2021 & 2022 Globus Guided Tours - Globus® Vacation Packages

The Classic Lodges & Parks of the West (AY)

11 Day Tour from Rapid City to Salt Lake City

2025 Tour Details View 2026 Tour Details »

You won’t need to summon Mr. Sandman on this tour through the American West. This national parks vacation is what dreams are made of. With overnight stays in the West’s legendary lodges, you’ll wake up well rested within the forested wonder of the nation’s most alluring landscapes. Enjoy two nights within the timber and stone beauty of the State Game Lodge at Custer State Park, two nights under the roofs of the cozy lodges of Yellowstone National Park, and two nights swathed in the rugged elegance at the Rustic Inn at Jackson Hole. Additional dream sights through South Dakota and Wyoming include Mount Rushmore, Mammoth Hot Springs, and Grand Teton National Park. After visiting the Old West towns of Deadwood and Cody – and spotting the buffalo, moose, elk, and other area locals – you’ll have no reason to count sheep on this classic lodges and national parks tour.

Small-Group Discovery Dates Available

Select Globus 2021 North America tours are limited to an average of just 24 guests per tour. There’s always room to roam with extra space between you and other travelers—while still getting up close and personal to the experiences you’ve been dreaming of. Small-Group Discoveries include all the features of a traditional Globus North America tour, complete with expert Tour Director, Driver, and Local Guides who ensure that your health and safety is our top priority. A Small-Group Discovery Europe vacation is the perfectly sized tour—without the crowds.

We’ve packed everything you need for the perfect tour—from hand-selected hotels and dining to the friendly expertise of Globus Tour Directors and Local Guides, to seamless transportation between destinations and VIP access to the world’s most iconic sites! Touring by private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach with free Wi-Fi. Enhance your free time with your GlobusGO mobile app!

PLUS, your tour includes your choice of excursions in Cody so you can plan your day your way.

Dates & Prices Book Online
800.268.3636
Multiple Vacation Discount: Save up to an additional $100 per person when you book more than one Globus, Cosmos or Avalon Vacation for the same travel year
Save up to $700 per couple on select 2025 Globus Tours Worldwide*
Save up to $400 per couple on select 2025 Globus Tours Worldwide*
The Classic Lodges & Parks of the West map
National Park Tours – National Park Foundation

 Photo Highlights

 Meals

 Meals & Itinerary

Breakfast daily, 1 lunch, 5 dinners


Notes:

Routes and areas visited in Yellowstone are subject to weather and road conditions.



This vacation visits national parks and other remote locations where some facilities may not meet the first-class standard you expect from Globus. Some lodges within the parks do not feature televisions and other routinely expected amenities.

 Itinerary

Day 1 ARRIVE IN RAPID CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA

Welcome to Rapid City! At 6pm, meet your traveling companions for a welcome drink. Your Tour Director will prepare you for your upcoming adventure.

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Day 2 RAPID CITY–BADLANDS NATIONAL PARK–CUSTER STATE PARK

Legends of the West After breakfast, enjoy a sightseeing tour of Rapid City. Visit Badlands National Park to see some of the most spectacular scenery in the region. Afterward, there’s time to explore Wall Drug, known for its quirky roadside signs. Continue to Custer State Park for a backcountry adventure; a Globus Local FavoriteGlobus Local Favorite Buffalo Safari with a local expert and traditional cookout.

LOCAL FAVORITE
WHERE THE BUFFALO ROAM Awaken your adventurer’s spirit on a Buffalo Safari in Custer State Park. The U.S. national mammal and historic mainstay of indigenous people, the American Bison is a native species of North America, whose numbers were reduced from more than 60 million across the great bison belt grasslands from Alaska to the Atlantic to less than 600 by the late 1880s. Standing 6 feet tall and weighing up to 2,000 pounds, these formidable and majestic mammals have been restored in numbers due to conservation efforts of the 20th century.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
ACCOMMODATION SPOTLIGHT Enjoy an overnight stay at the historic State Game Lodge in Custer State Park. This gracious stone and wood lodge is set in a beautiful mountain valley, surrounded by a ponderosa pine forest. Built in 1920 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the lodge served as the “Summer White House” for President Calvin Coolidge and was visited by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.


