South Dakota to Yellowstone Parks Explorer
Experience Overview
See natural wonders in South Dakota and Yellowstone National Park on this seven-day small group adventure that packs plenty of wonders into a short amount of time. Uncover the beauty of Badlands National Park before you travel to Mount Rushmore, spot buffalo in Custer State Park and continue to Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. Get a taste of the Wild West with a stop in Deadwood and an overnight stay in Cody. Then, spend two nights at Yellowstone National Park, where you’ll spot wildlife, watch Old Faithful spray water into the air and join a wolf-tracking expedition. With easy to moderate walks, comfortable accommodation and a knowledgeable leader, this nature focussed adventure is big on beauty.
Highlights
- Jump in a jeep to safari with an expert guide and see buffalo up close, along with pronghorns and elk, in Custer State Park.
- Marvel at the iconic monument of Mount Rushmore, where a short walk will take you up close to this famous mountain sculpture.
- Join an expert naturalist guide on a wolf-tracking expedition at Yellowstone National Park in the wee hours of the morning – home to Old Faithful Geyser and the Grand Prismatic Spring.
- Get a taste of the wild west during visits to Deadwood and Cody, two towns famous for their role in the USA’s Gold Rush era.
- By travelling on this trip, you’ll learn about our Intrepid Foundation partner, the Cultural Heritage Economic Alliance. Donations help them create inclusive and equitable opportunities for Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC) tourism businesses. Intrepid will double the impact by dollar-matching all post-trip donations made to The Intrepid Foundation.
Trip Details
Product Code: 2603
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Comfortable
Transport: Private vehicle
Guide Language: English
Tour Operator:
Intrepid Travel
Supplier Code: SSED
Starts: Rapid City / Custer, United States Of America
Finishes: Yellowstone Wolf Tracking / Bozeman, United States Of America
Duration: 7 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Light
Includes
Meals: Breakfasts (6), Lunch (2), Dinner (1)Accommodation: Cabin (2 nights),Hotel (4 nights)
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $4,910 ($701 /day)
Itinerary
Welcome to South Dakota! Your adventure starts at 10 am with a welcome meeting in Rapid City. After, take a short drive to the iconic Wall Drug Store – drawing millions of visitors every year, it’s hard to believe this store won over customers in its early days by offering something as simple as free ice water. Take some time to wander around and grab some lunch before heading to Badlands National Park. Have your camera handy to capture the sweeping prairie grass plains and dramatic rocky pinnacles. If you’re lucky, you’ll spot bighorn sheep, pronghorn antelope, chirping prairie dogs and American bison. Take a short hike on one of the scenic trails before continuing to your lodge in Custer. Your home for the next two nights will be a cabin where you can immerse yourself in the Western feel of this historic-style accommodation. Tonight, you’ll have a group dinner at the lodge to settle in and get to know your fellow travellers.
Included Activities:
- Badlands National Park – Hiking
- Badlands National Park – Scenic Drive
Accommodation:
- Cabin (Number of Nights: 1)
Enjoy breakfast at the lodge, then it’s time to jump in a jeep and go wild on a buffalo safari. Trek through the Custer State Park in an open-air jeep as your expert guide shares historical and educational facts and helps you spot pronghorns, elk and buffalo. After, you’ll visit the Crazy Horse Memorial – the largest mountain carving in the Black Hills (widely considered the Eighth Wonder of the World in progress). Then continue to the famous Mount Rushmore to walk the Presidential Trail – this is a great spot to grab a photo! Tonight, you’re free to grab dinner at your accommodation or a nearby local restaurant.
Included Activities:
- Custer State Park - Buffalo Safari
- Custer - Crazy Horse Memorial
- Black Hills - Mount Rushmore
Accommodation:
- Cabin (Number of Nights: 1)
Have a final breakfast in Custer, and then drive north to the city of Deadwood. Made famous for playing host to Wild West names like Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickok, many of its Gold Rush-era buildings are preserved to this day. Your leader will take you on an orientation walk, and then you’ll have free time to do some exploring of your own – why not get fitted out in a new cowboy hat? Regroup for an included lunch, and then head back out on the road heading to Sherridan. It’s a long afternoon of driving, so sit back, relax and enjoy the rolling prairie views. Check into your accommodation, and then settling in for the evening.
