Yellowstone - the most famous ecosystem in the Americas The greates American wildlife experience Yellowstone National Park Winter Safari elk, wolves, coyotes, geysers, amazing landscape and a lot more Jan 21 - Jan 28
2011 When it comes to the Americas, no other park is more iconic than Yellowstone. Established in 1872 as America’s first National Park, and spreading across three states, Yellowstone has long since held its distinction of being home to some of the most incredible wildlife and scenery found in North America. The park itself is the centerpiece of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, the largest remaining, and nearly intact ecosystem in the Earth's northern temperate zone, and is home to hundreds of species of mammals, birds, fish and reptiles, including several that are either endangered or threatened. Wintertime is outstanding for wildlife photography and capturing photos of steaming geysers shooting out of the ice encrusted earth. Join us on this incredible winter trip to see wolves, bison, elk and more! Along the way, we’ll also visit a collection of the world's most extraordinary geysers and hot springs, including Old Faithful and Mammoth Hot Springs. This trip is a must on the list of places to see, so sign up today! Detailed itinerary: | Jan 21 | arrive to Jackson Hole |
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| | Our exciting and unique winter wildlife safari in the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem begins today at Jackson Hole, the southern gateway to this world famous wildlife area. You can arrive throughout the day, on any flight that is conveninent for you – you will be picked up at the airport and transported to our comfortable lodge. Those of us arriving early, we will have an opportunity to explore the downtown area and familiarize with the city, otherwise our first organized event will be the Welcome Speech and Welcome Dinner at around 7 pm tonight. We are going to orient ourselves, familiarize with the area and the itinerary, and will have the opportunity to start getting to know each other at the lodge’s famous restaurant. The rest of the evening can be spent at the fireplace, gathering some warmth for a cold sleigh ride the following morning. | | | Accomodation: Snow King Resort
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| Jan 22 | National Elk Refuge and Grand Teton NP |
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| | Our winter safari begins with one of the most exciting activities the area has to offer. After our fulfilling breakfast at our resort, we drive to the National Elk Refuge Visitor Center and board our private horse-drawn sleight for a fascinating ride into the Refuge. Guests are typically only allowed for an hour, but we managed to make arrangements for an additional hour to allow for an extended duration during this fascinating sleigh ride. Before we take off with the sleight though, we will be able to enjoy the extensive dioramas and museum displays highlighting the local flora, fauna and geology of Jackson Hole, the National Elk Refuge and the Grand Teton National Park. Afterwards, as we climb into our sleigh, we will find ourselves in the middle of a western adventure unlike any other. This century long tradition continues to be a one-of-a-kind wildlife activity. As we venture across the Refuge to the sounds of snow crunching beneath the horses’ feet, we will have the opportunity to see and photograph thousands of elk that make the Refuge their home for the winter season. We will also encounter other wildlife such as eagles, coyotes, fox, badgers, bison, deer, wolves, trumpeter swans, ducks, geese and a variety of other birds, all with the marvelous backdrop provided by the Grand Tetons. Once we finish our great photographic ride, we transfer to the National Museum of Wildlife Art and tour the facility and its 2,300 pieces of breathtaking art, dating from 2000 BC to the present. It is very convenient that the Museum’s restaurant will serve us a delicious lunch, before we take off on our afternoon safari jeep ride into Grand Teton National Park. On this great afternoon photography safari, we will work together for spotting and photographing elk, moose, bison, pronghorn antelope, bighorn sheep, mule deer and wolves. The early winter sunset will drive us out of the park at around 4:30, after which we return to our accommodation, take a great warm shower and gather to drive to the infamous Silver Dollar Bar and Grill for an authentic western dinner. | | | Accomodation: Snow King Resort
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| Jan 23 | Jackson/Old Faithful |
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| | Today we have a fulfilling breakfast at 8 am, in order to be able to depart for the Yellowstone National Park at 9 in the morning. Our first destination is the southern gate of the national park, commonly know as Flagg Ranch, where an exciting new adventure is awaiting us: a snow coach. This all-terrain winter vehicle is providing us with a fascinating way of exploration, since it can take us on unplowed roads basically all through the entire national park. Upon arrival, we board our snow coach and take off on our first ride northbound, with the famous Old Faithful geyser and lodge being our destination. We traverse through secluded valleys in search of wildlife and fantastic winter landscape images. An extensive packed lunch will ensure that we do not have to rush, so that we can arrive at Old Faithful as late as 3 in the afternoon. After a quick check in, we set off again, at this time on foot, in order to utilize the last two hours of daylight for stunning photography of the geysers that never freeze and remain active throughout the harsh winter. Once dusk prohibits any further exploration of wildlife, landscape and photography, we have a well deserved hot shower at our lodge, and gather for a delicious dinner at the dining room. A few drinks and some photography talks at the campfire will put the crown on the day. | | | Accomodation: Old Faithful Snow Lodge
