New Year’s in Yellowstone
Tour Description
NPCA is proud to once again present this favored holiday travel opportunity. Winter in Yellowstone National Park is a revelation. Cold-weather explorers enjoy unparalleled opportunities to watch and photograph wildlife and the transformed snowy landscapes of the world’s first national park. Come celebrate the new year NPCA style—surrounded by the majesty of Yellowstone’s most splendid season.
ParkScapes Highlights
Wildlife Watching
Blanketed in snow, Yellowstone comes alive with wildlife—coyotes, eagles, elk, wolves, and huge herds of bison. Watch through binoculars and spotting scopes with knowledgeable naturalists. Learn how the reintroduction of the wolves has altered the interactions of all Yellowstone wildlife.
The Quiet Season
Discover the magic of winter in Yellowstone. Enjoy strolling through the heart of the park past steaming geysers and snowshoeing through pine forests.
Superior Guides
Extraordinary naturalists will show you rarely seen sights. They know where to find the wildlife and can share stories of their unique experiences in this park. Learn about park issues from local NPCA staff, and be entertained by a Yellowstone historian’s stories of early park explorers and visitors.
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Tour Map
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Daily Itinerary
December 28: Bozeman, Montana, to Yellowstone National Park
Meet your guides this afternoon in Bozeman for the drive to Yellowstone National Park. On the way, pass through the scenic Paradise Valley along the Yellowstone River, flanked by the 11,000-foot peaks of the Absaroka Range. Dinner includes a brief orientation on the week ahead. Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel (D)
December 29: Lamar Valley, Yellowstone National Park
After an early breakfast, depart for a dramatic drive through the remote Lamar Valley in the northeast corner of Yellowstone. This is home to many of the wolves now roaming the park. We arrive at daybreak for the best opportunities to see the wolves. A wildlife biologist will provide in-depth background on their successful and controversial reintroduction in 1995. Learn how other animals have adjusted to their presence. The wildlife viewing in the Lamar Valley is incredible, with vast herds of elk and bison, bighorn sheep, and coyote heading the list. Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel (B,L,D)
December 30: Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park
Start your morning with a visit to the Albright Visitor Center and a lively discussion with a park historian. Explore the marvelous and ever-changing limestone terraces of Mammoth Hot Springs. After lunch, try cross-country skiing or snowshoeing with your naturalist guides. Learn how to track wildlife along snowy trails. Equipment can be rented from the hotel. Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel (B,L,D)
December 31: Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Yellowstone National Park
After breakfast, climb aboard heated snowcoaches for a 50-mile trip to Old Faithful and the Upper Geyser Basin. On the way, we stop at the colorful Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone for amazing views of frozen waterfalls. After checking into the newly rebuilt Old Faithful Snow Lodge, gather for special New Year’s Eve festivities and dinner. If conditions are favorable, we strike out after midnight for the Old Faithful Geyser and witness its first eruption of the New Year! Old Faithful Snow Lodge (B,L,D)
January 1, 2010: Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park
Today is all about geysers! In addition to Old Faithful, guides will point out fumaroles, mudpots, and brilliantly colored hot pools. Wander the Upper Geyser Basin, home to many of the park’s 10,000 thermal features, including most of its geysers, with names like Castle, Beehive, Lion, and Grotto. See the famous Morning Glory Pool, as well as Beauty Pool, Crested Pool, and Chinaman Spring. Snow is packed down so that you can walk over the boardwalks. In the afternoon, you may cross-country ski or snowshoe on trails around the Old Faithful area, or curl up with a cup of tea and a good book at the lodge. Old Faithful Snow Lodge (B,L,D)
January 2: Norris Geyser Basin to Paradise Valley, Montana
On your final full day in the glorious Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, travel by snowcoach from Old Faithful north to Mammoth along the famed Firehole River. Perhaps you will catch a glimpse of a dipper or water ouzel, or maybe a trumpeter swan. Wander through Norris Geyser Basin, the hottest and most active geyser basin in the world, complete with its icy “ghost trees” in winter. At day’s end, enjoy a soak in the outdoor hot springs pool, followed by a festive farewell dinner. Chico Hot Springs (B,L,D)
January 3: Chico Hot Springs to Bozeman Departure
Flights home from Bozeman’s Gallatin Field after noon. (B)
Note: Be prepared to walk on snow-covered trails. Much of the wildlife watching will be done close to the van or snow coach. Snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are optional.
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Tour Details
NPCA Member Price
$2,450 per person double occupancy; $495 single supplement.
Price Includes
Airport transfers, transportation during the journey, all accommodations, meals specified in the itinerary (B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, and D-Dinner), professional guide services, park and other entrance fees, and miscellaneous program expenses.
Price Does Not Include
Roundtrip airfare to and from destination; gratuities for naturalist guides, alcoholic beverages, extra equipment rental, or personal expenses.
Payments/Cancellations
Space is confirmed by calling the NPCA at 800.628.7275. A $500 per person deposit is due at registration. Final payment will be invoiced separately and is due 90 days prior to departure. Cancellation notice must be submitted in writing and is effective upon date of receipt. Cancellations up to 90 days prior receive a refund, less the $250 per person handling fee. Cancellations 90-61 days prior to departure, 25% of the tour cost is forfeited; 60-31 days prior to departure, 50% of the tour cost is forfeited; 30 days or fewer prior to departure result in the loss of 100% of your total cost.
Travel Insurance
To protect yourself from the loss of deposit and cancellation fees, you are encouraged to purchase travel insurance.
Arrive/Depart
Bozeman, Montana
Length of tour
7 days/6 nights
Pace
Moderately active, offering a choice of activities each day to suit different activity levels and interests.
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