National Parks of the Northwest (8710)

10 days from Salt Lake City to Calgary

2027 Tour Details

Immerse yourself in the beauty of North America’s great outdoors as you journey through four spectacular national parks in the United States and Canada. Discover the soaring peaks, pristine lakes, and abundant wildlife of Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park before exploring the incredible geothermal landscapes of Yellowstone National Park, the world’s first national park. Covering more than two million acres, Yellowstone is home to the largest concentration of geothermal features on Earth, including the iconic Old Faithful Geyser. Watch it erupt, marvel at the thundering Lower Falls in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, and keep an eye out for bison, elk, moose, bears, and other wildlife that inhabit the park.

Continue to Montana’s Glacier National Park for a guided tour aboard a vintage Red Jammer bus and a scenic drive along the legendary Going-to-the-Sun Road to Logan Pass. Then cross into Canada for an overnight stay in picturesque Waterton Lakes National Park, where the Canadian Rockies provide a stunning backdrop.

Along the way, discover the remarkable stories behind Earthquake Lake Visitor Center and the powerful earthquake that reshaped the landscape in 1959, and learn about the courageous wildfire firefighters at Smokejumper Visitor Center. Visit Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to gain insight into the traditions and history of the Indigenous Peoples who relied on the vast buffalo herds of the Great Plains.
Majestic mountains, crystal-clear lakes, the opportunity to see remarkable wildlife, and more make this an unforgettable adventure for value-minded travelers.

The world is within reach with everything you need for perfectly affordable touring. Cosmos includes hand-selected accommodations, guided sightseeing, and seamless transportation between destinations—with value-minded travel lovers in mind. Explore with expert Cosmos Tour Directors and Local Guides, and private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach with free Wi-Fi (where available).

Your Tour Includes:
• Entrance fee and guided sightseeing in Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone National Park, Glacier National Park, and Waterton Lakes National Park
• Orientation tour of Salt Lake City and Calgary
• Visit to Earthquake Lake Visitor Center to learn about the massive earthquake that formed Earthquake Lake
• Visit to Missoula Smokejumper Visitor Center to discover the heroics of America’s elite wildland firefighters
• Locally guided Red Jammer Bus tour along Glacier National Park’s spectacular Going-to-the-Sun Road
• Admission to Head-Smashed-in-Buffalo Jump, a UNESCO World Heritage Site preserving more than 6,000 years of Indigenous Plains culture

Dates & Prices Book Online

800.268.3636

Photo Highlights

Meals

Meals & Itinerary

6 Breakfasts

Notes:

• This itinerary enters both the US and Canada.

• Extend your vacation with slect departures that connect with our Heart of the Canadian Rockies Tour (8910), Western Canada by Rail Tour (8930) or Western Canada with Inside Passage Tour (8980) all with/without Alaska cruise options.

• Maximum elevation on tour: 9,033 ft.

Itinerary

Day 1 SALT LAKE CITY

Welcome to Salt Lake City! Your Tour Director is on hand from 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m to answer any questions.

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Day 2 SALT LAKE CITY–JACKSON

Start the day with a sightseeing tour of Salt Lake City, Utah’s capital, and center of the Mormon religion. Highlights include Temple Square, the Capitol Building, and the downtown district. Then travel north to the classic Western town of Jackson. This evening, have free time to stroll into town and enjoy its wooden sidewalks, shops, galleries, and see the famous antler arches.

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Breakfast

Day 3 JACKSON–GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK–YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK–WEST YELLOWSTONE

This morning, depart for Grand Teton National Park, where rugged mountain peaks rise above pristine lakes and wildlife-rich valleys. Stop at the beautiful Jenny Lake, nestled at the base of Cascade Canyon, and watch for elk, moose, and other wildlife along the way. Continue north into Yellowstone National Park, home to more geysers than anywhere else on Earth. Watch the famous Old Faithful Geyser erupt, sending steaming water up to184 feet into the air! Later, travel to West Yellowstone for a two-night stay.

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Continental Breakfast

Day 4 WEST YELLOWSTONE. DAY EXCURSION TO YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK

Spend the day exploring the remarkable landscapes of Yellowstone National Park, established in 1872, as the world's first national park. Begin at the Fountain Paint Pot Trail, where bubbling mud pots, steaming fumaroles, hot springs, and geysers showcase Yellowstone's remarkable geothermal activity. Then visit Mammoth Hot Springs and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone for sweeping views of the colorful canyon and the park’s tallest waterfall, Lower Falls. Along the way, watch for Yellowstone's abundant wildlife, including bison, moose, elk, deer, bighorn sheep, wolves, bears, foxes, and coyotes.

