Big Sky, Montana
June 8 - 14
Join us in Big Sky, Montana for a week of adventures. We will be exploring the hot springs and wildlife of Yellowstone National Park, hike mountain trails, go ziplining through the Big Sky Ski Resort, whitewater rafting down the Gallatain river, and stand-up paddleboarding in Hyalite canyon.
Enrollment Deadline May 1, 2021
On this expedition, students will:
Hike the mountain trails of Big Sky, Montana
Explore Yellowstone National Park (Visit grand prismatic hot spring, Mammoth hot spring, observe buffalo)
White water raft down the Gallatin River
Zipline through the Big Sky Ski Resort
Stand up paddleboard and explore Hyalite Canyon
Explore the streets and shops of Bozeman, Montana
Gain leadership skills via workshops and group initiatives
Build confidence and courage in a supportive and fun-filled environment.
7 Day Itinerary
Day 1: Fly from Chicago O’Hare Airport to Bozeman, Montana
After a 2.5 hour flight our guides will meet you at the small airport in Bozeman, Montana. From there it is a 45 minute drive to the log cabin in Big Sky, Montana. After settling into the cabin and getting to know the group/area for the week — there will be the opportunity to walk around downtown Big Sky or relax in the hot tub.
Day 2: Ziplining and hiking mountain trails
Today will be spent enjoying the views of the mountains from above and below! We begin our day with ziplining through the trees and completing team challenges and epic team-building initiatives. We then head into the mountains for some hiking and wildlife viewing around the Gallatin National Forest and Spanish peaks surrounding the Big Sky region of Montana.
Day 3: Whitewater rafting the Gallatin River and hike to Ousel Falls
Today we grab our water gear and head out to whitewater raft down the Gallatin River. The local river is beyond gorgeous with breaktaking views and refreshing clear water to keep our adrenaline pumping. No experience is needed ahead of time as our professional raft guides navigate the rapids and help the team work together to paddle through each challenge. The afternoon slows down with a relaxing hike to Ousel Waterfall where we enjoy a snack and enjoy the views.
Day 4: Explore Yellowstone National Park
A visit to the Big Sky region is far from complete without a visit to the infamous Yellowstone National Park! The group will spend the day looking for bighorn sheep, bison, elk and perhaps even a few bears! We will have plenty of time to hike around the Grand Prismatic, Mammoth hot springs and local trails. A visit with the local park rangers will provide ample opportunity to learn about the park, wildlife and catch a glimpse of life as a ranger in Yellowstone.
Day 5: Bozeman Day, Hyalite Canyon, Stand-Up Paddleboarding and Pizza Party in the Park
We head off to the amazing mountain town of Bozeman, MT and home of Montana State University for a day of fun! A few hours of free time in Bozeman to cruise the shops and cafes before we venture to Hyalite Canyon. This gorgeous region is full of hiking trails, a large lake for paddle boarding, a beach and plenty of trees to string up some hammocks. We then head back to Bozeman for the delicious organic all-natural Red Tractor Pizza to be enjoyed picnic-style at the park. The evening commences with group game time back at home and time to relax in the hot tub before tomorrow’s epic hike.
Day 6: Celebratory Hike to breathtaking Lava Lake
Today is the day! All week we will have prepared for this gorgeous 6 mile round trip hike to Lava Lake, one of THE most famous hikes of the region. We will enjoy a morning trek to the lake where those daring enough to jump into the crisp cool water can enjoy a very refreshing freshwater soak. The team will have time to relax, take pictures, admire wildlife and enjoy a picnic lunch before venturing back to the vehicle. Our last night in Big Sky includes some time exploring downtown and a final evening of games before heading out the next day.
Day 7 Fly back home
The team will enjoy a final goodbye breakfast before heading off to the airport to return home to Chicago.
Housing
We will be staying in a private log cabin in Big Sky, Montana.
ESTIMATED PROGRAM TRAVEL COSTS: $1,950
What's Included: Program fee covers the following travel costs: lodging, supplies, all food (except meals/snacks purchased during free time or flight), local transportation, and activities.
What's Not Included: Airfare is not included allowing you to use frequent flier miles or vouchers. We are happy to arrange airfare individually or for the entire group, just ask! Airfare as of Feb. 15 is currently at $287 round trip.
Payment
PAYMENT SCHEDULE
Deposit: $250 to secure your position on the trip. (Non-refundable but transferable)
Remainder: $1,700 due May 8th, 2021.
If paying by check you may mail a check to:
Global Treks and Adventures
278 Mankato Ave #201
Winona, MN 55987
If paying by credit card please use the button below: (There is a 3% transaction fee if using a credit card)
CANCELLATION AND COVID-19 POLICY
Transferable deposits: All deposits can be transferred to a future program, to a friend, a family member, or donated to another applicant in the Global Treks world for up to 2 years of the payment.
Payments made after the deposit can be refunded up to 30 days before the first day of the trip. Cancellations within 30 days of the first day of the trip are non-refundable.
Covid-19 policy specific to this trip: If you test positive for Covid-19 within 14 days of the trip and provide a copy of the positive test result with your name on it, we will issue a refund minus the transferable deposit. If you test positive for Covid-19 during the trip, the entire program fee is non-refundable.
Global Treks and Adventures is closely monitoring the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the US State Department regarding the most up to date travel recommendations, health warnings and suggestions for prevention. We are committed to sharing this information with our students/clients as best we can, and are continuously evaluating how the Coronavirus (COVID-19) may impact our programming and travelers throughout the world.
We work closely with our local contacts in each country we operate, as well as connect with our local US government agencies, to maintain the most up to date communication regarding all aspects of travel risks. At this time, we feel comfortable maintaining our course while keeping a close eye on the potential risks posed by COVID-19. Our students’ safety remains our priority and our focus will remain on supporting the health of our participants/instructors and communicates we work within, both here in the US and abroad.
We do encourage all of our participants to obtain travel insurance to help ease their mind when it comes to the financial investment associated with any type of travel, whether traveling with Global Treks or any other organization. Global Treks will continue to honor our reimbursement policies, yet we also encourage participants to obtain insurance, as there are always unexpected hurdles that can occur with any type of travel.
We also encourage everyone to continue to practice safe and healthy precautions, especially hand-washing, to help combat the spread of any viral pathogen. We also encourage participants to remain vigilant in terms of seeking out trusted sources for updated information, including information from the CDC in their newsletter. You can sign up for their weekly newsletter HERE.
We will continue to provide relevant updates on this webpage. We also welcome all communication via email or phone to our office for specific programming questions.
Global Treks Office: 507-301-6466
Guidelines for purchasing flights
If you choose to fly you can book a flight into the local airport in Bozeman (airport code BZN). We will meet you at the Bozeman airport and drive the 1 hour to our research base in Big Sky. Participants should plan on arriving to the airport by 2:00 pm on the first day. We will be leaving the airport at 2:00 pm to head to the log cabin and begin orientation.
Global Treks will transport the everyone to the airport on the last day of the trip in the morning, so flights can be purchased to depart anytime on the final expedition day after 11 am (we will get everyone to the airport by 9 am).
Important Forms
Please sign and submit forms to Jen at Herdina@Global-treks.com or mail them to:
Global Treks and Adventures 278 Mankato Ave, Box #201 Winona, MN 55987