Winter in Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons 9 days from $6,800
See the magnificent landscapes of Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks transformed by the winter snows. Explore these parks with naturalist guides on wildlife tours and excursions by snowshoe and snowcoach. HIGHLIGHTS Watch the sunrise in Grand Teton National Park on a wildlife tour with a naturalist guide. �
Experience Yellowstone’s winter wonderland in the comfort of a heated snowcoach. �
Set out on a guided snowshoe excursion in the Tetons, and go cross-country skiing in Yellowstone. �
Seek out wolves and other wildlife with a private guide on a visit to Yellowstone’s Lamar Valley. �
The itinerary below is a sample of what’s possible. Your Smithsonian Tailor-Made Journey will be handcrafted just for you. Days 1–3 – Jackson, Wyoming, and Grand Teton National Park Arrive in Jackson, and enjoy a free afternoon. Set out early the next morning for a small-group sunrise tour in Grand Teton National Park and use a scope to watch herds of elk, lone coyotes, and moose. Back in Jackson for the afternoon, enjoy the town and its surroundings. The next day, join a small group for a snowshoeing excursion within the national forest or Grand Teton National Park. During another afternoon at leisure, consider a walk among the boutiques and galleries around Jackson Square. Day 4 – Yellowstone National Park Take a shared transfer to Yellowstone National Park, arriving just in time for sunrise. As you drive through the lower loop en route to Old Faithful Snow Lodge, learn about the park’s geology and wildlife. During a free afternoon, hike along cross-country ski trails or take a walk on the boardwalks of the Upper Geyser Basin to see the area’s fascinating geothermal activity. Day 5 – Yellowstone Snowcoach Excursion Climb into a snowcoach for a full-day small-group tour of Yellowstone National Park with an experienced guide. There will be plenty of opportunities to get out for short walks, and ample time for wildlife watching throughout the day. Day 6 – Exploring Western Yellowstone Enjoy a free day to experience the park as you wish. Go snowshoeing or rent crosscountry skis and hit the trails that start right at the lodge’s front door. Or sign up for a guided winter photo safari. Day 7 – Mammoth Hot Springs After breakfast, meet your snowcoach and travel north towards Mammoth Hot Springs, stopping at well-known geysers and bubbling mud pots on the way. Day 8 – Yellowstone’s Lamar Valley Head out into Yellowstone’s most wildlife rich area, the Lamar Valley, early this morning. Explore this area with your naturalist guide, watching for moose, coyotes, bighorn sheep, bison, and even wolves. Learn about the reintroduction of wolves into Yellowstone and gain insight into their fascinating social structure and behavior. Day 9 – Bozeman, Montana Today, say goodbye to Yellowstone as your private transfer takes you out of the park and through picturesque Paradise Valley on the way to the airport in Bozeman.
WHERE TO STAY The Lexington Family-owned hotel in the center of town with deep roots in Jackson’s historic western community. Old Faithful Snow Lodge Historic national park lodge (with limited amenities to protect and enhance the tranquility of the natural environment). Select accommodations in the main lodge or in the western or frontier cabins. Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel Just inside Yellowstone’s northern boundary, the historic hotel is named after the steaming limestone terraces just above the property. Elk routinely graze outside the hotel and around the parade grounds of what was once Fort Yellowstone.
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