American Parks Trail - End Denver, Small Group
American Parks Trail - End Denver, Small Group
$5022
American Parks Trail - End Denver, Small Group
9 Days Starting in Salt Lake City, USA and ending in Denver, USA
Visiting: Salt Lake City, Jackson, Yellowstone National Park, Cody, Devils Tower, Badlands National Park, Black Hills, Denver
Tour operator:
Specialist Group:
Family/Kids
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Embark on an unforgettable journey through America's stunning national parks with the "American Parks Trail - End Denver, Small Group" tour. This adventure begins in Salt Lake City and takes you through the breathtaking landscapes of Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks, where you'll witness geysers, hot springs, and diverse wildlife. Explore the historic town of Jackson, marvel at the iconic Mount Rushmore, and delve into the rich culture of the Lakota people at the Oglala Lakota Living History Village. Enjoy authentic dining experiences, including a hearty ranch-style dinner at Ucross, and choose between horseback riding or fishing in the serene countryside. Conclude your journey in Denver, enriched by the natural beauty and cultural heritage of the American West.
Choice Highlights
- Choose between two carefully selected activities
- Ucross: Live the American frontier dream with a scenic morning country horseback ride.
- Ucross: Take a leisurely fishing outing and enjoy the serene surroundings.
Top Rated Highlights
- Jackson: Historic Jackson, where the majestic peaks of the Teton Range act as your constant backdrop. Feel like you’ve stepped back in time as you walk through the town's famous landmark arch of tangled elk antlers. Spend the rest of the afternoon exploring the town’s boutiques and stores, which blend the Old West and the modern West harmoniously.
- Yellowstone National Park: The world’s first National Park, Yellowstone spans 2,219,789 acres and even has its own Grand Canyon. The park is home to half of the world’s hydrothermal features, more than 10,000, of which over 300 are geysers. Yellowstone is also a wildlife paradise. Some 1,700 species of plants and 400 species of birds, fish and mammals live in the park, including bison, wolves, bears, elk and moose.
- Grand Teton National Park: Travel through a mountainous landscape like no other. Witness the striking Grand Tetons thrust skyward 6,562 feet (2,000 meters) from the valley floor and keenly watch for exciting wildlife that call these mountains home. Including the grizzly bear, bald eagles, moose, bison, and elk.
- Yellowstone National Park: Catch the renowned colourful bubbling mud pots and observe Old Faithful geyser shooting water over 120 feet (37 metres) into the air. The Upper Geyser Basin boasts the highest concentration of spouting geysers, hot springs and steaming fumaroles in the world.
- Cody: Explore the award-winning Buffalo Bill Center of the West, known for its excellent Western art collection and natural history.
- Yellowstone National Park: Travel out of Yellowstone NP through Shoshone Canyon and Absaroka Rocky Mountains to the Wild West Town of Cody.
- Black Hills: View the awe-inspiring Devils Tower National Monument, a butte that protrudes from the landscape and is considered sacred by the Lakota and other tribes.
- Custer State Park: Continue venturing through the Black Hills to arrive at Custer State Park. Renowned for its beautiful landscape and abundance of wildlife. Home to a famous herd of 1,500 free roaming bison, accompanied by elk, mule deer, white tailed deer, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, pronghorn antelope, mountain lions and feral burros.
- Badlands National Park: Steep yourself in all that is the Badlands National Park in South Dakota. Preserved here are 244,000 acres of sharply eroded buttes, pinnacles and spires, blended with the largest protected mixed grass prairie in America. The unique beauty of this landscape is like no other. Sightseers as well as scholarly scientists are attracted to the area for its astounding beauty and the opportunity to gaze into an ancient world.
- Black Hills: View iconic Mount Rushmore National Memorial where carvings of Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Roosevelt overlook the landscape.
Make Travel Matter
Philip: Discover the past, present, and future of the Lakota people at the Oglala Lakota Living History Village. Walk the trails through displays of 19th-century living quarters. Local artists present culture and tradition through their crafts and storytelling. Your visit contributes to the sustainability and resilience of the Lakota community.
Authentic Dining
Salt Lake City: At 18:00, join your Travel Director for a dinner with wine where you'll have the chance to mingle with fellow guests.
Ucross: Savour a hearty ranch style dinner prepared by your local hosts.
Custer: Toast to the finale of your trip at a dinner served at your lodge in Custer State Park.
Insight Choice
Ucross: Live the American frontier dream with a scenic morning country horseback ride.
Ucross: Take a leisurely fishing outing and enjoy the serene surroundings.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Salt Lake City
Location: Salt Lake City
Accommodation Name: Sheraton Salt Lake City
Meals Included: Dinner
Welcome to Salt Lake City, the capital of Utah. Situated between Wasatch Range and the Great Salt Lake, this mountainous city is perfect for lovers of the outdoors, with a strong focus on skiing and hiking. Savour a dinner accompanied by wine in the company of your fellow travellers.
