Winter Wildlife in Yellowstone

6 Days $5,695

Maximum Group Size: 24

Trip Type: Signature Land

Activity Level: Light/Moderate

• Explore Yellowstone by heated snow coach, and see Old Faithful without the crowds.

• Meet a wildlife cinematographer and hear about his career with National Geographic.

• Search for bison and elusive wolves against the snowy backdrop of the Lamar Valley.

On your trip, be on the lookout for...

Moose, bison, wolves, bighorn sheep, bears, elk, eagles, a variety of birds, and more.

American Bison (Bison Bison); Elk (Cervus canadensis)

Day 1: Bozeman, Montana/Mammoth Hot Springs, Wyoming

Arrive in Bozeman and travel to our hotel just inside Yellowstone National Park.

Accommodations: Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel

Meals: 1 dinner

Day 2: Mammoth Hot Springs/Lamar Valley

At Mammoth Hot Springs, stroll the steaming, colorful mineral-spring terraces outlined in snow. Later, head to the open, rolling meadows and wide vistas of the Lamar Valley where wolves were first reintroduced to Yellowstone in 1995. Using a spotting scope, search among herds of elk and bison for coyotes, eagles, and the elusive wolf. An Emmy® award-winning wildlife cinematographer joins us this evening (schedule permitting) to discuss his career shooting films about wolves and other wildlife for National Geographic.

Accommodations: Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel

Meals: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner

Day 3: Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone/Old Faithful

Travel by private snow coach to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, where winter adds extra magic to an already dramatic landscape. Walk to the rim of the spectacular gorge to see its thundering waterfall and the ice arch that forms from the spray. Continue to Old Faithful to explore a dramatic landscape of erupting geysers, frozen waterfalls, and gem-colored mineral pools. Keep an eye out for wildlife— bison, encrusted in ice, often stand among the pools for warmth.

Accommodations: Old Faithful Snow Lodge

Meals: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner

Day 4: Old Faithful/Upper Geyser Basin

After breakfast, hit the trails on an optional snowshoe or cross-country ski excursion. This afternoon, head to the Upper Geyser Basin to wander amid the bubbling mud pots and fumaroles, discovering the geological forces behind Yellowstone. After dark, step outside to admire the incredible canopy of stars in the dark skies over the park.

Accommodations: Old Faithful Snow Lodge

Meals: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner

Day 5: Yellowstone/Big Sky, Montana

This morning, travel by snow coach to visit the whimsical Fountain Paint Pots, and leave the park via the West Yellowstone gate. Travel to Big Sky, Montana and settle into a comfortable log cabin lodge. This evening, celebrate your winter adventure in Yellowstone at a farewell dinner.

Accommodations: 320 Guest Ranch

Meals: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner

Day 6: Bozeman

After breakfast, transfer to the airport in Bozeman to catch your flight home.

Meals: 1 breakfast

Your National Geographic Expert

Kitty Coley, Geologist and Naturalist

Kitty Coley serves as a consultant to National Geographic magazine. A professional geologist and an avid birder, she has worked in remote geographies around the world, exploring through diving, backpacking, kayaking, and biking.

Find the departure(s) Kitty will join on our website.

Information

This expedition is offered from December through February.

Prices are per person, based on double occupancy. Single supplement applies; please see our website. Airfare is not included in the price. All prices and fares are quoted in U.S. dollars and subject to change. This itinerary is for informational purposes only and is subject to change at any time without notice.

Photography Expeditions: Several of our departures are designated photography expeditions, designed for all skill levels, led by a National Geographic Photography Expert, and limited to 16 travelers.

Call 1-888-966-8687 or your professional travel advisor

Find details and dates for all our expeditions at natgeoexpeditions.com/wildlife