USA intensiv - Nationalparks des Nordwesten

Day 1: Arrival day in Seattle
Welcome to the city of Seattle in Washington State. From its top notch coffee shops to its endless markets, it's a city that oozes cool. Looking down from the top of the iconic Space Needle you can observe beautiful Puget Sound, and on a clear day view Mount Rainier. Visit Pike Place Market to try local specialities and enjoy a spot of people watching ahead of your welcome meeting at 18:00 hrs, where you'll meet your tour leader and fellow travel companions.

Accommodation: Hotel

Day 2-3: Olympic National Park
From the crashing waves of the Pacific Coast through to its coastal rainforests and glacier capped peaks, your first days in America's Northwest will leave you feeling truly inspired. Olympic National Park is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, with over 95% of it being wilderness protected. There are many hiking opportunities throughout the park, a popular and easy hike is a trail that leads you through thick dense forest and across a wooden bridge to the spectacular Sol Duc Falls. If you have time and are feeling energetic a hike to Deer Lake will reward you with stunning scenery away from the crowds. After all that exploring, you can enjoy an included dip in the Sol Duc Hot Springs to rest your weary bones.

Accommodation: Sol Duc Cabins

Spending the night in a rustic, charming Sol Duc cabin is the ideal way to experience Sol Duc's serenity and the supremely relaxing hot springs on the Olympic Peninsula in Northwest Washington. The Sol Duc cabins are surrounded by towering evergreens along the Sol Duc River in a picturesque valley. You'll have convenient access to the hot mineral-spring pools, massage therapists, poolside deli, restaurant, gift shop and convenience store.

Day 4-5: Mount Rainier National Park
This 263,000-acre wilderness around Washington's highest peak is definitely a highlight of the Northwest. The tallest mountain in the Cascade Range, Mount Rainier is surrounded by valleys, waterfalls, meadows full of wildflowers and more than 25 glaciers. The Nisqually Vista Loop offers superb views of Mount Rainier and in the winter expect to see lots of snow and when the summer arrives the fields will be full of colourful wildflowers. Mount Rainier is also a haven for wildlife, and you may see Columbian Black-Tailed Deer, elk and Black Bears roaming freely around the park. Please note, your tour leader is not able to walk with you due to park regulations.

Accommodation: The Paradise Inn

You overnight at the very special and historic Paradise Inn which is located in the midst of meadows that look spectacular when in full bloom. The surrounding trails lead to adventures in all directions and offer opportunities to explore the outdoors the way it was meant to be. Designated as one of the `great lodges of the west', Paradise Inn was originally built in 1916 and offers original historic rooms that are located in the main lodge. Without televisions or telephones, it's easy to imagine a time when life was simple and without the distractions of today's modern world. Watching the setting sun reflect off the lake is a magical experience.

Day 6: Coeur D'Alene
Travel east over the Cascade Mountains into Idaho, where the `lakeside playground' of Coeur D'Alene awaits your arrival. Surrounded by many beautiful lakes, 55 to be exact, all left behind by ancient glaciers, today is the perfect day for a dip in the most scenic of all the lakes, Lake Coeur D'Alene itself. Hit the scenic lake trail which follows the contours of the lake, revealing quiet alcoves where you can swim. Don't forget your swimsuit!

Accommodation: Days Inn Coeur D'Alene

Day 7-8: Glacier National Park
Continue northeast into Glacier National Park where you can still spot ancient glaciers and striking frozen lakes; clear blue and surrounded by mountains. Jump on board the park's free shuttle bus for spectacular scenery and abundant wildlife viewing. Black and Grizzly Bear, Bighorn sheep and Bald Eagles all call this million-acre national park home. With over 700 miles of trails through pristine forests, alpine meadows full of colourful wild flowers, Glacier National Park is definitely a hiker's paradise. Take the popular hike to Iceberg Lake where wildflowers, wildlife and magnificent lake views ease your passage.

Accommodation: Lodging

Rising Sun Cabins or similar (depending on availability)
Built in 1940, the Rising Sun Motor Inn and Cabins originally contained 19 cabins, a coffee shop and a camp store. Today this historic inn contains 72 guest rooms and cabins. Located alongside St. Mary Lake and surrounded by towering mountain peaks, the Rising Sun offers spectacular views and rustic accommodations. All cabin style rooms are smoke-free, feature motel style amenities and are dispersed throughout the property, set within the wilderness of Glacier National Park.

Day 9: Montana
Cross the 'Big Sky State' and see why the open plains, towering snow-capped mountain ranges in the distance and farming have inspired travellers for centuries. One thing the state of Montana does is size, everything is big and bold. You will likely overnight in Bozeman which will reduce your drive time the following day, allowing for more time in Yellowstone National Park.

Accommodation: C'mon Inn

Day 10-12: Yellowstone National Park
Originally protected for its unique geothermal features such as mud pools and geysers, find out how Yellowstone came to be the world's first national park. With the largest collection of geysers in the world, this mountain wilderness is home to Grizzly Bear, herds of bison and elk and recently re-introduced wolves. In the afternoon you'll visit Mammoth Hot Springs and have the chance to follow the boardwalks around to observe the truly weird and wonderful contours of this scorched land. You have a total of three nights and two full days to explore.

An early morning start will have you watching Old Faithful Geyser erupt to timed perfection every 60-70 minutes. Walk around the geothermal sites, exploring the multi-coloured hot springs and admiring the wildflowers of this dreamlike landscape. The following day you're joined by a wildlife and wolf tracking guide who'll explain and uncover the wildlife that call Yellowstone home. Guides are hugely knowledgeable on the habits of wolves and other wildlife including marmots, deer, moose, Black Bear, elk and mountain goat, as well as the surrounding flora.

Accommodation: Yellowstone Inn Cabins

The Yellowstone Inn offers seasonal lodging located in the heart of western Yellowstone Country, just outside of Yellowstone National Park. The Inn is family owned and each of their 10 units are unique with a character and charm of their own, featuring knotty pine interiors with unique cabin furniture, cable TV, coffee makers, microwaves, small refrigerators and air conditioning.

Day 13: Grand Teton National Park and Jackson, Wyoming
You continue your journey to Grand Teton National Park and spend the day hitting the trails. Cross Jenny Lake and walk past the cascading waterfall to Inspiration Point for incredible views across the valley. Arrive in the Western town of Jackson, Wyoming in the late afternoon where your tour ends. In Jackson it's time to enjoy a truly friendly and authentic Western town experience. Once home to trappers and a hideout for outlaws and rustlers, Jackson is now a four-season getaway. It's also the base for hikers to take on the local hiking trails as well being renowned for its cafes and Western style saloons!

This tour ends at our gateway hotel at approximately 17:00 hrs. We can book you post-tour accommodation at our gateway hotel if required. If you are planning to fly tonight, please do not book a flight that departs before 21:00 hrs.