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25,000+ trip reviews, with an average rating of 4.8 out of 5.
Starts
Ends
Rapid City, USA
Bismarck, USA
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Chamberlain: The future of the Lakota Oyate "Lakota Nation" takes center stage as you meet Marla C. Bull Bear, Executive Director of LYD, and the Rosebud tribal youth members for a traditional storytelling. Enjoy a traditional meal during this Be My Guest Experience, and plant knowledge as you get a true taste of the prairie and everything Grandmother Earth has to offer. Learn about their mission to reclaim their language, culture, and spirituality and how this experience supports local youth.
Pine Ridge Reservation: Learn the History of Wounded Knee as told by Warren Yellow Hair as you look upon where it happened. Listening to stories told from generation to generation will give you a perspective that cannot be gained from a history book but rather an authentic and emotional experience.
Badlands National Park: Enjoy the spectacular sights as you make your way through Badlands Loop Road.
Black Hills: Unlock the history of Crazy Horse Memorial. Learn how construction began in 1948 after Henry Standing Bear, a Lakota elder, commissioned Korczak Ziolkowski, who worked on construction of Mount Rushmore. While the original idea was to carve a face into rock like Mount Rushmore, the monument will ultimately have a full body and horse. There is no completion date yet, but the face of Crazy Horse was completed in 1998 at 87 feet 6 inches (26.7 m) high.
Chamberlain: The Dignity sculpture, a stunning combination of art and history. Specifically designed by sculptor Dale Lamphere to honor the cultures of the Lakota and Dakota people Dignity of Earth and Sky is a soaring sculpture of a native woman standing high on a bluff above the Missouri River.
Delve into the soul of the Dakotas with the National Parks and Native Trails tour, a 9-day, easy-paced journey crafted for experienced travelers seeking cultural depth. Beginning in Rapid City and ending in Bismarck, this guided trip is built in collaboration with local indigenous communities, offering authentic insight into Native American history, culture, and future.
Visit four reservations, engage in storytelling with passionate locals, and explore stunning National Parks and monuments along the way. Every stop is an opportunity to support and learn from Tribal Nations, making your trip as meaningful as it is memorable.
The USP? A unique, community-driven itinerary that prioritizes cultural respect, heritage, and personal connection—perfect for travelers who want their exploration to make a difference.
More time was needed at the Crazy Horse memorial
Was our visit to the 50th state, otherwise would probably not have booked.
had a great trip very educational learning about native americans and their history
Very educational.
The tour director () and driver () were outstanding, and made the best out of some unfortunate events on the trip. The trip Itinerary itself was good. The parks were great and the Lokota site visits and talks were very informative (and "eye-opening" and sobering). Unfortunately, the hotel accommodations and meals were not up to past Trafalgar experiences. There were no food options at several places and did not accommodate people with allergies, etc. In advance, my wife specifically notified Trafalgar that she had a severe egg allergy, but in two specific instances the 5 breakfast options available ALL included (already plated) egg dishes or French Toast (egg dipped). There were NO other food options at all: no yogurt, milk, cereal/ oatmeal, toast, or fruit. The "resort" we stayed at was located near NOTHING and we were forced to eat at the very expensive resort restaurant. It was so remote, calling out for a pizza (etc.) would result in an additional $20 delivery charge. The farewell dinner advertised "pot roast" as one option (much anticipated following the numerous exposures to "bison meats" at the Lakota sites), since pot roast is generally thoroughly cooked. Unfortunately, what was served instead was some cut of steak that was cooked VERY RARE. I sent it back, asking for NO PINK at all, because I cannot stomach rare meat and prefer well done, but it still came back VERY RED in the middle. As I stated in my previous critique of this trip, if this had been my first Trafalgar trip, it probably WOULD HAVE BEEN MY LAST. Bottom Line: For this itinerary: (1) Trafalgar needs to find hotels that have other dining options available NEAR BY, or that provide shuttle service to other restaurants. (2) The breakfasts should be either order from a menu or a buffet with multiple options to accommodate allergies, gluten free, or religious requirements, etc. (3) The meal options should NOT be "already plated" meals that do not take into account meal restrictions some people have. (4) They hotel/ restaurant should also provide sauces and salad dressings on the table, instead of slathered all over the food (which put egg-based product on otherwise edible meat, vegetables, or salads. Several people were very hungry during much of the trip - thankfully provided some snacks that helped everyone a little. [We also learned to "stock up" at gas stations/ convenience stores in case the meals were a problem.]