Day 2: Jackson And The Tetons
Location: Jackson
Accommodation Name: Elk Country Inn, Jackson Hole
Meals Included: Breakfast
Before leaving Salt Lake City, take in the State Capitol building. Drive along the scenic Logan Canyon, over the Wasatch Mountain Range, and up to the Bear Lake. Stop for lunch near Bear Lake offering views of beautiful turquoise waters. Then, head north across the Oregon Trail to historic Jackson. Have your cameras ready for the famous elk antlers at central square, while eager shoppers will find a number of charming traditional boutique galleries to browse. Enjoy the rest of the evening at leisure, with your hotel located only a short walk away from Jackson's Town Square.
Day 3: Yellowstone National Park
Location: Yellowstone National Park
Accommodation Name: Yellowstone National Park Lodges
Meals Included: Breakfast
Wake up to a mountainous view like no other and witness the striking Grand Tetons thrust skyward 13,775 Ft (4,199 m) from the valley floor. This morning, you have the opportunity to partake in an optional scenic float down the Snake River inside Grand Teton National Park. In keeping with today’s rustic country charm, you’ll enter Yellowstone, the world’s first National Park. Known for its unique geothermal activity, spectacular landscapes and abundant wildlife, you’ll experience Wyoming in all its glory. Keep an eye out for black bears or wolves. Tonight you’ll stay in one of Yellowstone's National Park Lodges, allowing you to experience the park after hours, in its natural habitat.
Day 4: Geysers And Colourful Mudpots
Location: Yellowstone National Park
Accommodation Name: Yellowstone National Park Lodges
Meals Included: Breakfast
Savour the surreal surroundings of Yellowstone with a relaxed start. Walk among the rainbow tinted hot springs and watch the erupting geysers as you take in the history of the park on an informative stroll with your Travel Director. Catch the renowned colourful bubbling mud pots and observe Old Faithful geyser shooting water over 120 feet (37 metres) into the air. In the afternoon, enjoy the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone as you take in stunning natural wonders. While driving through Hayden Valley, famous for its wildlife, keep an eye out for wolves, bears, elk and hundreds of bison. The rest of the evening is at leisure for you to relax.
Day 5: The Ranch At Ucross
Location: Cody
Accommodation Name: Ranch at UCross, Clearmont
Meals Included: Breakfast
Set off on your travels through the stark Shoshone Canyon and Absaroka Rocky Mountains, leading you to the Wild West Town of Cody. Channel your inner showman and learn more about America’s great Western legends at the Buffalo Bill Centre, known for its Western art collection, firearms, and natural history. Travel through the Bighorn National Forest to the Ranch at UCross. Take in the rustic charm as you're hosted at a traditional Wyoming Family ranch. Start off the evening with a cocktail hour in the historic Ranch House bar. After a home-cooked dinner, enjoy a fire pit with live entertainment, including country, folk and bluegrass music.
Day 6: Devils Tower Into The Black Hills Relaxed Start
Location: Devils Tower
Accommodation Name: Spearfish Canyon Lodge
Meals Included: Breakfast
Live the American frontier dream and begin your day with a scenic country horseback ride accompanied by a Ranch Hand. If playing cowboy isn’t your thing, perhaps go fishing, or merely relax and take in your beautiful surroundings, the choice is yours. Make your way to Devils Tower, an astounding geological feature that protrudes out of the surrounding Black Hills. You'll learn why this symbolic landmark is considered sacred to the Lakota and other local tribes. Experience Spearfish Canyon, a favoured spot among wildlife enthusiasts, and one famous for its elvish woodland beauty. The limestone palisades of this creek-carved gorge are more ancient than the Grand Canyon itself.
Day 7: Custer And The Wild, Wild West
Location: Badlands National Park
Accommodation Name: State Game Lodge, Custer State Park
Meals Included: Breakfast
A day for those looking to explore the Wild West, try to spot the fastest mammal in North America, the pronghorn antelope as you cross the great high plains to the Black Hills of South Dakota. Our first stop this morning is the Oglala Lakota Living History Museum for a one-of-a-kind MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Visit Badlands National Park in South Dakota, 244,000 acres of sharply eroded buttes, pinnacles and spires blended with the largest protected mixed grass prairie in America. A hidden gem in the national park system, the unique beauty of the Badlands landscape is unlike any other.
Day 8: Mountain Monuments Of The Black Hills Relaxed Start
Location: Black Hills
Accommodation Name: State Game Lodge, Custer State Park
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
This morning, see the granite faces of Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Later, you'll experience the Crazy Horse Memorial - the world's largest mountain carving in honour of the Lakota warrior. With exclusive access not available to the general public, guests ascend 563 feet (172 metres) and have the opportunity to face the monument up close. Tonight, celebrate your travels over dinner with your Travel Director and new found friends.
