Home > Tours > USA Tours > Midwest Tours > National Parks and Native Trails of the Dakotas

National Parks and Native Trails of the Dakotas

9 Days Rapid City to Bismarck
National Parks and Native Trails of the Dakotas
National Parks and Native Trails of the Dakotas
National Parks and Native Trails of the Dakotas

Overview

Book online and enjoy exclusive savings on Trafalgar's 9 Day National Parks and Native Trails of the Dakotas. This bespoke, culturally-rich itinerary supports the growth of indigenous tribal tourism in the USA , developed in collaboration with local communities in the Dakotas, for an authentic, one-of-a-kind insight into Native American history and heart. Through the power of storytelling through passionate locals you’ll meet, you’ll leave enlightened by your visits to four reservations of the Dakotas, as well as National Parks and monuments to discover first-hand the stark and rich history and read more future of the people that call it home. Packed with meaningful travel experiences, this is a must-book itinerary supporting culture and heritage of our important Tribal Nations.
Sold Out
There are currently no departures available on this trip. Either the season has ended and new dates will be released soon, or the itinerary has been updated and isn’t operating this season.
Trip Length
Trip Length

9 Days

Trip Starts
Trip Starts

Rapid City

Trip Ends
Trip Ends

Bismarck

Countries Visited
Countries Visited:
USA
Operator
Operator
Trafalgar
Trip Style
Trip Style

Regional Explorer

Accommodation
Accommodation

4 Star

Budget
Budget

Premium

Age Range
Age Range

5-99 Years

Max. Group Size
Max. Group Size

48

Guide Style
Guide Style

Fully Guided

Tour Code
Tour Code

DMTM

Itinerary

Begin your exploration of the Tribal Nations of North and South Dakota at a welcome reception. (WR) Stay: The Rushmore Hotel & Suites

Discover how deeply the Lakota people are connected to their land, customs and ancestors as you enjoy a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience at the Oglala Lakota Living History Village. Take in the sights along the iconic Badlands Loop Road, arriving at Pine Ridge Indian Reservation where you'll meet talented Native artists.

Later, visit Wounded Knee Memorial, site of the 1890 Massacre, told in vivid detail by a local storyteller who'll share personal stories passed down through generations as you look upon the historic lands where it unfolded. (B/L)

Head to one of America's most iconic sites and learn of its complicated past. Embark on a self-guided walk in the majestic Black Hills before today's highlight: the Crazy Horse Memorial. View the depiction of the famous Oglala Lakota warrior riding a horse and pointing to his tribal land, a striking monument that has been a work in progress since 1948. Take a locally guided walk to the base of the mountain where we will get even more immersed in the story of the land through a visit to the museum. (B)

Get an insider's view from a Local Specialist at the Rosebud Indian Reservation, home to the Sicangu Lakota Oyate Nation, for a deeply meaningful MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience.

Later, at the Turtle Creek Crossing Supermarket, sample delicious and authentic Lakota foods. Finally, it's onto Sinte Gleska University for a Star Knowledge Presentation by Lakota elder, Victor Douville. (B/L) Stay: Arrowwood Cedar Shore Resort & Conference Center

The future of the Lakota Oyate "Lakota Nation" takes center stage as you meet Marla C. Bull Bear, Executive Director of LYD, and the Rosebud tribal youth and members for traditional storytelling, performance and meal during this Be My Guest Experience. Learn about their mission to reclaim their language, culture, and spirituality and how this experience supports local youth. (B/L)

Travel along the Native American Scenic Byway stopping in South Dakota's capital, Pierre. Spend the afternoon immersed in Plains Indian History, learning about the incredible legend of Sitting Bull, before you learn about day-to-day life in Standing Rock Indian Reservation. Enjoy an enlightening MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience where you'll learn how the Lakota and Dakota people harness the medicinal power of plants through long held practices passed down by generations. Then create your very own herbal tea in a hands-on experience steeped in tradition. (B) Stay: Radisson Hotel Bismarck

At Earth Lodge Village, experience the role of tribal tourism, as dancers and singers perform for you. Discover life on the harsh Northern Plains through the stories of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara peoples. Enjoy a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience visiting the MHA Nation Interpretive Centre where historical Native artifacts are on display. Finish with a delicious traditional dinner you won't soon forget. (B/D) Stay: Teddy's Residential Suites New Town

Stop at Crows Flies High for views of Lake Sakakawea and the Four Bears Bridge. Take the scenic route to the North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park that climbs through the canyon to must-sees like the Oxbow Overlook. Arrive in Medora for a free afternoon. Your Stays with Stories is the historic Rough Riders Hotel filled with western charm and 1880s nostalgia. Enjoy a last dinner reflecting on the countless impactful moments. (B/D) Stay: Rough Riders Hotel

