2021 & 2022 Globus Guided Tours - Globus® Vacation Packages

The Classic Lodges & Parks of the West (AY)

10 Day Tour from Rapid City to Jackson

2027 Tour Details View 2026 Tour Details »

Small groups lead to big experiences on this Small Group Discovery tour! 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, Badlands National Park, Mammoth Hot Springs, and Grand Teton National Park.

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.

Special features included in this tour:
• Orientation tour of Rapid City
• Visit to Badlands National Park with scenic views and photo stops
• Buffalo Safari and western-style cookout in Custer State Park [LF]
• Tour of the Mammoth Site and Museum in Hot Springs [LF]
• Visit to Mount Rushmore National Memorial
• Small group exclusive visit to Crazy Horse Memorial including a private guided tour and close-up view from the base of the mountain
• Guided sightseeing tour in Deadwood
• Visit to Spearfish Canyon
• Lunch at the historic Ranch at UCross in Wyoming
• Small group exclusive docent led visit to the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody
• Guided sightseeing in Yellowstone National Park including geysers, canyons, and wildlife
• Visit to Grand Teton National Park including Colter Bay, Jackson Lake, and Jenny Lake
• Walking tour of downtown Jackson Hole, Wyoming
• Overnight stays at iconic lodges including two-nights at the State Game Lodge in Custer State Park, two-nights in Yellowstone lodges, and two-nights at the Rustic Inn at Jackson Hole

Dates & Prices Book Online
800.268.3636
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/or road conditions.
• Maximum elevation on tour: 9,033 ft (2,753 m).
• 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.



CUSTER-STATE-PARK-BLACK-HILLS.jpg

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.




BADLANDS-NATIONAL-PARK.jpg

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 Globus Local FavoriteGlobus Local Favorite Mammoth Site and Museum. Continue to Crazy Horse Memorial, built in honor of the fearless Lakota Chief who led the victory at the Battle of Little Bighorn. Experience a unique, close-up view of the carving during an exclusive Small Group Discovery trip with a storyteller (weather permitting) to the base of the mountain. Drive the Needles Highway and visit Sylvan Lake en route back to Custer State Park. The remainder of the day is yours to relax.Perhaps try mountain biking, a guided horseback trail ride to French Creek Nature Areaor take a nature walk on a park trail.

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.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
SMALL GROUP EXCLUSIVE Explore the Crazy Horse Native American Cultural Center and artist’s studio at Crazy Horse Memorial. The world’s largest mountain carving is still in progress, honoring Native American heritage with the Oglala Lakota warrior Crazy Horse on horseback pointing to his tribal land.



HOT-SPRINGS-MAMMOTH-FOSSILS.jpg

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. Visit Mount Moriah Cemetery then drive the scenic Spearfish Canyon for a hike, dinner and an overnight stay 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.




MOUNT-RUSHMORE.jpg

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 Ranch at UCross. Next, cross the Bighorn Mountains via Shell Creek Canyon to Buffalo Bill’s Wild West town of Cody, Wyoming.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
SMALL GROUP EXCLUSIVE 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.



BIGHORN-MOUNTAINS.jpg

Breakfast Breakfast
LunchLunch

Day 6 CODY–YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK

Explore the Buffalo Bill Center of The West, a comprehensive museum of historic weapons and art on a private guided Small Group Exclusive experience. Go behind-the-scenes with an expert to view artifacts and hear insider stories that bring the collections to life. In the town named for Bill Cody (Buffalo Bill), you’ll find a wealth of amazing insight to the historic American West and Native American culture in this complex founded in 1917. Depart for Yellowstone National Park, America’s first national park, where wild animals roam freely in vast meadows and forest.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
ICONIC FOOTSTEPS Cavalry scout, Pony Express rider, ranch hand, wagon train driver, city planner, railroad contractor, bison hunter, fur trapper, gold prospector, Native American advocate, feminist, and inventor of modern Show Business, William Cody’s legend rides on as a symbol of the unbridled possibilities of the early American West. “Buffalo Bill” Cody’s horsemanship and sharpshooting skills gained notice by the U.S. Army and his Wild West shows endeared him to the elite audiences of Europe.




YELLOWSTONE-NATIONAL-PARK--PRONGHORN-ANTELOPE.jpg

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. As part of Globus family of brands Lighthouse Project, this historic site is one example of our commitment to supporting the people and places we share with you.



YELLOWSTONE-NATIONAL-PARK-OLD-FAITHFUL-ERUPTING.jpg

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.

ACCOMMODATION SPOTLIGHT
Rustic Inn Creekside Resort & Spa at Jackson Hole blends rugged beauty with easy urban access, close to Jackson’s downtown and near the National Elk Refuge. The Flat Creek Preserve and Wetlands Walk onsite enhances your stay with walking paths, fire pits, and a backdrop of stunning Teton scenery.




GRAND-TETON-NATIONAL-PARK-BARN.jpg

Breakfast Breakfast

Day 9 JACKSON

Peak Experiences Enjoy a free day in Jackson to explore on your own, relax at theresort, or perhaps take an optional float trip down the Snake River. Join your travel companions for a farewell dinner tonight at a local restaurant.

ENHANCED FREE TIME
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.




JACKSON-WYOMING-TOWN.jpg

Breakfast Breakfast
DinnerDinner

Day 10 JACKSON

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




JACKSON-WYOMING.jpg

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

 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

Visit the Buffalo Bill Center of The West, a comprehensive museum of historic weapons, cowboy folklore, and Western art, where William Cody's legend rides on as a symbol of the unbridled possibilities of the early American West.

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.