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Breakfast Breakfast
DinnerDinner

Day 3 CUSTER STATE PARK. EXCURSION TO HOT SPRINGS & CRAZY HORSE MEMORIAL

Wild & Wooly Discoveries Travel to Hot Springs to visit the world’s largest Globus Local FavoriteGlobus Local Favorite Mammoth Site. Next, Crazy Horse Memorial, built in honor of the fearless Lakota Chief who led the victory at the Battle of Little Bighorn. The remainder of the day is yours to relax in Custer State Park. Perhaps try some fly-fishing, mountain biking, or take a nature walk.

LOCAL FAVORITE
HISTORIC SITES Dig deeper into prehistoric South Dakota with a visit to the Mammoth Site and Museum. Tour the world’s largest mammoth research facility and active dig site, where scientists are currently excavating remains of mammoths that were trapped and died in the pond more than 26,000 years ago. After a short tour, you’ll have time to stroll the sidewalks of the dig area and see the paleontology laboratory. Imagine this landscape when the more than 60 Mammoths found to date roamed and ruled in the Pleistocene era in North America.


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Breakfast Breakfast
DinnerDinner

Day 4 CUSTER STATE PARK–MOUNT RUSHMORE–DEADWOOD–SPEARFISH CANYON

Statesmen, Sheriffs & Sharpshooters Visit one of the world’s largest stone monuments – Mount Rushmore National Memorial – to see the solid granite faces of four legendary American presidents majestically carved more than a thousand feet overhead. Continue to the historic Old West town of Deadwood for a tour with a Local Guide. Then drive the scenic Spearfish Canyon for an overnight at the exclusive Spearfish Canyon Lodge.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
LEGENDS & LORE The legendary town of Deadwood is home to the ghosts of the Wild West, where bold frontiersmen and optimistic gold miners set down stakes in this untamed mining town. Hear the rip-roaring stories of legends like Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane, and Potato Creek Johnny while exploring the streets where shoot-outs and sheriffs ruled the day.


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Breakfast Breakfast
DinnerDinner

Day 5 SPEARFISH CANYON–UCROSS RANCH, WYOMING–CODY

Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch... Continue across the grassy plains of Wyoming and soak in the expansive blue skies. Enjoy lunch at the historic Globus Local FavoriteGlobus Local Favorite Ranch at UCross with free time to enjoy a variety of activities. Next, cross the Bighorn Mountains via Shell Creek Canyon to Buffalo Bill’s Wild West town of Cody, Wyoming.

LOCAL FAVORITE
LOCAL TASTES You’re invited to lunch at The Ranch at UCross – smack in the middle of the Wyoming landscape that’s rich in the history of the American West. Explore activities to get in the cowboy spirit where writers, sculptors and artists have drawn inspiration for years. See gentle horses, sweeping scenery, and plenty of trout in the river make this the perfect place to get away from it all.


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Breakfast Breakfast
LunchLunch

Day 6 CODY–YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK

Spend your day your way in Cody This morning, Explore more of Cody with your choice of included excursions. Depart for Yellowstone National Park, America’s first national park, where wild animals roam freely in vast meadows and forest.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
LEGENDARY LIVES The mission of the Buffalo Bill Center of the West is to connect people to the stories of the American West. Here in the town named for Bill Cody (Buffalo Bill), you’ll find a wealth of historic artifacts, artwork, and amazing insight to the historic American West and Native American culture in this complex founded in 1917.

