Wild West, Cowboys and Buffalos End Rapid City
- Overview
- Itinerary
- What's Included
- FAQ
- Dates
Embark on an unforgettable journey through the heart of the American Wild West with the "Wild West, Cowboys and Buffalos End Rapid City" tour. Starting in Salt Lake City, this adventure takes you through iconic landscapes and historic sites, including the majestic Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. Experience the rich culture of the Lakota people at the Oglala Lakota Living History Village and marvel at the monumental Crazy Horse Memorial. Discover the vibrant history of the Old West at the Buffalo Bill Center and enjoy a unique "Be My Guest" experience in Billings. The tour concludes in Rapid City, where you'll witness the grandeur of Mount Rushmore and the stunning Badlands National Park. With expert guides, comfortable accommodations, and immersive cultural experiences, this tour offers a perfect blend of adventure, history, and natural beauty.
Highlights
- Explore the Crazy Horse Memorial with access to the base of the memorial.
- Discover the vibrant towns of Jackson Hole, Billings, and Rapid City.
- Visit iconic sites like Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone National Park, and Mount Rushmore.
- Experience the culture at the Oglala Lakota Living History Museum.
- Marvel at the geothermal wonders of Yellowstone, including Old Faithful.
- Immerse yourself in the history of the Wild West at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West.
- Enjoy the breathtaking landscapes of Badlands National Park and the Black Hills.
Dining Summary
- 4 Dinner (D)
- 8 Breakfast (B)
- 1 Lunch (L)
Mode of Transport
Accommodation
Iconic Experience
- Montpelier: Discover the epic saga of pioneers' westward expansion at the National Oregon/California Trail Center. You’ll take a simulated wagon ride, where actors in authentic period costumes guide you through the trials and triumphs of the journey. This immersive experience captivates visitors of all ages, vividly portraying a significant chapter in American history.
- Grand Teton National Park: Head to Grand Teton National Park for sightseeing of its alpine landscapes featuring eight peaks towering 12,000 feet above. At the Craig Thomas Visitor Center, gaze out at the Teton Range rising above. Inside the Center, explore the themes of place, people, preservation, mountaineering and Native Americans as you contemplate the past and future of this park. With your Travel Director enhancing your visit through narrative, drive by Jenny Lake, a glacier-carved lake at the base of the Teton Mountains.
- Yellowstone National Park: Yellowstone National Park. A bucket list destination and a must-see icon. Established as America's first National Park by President Grant in 1872, Yellowstone is famous for its hot springs, bubbling mud pots, vast canyons and lush forests and a variety of terrain including alpine mountains, prairies, valleys and waterfalls as well as a diversity of nature including the hydrothermal features. Explore the Southern Loop of Yellowstone with your Travel Director who shows you the must-sees and highlights, paired with background information of this huge, ever-changing national park. See the splendor of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, keep an eye out for bison in Hayden Valley, and witness Old Faithful blow off some steam.
- Cody: Jump into the playground of the wild west. Glimpse into the "Spirit of the West" at the Buffalo Bill Center for the West Museum complex. Boasting five museums on its campus, this “Smithsonian of the West” will immerse you in the sounds and sights of the Wild West. You'll feel like you've been transported back to a time of cowboys and cowgirls, outlaws and Native American warriors.
- Black Hills: Unlock the history of Crazy Horse Memorial. Learn how construction began in 1948 after Henry Standing Bear, a Lakota elder, commissioned Korczak Ziolkowski, who worked on construction of Mount Rushmore. While the original idea was to carve a face into rock like Mount Rushmore, the monument will ultimately have a full body and horse. There is no completion date yet, but the face of Crazy Horse was completed in 1998 at 87 feet 6 inches (26.7 m) high.
- Badlands National Park: Enjoy the spectacular sights as you make your way through Badlands Loop Road.
- Mount Rushmore: The grand faces of Mount Rushmore National Memorial await. View the faces of four of America’s most important presidents - George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt - dramatically etched into the granite rock. Mount Rushmore tells the story of the birth, growth, development and preservation of the United States. From the history of the first inhabitants to the diversity of America today, visitors will come face to face (literally) with the rich heritage we all share.
