Tour Overview
Welcome to Montana! Your journey into the “Last Best Place” of the Western World begins in Yellowstone Country. Fly into Gallatin Field Airport, located in Bozeman, Montana, where you will pick up your rental car and head for Big Sky- about 45 minutes south of the airport. The awe of the Montana landscape will make an immediate impression as you travel through scenic Gallatin Canyon, which boasts one of the nations few “Blue Ribbon” rated rivers and was the backdrop for the movie “A River Runs Through It.” Enjoy an exciting day of whitewater rafting on the Gallatin River- ideal for rafters of all experience levels…Experience first hand the many famous attractions of one of the world’s most revered National Parks- Yellowstone. Take a guided horseback trail ride! Yellowstone Country is full of remote trails and wilderness just waiting to be explored…. Take a scenic gondola ride, providing a birds-eye view of the surrounding mountains. Big Sky Country offers a host of trails to enjoy and hikers are treated to majestic views, fresh air and wildlife. Enjoy a guided, scenic mountain bike experience or kayaking. Visit the Museum of the Rockies, the Taylor Planetarium and a Living History Farm. And of course fly-fishing! Southwest Montana is known worldwide as one of the best fly-fishing destinations in the world. Come and try your luck!Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Bozeman, MontanaWelcome to Bozeman! Today when you arrive at Gallatin Field Airport, pick up your rental car and drive to the Big Sky Resort. The transfer time from the airport is about 1 hour. The Summit At Big Sky Is A Year-round, High-rise Condominium Resort, Offering European-style Lodging In Montana's Rugged Mountain Wilderness. The Lobby Echoes The State's Rich Ranching Heritage With Its Two-story Flagstone Fireplace, Elk- Sculpture Chandelier, Coffee-colored Floors And Amber Wood- Paneled Walls Adorned With Western Americana Art. The Lobby's Plush Leather Furnishings Include Black-and-white Cowhide Sofas, Chairs And Ottomans. Offering Mountain And Village Views, The Summit's 213 Guestrooms Range From Studios To Two-bedroom Condominiums. Select Units Offer Spa Tubs, Fireplaces, And Fully Equipped Kitchens. All Accommodations Provide Cable Television With Pay Movies, Video Game Consoles, And Complimentary Wireless Internet Access. Accommodations At The Village Center Studio Suites Offer Fireplaces And Entertainment Kitchenettes With Microwave Ovens, Dishwashers, Coffeemakers And Mini Fridges. The Suites Feature Flat-screen Televisions With Cable Channels And Complimentary Wireless Internet Access. Bathrooms Offer Showers Only. In-room Massages Are Available For A Fee. The rest of the day is at leisure for you to get acquainted with your surroundings. Suggestion for this evening: Dinner at Peaks Restaurant. Why not enjoy dinner tonight at Peaks Restaurant, located in the Summit Hotel, featuring fine dining with a Euro-Western flare and an award winning wine list. (Food & beverage cost not included in your tour price)
Big Sky Resort- Summit or Village Center Room Day 2: Whitewater Rafting
Today, enjoy a half-day Whitewater Rafting Experience. The most popular of all rafting trips on the Gallatin River, this exciting adventure combines the thrill of whitewater with the magnificent views of wild Gallatin Canyon, where the Gallatin River cuts its way between the 3.5 million year old metamorphic Madison Mountain range and the ancient volcanic Gallatin Range, before joining the Madison and Jefferson Rivers at Three Forks, Montana to form the Missouri River. Feel the excitement grow as you plunge through Screaming Left, House Rock and the Mad Mile. Great for rafters of all experience levels, expect class II/III rapids. Suggestion for this evening: Dinner at Lone Peak Brewery. Enjoy a dinner of exciting pub fare and then learn the brewing process! Lone Peak Brewery works in small batches with only malt, water, hops and yeast- using only the finest ingredients available. Lone Peak products are always unpasteurized and unfiltered with no chemicals, additives or preservatives- just fresh beer! (Food & beverage cost not included in your tour price)
Big Sky Resort- Summit or Village Center Room
Day 3: Yellowstone National Park
Experience first hand the many famous attractions of one of the world’s most revered National Parks- Yellowstone! Private motor coaches will take you from one attraction to the next in comfort, and away from the crowds by means of the Park’s lesser-known by-ways. Visit the Fire Hole Falls, Black Sand Basin, Old Faithful Geyser, the Upper & Lower Falls in the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, Petrified Tree and Mammoth Hot Springs on this popular tour. Your personal guide is an expert on the area and offers insight the locals may not even know about this world wonder. You will have numerous opportunities for photography and also short hikes along the way with a gourmet lunch box served in a perfect location to enjoy the fabulous views only Yellowstone can offer. Since weather in the park in unpredictable, it is strongly suggested to dress in layers, even during the summer months. Depart 8:00am, return about 5:00pm.