TAKE YOUR PICK

Explore your way today with your choice of excursions:

THE NEW FRONTIER Visit the Buffalo Bill Center of The West, a comprehensive museum of historic weapons, cowboy folklore, and Western art and fascinating tribute to frontier America and Native American culture with the vision of Col. William F. Cody – named by the NY Times as ‘among the nation’s most remarkable museums.’

OR:

SHARP SHOOTERS Explore 100 years of Cody history on a live guided trolley tour. An entertaining way to see the highlights of the Old West and hear stories of legendary locals Buffalo Bill and Annie Oakley.

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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 7 YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK

America’s First National Park A full day’s adventure in this vast national park! See the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone with its Upper and Lower Falls. Watch for herds of bison in Hayden Valley, and view many of Yellowstone’s geothermal sites, including Old Faithful Geyser.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
NATURAL WONDERS Designated as a national park by law 150 years ago, President Ulysses S. Grant worked to preserve and protect the wild landscapes, native heritage, spectacular wildlife, and extraordinary geologic and ecological phenomena that make this Rocky Mountain paradise a treasure today and for future generations to treasure. From geysers to grizzlies and great bison, no one leaves the park without being forever changed by the natural wonder witnessed in any of its 2.2 million acres of pristine wilderness.

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Breakfast Breakfast
DinnerDinner

Day 8 YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK–JACKSON

Glacial Giants This morning, tour Grand Teton National Park on your way to Jackson for a 2-night stay at the Rustic Inn at Jackson Hole.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
NATURAL WONDERS With its magnificent peaks and glacial landscapes, this Rocky Mountain marvel is the perfect pairing of natural grandeur and frontier spirit of the town of Jackson. Find serenity on the shores of gorgeous glacier-fed Jenny Lake and stroll along the shore before continuing to Jackson. This evening, visit the Antler Arches, enjoy a drink at the iconic Million Dollar Cowboy Bar, or shop for the perfect cowboy hat.


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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 9 JACKSON

Peak Experiences Today is at your leisure to explore on your own, enjoy your resort, or perhaps take an optional float trip down the Snake River.

FREE TIME TIPS
EXPLORE MORE in Jackson with an optional float trip along the Snake River, stroll along the downtown boardwalks to enjoy a drink at one of the local saloons, or explore one of the many galleries that call Jackson home.


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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 10 JACKSON–SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH

This is the Place! Follow the Snake River and lovely Star Valley en route to Utah. Wind along the shores of beautiful Bear Lake before climbing through the Wasatch Mountains and on to the Great Salt Lake Basin and Salt Lake City. Tonight, enjoy a farewell dinner hosted by your Tour Director.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
HISTORIC SPOT The capital city of Utah was first established in 1847 by early pioneer settlers led by Brigham Young, who exclaimed, “This is the right place,” upon seeing its vistas and verdant landscapes. The city hosted the 2002 Winter Olympics and offers a vibrant downtown with a variety of stores, attractions, and restaurants.


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Breakfast Breakfast
DinnerDinner

Day 11 SALT LAKE CITY

Safe travels until we meet again! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. Want more time to explore Salt Lake City? Additional nights are available for purchase.

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Breakfast Breakfast

 Tour Director

With GLOBUS, there’s no better way to get to know your destination than through the eyes of a Tour Director. We’d like you to meet one of our Tour Directors, who average over a decade of experience and are representative of the type of expert that will be with you on your vacation.

STEVE OSTEN

Escorting tours for more than 20 years

“My interest in the national parks began as a child on summer vacations in Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. In college, I studied Botany, Ichthyology, Mammology, and Ornithology, and I began working in Yellowstone as a summer seasonal guide years ago. I have also worked in Sequoia, the Everglades, and Alaska as a naturalist guide. Whether it's beachcombing in Florida, birding in the Everglades, or hiking in the Tetons, as long as I'm in nature, I'm where I want to be.”