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| Jan 24 | Old Faithful/Mammoth Hot Springs |
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| | This morning we arise with great excitement, since an entire day of snow coach unplowed road expedition is ahead of us. We gather for breakfast before the daylight breaks, allowing us to be back at the geyser at dawn, taking marvelous images and looking our for wildlife. After spending an hour admiring the area’s beauties, we check out our lodge, board our snow coach and take off to explore the many more valleys and geyser basins Yellowstone has to offer. After a lovely picnic lunch, we continue through the Canyon area, which provides us with additional photography opportunities and wildlife watching. Most species of the area do not follow their usual patterns of movement; giving us an opportunity to be able to see them just about anywhere we go. At the end of the exciting day on safari, just before dusk, we plan to arrive at another fascinating place of the Yellowstone area – Mammoth Hot Springs. Upon arrival, we check in, enjoy a great warm shower and gather for dinner in the restaurant. After our delicious evening meal, we will enjoy a presentation about wolves and their biology in the Yellowstone National Park, preparing us for the days of wolf-watching safari during the rest of our voyage. | | | Accomodation: Mammoth Hot Springs Lodge
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| Jan 25 | Mammoth Hot Springs /Lamar Valley |
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| | Yellowstone NP’s Lamar Valley is believed to be the best place in North America to see wolves in their wild environment. After centuries of systematic wolf eradication and nearly seven decades of complete absence from the ecosystem, the gray wolves were finally re-introduced to the Greater Yellowstone area in the 1990’s. Since then, they have evolved to a flourishing population, giving us the opportunity to see them in the wild and photograph stunning images of this infamous, controversial species. In order to maximize our chances, we will have breakfast as early as 6:30 am this monring and take off at the first daylight at 7:30. We are going to spend the entire day in the valley, cruising through different routes and roads, keeping an eye out for wildlife and hopefully encountering several packs of wolves. The lack of daylight will eventually send us home, just to take a warm shower, enjoy a delicious dinner, and prepare ourselves for yet another exciting day of photographic wolf hunt. | | | Accomodation: Mammoth Hot Springs Lodge
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| Jan 26 | Mammoth Hot Springs /Lamar Valley |
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| | Today we spend another full day in the Lamar Valley area, in search of the infamous Yellowstone wolves. In order to maximize our chances, we will have breakfast as early as 6:30 am this monring and take off at the first daylight at 7:30. We are going to spend the entire day in the valley, cruising through different routes and roads, keeping an eye out for wildlife and hopefully encountering several packs of wolves. The lack of daylight will eventually send us home, just to take a warm shower, enjoy a delicious dinner, and prepare ourselves for yet another exciting morning of photographic wolf hunt. | | | Accomodation: Mammoth Hot Springs Lodge
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| Jan 27 | Mammoth Hot Springs/Lamar Valley/Bozeman |
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| | The first half of our day is very similar to that of the previous one. Daybreak will find us on the road, in search of the fascinating wildlife of Lamar Valley. However, at around one in the afternoon, we will turn around and return to our lodge for a late lunch, followed by our check out procedure and departure for Bozeman. We expect to reach Bozeman at 5 pm, allowing us enough time to check in for our final night and enjoy a great Farewell Dinner at our accommodation. | | | Accomodation: Wingate Lodge
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| Jan 28 | Bozeman/departure |
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| | Today we can depart Bozeman at any time of the day. Those of us on a later flight, we will be able to explore the town, including its Museum of the Rockies, where the world’s largest T-Rex skull is on display. Our fascinating Yellowstone Winter Safari ends today upon our check in at the airport, have a safe trip home or enjoy your extension to see the amazing whales of Baja California. | | | |
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