National Parks of the Northwest
National Parks of the Northwest
$2834
National Parks of the Northwest
10 Days Starting in Salt Lake City, USA and ending in Calgary, Canada
Visiting: Salt Lake City, Yellowstone National Park, Helena, Kalispell, Glacier National Park, Waterton Lakes National Park, Calgary
Tour operator:
Tour code:
8710-2025
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Tour operated in:
EnglishInterests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Immerse yourself in the beauty and wonder of nature as you travel to four magnificent national parks in two countries, on this National Parks of the Northwest tour. Experience the splendor of Grand Teton National Park with its soaring peaks and pristine lakes. Be amazed by the variety of natural wonders in the world’s oldest national park, Yellowstone. At over two million acres, it is home to the most active and diverse collection of geothermal features and half the world’s active geysers, including the most famous, Old Faithful. Watching it erupt is a sight you won’t soon forget! See thundering Yellowstone Falls at the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone and view abundant wildlife. The park is home to herds of bison, elk, moose, black bear, grizzly bear, fox, and wolves. Discover Glacier National Park, a showcase of melting glaciers, alpine meadows, and sparkling lakes. Take a guided tour in a vintage Red Jammer bus and travel on breathtaking Going-to-the-Sun Road to the top of Logan Pass for spectacular views of the valley below. Enter Canada and stay in Waterton Lakes National Park, one of the most beautiful destinations in the Canadian Rockies with captivating scenes in every direction. Between park visits, stop at Smokejumper’s Visitor Center and learn how brave firefighters parachute into the forests to put out wildfires and visit Earthquake Lake Visitor Center to learn how the strongest earthquake in the Rocky Mountains moved 80 million tons of rock in less than a minute to create the lake. You’ll also visit Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to learn about the Indigenous people and their relationship with the herds of buffalo that roamed the area. Stunning scenery with majestic mountains, crystal clear lakes, and wonderous wildlife await you on this value-minded adventure!
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Salt Lake City
Location: Salt Lake City
Accommodation Name: Crystal Inn & Suites
Welcome to Salt Lake City! Your Tour Director is on hand late this afternoon to answer any questions.
Day 2: Salt Lake City,Jackson
Location: Salt Lake City
Accommodation Name: 49er Inn and Suites
Meals Included: Breakfast
Start the day with a sightseeing tour of Salt Lake City, Utah’s capital, and center of the Mormon religion. Highlights include seeing Temple Square, the Capitol Building and downtown. Then head north to the Wild West town of Jackson, with its wooden sidewalks and streets lined with shops, galleries, and restaurants. This afternoon, go with the flow on a fun and scenic optional float trip on the Snake River keeping an eye out for eagles above and for wildlife along the shore. This evening, take a stroll into town.
Day 3: Jackson,Grand Teton National Park,Yellowstone National Park,West Yellowstone
Location: Yellowstone National Park
Accommodation Name: Brandin Iron Inn
Meals Included: Breakfast
Enter majestic Grand Teton National Park, rich with scenic vistas and pristine lakes. Visit beautiful Jenny Lake that sits at the base of Cascade Canyon, looking for moose, fox, deer, and black bears along the way. Then drive north to West Yellowstone where you will spend the next two nights. Walk the Fountain Paint Pot Trail to see these curious and colorful hydrothermal wonders there.
Day 4: West Yellowstone. Day Excursion To Yellowstone National Park
Location: Yellowstone National Park
Accommodation Name: Brandin Iron Inn
Meals Included: Breakfast
Spend the day exploring all the wonders of Yellowstone National Park, the world’s first national park established in 1872. See world-famous Old Faithful Geyser, Mammoth Hot Springs, and the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. Keep a lookout for the parks abundant wildlife that includes moose, bison, elk, deer, bighorn sheep, wolf, bear, fox, and coyote.
Day 5: West Yellowstone,Virginia City,Helena
Location: Helena
Accommodation Name: Baymont Inn & Suites Helena
Meals Included: Breakfast
Head north to Helena. Stop at Earthquake Lake Visitor Center to learn about the 7.5 earthquake that moved more than eighty million tons of rock in less than a minute and created Earthquake Lake. Then get a taste of the original Old West with a stop in Virginia City, site of the richest placer gold strike in the Rocky Mountains. Continue to Helena and upon arrival visit their beautiful State Capitol.
Day 6: Helena,Missoula,Kalispell
Location: Kalispell
Accommodation Name: Red Lion Hotel Kalispell
Meals Included: Breakfast
Head north to Missoula and visit the Smokejumper’s Visitor Center, home to the largest smokejumper base in the country, to learn about the brave firefighters who risk their lives parachuting into the site of forest fires. Late afternoon arrival in Kalispell.
Day 7: Kalispell. Day Trip To Glacier National Park
Location: Glacier National Park
Accommodation Name: Red Lion Hotel Kalispell
Meals Included: Breakfast
Spend the day at gorgeous Glacier National Park. Take a scenic ride aboard a vintage Red Jammer bus and drive one of North America’s most spectacular highways, Going-to-the-Sun Road. Scale 6,664-foot-high Logan Pass and enjoy a wonderland of alpine scenery and breathtaking mountain peaks.