Included Activities:
- Deadwood visit
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
After breakfast, drive to the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. There, you’ll join a Crow Nation Guide for a tour that provides an Apsaalooke perspective on the conflict. With a tribal historian at your side, you’ll traverse the battlefield and learn how Lakota, Cheyenne and Arapaho warriors defeated the US Army on the Greasy Grass at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Grab lunch after your visit, and then make your way to Cody, Wyoming. Join an orientation walk with your leader around the quintessentially western town, scoping out the best spots for a BBQ dinner or your own pair of cowboy boots.
Included Activities:
- Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument -guided tour with a Crow Nation Guide
- Cody - Leader-led orientation walk
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Depart Cody and drive west towards Yellowstone National Park – one of the country's most popular, expansive, and beautiful national parks. When you arrive at Yellowstone, you’ll head straight for a visit to the Old Faithful Geyser – a must-see for any trip to the park, Old Faithful is a cone geyser with striking colours and a predictable geothermal eruption (hence the name). Watch as it sprays over 4000 gallons (14,000 litres) of boiling water into the air, then be hypnotised by the startling colours of the Grand Prismatic Spring. After, you’ll check into your hotel in West Yellowstone.
Included Activities:
- Yellowstone National Park - Southern Loop Featuring Old Faithful Geyser & Grand Prismatic Spring
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Today after breakfast, you’ll continue to explore the gorgeous Yellowstone National Park, looking out for grizzly bears, wolves, buffalo and elk roaming free. Visit The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone (a great spot for photos) and then explore the Norris Geyser Basin – the hottest and oldest geyser in the park. Tonight, you’re free for dinner, so maybe get your group together and say a pre-final day goodbye over a couple of drinks.
Included Activities:
- Yellowstone National Park - Northern Loop Featuring Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone & Norris Geyser Basin
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
You'll be up before the sun this morning, but it's for a good reason! You’ll head back into Yellowstone to join a wolf-tracking expedition with an experienced naturalist guide. There's no better place than Yellowstone to see these magnificent animals in the wild. Your guide tracks the movements and behaviour of Yellowstone wildlife almost daily and knows the best places to find the animals. There will be top-of-the-line binoculars for everyone and high-powered spotting scopes, so no one will miss out. Afterward, travel to Bozeman, where your adventure ends at around 4 pm this afternoon. If you’d like to stay in the area for longer, just speak to your booking agent.
Included Activities:
- Yellowstone - Wolf Tracking Expedition
Similar Tours
Tour Operator
Intrepid Travel
Intrepid Travel is a global adventure travel company, dedicated to providing sustainable, experience-rich travel opportunities. They’ve been the leader in ethical, small-group travel since 1989 - taking people around the world for more than 30 years. They’re the world’s largest travel B Corporation - dedicated to being the best travel company for the world. In 2002, they established The Intrepid Foundation so their travellers could make a lasting impact on the communities they had visited. Although Intrepid Travel absorbs all administrative costs of The Intrepid Foundation, they are separate legal entities, allowing The Intrepid Foundation to grow independently. Intrepid Travel is made up of a collection of tour operator brands and 28 destination management companies all united by one vision: To change the way we all see the world.
