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Glacier, Yellowstone & Jackson

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4.5 stars(12 reviews)
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Your 10-day adventure through Big Sky Country includes the best of the Old West with visits to Jackson Hole, Grand Teton National Park, Big Sky Country, Yellowstone National Park, and Glacier National Park.

You are viewing the 2023 itinerary. Select your departure year
20232024
10 days From $4,195 per person
Travel among a group of like-minded travelers led by a professional tour manager

2023 Tour code: RM-NPBA-23

About the tour

Get set for a 10-day rail tour through America's Wild West. Beginning in Chicago, board the Empire Builder for the overnight journey west to Montana. Arrive in East Glacier, MT, at the edge of Glacier National Park, where a highlight of your stay will be a Red Jammer tour of Glacier National Park.

Continue to Great Falls, for an immersion in the area's history and nature, first at the Charles Russel Museum, then at the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center. Next, visit Helena, Montana's state capital. Relax on a cruise through the Gates of the Mountains and enjoy a trip to dinner on a horse wagon. Then it's time for a two-night stay in West Yellowstone, MT, with time to explore America's first national park brimming with natural wonders. Travel by coach to Jackson, gateway to Grand Teton National Park and a quintessential cowboy town, complete with wooden plank sidewalks and saloons. Take a float trip on the Snake River through Grand Teton National Park for a new perspective of the mountains and wildlife. This trip through Big Sky Country shows off the west's natural wonders, rich history, and roaming wildlife.

 

Highlights

Activity level Natural Explorer

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You don’t mind spending the day on your feet. You enjoy sightseeing that includes walking, standing or stair climbing. You’re okay with longer days that are more active, such as multiple sightseeing stops, longer motorcoach journeys and getting on and off ships and trains.

What’s included

Itinerary

Day 1 - Depart Chicago aboard the Empire Builder

Arrive at Chicago Union Station and board the Empire Builder. Settle into your onboard accommodations and prepare for your overnight rail journey. Travelers may elect to travel from Seattle or points in-between and meet your tour manager in Glacier National Park. Overnight train.

Day 2 - En Route to Glacier National Park

Spend the day admiring the sights from the train's glass-walled Sightseer Lounge and chatting with your fellow travelers. Upon arrival in East Glacier, transfer to your hotel. Overnight Glacier National Park, MT.

Day 3 - Glacier National Park

Embark on a half-day tour of one of America's most beloved national parks, Glacier. A highlight of the visit is a journey along the Going-to-the-Sun Road. Traverse this famous highway aboard vintage open-air Red Jammer buses, traveling over the Continental Divide at Logan Pass. Overnight Glacier National Park, MT. 

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4 - Charles Russell Museum

Charles Russel is renowned for his artwork depicting the 1800's in the Old West. Today we visit the C.M. Russell Museum complex, which includes a museum to collect and preserve his paintings and sketches, Russell's original home, and his log studio. Overnight Great Falls, MT.

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 5 – Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center

Step back in time to Lewis & Clark's famous expedition with exhibits that showcase the explorers' path. Learn about challenges they faced on their trek, the experiences they had in the Great Falls area, and the indigenous people they met. This evening, travel to the log cabin Last Chance Ranch in a horse-drawn wagon for your dinner and cowboy entertainment. Overnight Helena, MT. 

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6 – Gates of the Mountains Cruise

This morning, enjoy a cruise through the beautiful Gates of the Mountains, nestled between Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks. Enjoy the heart of Montana as you take in the stunning scenery. Next, make the scenic drive from Helena to West Yellowstone. MT.  The day's drive takes you through parts of the country seen in famous movies including "Dances with Wolves."  Overnight West Yellowstone, MT. 

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 7 - Yellowstone National Park Touring

Experience the grandeur of America's first national park, Yellowstone, home to the world's most vast region of geothermal activity, including thousands of hot springs and fumaroles that dot the landscape. Today's full-day guided tour showcases some of Yellowstone's most impressive sites including Tower Falls, Tower Junction, Artist Point, the Upper and Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River, and Old Faithful. Overnight West Yellowstone, MT.

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 8 - Grand Teton National Park

Discover the splendor of Grand Teton National Park. Highlights include the Colter Bay Visitor Center, Jenny Lake, and the Chapel of Transfiguration. There will be a stop at the Mural Room at Jackson Lake Lodge for lunch on your own; then we continue our drive to Jackson Hole, the quintessential cowboy town. Select departures* will include an evening excursion to the Jackson Hole Rodeo, where you can watch the cowboys and cowgirls put on a dazzling western show. Overnight Jackson, WY.

*August 28 and September 11 departures will visit the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center in lieu of the rodeo

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 9 - Snake River Float Trip

This morning's excursion takes us on a float trip along the Snake River. As you wind through Grand Teton National Park, keep an eye out for elk and other wildlife indigenous to the area. The afternoon is at leisure to explore Jackson as you like. Enjoy a chuckwagon dinner this evening. Overnight Jackson, WY. 

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 10 - Tour Conclusion

Your Western adventure concludes after breakfast this morning. A group transfer to the Jackson Hole International Airport will accommodate flights departing after 11:00 a.m.

Includes
  • Breakfast

Additional information

Departure times

Departure times vary based on selected rail vacation. This information will be provided in your final documents. For more information please speak with your rail specialist.

Mobility information

Due to the nature of our tours they are generally unsuitable for those with restricted mobility. If you’d like to discuss any particular vacation with us in this respect, then please don’t hesitate to call us.

Hotels

Glacier Park Lodge, East Glacier Park

Glacier Park Lodge, East Glacier Park

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Best Western Premier Helena Great Northern Hotel, Helena

Best Western Premier Helena Great Northern Hotel, Helena

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Rustic Inn Creekside Resort & Spa, Jackson

Rustic Inn Creekside Resort & Spa, Jackson

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West Yellowstone Club House Inn

West Yellowstone Club House Inn, West Yellowstone

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Train

Amtrak's Empire Builder

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Reviews

4.5 stars4.5 / 5 · 12 reviews

  1. 5 stars
    (6)
  2. 4 stars
    (6)
  3. 3 stars
    (0)
  4. 2 stars
    (0)
  5. 1 star
    (0)

VICKI DIANE CUNNINGHAM

5 stars

Submitted 10 Sep 2022

Wonderful trip! Our tour guide and driver were excellent and the itinerary diverse and beautiful.

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KATHY PEARSON

4 stars

Submitted 02 Sep 2022

The train ride itself was horrible. After exciting the train in Glacier the trip was beautiful.

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JAMES A CALANDRA

5 stars

Submitted 30 Aug 2022

GREAT TRIP. JIM IS THE BEST!!! JIM CALANDRA

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KAREN SHEPARD

5 stars

Submitted 29 Aug 2022

Our tour guide Jim was excellent! Our bus driver Floyd knew the area well and the best times to avoid traffic. We would definitely recommend this tour.

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SUSAN FRANKLIN

5 stars

Submitted 29 Aug 2022

Easy trip. Everything was pre-arranged. We didn’t have to handle the luggage or any transportation. The tour guide gym was outstanding. The bus driver Floyd was also outstanding.

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June

4 stars

Submitted 29 Aug 2022

The Parks were awesome.And I couldn’t pick a favorite they all had breath taking scenery. We are so lucky to have these wonderful areas to pass on to future generation. Chicago was worth the extra night stay it’s a fabulous city with lots to offer and the people were so friendly! Way to Chicago!!

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