Personal Expenses
Travel Insurance
Flights
Optional Activities
Destinations
- North America
- USA
Tour Types
- History
- Wildlife Tours
- Gardens & Nature Tours
- Sightseeing
- Special Guest Tours
- Cultural
Location: Salt Lake City
Saddle up for a Wild West family adventure starting with a relaxing afternoon together in Salt Lake City before meeting your travel companions for a rootin’ tootin’ evening Kick-off Party with your Travel Director.<br/>
Accommodation: The Little America Hotel
Accommodation Name: Little America
Meals: Dinner
Location: Montpelier, Idaho, Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Relive the adventures of an 1850s westbound wagon train with a visit to the National Oregon/California Trail Center in Montpelier, Idaho. Accompanied by actors playing wagon masters and pioneers, you'll journey back in time, exploring historically accurate attractions, including a gun shop, mercantile, and a ride in a covered wagon. After a picnic-style lunch at the Center, you're off to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, where you can walk through the town's famous landmark arch of tangled elk antlers. Step back in time as you explore the Town Square with its Western boardwalks, craft boutiques and ice cream shops, all surrounded by the majestic Teton Range.<br/>
Accommodation: Hotel Alex Johnson Rapid City
Accommodation Name: Modern Mountain Motel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Location: Grand Teton National Park
Family fun awaits every day of this trip and today is no exception. If the season is right, today is your chance to get out on the water for some adventures. Rise early to float down the Snake River on an optional, scenic wilderness float trip. It’s the most relaxing way to experience the river as you learn about its history, geology, and wildlife from an expert guide. Travel onward to your hotel for the night.<br/>
Accommodation Name: ClubHouse Inn West Yellowstone
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Location: Yellowstone National Park, Old Faithful, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
Today you’ll enjoy a full day’s exploration of the geothermal wonderland of Yellowstone. You’ll join your Travel Director, marveling at Old Faithful, the thousand-year old geyser which has been shooting up water every 90 minutes for centuries. See the wonders of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone whose colors and shapes are a sight to behold. The rest of the evening is yours to enjoy on your own terms.<br/>
Accommodation Name: ClubHouse Inn West Yellowstone
Meals: Breakfast
Location: Cody, Billings
You’ll get a glimpse into “Spirit of the West” at the Buffalo Bill Center for the West museum complex. As you wander through this huge set of exhibits, you’ll feel like you’ve been transported back to a time of cowboys and cowgirls, lawmen and brave Native American warriors. The complex gives you the opportunity to explore the Buffalo Bill Museum, Plains Indians Museum, Whitney Western Art Museum, or the Draper Natural History Museum. Round out the day with a Be My Guest experience at Billings Depot where you’ll meet the owners 406 Native Roots, an Indigenous arts and education center, before dining in a historic train terminal. You’ll have the opportunity to learn about tipis and engage in a sweetgrass braiding activity led by a local Indigenous artist.<br/>
Accommodation Name: DoubleTree by Hilton Billings
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Location: Gillette, Crazy Horse Memorial, Rapid City
Continue your discovery of the Wild West heading through the "Energy Capital of the US," Gillette, WY. Then, travel to South Dakota to spend the afternoon getting familiar with a famed Lakota warrior at Crazy Horse Memorial. You’ll gaze in awe of this colossal carved tribute to Crazy Horse, which you’ll learn is the largest mountain carving in the world.<br/>
Accommodation Name: Alex Johnson Rapid City
Meals: Breakfast
Location: Rapid City, Oglala Lakota Living History Village, Badlands National Park
Today, participate in a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience with a visit to the Oglala Lakota Living History Village, introducing you to the beautiful landscape of the past and present Lakota culture, and of indigenous knowledge of Pine Ridge Reservation. Your visit contributes to the sustainability and resiliency of the Lakota community. Walk with a local guide on the trails through displays of living quarters used through the 19th and 20th centuries. Meet local artists who, through crafts and storytelling, provide insight into their cultures and traditions. Later, visit the Ben Reifel Visitor Center, the perfect place to prepare for your visit of Badlands National Park. Learn about the local earth science, wildlife and history as you explore museum exhibits, visit a working Fossil Preparation Lab or learn about Indigenous communities who one inhabited the land.<br/>
Accommodation Name: Alex Johnson Rapid City
Meals: Breakfast
Location: Rapid City, Mount Rushmore
Today, head for the famous Black Hills of South Dakota to view the giant faces of former American presidents etched in the stone cliffs of Mount Rushmore. This evening, join your fellow adventurers at a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience and Farewell Dinner featuring your Lakota Sioux Tribe Member Stephen Yellowhawk (or another tribe member).<br/>
Accommodation Name: Alex Johnson Rapid City
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Location: Rapid City
Your Wild West adventure comes to an end after breakfast. Say so long to your newfound friends this morning. Depart from Rapid City at your leisure.<br/>
Meals: Breakfast
Included
- An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
- Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
- All porterage and restaurant gratuities
- All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
- Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
- Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
- Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
- All transport and transfers shown
- Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
- Optional Experiences and free time
- On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilized
Not Included
-
Personal Expenses
-Personal expenses such as souvenirs and additional activities not listed in the itinerary are not included.
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Travel Insurance
-Travel insurance is not included and is recommended to be purchased separately.
-
Flights
-Flights to and from the start and end locations of the tour are not included.
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Optional Activities
-Optional activities not specified in the itinerary are not included.
You will have the option to book your own flights independently with the operator.
| Dates | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|
|
07-Sep-2025
for 0 Nights |
Quad | £3375.00 | |
|
07-Sep-2025
for 0 Nights |
Triple | £3089.00 | |
|
07-Sep-2025
for 0 Nights |
Twin | £3375.00 | |
|
14-Sep-2025
for 0 Nights |
Quad | £3350.00 | |
|
14-Sep-2025
for 0 Nights |
Triple | £3074.00 | |
|
14-Sep-2025
for 0 Nights |
Twin | £3350.00 |
