Yellowstone Private Wildlife Safari with Lunch: Early Tours

Eight hours tracking bison, elk, bears and wolves through Yellowstone's prime valleys.

A private eight-hour guided wildlife tour departing West Yellowstone explores Lake Yellowstone and Hayden Valley, where you watch bison, elk, bears and wolves in their natural habitats. The tour includes pickup and drop-off from West Yellowstone, a knowledgeable guide, lunch, snacks, drinks, binoculars and a spotting scope. Pickup from Big Sky, Gardiner or inside the park is available as an option at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Yellowstone wildlife safari and exploration

• Start early guided wildlife tour
• Explore Lake Yellowstone
• Visit Hayden Valley
• Observe bison, elk, bears, wolves
• Enjoy lunch during the safari

The experience

Early departures give you the hours when wildlife is most active. You'll move through Lake Yellowstone and Hayden Valley, the two valleys where the park's largest animal populations concentrate. A guide who knows where to find them rides with your group the whole way, and a comfortable vehicle keeps everyone positioned for viewing. Binoculars and a spotting scope come with you, so you can watch from a distance without disturbing the animals.

Lunch is included: a deli-style meal you eat during the tour, not at a separate stop. Snacks and drinks travel with you throughout the day. The tour runs eight hours total, which gives you time to move between valleys and wait for sightings without rushing. Infants and small children can come along. The vehicle and pace work for all fitness levels.

Pickup and drop-off happen in West Yellowstone. If you're staying in Big Sky, Gardiner or elsewhere in the park, you can arrange a different pickup location when you book. Entrance fees to Yellowstone are not included and must be paid separately.

What’s included

• A private eight-hour guided tour with a knowledgeable guide speaking English.
• pickup and drop-off from West Yellowstone (or an alternate location if you choose that option at checkout).
• a comfortable vehicle with excellent viewing.
• binoculars and a spotting scope.
• lunch, snacks and drinks throughout the day.

Options for this experience

2 options

West YellowstoneGuide in English · 05:00Includes pickup

Pick-up FeeGuide in English · 05:00Intended for guests staying within the Park, in Gardiner, Big Sky, or Island Park. Includes pickup

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesWednesday, Saturday and SundayDeparts at 05:00Last departure this season: 31 Oct

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h 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$ 20

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendly

Operated by Hayden Valley Nature Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to move through two prime valleys with a guide who knows where to find wildlife, rather than drive the park on your own. The eight-hour window and early start are built around when bison, elk, bears and wolves are most active, so the timing itself is the strategy.

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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 24 h before the start.

What animals will I see on this Yellowstone wildlife tour?

Bison, elk, bears and wolves are the primary wildlife you'll encounter in Lake Yellowstone and Hayden Valley, where the tour focuses. Sightings depend on the season and the animals' movement that day, but the guide knows the valleys where these species are most likely to be found.

Does the tour include food and drinks?

Yes. Lunch is a deli-style meal included in the tour price, along with snacks and drinks throughout the eight hours. You eat during the tour as you move between valleys, not at a restaurant stop.

What time does the tour start?

The tour departs early in the morning to catch wildlife when it's most active. Exact departure time is confirmed when you book and arrange your pickup from West Yellowstone or another location.

Is Yellowstone entrance fee included?

No. Yellowstone National Park entrance fees are not included in the tour price and must be purchased separately when you enter the park.

Can I arrange pickup from somewhere other than West Yellowstone?

Yes. Pickup from Big Sky, Gardiner or inside the park is available as an option when you book. Standard pickup is from West Yellowstone, and you'll be dropped off at the same location at the end of the tour.