National Parks Wonders (201213)

Your Travel Includes:
Airport transfers on days 1 and 8Twin-bedded rooms in hotels listed or similar; hotel taxes, service charges and tips for baggage handlingWelcome Reception with appetizers and wine7 breakfasts (B) and 4 dinners (D), including a Highlight Dinner with wine (HD), a "You're Personally Invited" dinner (PI), a Farewell Dinner with wine (FD)Services of a professional Tour DirectorLocal Yellowstone ExpertPrivate luxury motorcoach with reclining seats, air conditioning and restroom facilitiesSightseeing, special features and scenic highlights as indicated in the itinerary, including admission charges Brendan provides headsets for included sightseeing, so you can easily hear your guide's commentaryPortfolio of travel documentsSouvenir group photo

Day 1: Arrive in Salt Lake City
Welcome to Salt Lake City! A complimentary transfer is provided to the tour hotel where your Tour Director will be on hand to greet you. At 6 p.m., gather at the hotel with your Tour Director and fellow travelers for a Welcome Reception.

Day 2: Salt Lake City / Jackson
Heading north into Idaho, trace the footsteps of the pioneers at the Oregon Trail Center in Montpelier. Through interactive exhibits, you'll travel vicariously with a covered wagon train in America's great western migration and experience the thrills and challenges of the old Oregon Trail. Then cross into Wyoming on your way to Jackson, standing in the shadows of the icy peaks of the Grand Tetons. Get spectacular views of the Snake River Valley and Grand Teton National Park on an aerial tram ride to the summit of Rendezvous Mountain. (B)

Day 3: Grand Teton National Park Excursion
If you like, hit the water this morning on an optional guided float trip down the Snake River (seasonal). Then on to spend the day discovering the glories of Grand Teton National Park with its snow-capped mountains, pristine alpine lakes and evergreen forests. From Jenny Lake to the jagged peaks of the Teton Range, you'll find exhilarating vistas everywhere you look. And keep your eyes open for some of the area's abundant wildlife, including moose, elk, bison and beavers. Overhead, watch for majestic bald eagles, graceful blue herons and the dozens of species of songbirds that call the park their home. This evening, join your Tour Director and travel companions for a Highlight Dinner at a favorite restaurant in the heart of Jackson. (B,HD)

Day 4: Jackson / Yellowstone National Park
On to Yellowstone, established in 1872 as the world's first national park. You could spend a year in Yellowstone and still only scratch the surface of its wonders. Explore the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone with its waterfalls, and look out for bison, elk and bears traveling through Hayden Valley. Watch in wonder as Old Faithful's waters arc nearly 130 feet into the air, as it has about every hour at least since the Washburn Expedition discovered it in 1870. Take a guided walk with a Local Expert among the spouting geysers, bubbling mudpots and turquoise hot springs and learn about the geothermal dynamics of this amazing wonderland. Before retiring for the night, be sure to step out and take in the great panorama of stars. (B,D)

Day 5: Yellowstone National Park / Cody / Sheridan
Head north to the town of Cody, named for its most famous native son, Buffalo Bill. Get a glimpse into the fascinating history of the American West at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center where you can delve into the culture of the cowboy, the role of the firearm in the opening of the West to settlers and the culture and art of the Plains Indians. This evening, enjoy true western hospitality with a “You're Personally Invited” Dinner experience hosted by photographer and Sheridan native Diana Volk. Volk welcomes you to her private ranch, home to a herd of buffalo, deer and horses, and shares tips on photographing wildlife and scenery in this spectacular region. Then, relish western entertainment and a feast of western grub served family style, with teepees and the Big Horn Mountains as your photogenic backdrop. (B,PI)

Day 6: Sheridan / Deadwood / Rapid City
Proclaimed by Theodore Roosevelt in 1906 as America's first national monument, the majestic Devil's Tower rises nearly 1,300 feet above the Belle Fourche River in eastern Wyoming. You might recognize the iconic monolith from the climactic scenes of the movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind. After exploring the area around the eroded core of this ancient volcano, head into the Black Hills of South Dakota and the boomtown of Deadwood, which arose after the discovery of gold in the 1870s. Explore the town on a private trolley tour and learn a bit about its founding, expansion and decline from your entertaining guide. Journey on to Rapid City, where you have the option of visiting Mount Rushmore this evening to see its magical nightly illumination ceremony. (B)

Day 7: Black Hills Sightseeing
Discover more of the natural and manmade wonders of the Black Hills with a drive through stunning scenery to see Crazy Horse Memorial, a massive mountain carving of the famed war chief of the Oglala people. Next, visit Mount Rushmore, designed by sculptor Gutzon Borglum to celebrate the “founding, expansion, preservation and unification of the United States” through enormous carvings of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. This afternoon is yours to explore Rapid City as you please. If you like, embark on an optional excursion into the Badlands of South Dakota. This evening, raise a glass of wine to your Tour Director and fellow travel companions at a festive Farewell Dinner. (B,FD)

Day 8: Sheridan / Depart Rapid City
Bid farewell to your traveling companions and take a complimentary transfer to Rapid City Airport. (B)

Touring Date	Land Only	Land + Air	Single (Land Only)	Single (Land + Air)
5/20/2012 - 5/27/2012	$1,850
5/27/2012 - 6/3/2012	$1,850
6/3/2012 - 6/10/2012	$1,850
6/10/2012 - 6/17/2012	$1,850
6/24/2012 - 7/1/2012	$1,950
7/8/2012 - 7/15/2012	$1,950
7/22/2012 - 7/29/2012	$1,950
7/29/2012 - 8/5/2012	$1,950
8/12/2012 - 8/19/2012	$1,950
8/19/2012 - 8/26/2012	$1,950
8/26/2012 - 9/2/2012	$1,950
9/2/2012 - 9/9/2012	$1,950
9/9/2012 - 9/16/2012	$1,950
9/16/2012 - 9/23/2012	$1,950
9/23/2012 - 9/30/2012	$1,950
Note: Departures appearing above in green are guaranteed to operate by the tour operator.
Airfare Disclaimer A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link. Documents TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.

Experience the great National Parks of North America on an 8 day Escorted Vacation. Begin in Salt Lake City and venture through the American Landscape visiting Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park, Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial on your journey. Highlights also include overnight stays in Jackson and Sheridan in Wyoming and Rapid City in Utah.

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