A Frozen Wilderness Adventure
Yellowstone National Park
January 8 to 16, 2028
Private Trip Available Safari Overview
Discover Yellowstone National Park in its most dramatic season — where geysers steam against snow-draped valleys, waterfalls lock in ice, and wildlife roams freely across a frost-covered landscape. Join expert local guide Chris Desborough for an intimate look at the park’s most iconic residents, including bison, elk, foxes, and the legendary gray wolf — each encounter offering stunning photographic opportunities unique to the winter season. Venture into the Lamar Valley, a vast wildlife corridor renowned as “America’s Serengeti,” where wolf pack sightings rank among the most thrilling and most sought-after shots in wildlife photography. Time spent in the Upper Geyser Basin puts you front and center for Old Faithful’s signature eruption, a spectacle made even more striking against a crisp winter sky. We’ve also timed this trip to coincide with a shallow partial lunar eclipse and supermoon, offering a rare chance (weather permitting) to photograph Old Faithful erupting beneath a luminous, larger-than-life moon — a truly once-in-a-lifetime shot. Enjoy the comforts of private bus and snowcoach travel throughout the tour, ensuring access to the park’s more remote and rewarding corners, giving photographers time and flexibility to capture the raw beauty of Yellowstone in winter.
WHY CHOOSE THIS TRIP?
- Extraordinary Wildlife and Landscapes: Capture stunning images from frost-covered bison to the brilliant colors of the iconic Grand Prismatic Spring glowing against a snow-covered backdrop.
- Special Lunar Timing: Delight in the rare chance to photograph Old Faithful against a dramatic celestial backdrop of a supermoon and partial lunar eclipse (weather permitting), timed to coincide with this trip.
- Intimate Group Size: Enjoy a small-group experience that allows for a flexible pace, spontaneous stops, and personalized support from the guide.
- Learn from a Local Expert: Gain insight from seasoned guide Chris Desborough, whose deep familiarity with Yellowstone’s winter rhythms maximizes every wildlife encounter and photographic opportunity.
- Explore Beyond the Beaten Path: Venture into more remote corners of the park, teeming with undisturbed wildlife and untouched scenery — accessible only by snowcoach.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The trip was everything I have always experienced on Cheesemans trips … maximum time in the field, experienced and organized trip leader, great people to share the experience with. All around one of the best trips ever! – Marc Lombardi |
TRIP MAP
NOTABLE EXPERIENCES
Itinerary Updated: June 2026
FAQ
| Date | Description | Lodge | Meals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 8 | Arrive in Bozeman, Montana. Settle in and rest up — your Yellowstone adventure begins tomorrow. | Hampton Inn, Bozeman | |
| Jan 9 | Journey into Yellowstone. Meet your guide and driver to begin your journey to the park along the Yellowstone River. Take in the first glimpses of the park’s breathtaking winter scenery. | Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, Yellowstone National Park | B, L, D |
| Jan 10 | Wildlife Photography in Lamar Valley. Explore Lamar Valley, tracking and photographing iconic wildlife including bison, elk, moose, and hopefully wolves. | Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, Yellowstone National Park | B, L, D |
| Jan 11 | Hayden Valley and Central Yellowstone. Board the private snowcoach and travel through Hayden Valley en route to Central Yellowstone, with plenty of stops along the way for wildlife sightings and photography. | Old Faithful Snow Lodge, Yellowstone National Park | B, L, D |
| Jan 12-13 | Upper Geyser Basin Exploration. Travel on foot and by private snowcoach through Yellowstone’s famous geyser basins, capturing steamy thermal pools, bubbling mud pots, and wildlife in the snow. | Old Faithful Snow Lodge, Yellowstone National Park | B, L, D |
| Jan 14 | Sunrise Among the Geysers and Return to Mammoth. Begin the day with a morning walk along the geyser basin boardwalk before a scenic snowcoach ride back to Mammoth Hot Springs, watching for wildlife along the way. | Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, Yellowstone National Park | B, L, D |
| Jan 15 | Final Wildlife Encounters and Farewell Dinner. Make one last visit to Lamar Valley for a final day of wildlife photography before heading back to Bozeman. | Hampton Inn, Bozeman | B, L, D |
| Jan 16 | Depart for Home. Depart Bozeman with unforgettable memories and a stunning portfolio of winter wildlife and landscapes. | B |
Get the Full Daily Itinerary
Our Trip Leaders
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Chris Desborough
Chris DesboroughChris, originally from the U.K., has been living near Yellowstone’s Northwest entrance for the last 34 years. He is passionate about wildlife photography and the Yellowstone Ecosystem. His background in optical engineering has led him to work with many optical lithography systems such as those of Canon and Nikon. Chris has completed several trips with Cheesemans’ and matches Cheesemans' Co-Owner and Co-CEO, Scott Davis', passion for photography and working with others.