In Business Since 1989
Reviews
Shirlee - Traveled, July 2023
We enjoyed the sights and scenery on trip - Mt Rushmore, bison spotting in Custer Park and Yellowstone some of the highlights! We had a great group. Our guide, Andrew was very knowledgable and professional. We had some long travel days, but worth it for what we saw. Highly recommend it!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/05/2023
Marlene - Traveled, July 2023
Andrew was an amazing guide. He was extremely knowledgable, accommodating and fun! He consistently ensured all travelers' needs were met. I would sign up for another trip with Andrew in a heartbeat!!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/06/2023
Lisa - Traveled, July 2023
Excellent trip to South Dakota and Yellowstone. Very well planned, organized, and the leader was exceptional! Would definitely take another trip with Intrepid!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/02/2023
Claire - Traveled, July 2023
This Trip was truly amazing!!! The places we went to were incredible and beautiful!!! It was definitely worth the money and time. Andrew was awesome and upbeat.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/03/2023
Carol - Traveled, July 2023
This was an amazing trip and so worthwhile. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and professional. I didn’t expect to learn so much about the magnificent destinations we visited. The wildlife and scenery we saw were stunning. Cannot recommend this trip enough and it was a wonderful experience.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/19/2023
Mahima - Traveled, June 2023
This trip was very action packed, but has something for everyone. From nature lovers, to history buffs - it’s got it all. Andrew, our guide, made the trip even better with his energy, passion, and attention to each travelers needs. It felt like a little family :)
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/03/2023
Deborah - Traveled, June 2023
Well-planned itinerary that moved from strength to strength. Thought-provoking and positively challenging additional guides. Seasoned, attentive leadership from Andrew, whose deep commitment to these environments was palpable, and whose sense of humor never flagged. This was an immersive, engaging tour!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/05/2023
Sarah Gaynor - Traveled, June 2023
My husband and I went on the South Dakota to Yellowstone Parks Explorer with Intrepid Travel June 2023. A holiday planned to mark our recent Retirements, it did not disappoint. The wildlife we saw, the landscape and countryside was breathtaking. Our guide Andrew Kalb was outstanding, thank you.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/25/2023
Lisa - Traveled, September 2022
Tour Leader Emily Hoff was very friendly, knowledgeable and enthusiastic. Nothing was too much trouble. She really made the trip worthwhile.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/10/2022
Charles - Traveled, September 2022
Had a wonderful trip, our guide Emily was amazing - very knowledgeable and positive. Had a great time and will likely be booking another one soon!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/27/2022
Lissette - Traveled, September 2022
This trip was a great disappointment for us. Our guide, Emily H. was inexperienced, disorganized, and a poor communicator. She really make our trip very stressful and unsatisfactory. The itinerary was not adhered to. We were to have only 30 minutes in Mount Rushmore with no hike at the Presidential trail or visit to the museum because the guide wanted to get us to another monument a person in our group wanted to visit. No hike was done in the Castle Trail in the Badlands. The Sheridan Inn restaurant was closed to the public. The van was small, cramped and uncomfortable. No wolves were at the very expensive wolf tracking and we had no meals that day from 3 am until 2 pm. The guide gave little information on the sites, areas visited and landscape. There was not welcome or farewell group dinners. The two days at Yellowstone were the only highlights of our vacation.This is our fourth trip with Intrepid, the first three being just great. Sadly, this will probably be the last.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/18/2022
Alison - Traveled, August 2022
This trip exceeded my high expectations. Great itinerary at a perfect place with awesome scenery, history and plenty of wildlife. The wolf trekking is a must! Thanks to our wonderful guide Claire for her organization and enthusiasm.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/01/2022
David - Traveled, August 2022
We thoroughly enjoyed our trip. We have been in tours with several other companies in the past but this one was the best. Our guide Claire really made the trip enjoyable We also liked the small size
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/20/2022
Santosh - Traveled, July 2022
This was my first trip with Intrepid and I cannot say enough good things about my overall experience. An incredible week-long journey which culminated in the visit to Yellowstone National Park. Huge shoutout to my team leader, Greta Kjos who was exceptionally knowledgeable, engaging and organized. During our trip from South Dakota to Montana National Parks, we were exposed to the scenic beauty and wildlife across three states. The local tour guides were welcoming and happy to share their heritage, culture and rich history with us. A great adventure holiday with loads of sites and destinations to see while staying safe and being responsible tourists!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/04/2022
Ian - Traveled, July 2022
An excellent adventure, very well planned, every day was filled with an exciting new adventure. Pace was fast but not overwhelming. We had various expert guides that joined us at various sites, including 'Cathy' our jeep driver at Custer State Park, 'Rose' our Crow Indian guide at Little Bighorn and 'Evan' our nature guide at the Yellowstone Wolf Trekking tour. (Yes, we saw wolves and many other animals.) It was a short tour and the time went by quickly, but something to remember for a lifetime!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/25/2022
Michael - Traveled, May 2022
I did this tour in May 2022. It was just fantastic to experience the historic parks with their abundant wildlife. I enjoyed getting to see a piece of the United States far from the city lights. The guide I had was just fantastic.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/25/2022
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