Watch the sun rise over the Badlands at the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Stop at the Maltese Cross Cabin, famously used by Theodore Roosevelt before he was president. We depart to Bismarck with an airport arrival at 2pm. (B)

Trip Inclusions

  • Explore Medora
  • See Dignity Statue, Sitting Bull & Sakakawea Monument
  • View Crow Flies High outlook
  • Visit Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, Rosebud Indian Reservation, Standing Rock Indian Reservation, Fort Berthold Indian Reservation
  • Scenic drive to Badlands Loop Road Drive, Mobridge
  • Explore Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Crazy Horse Memorial, Theodore Roosevelt National Park
  • Visit Indigenous communities and learn, see & hear about history & traditions.
  • Connect With Locals - during a lunch at Lakota Youth Development
  • Pierre: Unlock the best of Pierre, South Dakota over a sightseeing tour with your Travel Director. There's no better place to discover the town's history than at the State Capitol. Learn how it was built in 1908 and June 30, 2010 marked the 100th anniversary of the formal dedication. At this time, a time capsule was placed in a locked glass display case that you can have a look at. The capsule contains a South Dakota Quarter set from the U.S. Mint, Gov Rounds' 2010 State of the State Address, photos with personal messages from state and tribal officeholders, and several current newspapers from around the state, among other artefacts.
  • Fort Yates: Visit the Sitting Bull and Sakakawea Monuments set in a remote spot overlooking the Missouri River. At this monument sculpted by Korczak Ziolkowski, known for Crazy Horse Memorial, learn about what would later become known as "The Battle in the Dark." The monument remembers Chief Sitting Bull, a Hunkpapa Teton Sioux spiritual leader best known for his victory over George Armstrong Custer's 7th Cavalry at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. In the 1870s, after Sitting Bull became a great spiritual leader, he organized a resistance movement against US expansion on treaty-reserved lands. But on December 15, 1890, nine years after surrendering to the US government, he was shot to death by Indian police.
  • Theodore Roosevelt South Unit: Watch the sunrise as you go along the scenic loop of the National Park and potentially see bison herds, wild horses, coyotes, wild turkeys, and hundreds of prairie dogs. With an early start you'll also have the opportunity to enjoy the park without many other people around.

Be My Guest

  • Chamberlain: The future of the Lakota Oyate "Lakota Nation" takes center stage as you Connect With Locals - Marla C. Bull Bear, Executive Director of LYD, and the Rosebud tribal youth and members for a traditional storytelling, an original performance, a traditional meal during this Be My Guest Experience, and plant knowledge as you get a true taste of the prairie and everything Grandmother Earth has to offer. Learn about their mission to reclaim their language, culture, and spirituality and how this experience supports local youth.

Dive Into Culture

  • Pine Ridge Reservation: Learn the History of Wounded Knee as told by Warren Yellow Hair as you look upon where it happened. Listening to stories told from generation to generation will give you a perspective that cannot be gained from a history book but rather an authentic and emotional experience.
  • New Town: Enjoy a guided tour of the Earth Lodges and see how the MHA people used to live. The tour is followed by the incredible opportunity to witness dancers and singers perform a cultural dance. The meaningfulness of each dance and song will leave you touched and with a deeper understanding of the culture of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara.

Iconic Experience

  • Badlands National Park: Enjoy the spectacular sights as you make your way through Badlands Loop Road.
  • Black Hills: Unlock the history of Crazy Horse Memorial. Learn how construction began in 1948 after Henry Standing Bear, a Lakota elder, commissioned Korczak Ziolkowski, who worked on construction of Mount Rushmore. While the original idea was to carve a face into rock like Mount Rushmore, the monument will ultimately have a full body and horse. There is no completion date yet, but the face of Crazy Horse was completed in 1998 at 87 feet 6 inches (26.7 m) high. Enhance your visit exploring The Indian Museum of North America that is also part of the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation.
  • Chamberlain: The Dignity sculpture, a stunning combination of art and history. Specifically designed by sculptor Dale Lamphere to honor the cultures of the Lakota and Dakota people Dignity of Earth and Sky is a soaring sculpture of a native woman standing high on a bluff above the Missouri River.
  • Pierre: You'll travel through and past the different indigenous communities and reservations in South Dakota.
  • Theodore Roosevelt North Unit: Head to the North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park this morning, the less frequented part of the National Park that should not be missed. The scenic drive starts at the bottom of the badlands and crawls up out of the canyon to the North Unit's most iconic view, River Bend Overlook. Unusual yet totally fascinating geological formations like the cannon ball concretions can be seen and a high chance of wildlife like Bison and bighorn sheep.

Make Travel Matter®

  • Rapid City: Get ready for a one-of-a-kind-experience meeting Stephen Yellowhawk to discover the history of his tribe during a festive evening of dance and song. A performer for more than 20 years, Stephen has a passion for dance and sheer determination to promote his Native American culture. Raised by his grandparents from the Lakota tribe and Onondaga Iroquois tribe, Stephen will share his family and tribal history, culture, and traditions with you. Your visit directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal: Reduced Inequalities.
  • Rapid City: Travel to the past from the present at the Oglala Lakota Living History Village and gain priceless insights into the culture and indigenous knowledge of Lakota Country.
  • Pine Ridge Reservation: Enjoy a traditional box lunch prepared by a local Lakota family before your next activity.
  • Rosebud Reservation: Get an insider's view from a Local Specialist at the Rosebud Indian Reservation, home to the Sicangu Lakota Oyate Nation, for a deeply meaningful Make Travel Matter - Experience that intertwines Native culture and life while adding to their growing economy of tribal tourism.
  • Rosebud Reservation: Enjoy a lunch of local foods from the Lakota Tribe at Turtle Crossing. After lunch you'll learn about Rosebud's food sovereignty projects, life on the reservation, and economic initiatives for the area from a community member involved in the projects.
  • Rosebud Reservation: Enjoy a visit to Sinte Gleska University where you will be given a Star Knowledge Presentation by a Lakota elder, Victor Douville.
  • New Town: You'll have the chance to browse arts and crafts from local community members in the gift shop. If you choose to purchase any art or craft pieces the proceeds will directly support the artisans of the community and help to raise awareness of what they do.

Trafalgar Difference

  • Medora: Enjoy your Stay With Stories experience at the Rough Riders Hotel. Bask in the 1880s nostalgia and its western charm, as you enjoy a dinner with your new friends.

  • An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
  • Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
  • All porterage and restaurant gratuities
  • All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
  • Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
  • Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
  • Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
  • Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
  • Optional Experiences (Additional Cost) and free time

  • 1 Welcome Reception (WR)
  • 8 Breakfast (B)
  • 3 Lunch (L)
  • 1 Dinner (D)

  • Itinerary and inclusions are subject to change
  • Price is for land, cruise and internal flights as specified. Flights not specified are not included

Operator

Trafalgar
 (1,001) Reviews
Total No. of Tours & Cruises268
We are the world’s leading and most awarded travel brand spanning all 7 continents of the globe. From the iconic to the unexpected our guests connect to the real depth of the places we go. They will break bread with the locals at our exclusive Be My Guest experiences and unlock local secrets of our Travel Directors and more Local Specialists. Everything is taken care of, so they travel with true ease and get the real thing without worrying about a thing.

We consider how we can positively impact the communities we engage with. Through our JoinTrafalgar initiatives powered by TreadRight, guests don’t just leave footprints on the ground, but leave a lasting legacy for the betterment of locals and the future of their communities.

It’s 72 years of destination experience and feedback from over 5 million happy guests that fuels our innovation to continually delivery simply the best holidays.
Must-sees to Local Secrets
Must-sees to Local Secrets

You’ll enjoy the icons and hidden gems with a Local Specialist by your side. Read more

Connect with Locals
Connect with Locals

With one on every itinerary, Be My Guest ensures your journey is truly one-of-a-kind, wherever it takes you. Read more

Stay With Stories
Stay With Stories

Find yourself overnighting in accommodations with stories as rich as the destinations you’re exploring. Read more

Play Youtube Video

Download Brochure

Trafalgar USA (2025-26) Brochure

Trafalgar USA (2025-26)

Discover the best of the USA with Trafalgar. Our USA holidays will transport you from the East Coast, where you can explore the diverse neighborhoods and museums of New York and embark on a boat journey beneath Niagara Falls, to the West Coast, where a new narrative awaits. Delve into the profound depths of the Grand Canyon, marvel at the sparkling more lights of Las Vegas, and relish fresh seafood at Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco. With Trafalgar, you’ll not only visit the must-see attractions but also uncover some of the USA’s most stunning natural treasures.

Prices & Dates

There are currently no departures available on this trip. Either it's the end of the season and new departures will be released shortly, or this itinerary has been changed and is not operating this season. Feel free to contact us for information about when next seasons dates will be released or click here to view general release dates for all destinations.

Note
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Pricing and trip details are correct at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by Trafalgar. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from the cruise-line and should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.

Similar Tours

10 Day Western Frontiers (Trafalgar)

10 Days Las Vegas Denver

Operated By: Trafalgar

From 4,171
Save 336
10 Day Western Frontiers (Trafalgar)

10 Days Las Vegas Rapid City

Operated By: Trafalgar

From 4,171
Save 336
15 Day Scenic Parks Explorer (Trafalgar)

15 Days Las Vegas Las Vegas

Operated By: Trafalgar

From 6,624
Save 441