Tour Director - STEVE OSTEN

 Accommodations

Rapid City
Custer State Park
Spearfish
Cody
Yellowstone National Park
Jackson
Salt Lake City

Rapid City

The Rushmore Hotel
The Rushmore HotelThe Rushmore HotelThe Rushmore HotelThe Rushmore Hotel
The Rushmore Hotel

The Rushmore Hotel

First-Class

The Rushmore Hotel 445 Mt. Rushmore Road, Rapid City, SD United States

445 Mt. Rushmore Road
Rapid City, United States

The Rushmore Hotel Rapid City is a great place to rest after spending a busy day in Rapid City exploring everything the city offers. The hotel is an eco-friendly hotel representing sustainability in South Dakota. The rooms have a fun decor showcasing the beauty and flavor of South Dakota.

Hotel Amenities

  • Concierge desk
  • Fitness Room
  • Bar/Lounge
  • Restaurant On-Site
  • Business Center
  • Parking/Valet
  • Elevator
  • Gift Shop
  • ATM

Room Amenities

  • Climate Control
  • Desk
  • Window Opens
  • Non-smoking Rooms
  • Voicemail
  • Air Conditioning
  • Internet Access
  • Phone
  • Iron/Ironing Board
  • Coffee Maker
  • Hair Dryer
  • Complimentary Toiletries
  • Complimentary Newspaper
  • Daily Housekeeping
  • Alarm Clock
  • Cable/Satellite
  • Wake-Up Calls
  • Television

 Optional Excursions

No matter what you’re into: food, wine, history, art, music or anything else, we give you the freedom to personalize your vacation with optional excursions that speak to your interests.

When you book your excursions with us, you can be assured that every optional excursion that we offer coordinates with the free time that you'll have in your destination, so you'll never have conflicts between included and optional activities. Our team of travel experts carefully selects each optional excursion that we offer to ensure that you receive the highest quality at a great value. Our tried-and-true partners have a finger on the pulse of the city in which they operate so they deliver the very best experiences. We offer experiences you cannot create on your own and because you’re booking with us, we coordinate all your transportation and timing needs.

The following optional excursions are examples only for this vacation. These may or may not be offered, and availability is subject to days of operation and seasonality. Please select a departure date to view optional excursions and pricing for a specific date (due to currency fluctuation, pricing shown is subject to change until purchased). Optional excursions are available for purchase on our MyGlobus site 90 days prior to the tour start date.

Price Ranges

$ ($50 CAD and under)
$$ ($51 - $100 CAD)
$$$ ($101 - $150 CAD)
$$$$ (Over $150)


Yellowstone National Park
Jackson

Yellowstone National Park

Buffalo Bill Center of the West

Buffalo Bill Center of the West

Learn about the history, culture, and beauty of the American West at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, the world's finest Western museum!

Price Range: $

Cody Trolley Tour

Cody Trolley Tour

Step aboard the Cody Trolley for an unforgettable journey through the historic streets of Cody, Wyoming! This guided tour offers a fascinating look at the town's Wild West heritage - as you ride through scenic downtown, your knowledgeable guide will share captivating stories about Cody's legendary figures, historic landmarks, and the cowboy spirit that still defines the area today. Whether you're a history buff or simply looking to experience the charm of the Old West, the Cody Trolley Tour is the perfect way to discover this unique town in comfort and style.

Price Range: $

Jackson

Snake River Float

Snake River Float

Experience the beauty and geology of the Snake River on this fun and scenic 3-hour float trip between Grand Teton National Park and Bridger Teton National Forest.

Price Range: $$$$



The “Starting at” or listed price is based on the lowest price available to book. Price is per person based on twin occupancy and any applicable port charges, non-commissionable taxes and fees and intra-vacation flight are included in the price shown. Any included overnight stay in Canada, applicable GST/HST is also included in the price shown. International airfare, however, is not included. If price is crossed out, the new price shown includes a limited time promotional offer(s). Please review current promotions or deals for additional information.