Yellowstone Private Tour: Old Faithful, Wildlife & Springs

Six to eight hours hitting Yellowstone's most active geysers, colorful hot springs, and wildlife valleys in one day.

A private full-day Yellowstone tour customized to your group's interests, with a medically trained naturalist guide, air-conditioned vehicle, park entry and gourmet lunch included. The itinerary spans Old Faithful's eruptions, Grand Prismatic Spring, Norris Geyser Basin, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Hayden Valley's wildlife, Mud Volcano's mudpots, and Mammoth Hot Springs' travertine terraces. Your guide adjusts the route and timing based on what matters most to you, and shares stories about the park's geology and human history along the way. International visitors may pay an additional park entrance fee at pickup.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Old Faithful Geyser30m
2. Grand Prismatic Spring45m
3. Hayden Valley30m
4. Mud Volcano Area30m
5. Norris Geyser Basin30m · entry included
6. Mammoth Hot Springs45m

Explore Yellowstone's key natural sights

• Watch Old Faithful geyser eruption
• Hike to Grand Prismatic Spring overview
• Explore geyser basin by Yellowstone Lake
• View Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
• Walk to secret viewpoint at canyon
• Spot wildlife in Hayden Valley
• Visit Mud Volcano sulphuric mudpots
• Explore Norris Geyser Basin
• Visit Mammoth Hot Springs and Canary Spring

The experience

Old Faithful erupts on a predictable schedule, so your guide times the day to catch it, then moves through the park's other thermal features at a pace that fits your group. You'll hike to an overlook of Grand Prismatic Spring, the third-largest hot spring on earth and the most colorful one, with its brilliant blues and yellows created by heat-loving bacteria. The route takes in Norris Geyser Basin, the oldest and hottest geyser basin in the park, and a short walk to a secret viewpoint of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone's dramatic colored walls and waterfalls.

Wildlife watching anchors the afternoon. Hayden Valley is where all the large animals converge (grizzlies, elk, pronghorn and bison), and your guide knows where to look and how long to wait. You'll also visit Mud Volcano's otherworldly sulphuric mudpots and learn about the thermoacidophiles that survive in that extreme environment, then finish at Mammoth Hot Springs to see the travertine terraces and the famous Canary Spring. At midday your guide serves a gourmet picnic lunch. Dietary requests are accommodated with notice.

The vehicle is air-conditioned and seats your group alone. Your guide is medically trained and speaks English, so they can handle any situation that arises. Because the itinerary is built around your preferences, not a fixed schedule, you spend more time at the stops that matter to you and skip the ones that don't.

What’s included

• Private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• park entry fees.
• a private, medically trained naturalist guide who speaks English.
• gourmet picnic lunch with dietary accommodations available on request.

Before you book

Days and timesThursday to SaturdayDeparts at 07:30

Book up to2d before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 7 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 100

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcome

Operated by Good Trip Adventures

Is this one for you?Your guide speaks English and can adjust the day's pace and stops based on what your group wants to see, so you're not locked into a fixed schedule or a group's rhythm. This works well if your interests don't match a standard route or if you want to spend extra time at one stop and skip another.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24h before the start.

What is Old Faithful and why does it erupt on a schedule?

Old Faithful is Yellowstone's most famous geyser, a cone of silica that shoots hot water and steam into the air roughly every 90 minutes. The eruptions happen because water seeps down through cracks in the rock, gets heated by geothermal energy deep below, and builds pressure until it forces its way back to the surface.

Can I see grizzly bears and wolves on this tour?

Grizzlies, elk, bison and pronghorn are common in Hayden Valley, and your guide will watch for them throughout the day. Wolves and other wildlife may appear, but sightings depend on where the animals are on any given day. Your guide knows the best places to look and will adjust the route accordingly.

How much walking and hiking is involved?

The tour includes short hikes and walks at several stops: a short hike to the Grand Prismatic Spring overlook, a short walk to a viewpoint of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, and walks through the geyser basins and hot springs areas. The itinerary is suitable for all physical fitness levels, and your guide can adjust the pace and distance based on your group's comfort.

Is park entry included in the price?

Yes, park entry is included. International visitors may be charged an additional National Park entrance fee at the time of pickup, depending on residency.

What does the gourmet lunch include?

Your guide serves a gourmet picnic lunch at midday. The operator accommodates all dietary requests with advance notice, so let them know about any restrictions or preferences when you book.