Yellowstone & Grand Teton Photo Expedition

Small group sizes are the best way to experience nature, and this is especially true for our photographic adventures. With only 12 travelers, you’re assured of plenty of space and personalized attention when you need it. As a small group, we maintain the flexibility to adapt to changing conditions in a way that maximizes the photo opportunities—we'll depart early in the morning to chase the best light, remain at a site of specific photographic interest to fully explore the potential, or move to a new destination when desired. Our expert naturalist and accomplished photographer is always available to answer your questions, provide tips and techniques, and to help you better understand and photograph this amazing region of the world.

Accommodations, meals from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on final day, drinking water throughout the trip, services of Nat Hab Expedition Leaders and local guides, airport transfer on Day 1 and final day, some gratuities, all permits, entrance fees and taxes.

Travel to and from the start and end point of your trip, alcoholic beverages, some gratuities, passport and visa fees (if any), optional activities, items of a personal nature (phone calls, laundry and internet, etc.), airline baggage fees, airport and departure taxes (if any), optional travel protection and medical evacuation insurance.

Easy to Moderate
This adventure does not require a high degree of physical fitness; however, in order to get the most out of your experience, you must be able to walk at least one mile unassisted on dirt trails with potentially uneven terrain and inclines, and possibly muddy or slippery surfaces, at altitudes of up to 8,400 feet above sea level. In order to view Old Faithful, you must be able to walk 300 yards over gently sloping pavement and boardwalk.  To explore Yellowstone’s geothermal basins, you must be able to walk at least one mile over boardwalk, dirt trails and undulating paved paths. Depending on the location of wildlife, each day may bring several opportunities for short walks ranging from 300 yards to one mile, sometimes on well-maintained trails or pavement, sometimes on rough, uneven terrain with some inclines. Depending on our schedule and wildlife viewing, there may be an opportunity for active guests to hike up to five miles. Due to the altitude and terrain, hikes are considered moderate in terms of physical exertion. However, a fair amount of our wildlife viewing takes place from our vehicles that are selected to enhance observation opportunities. Our days generally start quite early, often before sunrise, when wildlife viewing is at its best and other visitors are at a minimum. We stress that all activities are optional.

On custom or private departures with smaller groups, our ability to accommodate varying levels of physical abilities or interests is limited, since these trips are staffed with a single Expedition Leader who may be assisted, pending availability, by local guides.

While the Lamar Valley and Yellowstone National Park offer some of the best opportunities to see wolves in the wild, they are still very elusive and generally do not come within close range of humans. Since our trip offers a totally natural, uncontrived experience, most wolf viewing is done at a distance through spotting scopes. We are thus able to watch the packs go about their normal behavior uninfluenced by the presence of humans. It is important to understand that it is extremely difficult to see wolves without the use of a spotting scope (which Nat Hab provides). Often, the best way to get wolf photos is with a cell phone camera through a spotting scope. Your Expedition Leader will help you with this technique, called “digiscoping.” While a long lens is a must for photographers, even then, we can't guarantee excellent shots of wolves. However, we are likely to see plenty of the region’s other iconic species at closer range, and the sheer beauty and grandeur of the landscape provides magnificent nature imagery.Our Expedition Leaders, who know the Greater Yellowstone region intimately, are adept at getting our groups to less-visited areas away from crowds. But of course, Yellowstone is a very popular destination, so be prepared for a fair amount of company no matter when you travel. We operate this Rocky Mountain safari in a manner similar to our African safaris: visiting prime wildlife locations in the early morning when viewing opportunities are best and most visitors are still asleep.

Arrival: Arrive by 4 pm in order to attend a welcome dinner beginning at 6 pm on Day 1.
Departure: You may depart at any time on the final day.