Yellowstone Wildlife Trails - Camping

Welcome to the city of Seattle in Washington State. You're in a city that oozes cool, from sophisticated coffee shops to endless markets, not forgetting the iconic Space Needle. From here you can gaze across the beautiful Puget Sound, and on a clear day view Mount Rainier. Spend your afternoon sampling local specialties and people watching at Pike Place Market before heading to the start hotel for a welcome meeting at 6.00pm.

Optional Activities:
• Space Needle US$22-$29

Accommodation: SureStay by Best Western Seatac North (or similar)

Have one last Seattle coffee moment before heading out of Washington State to the lakeside city of Coeur d'Alene. Swimming, walking and enjoying the sunset with a glass of fizz are all perfect ways to complete your first day in Idaho. Don't forget to pack your swimwear as the lake makes for a great place to cool off. Take a refreshing dip in secluded spots around the lake, but remember, it can be quite cold!

Participatory Camping:  Lake Coeur d'Alene Campground (or similar)

Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner

Continue through the mountains of Montana to the famed Glacier National Park where you'll spend the next two nights exploring this immense landscape. Keep your eyes peeled for deer and bear which frequent this area, as well as stunning scenery and glacial lakes. Your leader will take you to West Glacier where you'll board the Going-to-the-Sun Road shuttle bus (seasonal).

NB: The National Park Service regulates guided hikes in Glacier. Tomorrow you'll be led by a national park guide but on other days your tour leader is not permitted to walk with you on trails. They will however provide detailed briefings, directions, maps and transportation.

Participatory Camping:  Johnson's at St Mary (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Spend the day exploring the ins and outs of this superb park with a Glacier National Park wilderness guide. Your guide will help you try to spot some of the huge variety of animal species for which this park is renowned, including Grizzly Bear, wolverine and lynx. Big Horn Sheep, Mountain Goats, coyote and bears are also common, so make sure you keep your camera to hand! If conditions are right your guide will take you on the Iceberg Lake or Hidden Lake Trail for dramatic mountain scenes, wildflowers and a glaciated lake that will take your breath away. This will definitely be a day to remember.

Participatory Camping:  Johnson's at St Mary (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Full day exploring Glacier National Park.

Participatory Camping:  Johnson's at St Mary (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

An early start sees you on the road, heading to the fabled grounds of America's number one national park, Yellowstone. As soon as you arrive you'll be immersed in a mixture of striking scenery, where jagged peaks morph into flower-strewn meadows and rolling hillsides quickly become absorbed by solidified lava flows. This afternoon's walk will introduce you to the wildlife and the landscapes of Yellowstone, which will be your home for the next four nights.

Participatory Camping:  Gardiner Yellowstone RV Park (or similar)

Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner

Today you'll encounter Yellowstone's amazing array of geothermal features including mud pools, hot springs and steaming fumaroles. The park is famous for its volcanic history and there are estimated to be around 10,000 thermal features - nowhere else on earth can boast Yellowstone's concentration of geysers which are scattered amongst several distinct geyser basins. Benefit from the enthusiasm and knowledge of a local geologist who will no doubt enable you to learn more as you walk from one seismic hotspot to the next.

Participatory Camping:  Gardiner Yellowstone RV Park (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Last night you may have heard the distant sounds of a howl far away in the mountains and today you'll get to learn all about the wolf packs that may have sung out such a nocturnal greeting. You'll spend a full day with a specialist wolf tracking guide, venturing into the park's wilderness by foot and by vehicle to learn about these extraordinary animals. Your guide will explain how wolves live and hunt together in Yellowstone and how the pack hierarchy works. It's important to note that you may not always be lucky enough to see wolves, but this is our aim and at the same time you're likely to see numerous other wildlife species.

Participatory Camping:  Gardiner Yellowstone RV Park (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Even though this is your last day in Yellowstone there's still plenty of time to enjoy the wildlife, landscapes and geothermal activity away from the usual tourist sites. As you leave the crowds behind you'll be treated to a hike to the Upper and Lower Yellowstone Falls, the latter of which has the highest volume of water in the American Rockies and is almost twice as high as Niagara. You'll also visit the Mammoth Hot Springs which literally feels like being on another planet.

Participartory camping:  Gardiner Yellowstone RV Park (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today you'll be leaving the borders of Yellowstone but there'll be no let-up with the incredible landscapes surrounding you. As you enter the realms of the mighty Tetons you'll no doubt be aware that you're in the presence of some quite formidable giants. The drama unfolds almost instantly after crossing the border into the Grand Teton National Park. An optional ferry journey across Jenny Lake takes you to the start of a climb to Inspiration Point where you'll be able to catch your breath and take in some absolutely scintillating views. You have the option of following the river and continuing further on your hike in the hopes of spotting moose which are commonly noted on this trail.

Next stop is Jackson Hole which is regarded as one of Wyoming's premier ski resorts as well as being a haven for walkers and lovers of the great outdoors. Take a short walk to Rock Springs Overlook and opt for an incredibly scenic aerial tram ride. This completes your first day in the Grand Tetons and as you settle down for the night you'll be pleased to know that there are plenty more adventures left in store for tomorrow.

Optional Activities:
• Aerial Tram US$23
• Western Saloons US$varies
• Bar J Chuckwagon Dinner in Jackson US$24-$34

Participartory camping:  Snake River KOA (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Using all of the knowledge and hiking expertise that you've garnered throughout your time away you'll be able to undertake a self-guided hike to numerous scenic spots which your tour leader will explain to you. The park is perfect for seeing those all-important, breathtaking vistas and with excellent views of the Tetons as well as the chance to spot bison, moose, elk and deer, this is one of the best areas to make the most of the great outdoors. As the sun goes down you'll no doubt be able to look back over the previous 11 days as some of the most worthwhile and fulfilling times that you've ever had.

NOTE: The National Park Service regulates guided hikes in Grand Teton National Park and it is not possible for your leader to accompany you today.

Optional Activities:
• Ferry across Jenny Lake US$15

Participatory Camping:  Snake River KOA (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Enjoy some free time exploring Jackson this morning before transferring to the base of the Wasatch Mountains and the urban delights of the Mormon capital of Utah, Salt Lake City.

The tour will end this afternoon at our gateway hotel at approximately 5.00pm. We can book you post-tour accommodation at our gateway hotel if required. If you are planning to fly tonight, please do not book a flight that departs before 9.00pm.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch