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Wyoming's Cowboy Culture, Geology & Wildlife

Yellowstone & Grand Tetons Wildlife Walking Tour

6 DaysStarting at $6,625
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Overview

When an early explorer described Wyoming’s wild wonders, people proclaimed them ‘tall tales’ and declared him delirious. But Wyoming truly is as fantastical as it sounds. Volcanoes sculpt this ever-changing scenery, where plains of bubbling geysers and technicolor springs merge into wildflower meadows, pine forests and sky scraping peaks. The wildlife is as jaw-dropping as the landscape—from grazing elk to howling wolves, and prowling grizzlies to soaring bald eagles. Lasso in rich the cowboy culture only found in the true Wild West, and you have yourself a week so unforgettable, folk back home might think you’re telling ‘tall tales’ too.

Classic Journeys provides unbeatable access to experiences around the globe.”
Travel + Leisure

Itinerary Highlights

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• Explore the best spots in Grand Teton National Park, including Ox Bow Bend, Signal Mountain lookout and Jenny Lake

• Float down the cinematic Snake River on a leisurely raft ride

• Spot active local wildlife with your expert guide from perfect vantage points

• Step into a real-life Ansel Adams landscape in Yellowstone's Grand Canyon 

• Walk cinematic canyon trails that lead to a 300-foot thundering waterfall

• Follow riverside footpaths that reveal cutthroat trout, elk, grizzly and black bear

• Come face to face with Old Faithful, the most famous geyser in the world

• Marvel at the bubbling mud, the vivid colors of the Hot Springs, and the hiss of the steam vents a Mammoth Hot Springs

• Stroll through glacier-carved Lamar Valley on a curated nature walk

Download Full Daily Itinerary

Map

  • Starting Point:

    Jackson Hole – 11:30 am – Lobby of Rustic Inn

  • Ending Point:

    Belgrade – 11:00 am – Bozeman Airport
Itinerary Map

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Walking Level

  • Daily Mileage Options: 2-8 miles

  • Route Notes:

    The terrain on this trip includes a mix of paved streets in Jackson and Bozeman; as well as a variety of well-maintained mountain, countryside, riverside, and canyon trails of compressed dirt and stone. The footpaths offer a selection of level, rolling and hilly terrain with elevation gain and loss.
To See Mileage Daily, Download Full Itinerary

Dates & Prices

The earlier you book, the more choice you’ll have and the lower your price. And you can always change your mind — you won’t be charged to transfer to a different trip before your final payment is due. Talk with one of our travel experts at 800-200-3887.

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Family Departure

Select our “Family Departure” to travel with other families.

Hotels

We spend years cultivating personal relationships with our hoteliers to provide you thoughtfully selected accommodations that reveal the true character of the region. Here is a sampling of our favorite hotels on this tour. 

Rustic Inn Creekside Resort & Spa

Named a top 5 resort in Wyoming in Travel + Leisure’s 2023 World’s Best Awards, the 4-star lodge sits on 12 acres and offers a full-service spa, outdoor pool, hot tub and sauna. Enjoy seasonal fire-pits, a wetlands walk, and access to downtown Jackson.

Explorer Cabins at Yellowstone

Located in the heart of West Yellowstone, Explorer Cabins is just minutes from the park’s West Entrance and a short drive from Old Faithful. Enjoy this charming retreat’s modern amenities, relax by the fireplace, and soak in nature’s views from your porch.

What’s Included

  • Meals: All breakfasts, one lunch, and five dinners.
  • Hotels: Award-winning boutique properties, thoughtfully selected for their exceptional location, design, history, and regional character.
  • Tour Leader(s): Expert guides who are your well-connected local friends and provide you access to people and places you wouldn’t find on your own.
  • Supplemental Experts: Additional regional guides and specialists on select tours.
  • Transportation: All land transportation as listed in the daily itinerary, including fares for trains, ferries, and other modes of travel.
  • Privileged Access Events:: One-of-a-kind access to remarkable people, places, and experiences arranged just for you, as noted in the daily itinerary.
  • Admissions & Entry Fees: Entry to tastings, historic sites, and other scheduled activities listed in the daily itinerary.
  • Baggage Transfers: Upon arrival, we whisk you and your bags directly to your room—no waiting, no tipping.
  • Gratuities: All gratuities at hotels, restaurants, and for baggage handling.
  • Dedicated Guest Services Coordinator: Your pre-trip concierge and tour expert, available to answer questions and ensure you’re fully ready to get the most out of your tour.
  • Equipment: Premium gear and expert guides for kayaking, rafting, glacial hiking, and snorkeling as outlined in the daily itinerary on select tours.
Not Included: Tour Leader gratuities, travel to and from your trip’s start and end points, and any meals or activities taken independently.

Why Choose Classic Journeys

Travel + Leisure has awarded Classic Journeys the #1 World’s Best Tour Operator multiple times and says, “Classic Journeys provides unbeatable access to experiences around the globe.” Here’s what that access means for you.
  • Experience the world on foot and at eye level. Each day, join your guide on the most cinematic footpaths in the region.
  • Exceptional full-time local guides who become your well-connected friend. Our amazing guides are with you throughout each day of the tour, share their lifelong connections as well as engaging anecdotes about the history and culture of the region.
  • Small groups that provide you unrivaled access. An average of fewer than 10 guests per departure means we can offer you special access to sites like Stonehenge so you experience the stone circle when it’s closed to the general public, a guided visit to Zion Narrows that other companies cannot arrange because of larger group sizes, and vineyard walks with a count and countess in Tuscany.
  • Award-winning hotels are waiting for you at the end of every day. Luxuriate in the finest and most distinctive accommodations in the region you’re exploring, including rainforest lodges, 16th century villas, and award-winning properties that show up on World’s Best and Gold lists.
  • Eat like (and with) the locals. Food is a foolproof way into the hearts, homes and history of the places you visit with us. From gourmet picnics to coveted local restaurants, our meals offer you opportunities to explore native food traditions and fine dining.
  • Handcrafted itineraries with all activities included. With our long-term friendships, we know our walking tour regions more personally than anyone else. So you get thoughtfully curated itineraries that combine explorations of the villages, organic farms, archeological sites and the people who know them best.
  • Sustainable travel that supports the places you’re visiting. We put our local currency into the pockets of the people who live where we travel. It’s your guarantee that you’ll have authentic, up-close experiences on your trip. Best of all, our person-to-person approach helps sustain their ways of life.

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FAQs

Why is Classic Journeys the best tour company for Yellowstone & Grand Tetons tours?
When you join a Classic Journeys tour, you’re welcomed into a small group guided by expert locals—your well-connected friends—who know every trail and wildlife hideaway. You walk and explore cinematic landscapes and encounter artisans and ranchers along the way. Each day is handcrafted with privileged access, seamless logistics, and genuine care for the parks and their communities.
What does the Classic Journeys itinerary include?
The Classic Journeys walking tour itinerary covers Yellowstone’s greatest hits—Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Mammoth Hot Springs, and the prime wildlife viewing in Lamar and Hayden Valleys. In Grand Teton, you’ll wander Jenny Lake’s scenic trails, explore Oxbow Bend, and soak in the Western charm of Jackson Hole. Set out on scenic walks and enjoy time with local storytellers who bring every place to life, on foot at eye level with your expert guide leading the way.
When is the best time to visit Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park?
Visiting from June through September highlights the region’s abundant flora and fauna, capturing the rugged wilderness of these incredible National Parks in full bloom. For fewer crowds, early autumn (September) is ideal—the parks glow with wildlife and natural wonders, and your walks feel blissfully peaceful.
How active is the Yellowstone trip?
Most days feature easy to moderate walking—think geyser basin boardwalks, lakeside trails, and scenic overlooks —for about 2-8 miles a day. Your expert guide will adjust each walk to suit the group when possible, so it’s as relaxed or adventurous as you like. Families and multigenerational groups find plenty of flexibility and shared moments, from wildlife spotting to lakeside picnics.
What wildlife viewing can I expect in Lamar Valley and Hayden Valley?
You can expect to see bison herds, elk, moose, pronghorn, grizzly and black bears, and even wolves, especially in Lamar and Hayden Valleys. Your well-connected guides know the best times and lookout points, using their keen eyes and local insight to maximize wildlife encounters—all while ensuring you’re safe and respectful of the parks’ natural rhythms.
How many guests are in each small group on your Yellowstone & Grand Tetons tour?
Classic Journeys tours are always small groups—usually 8 to 12 guests per departure—so you enjoy intimate walks, personalized attention, and a deeper connection with your local guide and fellow travelers. Our small groups offer ‘only with Classic Journeys access’ that larger groups are unable to experience.
How long is the Classic Journeys Yellowstone & Grand Tetons tour, what are the start/end points?
The Yellowstone & Grand Tetons tour runs 6 days and 5 nights, starting in Jackson Hole, Wyoming and ending in Bozeman, Montana. Every logistics detail is handled for you, from expert local guides to seamless park transfers, for a memorable trip our west.
How does Classic Journeys’ Yellowstone & Grand Tetons itinerary compare with other operators?
Unlike standard group tours, Classic Journeys lets you walk further and see more in small group comfort, guided by local friends who unlock experiences other travelers miss. You’ll enjoy privileged access events, culinary moments, and flexible days—never herded, always immersed. It’s the most genuine way to experience Yellowstone and Grand Teton.