Day 8: Kalispell,Waterton Lakes National Park
Location: Waterton Lakes National Park
Accommodation Name: Waterton Lakes Lodge Resort
Meals Included: Breakfast
Cross into Canada and enter Waterton Lakes National Park where the wilderness of Alberta’s prairies meets the natural beauty of the Canadian Rockies. You’ll overnight in the park, which is brimming with diverse landscapes, crystal clear lakes, cascading waterfalls, and towering mountain peaks. Tonight, things are looking up with an optional Dark Sky Stargazing excursion, if the heavens and weather permit.
Day 9: Waterton Lakes National Park,Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump,Calgary
Location: Calgary
Accommodation Name: Sandman Signature Calgary Downtown Hotel
Visit Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and learn about the longtime relationship between the Indigenous People and the vast herds of buffalo that roamed the plains. Arrive in Calgary and take a city tour with highlights that include Stampede Park, the Saddledome, Fort Calgary, and Canada Olympic Park. The remainder of the day is at leisure.
Day 10: Calgary
Location: Calgary
Your vacation ends this morning.
What's Included
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Accommodation
Stay at various hotels including Crystal Inn & Suites in Salt Lake City, 49er Inn and Suites in Jackson, Brandin Iron Inn in West Yellowstone, Baymont Inn & Suites Helena, Red Lion Hotel Kalispell, Waterton Lakes Lodge Resort in Waterton Lakes Park, and Sandman Signature Calgary Downtown Hotel in Calgary.
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Meals
Daily breakfast is included.
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Sightseeing Tours
Sightseeing tours in Salt Lake City, Jackson, Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone National Park, Virginia City, Helena, Missoula, Glacier National Park, Waterton Lakes National Park, and Calgary.
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Tour Director
A Tour Director is available to answer any questions and guide you throughout the tour.
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Transportation
Transportation between destinations is included.
What's Not Included
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Optional Activities
Optional activities such as the float trip on the Snake River and the Dark Sky Stargazing excursion are not included.
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Personal Expenses
Personal expenses such as souvenirs, additional meals, and tips are not included.
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Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is not included and is recommended to be purchased separately.
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Flights
Flights to and from the starting and ending locations are not included.
Notes
This itinerary enters both the US and Canada.Extend your vacation with departures that connect with our Heart of the Canadian Rockies Tour (8910) or our Western Canada by Rail Tour (8930), both with/without Alaska cruise options.Maximum elevation on tour: 9,033 ft.
UNESCO Sites
Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump|Waterton Glacier International Peace Park|Yellowstone National Park
Accommodation
Salt Lake City:Crystal Inn & SuitesJackson:49er Inn and SuitesWest Yellowstone:Brandin Iron InnHelena:Baymont Inn & Suites HelenaKalispell:Red Lion Hotel KalispellWaterton Lakes Park:Waterton Lakes Lodge ResortCalgary:Sandman Signature Calgary Downtown Hotel
Meals
7 Breakfasts
Check out our Q&As
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What kind of wildlife can I expect to see during the tour?
During the tour, you can expect to see a variety of wildlife including moose, fox, deer, black bears, eagles, bison, elk, bighorn sheep, wolves, and coyotes.
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Are there any optional activities available during the tour?
Yes, there are optional activities available during the tour. For example, on Day 2, you can go on a scenic float trip on the Snake River. On Day 8, there is an optional Dark Sky Stargazing excursion in Waterton Lakes National Park, weather permitting.
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What are some of the key attractions visited in Yellowstone National Park?
In Yellowstone National Park, you will visit key attractions such as the Old Faithful Geyser, Mammoth Hot Springs, and the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.
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What is the significance of Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump?
Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump is a UNESCO World Heritage Site where you can learn about the longtime relationship between the Indigenous People and the vast herds of buffalo that roamed the plains.
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What kind of transportation is used in Glacier National Park?
In Glacier National Park, you will take a scenic ride aboard a vintage Red Jammer bus and drive along the Going-to-the-Sun Road.
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What is the maximum elevation reached during the tour?
The maximum elevation reached during the tour is 9,033 feet.
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What can I expect to see at the Earthquake Lake Visitor Center?
At the Earthquake Lake Visitor Center, you will learn about the 7.5 earthquake that moved more than eighty million tons of rock in less than a minute and created Earthquake Lake.
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What are some of the highlights of the city tour in Calgary?
The city tour in Calgary includes highlights such as Stampede Park, the Saddledome, Fort Calgary, and Canada Olympic Park.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 1961
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Cosmos is committed to minimizing our impact on the environment and to reducing dependence on non-renewable resources. In this endeavor, we have implemented policies to support this mission and are working carefully to enhance our products with this mission and our values combined. We are committed to complying with all relevant legislation and/or regulations.
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Travel documents, including any air tickets, itineraries, and other information, are available approximately two to three weeks prior to departure provided full payment has been received.
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
All guests are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 for travel through February, 2023. Beginning March 1, 2023, while we highly recommend vaccination, we will no longer require it. We ask all guests to comply with airline and destination requirements, which still may apply. To check your destination requirements for your travel dates, view the Latest Travel & Health Restrictions for Travel.
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Low Deposit
Cosmos requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of cosmos charges.
Up to 91 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 90 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 80% of booking price.
At 1 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.