 200m

Meals:  B,L

After an absence of 100 years, wolves were reintroduced into Yellowstone National Park in 1995. Reintroducing the top predator to this complex ecosystem has been an incredible experiment. Today, we join a naturalist looking for wolves in the Lamar Valley. For sure we will see herds of bison that spend the winter here. On snowshoes we explore trails among the herds of bison and antelope. Tonight grab a swimsuit and try the hot springs. Overnight: Super 8 Gardner or similar. Drive time: 50 m / 80 km or 1-2 hrs Trails in Lamar Valley area: 2-4 hrs, ca. 3-5 miles / 5-8km, elevation difference: +/-200 m

Meals:  B,L

Yellowstone National Park is the world’s oldest National Park. It protects the world’s most impressive geothermal area, along with one of the densest collections of mega fauna outside of Africa which includes bison, wolf, elk and moose. The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is a deep canyon carved into soft rock and basalt cliffs. We walk along the flat surface of the snow packed road with amazing views of the canyon and Calcite Springs. Elk, bison, mule deer and big horn sheep are our companions today. Tower Falls is one of the highlights of any snowshoe trip in Yellowstone. In the afternoon we depart to the West Entrance of Yellowstone. Overnight: Gray Wolf Inn or Stagecoach Inn or similar. Drive time: 165 miles / 260 km or 3 hrs Tower Falls: 3-4 hrs, ca. 5 miles / 8 km, elevation difference: +/-200 m

Meals:  B,L

Today, we head out on snow covered park roads to famous Old Faithful. Most of Yellowstone’s roads are closed in the winter and only accessible via snow coach. Our excursion takes us to multicoloured boiling mud pots and fumaroles before arriving at the steaming Upper Geyser Basin. Here we enjoy a walk through the very active geysers and geothermal features while waiting for the explosion of Old Faithful. There is a chance at seeing frost covered bison, elk and bald eagles. Overnight: Gray Wolf Inn or Stagecoach Inn (3-star) or similar.

Meals:  B,L

Hidden trails take us along the Madison River into the park. We have a chance at close wildlife encounters, such as bison and bald eagle. With luck we may see trumpeter swan and river otter as well! In the afternoon we continue our journey towards the historic cowboy town of Jackson, Wyoming. The evening is free to explore the fun town. Overnight: 49er Quality Inn or similar. Madison River: 3 hrs, ca. 4 miles / 6 km, elevation difference: +/-100 m Drive time: 130miles / 200 km or 2-3 hrs

Meals:  B,L

Grand Teton National Park adjoins Yellowstone National Park on the southern boundary. This popular park is blissfully quiet in the winter months, as most park roads are closed to cars. We spend the day here in the shadow of the mighty 4198-meter Grand Teton. Then, we enjoy a ranger led sleigh ride through the National Elk Refuge, the winter range of 7000 elk. Overnight: 49er Quality Inn or similar. Grand Teton NP: 3 hrs, ca. 4 miles / 6 km, elevation difference: +/-100 m

Meals:  B,L

The trip concludes this morning in the cowboy town of Jackson, which is nestled below the dramatic Grand Tetons. The hotel offers a free airport shuttle for your onward flights. PLEASE NOTE: Drive times provided above are approximate and may vary according to weather, traffic and changes in road conditions. Walking times and distances may also vary dependent on weather conditions. If the day time temperatures are very cold, we may shorten activities or offer alternatives to reduce exposure to the cold air.

Meals:  B


Map

Elevation

The map and elevation chart are for illustrative purposes only and meant to provide general guidelines.


Inclusions

  • 7 breakfasts and 6 picnic lunches (self-made)
  • Accommodation in 3 star tourist class hotels
  • Private transport throughout
  • The use of snow shoes and hiking poles
  • Services of an experienced driver-guide
  • Snow Coach Tour to Old Faithful
  • Wolf watching with a naturalist
  • Elk refuge sleigh ride
  • National park entry fees, trekking permits & sightseeing as specified

  • Flight and airport taxes
  • Meals not included in the itinerary
  • Cost of laundry, soft drinks, and alcoholic beverages
  • Travel insurance (compulsory)
  • Visas
  • Medical treatment
  • Personal expenses
  • Optional excursions
  • Tour leader tip (approx USD$10-12 per day)

About Your Leader

All of our USA tour leaders are certified in First Aid and CPR and registered as official guides with the national parks. All of them are trained to guide hikes. Your tour leader is from the USA and may have grown up here or may have moved here from another country - as many Americans do.


Suitability

Introductory

3


Departure dates


Notes

1
IMPORTANT NOTE: This tour is conducted in English as well as another language, typically German or Spanish.

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Priceper person from

$2890USD

* All prices subject to applicable taxes

Options & Supplements*
  • Yellowstone Snowshoe Walks - Single SupplementUSD$760
* Prices listed are per person. All prices subject to applicable taxes.

Trip reviews


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