America Gap Year Tours

The Northern Trail - 21 Days

This tour is ideal for travellers who want to experience the splendours of the American North. This tour offers the perfect blend of cities and national parks from coast to coast.

Your tour will begin in New York City. We leave the Big Apple and cross the Hudson River heading for the beautiful Finger Lake and Niagara Falls for the Maid of the Mist boat ride. From the majestic falls we continue onto the “Windy City” of Chicago. Chicago is home to America’s tallest building and some of the best blues in the country.

We continue our journey through the American Plains that were once the Western Frontier. We will also cross America’s two longest rivers, the Missouri and the Mississippi. We enter South Dakota and visit the Badlands National Park and the Black Hills. This portion of the plains is sacred Sioux Indian Territory where Native Americans still live. We carry on past the well-known American symbol, Mt Rushmore, to see the former presidents faces carved into the mountain. We also pass the Native Americans version of Mt Rushmore, Crazy Horse Monument, which is still a work in progress. This great sculpture is being carved in memory of Crazy Horse the great Sioux chief.

We continue our tour into Wyoming and into the heart of cowboy country. Here we will take in volcanic geysers and the amazing wildlife of Yellowstone National Park. We also will visit the spectacular Grand Teton National Park, a picture postcard opportunity. We will have ample opportunity to take in the scenery and go on some great hikes before heading for Jackson. Jackson gives us a chance for rafting on the Snake River by day and fun in a western saloon by night.

We continue through the West to the great state of California. Take in Lake Tahoe and try your hand at sailing or try your luck in Las Vegas at the slots before we head to Yosemite National Park. The Yosemite Valley offers a plethora of hiking and photo opportunities.

Then, onto the “City by the Bay” San Francisco where you can visit Chinatown, take a cable car ride; see a baseball game or the famous Fisherman’s Wharf. We then head south to Monterrey along the coast to LA where we will end with a visit Hollywood and Universal Studios.

Included in tour

Services of the tour leader, camping fees / equipment and transportation
Niagara Falls Maid of the Mist Cruise
Admission to Mount Rushmore National Memorial
Crazy Horse Monument
Admission to Universal Studios
Admission to all National Parks & Monuments

Not Included

International Flights
Hotel Accommodation on nights noted (H)
Travel Insurance
Spending Money
Food (Kitty will be collected USD$9 per day)

Accommodation & Meals
This is a camping tour. Camping or unpaid Hotel (H) when noted. You will contribute to a food kitty of $9 per day. This will provide for 3 meals a day usually. While on the tour you will take turns cooking meals. Eating fresh food that we purchase as we travel to satisfy the international flavour of the group- a healthy way to travel at an unbeatable price.

Stops
Depart New York at 0730 hrs

1 Finger Lakes
2 Niagara Falls
3 Ohio
4 Chicago (H)
5 Chicago (H)
6 Minnesota
7 South Dakota
8 Badlands NP
9 Sioux Indian Lands
10 Yellowstone NP
11 Yellowstone NP
12 Jackson
13 Idaho/Nevada
14 Lake Tahoe
15 Yosemite NP
16 Yosemite NP
17 San Francisco
18 San Francisco
19 Monterey
20 Pacific Coast
21 Los Angeles

Reverse itinerary - departs our Los Angeles hotel at 0730 hrs. Please read itinerary in reverse.

Optional Extras
Natural Hot Springs
San Francisco cable cars
Chicago Blues clubs
Horseback riding
Whitewater rafting (in season)
Mountain biking  Indian museum
Chicago Museums
Sea Kayaking
Sears Tower
Aquarium visit
Excellent hiking opportunities
Cycling in Yosemite Valley
San Francisco Bay sunset cruise
Excellent hiking opportunities

Dates & Prices
The Northern Trail USA tour price varies according to the time of year. Please contact us for exact dates and prices.