Yellowstone Walks & Wolves - Camping Edition

Discover the wonders of three national parks: glaciers, geysers, wolves and bears

In the middle of the Rocky Mountains, there are three celebrated national parks offering the most varied scenery and wildlife: the spires and azure lakes of Grand Teton, the unique geology and wildlife of Yellowstone, and the towering sentinel peaks and broad valleys of Glacier. Specialist local guides accompany us on our Yellowstone wildlife tour to spot and track bison, bears, wolves, coyotes and eagles. From colourful meadows with wildflowers to mighty canyons, and geothermal volcanic pools to glaciated rocky spires, this is a full-on adventure with seriously dramatic views.

People, Places & Planet

We work hard to create trips that have a positive impact on the people and places we visit and look after the planet we explore. Learn more about our sustainable travel ethos and practice here and find out about the work of the Exodus Travels Foundation here.

Some sustainable travel highlights of this trip include:

People

How this trip helps improve life for local communities.

• Local tour leaders keep you well informed about local traditions and cultural-social sensitivities.
• We provide employment to local geology and wilderness guides, who accompany the group for specialist trekking activities.
• This trip brings income and opportunity to the destination community through the inclusion of locally owned hotels, restaurants, and other enterprises, and by championing locally produced food wherever possible.
• Read more about our other initiatives here.

Places

How this trip helps protect and conserve local landscapes and nature.

• By travelling in a small group, we ‘tread lightly’ to minimise our impact on local resources and the environment.
• We work with our partners on the ground to proactively reduce waste; this includes eliminating all single-use plastic water bottles by providing refills for reusable bottles.
• Generally, camping uses much less energy than a hotel. By their very nature, campsites are green, open spaces and the surrounding areas are usually kept wild. This trip has one hotel night plus seven nights at campsites.
• Opportunities to track and view wolves and other wildlife in Yellowstone are under the supervision of a wildlife specialist to ensure the safety and wellbeing of both the animals and the group.
• Wildlife is observed from a distance, so as not to disturb or alter natural behaviours.
• Food storage while camping in bear country is carefully managed by using storage boxes to prevent food habituation.
• The payment of entrance fees to natural reserves generates income which is used to upkeep and develop these important sites. In this trip, we visit Grand Teton, Yellowstone and Glacier national parks.
• Our trips adhere to ABTA’s industry-leading animal welfare guidelines to ensure the best possible practices regarding wildlife viewing. Our animal welfare policy can be found here.
• There are opportunities to track and view wolves and other wildlife in Yellowstone, under the supervision of a wildlife specialist to ensure the safety and wellbeing of both the animals and the group.
• We rewild 1,075sqft (100sqm) per passenger to compensate for all trip and flight emissions.
• Read about our commitment to nature protection and restoration here, including our rewilding commitment for every customer who travels with us.

Planet

How we seek to keep the carbon footprint of this trip low.

• The majority of meals on this trip are included as part of the camping experience. Food is locally sourced, so does not travel long distances.
• We do not include any internal flights on this itinerary.
• Our local partner is a member of the San Francisco Green Business Program. The San Francisco Green Business Program recognises businesses, non-profit organisations and institutions in the City and County of San Francisco that meet high environmental standards.
• Read about our climate action here, including our carbon reduction and compensation commitments.

Tips for sustainable travel on this trip

• Leave no trace: We do all we can to ensure we leave no rubbish in the wild and beautiful places we visit; we ask that you do the same. If there are no recycling facilities in-country, consider bringing recyclable materials home with you.
• Plastic waste reduction: Please bring a reusable water bottle on this trip, also consider avoiding single-use hotel toiletries, which generate a large amount of plastic waste.

Is this trip for you?

This trip is rated Activity Level 2 (Leisurely/Moderate). For more on our trip gradings, visit our Activity Level Guidelines page.

It is designed for those interested in the incredible wildlife and geology of Yellowstone and the Central Rockies. All hikes are optional and you can often take tougher or lighter walks than those chosen for the group, so this trip’s grading is only a guide. In addition to the tour leader, we use specialist local guides to make the most of our park visits. Their skills in tracking and spotting wildlife plus their uniquely intimate knowledge of the surroundings is invaluable.

Although each tour follows an itinerary, there is a certain amount of flexibility and sometimes your tour leader may suggest changes. This may be due to road conditions, weather or a visit to a special attraction or event that happens to be in progress. Flexibility is key and often a side diversion is a tour highlight. Hikes and optional activities cannot be guaranteed and may vary depending on ability, group interest, local weather conditions and time of year. Long drives are required to reach certain places, so be prepared for some lengthy journeys.

All travellers over the age of 70 are requested to complete a self-declaration of fitness form prior to travel.

Our tours are a unique experience and much of the enjoyment comes from the team spirit of the group and the fun you have together, as well as from the local setting. We cannot stress strongly enough the importance of bringing a positive attitude with you; a guarantee to enjoying every moment, even in the adversity of the odd rainstorm!

Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as generally not suitable for persons of reduced mobility. However if you are a regular traveller on such trips, please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.

Vaccinations and Health

USA

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for polio, tetanus and rabies. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.

Visa

USA

Travellers from the UK and most EU countries can enter the US under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) provided they have registered for an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) – which costs US$21 – and are in possession of an onward air ticket and machine-readable passport when entering the US. Visas are required for some nationalities and requirements often change; it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas and fulfil any requirements for this trip. We recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/americas/united-states-america
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/united-states
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/usa/entry-requirements

Please note, regulations stipulate that any person who has travelled to Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen since March 2011 (or has dual nationality of Iran, Iraq, Sudan or Syria) may no longer qualify for the VWP. In addition, if you have travelled to Cuba since 12 January 2021, you will not be eligible for the VWP and should instead apply for a visa to travel to, or transit via, the USA.

Food & Drink

There are eight breakfasts, eight lunches and eight dinners included on this tour.

Your tour leader will co-ordinate local shopping and assist the group in preparing healthy, hearty breakfasts, picnic lunches and delicious dinners. Occasionally, we eat out in local restaurants. For any meals not included, the following costs may help you budget:

• Hotel breakfasts: US$12-US$17
• Lunches: US$15-US$20
• Dinners: US$20-US$35, not including alcoholic beverages

Drinks cost on average:

• Wine: US$7-US$10 per glass
• Beer: US$5-US$8 per bottle

A tip of approximately 17%-20% is added to group meals in North American restaurants. Applicable taxes are also added to all listed menu prices.

Please make sure we are aware of any special meal requirements before travelling. We do all we can to accommodate various dietary requirements but certain food types can be limited in some parts of North America.

Weather

Summer weather patterns in the Rockies are typically very sunny and dry. Daytime temperatures in the mountains are 15C-30C (59F-89F) depending on elevation. Afternoon thunderstorms are common and don’t usually last long, although can be severe at altitude. Nights can be cool, depending on elevation. However, a storm system might bring cold and rain (even snow at altitude) at any time. Be prepared to adapt to a wide range of temperatures through layered clothing. July and August are the height of the wildflower bloom. Tours scheduled for June and early July might encounter some snow on the higher trails in all three of the national parks we visit.