MONTANA: BIG SKY COUNTRY
August 15-25, 2026Yellowstone. Beartooth Highway. Hot springs under stars. Cowboys and the real American West.---THE JOURNEY11 days in Montana. Based in Laurel - a small town an hour from Yellowstone's north entrance. We'll spend three days in the park, drive the most beautiful road in America, soak in natural hot springs, experience Montana culture beyond the tourist version.Small group. 5 people max. We go slow. We go deep.---DAY-BY-DAY**Day **1: Thursday, August 14 - Arrive Billings → Laurel
- Fly into Billings Logan International Airport
- 15-minute drive to Laurel (our base)
- Settle into the house
- Welcome dinner
- Stars. So many stars.Days 2-4: Friday-Sunday - Yellowstone National Park
Day 2: Mammoth Hot Springs, Lamar Valley (wildlife - bison, elk, maybe wolves/bears)
Day 3: Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring, geyser basins
Day 4: Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, Hayden Valley, Yellowstone LakePack breakfast & lunch. Back to Laurel for dinner. Early starts to beat crowds.Day 5: Monday - Beartooth Highway
- "The most beautiful drive in America" - Charles Kuralt
- 68 miles, 10,947 feet elevation
- Alpine lakes, snow in August, mountain goats
- Picnic at Top of the World
- Stop in Red Lodge on the way backDay 6: Tuesday - Rest & Local Laurel
- Saturday farmers market if timing works
- Stillwater River
- Cook together at the house
- OR optional: Absarokee for coffee, Roscoe for fishing
- Slow day, recover from YellowstoneDay 7: Wednesday - Chico Hot Springs
- Paradise Valley (1.5 hours north)
- Natural hot springs resort (since 1900)
- Soak all day in mineral pools
- Dinner at the historic lodge
- Night soak under stars
- Drive back to LaurelDay 8: Thursday - Billings & Pictograph Cave
- 2,000+ year-old cave paintings (Crow, Shoshone history)
- Downtown Billings - local coffee, bookstores
- Moss Mansion tour (1903 mansion)
- Sunset from the Rims (view over the city)Day 9: Friday - Cowboy Culture
- Check for rodeos, county fairs, ranch tours (varies by year)
- OR horseback riding in the Beartooths
- Montana Bar & Grill for dinner
- Live music if we're lucky
- Real Montana, not tourist MontanaDay 10: Saturday - Stillwater Mining Country
- Old mining towns (Nye, Stillwater)
- Ghost town exploration
- Stillwater River
- Final group dinner - grill out at the house
- Reflection circleDay 11: Sunday, August 24 - Departure
- Leisurely breakfast together
- Clean up, pack
- Drive to Billings airport
- Depart---WHAT'S INCLUDED→ 11 days, 5 people total
→ Private house in Laurel with bedrooms for everyone
→ Most meals (we cook some, eat out some)
→ Rental vehicle for the group
→ Yellowstone park passes
→ Hot springs access
→ Chico Hot Springs dinner
→ All planned activities & excursionsNot included:
Flights to/from Billings, some restaurant meals, personal expenses, optional activities---WHAT WE'LL EXPERIENCE🦬 Yellowstone wildlife - Bison, elk, bears, wolves in Lamar Valley
♨️ Natural hot springs - Chico Hot Springs, historic resort
🏔️ Beartooth Mountains - Alpine lakes, "Top of the World" highway
🤠 Real Montana culture - Cowboys, rodeos, local bars, ranch life
🌌 Dark skies - Milky Way visible from the house
🍽️ Montana food - Local Farmer's Market, trout, huckleberries, local spots
🏛️ Native history - Pictograph Cave, 2,000 years of story---THE ACCOMMODATIONSPrivate house in Laurel, Montana
- 5 private bedrooms
- Full kitchen (we'll cook together some nights)
- Backyard with grill
- Front porch for sunrise over the Beartooths
- Washer/dryer
- 15 minutes to grocery stores, restaurantsLaurel is real Montana - population 7,000, railroad town, locals at the bars, NOT a tourist trap.---THE RHYTHMActive days: Early starts for Yellowstone (beat crowds), long drives, lots of walking
Rest days: Leisurely mornings, flexible afternoons, cook at home
Shared meals: Sometimes we cook, sometimes we eat out
Weather-dependent: We follow wildlife, weather, what feels rightThis isn't a rigid tour. We adapt.---WEATHER & PACKINGAugust in Montana:
- Days: 70-80°F (warm, sunny)
- Nights: 40-50°F (cool, layers needed)
- Yellowstone can be 10-15° cooler
- Possible afternoon thunderstorms
- Beartooth Highway: Can see snow in August at 11,000 ftBring:
- Layers (fleece, rain jacket)
- Hiking boots
- Sunscreen & sunglasses (high elevation UV)
- Binoculars for wildlife
- Water bottle
- Sense of adventure---IMPORTANT NOTES- Yellowstone will be busy (peak season) but we'll time it smart
- Active trip - hiking, walking, elevation changes (Yellowstone is 7,000-8,000 ft)
- Wildlife is wild - we maintain safe distances, no guarantees on sightings
- Flexible itinerary - if a grizzly is spotted somewhere, we go. If weather's bad, we adjust.
- Small group energy matters - this is intimate travel---PRICING$3,500 per person
11 days, accommodations, most meals, vehicle, park passes, activities---SPACE FOR 5 TRAVELERSAugust 15-25, 2026Montana doesn't wait. Yellowstone's geysers don't pause. The Beartooth doesn't care if you're ready.This is Big Sky Country. Come see why.

• Apply Now