Big Sky Resort- Summit or Village Center Room
Box Lunch Day 4: Guided Horseback Trail-Ride
Yellowstone Country is full of remote trails and wilderness- just waiting to be explored! Each horse is tailored to its rider, based on age, size and experience. Trail Rides in Montana Back Country: Experienced wranglers will take you into the backcountry of Gallatin Canyon to experience first-hand the Spanish Peaks Wilderness Area and Gallatin National Forest. Experience the Old West with a 3-hour trail ride in a wide variety of trails and scenery, perfect for any experience level for riders at least 10 years old. Gallatin River Valley Adventure: Enjoy a leisure ride through the spectacular pine forests and hanging meadows with unparalleled views of the unspoiled mountain ranges of Montana. The duration of either option is 3 hours. Meet at the corral in Big Sky: Suggestion for this evening: Dinner at Andiamo Italian Grill: Enjoy a “Cowboy Chic” experience in Big Sky’s newest Italian restaurant. Andiamo features delicious pasts dishes and entrees in an eclectic Tuscan atmosphere- great food and ambiance you’ll remember long after dessert has been served.
Big Sky Resort- Summit or Village Center Room
Day 5: Scenic Gondola Ride and Half-Day Hiking Adventure
After the skis get stored- the bull wheel continues to turn on Big Sky’s scenic gondola ride, providing summer visitors with a bird’s eye view of the surrounding mountains. Ride the scenic lift round-trip for optimum leisure, or get a nice workout by hiking back down to the village on the new self-guided nature trail. The gondola operates daily from June to September, weather permitting. Half-day hiking adventure: Big Sky Country offers a host of trails to enjoy and hikers are often treated to views of wildlife and certainly experience the beauty, fresh air and tranquility that accompany the outdoor lifestyle in Montana. Hikes are suitable for all abilities.
Big Sky Resort- Summit or Village Center Room
Day 6: Mountain Biking or Kayaking or Museum of the Rockies
Option A: Guided scenic Mountain Biking: Enjoy a guided mountain bike journey that follows historic Taylor Fork Road along the beautiful Taylor Creek, and past one of Montana’s oldest “dude ranches”. You will be fitted with comfort touring bikes, which makes this ride pleasant and comfortable for all ages. Bikes conveniently have pouches for water and essentials. Trail-a-bikes for kids and trailers for toddlers are also available. All guides are First Aid and CPR certified. Option B: Sit-on-top Kayaking: Sit on top kayaks offer unmatched river riding thrills and challenges. Suited for those who are active, in shape and don’t mind an occasional swim! Learn to read currents, avoid obstacles, and catch eddies. Age 15 and up, minimum 3 persons. Option C: The Museum of the Rockies team collects fossils for curation and research, along with Dr. Jack Horner, as the Ameya Preserve Curator of Paleontology, the museum serves as a state repository for fossils found in Montana. Additionally, research completed on a fossil at the MOTR made front-page news worldwide with the discovery of a transparent, flexible and hollow blood vessel in a 68 million year old Tyrannosaurus Rex, the largest meat-eating dinosaur. The Taylor Planetarium is a 40-foot, 104- seat domed theater that provides a unique, immersive, educational and entertaining experience that inspires visitors to explore science and the world around us. Throughout the year, both live and pre-recorded public and K-12 educational shows about astronomy and other topics are presented, as well as periodic entertainment-based laser shows. The Living History Farm offers a chance to experience the sights, sounds and smells of the Victorian Era. Costumed interpreters demonstrate daily life in the Gallatin Valley circa 1890, and activities change through the summer to reflect the change in seasons. Much of the work is centered on producing food- from planting and maintaining the large kitchen garden, to harvesting and canning, as well as the maintenance of a home and surrounding fields and buildings. (Summer Season only) Enjoy lunch at the Emerson Grill. The Emerson Grill offers inspired Northern Italian fare, focusing on the use of organic and local ingredients provided by local farmers and purveyors- add a selection from the extensive wine and beer list to complete your meal! Note: includes museum entrance fee and lunch at The Emerson Grill. You must provide your own transportation from Big Sky top Bozeman and back.
Big Sky Resort- Summit or Village Center Room
Lunch (Option C Only) Day 7: Fly-Fishing
Southwestern Montana is internationally known as one of the best fly fishing destinations in the world and the options are limitless, featuring the Gallatin, Madison and Yellowstone Rivers- and with Yellowstone National Park nearby, the host of angling opportunities increases dramatically. The best part of fishing with a professional guide is they take the mystery out of fly fishing for the beginner and offer expert advice to the seasoned angler- with unsurpassed scenery and native “wild trout”, the only thing you need to bring is enthusiasm to fill a trophy chest of fishing stories. You options: Walk/Wade trips on the Gallatin River: This trip is designed for anglers of all skill levels. For those interested in learning to fly-fish, our professional guides are eager to share their knowledge in areas such as casting, knot tying, stream entomology, and wading safety. Streamside instruction on topics such as western nymph fishing, the art of dry fly fishing, and reading the drift and line control will help anglers fine tune a particular technique or explore something new. A half-day walk/wade including all rental gear, transportation from Big Sky, non-alcoholic beverages and personalized professional instruction are included in your tour cost. Terminal tackle (leader and flies), fishing license and gratuities are not included. A full day option is also available at an additional cost. A second option is a float trip. Guides are equipped with McKenzie style drift boats, allowing anglers the opportunity to fish several miles of a river in a single day. The Madison and Yellowstone Rivers are the primary destinations for these trips and both rivers offer anglers the chance to hook a trophy native trout. This is an alternate option to the half-day included fly-fishing, and is not included in the tour price.
Big Sky Resort- Summit or Village Center Room
Day 8: Depart Bozeman
Enjoy a final breakfast at Big Sky Resort before departing for Gallatin Field to drop off your rental car and depart for home.