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Breakfast

Day 5 WEST YELLOWSTONE–BOZEMAN–HELENA

Head north to Helena, stopping first at Earthquake Lake Visitor Center to learn about the powerful 1959 earthquake that triggered a massive landslide, dammed the Madison River, and created Earthquake Lake in a matter of minutes. Then on to the vibrant mountain town of Bozeman. Continue to Helena, Montana’s capital, where you'll visit the impressive State Capitol building.

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Breakfast

Day 6 HELENA–MISSOULA–KALISPELL

Head north to Missoula and visit the Smokejumper Visitor Center, home to the nation’s largest smokejumper base. Learn about these highly trained firefighters and the specialized aircraft and equipment they use to parachute into remote forest fires. Continue to Kalispell, nestled in the Flathead Valley, arriving in the late afternoon. Enjoy a free evening to explore the historic main street lined with local restaurants, breweries, and shops.

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Day 7 KALISPELL. DAY TRIP TO GLACIER NATIONAL PARK

Spend the day exploring Glacier National Park aboard one of the park’s historic Red Jammer buses. Travel along the spectacular Going-to-the-Sun Road, one of North America's most scenic mountain highways, climbing to Logan Pass at 6,646 feet. Along the way, take in alpine meadows, glacial valleys, waterfalls, and rugged mountain peaks while watching for wildlife such as mountain goats and bighorn sheep.

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Breakfast

Day 8 KALISPELL–WATERTON LAKES NATIONAL PARK

Cross into Canada and enter Waterton Lakes National Park, where Alberta’s rolling prairies meet the soaring peaks of the Canadian Rockies. Discover diverse landscapes, crystal clear lakes, cascading waterfalls, and towering mountain peaks. Tonight, stay inside the park with time to explore the charming village of Waterton and stroll along the lakeshore.

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Breakfast

Day 9 WATERTON LAKES NATIONAL PARK–HEAD-SMASHED-IN BUFFALO JUMP–CALGARY

Visit Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that preserves the history of the Plains Indigenous peoples and their relationship with the buffalo that sustained them for thousands of years. Continue to Calgary for an orientation tour featuring Stampede Park, the Saddledome, and Canada Olympic Park. The remainder of the afternoon and evening are at leisure.

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Day 10 CALGARY

Your vacation ends this morning. Extend your vacation with extra nights in Calgary. Or on select dates, connect with our Heart of the Canadian Rockies Tour (8910), Western Canada by Rail Tour (8930) or Western Canada with Inside Passage Tour (8980) all with/without Alaska cruise options.

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Tour Director

With COSMOS, there’s no better way to get to know your destination than through the eyes of a Tour Director. We’d like you to meet one of our Tour Directors, who average over a decade of experience and are representative of the type of expert that will be with you on your vacation.

ANDREW MORAN

Escorting tours for more than 20 years

“Born in Salisbury, England, I left England at the age of nine and ended up in Los Angeles. Some of my hobbies include travel, flying (I have my license to fly small, single-engine planes), gardening (growing my own fruits and veggies is awesome), and landscaping (it gives me a chance to learn about different trees and plants). My advice to travelers is to come with an open mind and look forward to learning new things. What makes other places so special is that they're not home!”

Accommodations

Optional Excursions

No matter what you’re into: food, wine, history, art, music or anything else, we give you the freedom to personalize your vacation with optional excursions that speak to your interests.

When you book your excursions with us, you can be assured that every optional excursion that we offer coordinates with the free time that you'll have in your destination, so you'll never have conflicts between included and optional activities. Our team of travel experts carefully selects each optional excursion that we offer to ensure that you receive the highest quality at a great value. Our tried-and-true partners have a finger on the pulse of the city in which they operate so they deliver the very best experiences. We offer experiences you cannot create on your own and because you’re booking with us, we coordinate all your transportation and timing needs.

The following optional excursions are examples only for this vacation. These may or may not be offered, and availability is subject to days of operation and seasonality. Please select a departure date to view optional excursions and pricing for a specific date (due to currency fluctuation, pricing shown is subject to change until purchased). Optional excursions are available for purchase on our MyCosmos site 90 days prior to the tour start date.

Price Ranges

$ ($50 CAD and under)
$$ ($51 - $100 CAD)
$$$ ($101 - $150 CAD)
$$$$ (Over $150)

No Excursions are available at this time.

The “Starting at” or listed price is based on the lowest price available to book. Price is per person based on twin occupancy and any applicable port charges, non-commissionable taxes and fees and intra-vacation flight are included in the price shown. Any included overnight stay in Canada, applicable GST/HST is also included in the price shown. International airfare, however, is not included. If price is crossed out, the new price shown includes a limited time promotional offer(s). Please review current promotions or deals for additional information.

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