Day 9: Depart Denver
Location: Denver
Meals Included: Breakfast
Your journey comes to an end today. A transfer is available to Denver International Airport, arrival at the airport will be at approximately 16:30. Guests have the option to end the tour in Denver or Rapid City at time of booking.
What's Included
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Meals
Meals are included as per detailed in the itinerary.
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Fully Guided
An experienced Travel Director will guide you, offering local specialties representing the destination.
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Airport Transfers at Destination
Complimentary private transfers are provided to and from your local departure airport.
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Dining Summary
Includes 3 Dinners with Wine and 8 Breakfasts.
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Additional Included Highlights
Hotel and restaurant tips, taxes, and porterage charges are included. Personal radio headsets and complimentary Wi-Fi are provided.
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Insight Experiences
Visit Crazy Horse Memorial and stand face-to-face with the world's largest mountain carving.
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Well-being
Enjoy the comfort of a luxurious, air-conditioned coach with enhanced hygiene protocols and physical distancing measures.
What's Not Included
International TravelInternational travel is not included in the tour package.
Dining Summary
3 Dinner with Wine (DW)8 Breakfast (B)
Additional Included Highlights
Our highly-skilled Travel Director will ensure your journey is seamless, serving as your expert guide, consummate organiser, and friend overseas.We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door.Hotel and restaurant tips are included - you'll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. We also include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels.Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert's fascinating commentary.From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with an Insight Flourish, which is a local specialty representing the destination.Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available).Hotel and restaurant tips are included - you'll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. We also include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels.
Insight Experiences
Black Hills: Visit Crazy Horse Memorial, which is dedicated to protecting and preserving the culture, tradition and living heritage of the Native American people. A special Insight Experience awaits as you are taken up to stand face-to-face with this impressive sculpture. Measuring 641 feet (195 metres) long and 563 feet (172 metres) high, the piece takes the record as the world’s largest mountain carving.
Well-being
Enjoy the comfort of Insight's luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom. Our customized luxury coaches are sanitized before the start of your tour and are maintained to very high standards. Physical distancing measures have been implemented on our customized luxury coaches.Experience enhanced hygiene protocols to align with the latest guidance following COVID-19. All Travel Directors and Drivers have completed training in enhanced well-being and hygiene protocols.We only work with establishments we are confident will consistently adhere to our high well-being standards, which include hotels, restaurants and sight-seeing venues.Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day.
Mode of Transport
Travel in comfort with Insight's luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach featuring double the standard legroom and onboard washroom. Enjoy complimentary airport transfers and seamless travel between destinations, ensuring a stress-free journey through the stunning American landscapes.
Accommodation
Experience a variety of accommodations including the Sheraton Salt Lake City, Elk Country Inn in Jackson Hole, Yellowstone National Park Lodges, Ranch at UCross, Spearfish Canyon Lodge, and State Game Lodge in Custer State Park, offering comfort and unique local charm throughout your journey.
Check out our Q&As
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What unique experiences are offered at the Oglala Lakota Living History Village?
At the Oglala Lakota Living History Village, you can discover the past, present, and future of the Lakota people. You can walk the trails through displays of 19th-century living quarters and enjoy presentations by local artists who share culture and tradition through crafts and storytelling. Your visit also contributes to the sustainability and resilience of the Lakota community.
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What activities can I choose from at Ucross?
At Ucross, you have the option to live the American frontier dream with a scenic morning country horseback ride or take a leisurely fishing outing to enjoy the serene surroundings.
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What wildlife might I see in Yellowstone National Park?
In Yellowstone National Park, you might see a variety of wildlife including black bears, wolves, elk, and hundreds of bison. The park is a wildlife paradise with 400 species of birds, fish, and mammals.
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What is special about the Crazy Horse Memorial visit?
The visit to the Crazy Horse Memorial includes exclusive access not available to the general public, allowing guests to ascend 563 feet and face the monument up close. The memorial is the world's largest mountain carving, dedicated to preserving the culture and heritage of the Native American people.
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What can I expect during the visit to Devils Tower?
During the visit to Devils Tower, you will learn about this astounding geological feature that protrudes from the surrounding Black Hills and why it is considered sacred to the Lakota and other local tribes.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
We regret that no refunds can be made for absences from a tour, including experiences such as missed meals or sightseeing.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 1978.
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Insight Vacations is a founding member of the TreadRight Foundation, a joint initiative created by the brands within The Travel Corporation (TTC) almost 15 years ago to ensure our impact through tourism is positive. Our ethos to #MakeTravelMatter guides our decision-making at every level of our business.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
You have two options as a solo traveller. Either choose to be matched with a same sex partner for a room share - at no extra cost. Or choose a room of your own with a reduced or even free private room upgrade on select tours.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
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Low Deposit
Insight Vacations requires a minimum deposit of 350 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of insight vacations charges.
Up to 91 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 90 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 80% of booking price.
At 1 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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