- Cost & Payments
- Included
- Not Included
- FAQ
- Climate
- Fitness Level
- Transportation
- Flights
Conservation- Conditions
Cost & Payments
Costs (in US$)
| Type | Cost Per Person |
|---|---|
| Trip Cost, double occupancy | $7,750 |
| Single Supplement | $1,500 |
Share the Experience – Earn Travel Credit
Know someone who would love this trip? Refer a friend and you’ll both benefit—you get credit toward a future adventure, and they receive a discount on their first trip with us. See how our Referral Program works ›
Costs are per person, double occupancy, not including airfare, singles extra. See Included and Not Included sections for more details.
If you are a single traveler, we will try to find a roommate for you, but if we cannot pair you with a roommate, we may charge you a single supplement. Single rooms cost extra and are subject to availability.
Payment Schedule
| Payment | Due Date | Amount Per Person |
|---|---|---|
| Deposit | Due now to reserve your space | $1,500 |
| Final | August 1, 2027 | Remaining balance |
Payments are due based on the schedule above. All reservations require a deposit to confirm reservation of your space.
Cancellations
Until the Final Payment due date, deposits are refundable except for a cancellation fee of $150 per person, which can be applied toward another trip if reserved within six months of the canceled trip’s departure date. Cancellations are non-transferable. No refunds are given after the Final Payment due date.
Included
- Carbon offsets for the duration of this trip.
- All leaders, transport, park entry fees, and permits for all activities unless described as optional.
- Accommodations for the nights of January 8 through January 15.
- Meals from breakfast on January 9 through breakfast on January 16.
- Transfers on January 8 and January 16 via complimentary hotel shuttle between the Hampton Inn and Bozeman Airport (BZN).
- Gratuities for bus and snowcoach drivers, meal services, and hotel staff and porters at Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel and Old Faithful Snow Lodge.
- Trip Planning Materials – information about entry requirements, flights, packing, gratuities, etc.
Not Included
- Carbon offsets for your flights to/from this trip.
- All airfare, airport and departure taxes, and excess baggage fees.
- Divergent airport transfers and extra hotel nights.
- Gratuities for luggage porters, hotel staff, and shuttle drivers at the Hampton Inn Bozeman.
- Emergency evacuation insurance and trip cancellation insurance.
- Items of a personal nature such as laundry, telephone calls, medical costs or hospitalization, room service, alcoholic beverages, items not on the regular menu, etc. If you have special dietary needs, please indicate them on your Traveler Form.
Climate
Daytime temperatures are usually around 0°F (-20°C) but may reach up to the 20s°F (-5°C). Subzero overnight temperatures are common. Warm winds will occasionally push daytime temperatures into the 40s°F (5 to 10°C), causing significant melting of the snowpack at lower elevations, but cold snaps may drive temperatures much lower. Snow is a good possibility.
Fitness Level
You should be comfortable walking with and carrying your gear or standing for several hours at a time. The group usually covers distances under one mile at a slow pace and may occasionally walk short distances in snow. Please contact us if you have any health concerns that may make this trip challenging.
Flights
Detailed logistical information is included in the Trip Planning Materials we will send you.
Please wait to book your flights until you receive confirmation from your Coordinator that the minimum number of participants has been met to operate the trip. If you choose to book flights before receiving this confirmation, we strongly recommend purchasing flight cancellation insurance to protect your investment.
Flights you book
- Arrive in Bozeman, Montana (BZN) anytime on January 8.
- Depart from Bozeman, Montana (BZN) anytime on January 16.
FAQ
Is this a good trip for non-photographers?
Absolutely! While this is a photography-focused trip, the wildlife encounters, geothermal landscapes, and intimate group experience are equally rewarding for nature lovers of all kinds. The small group size also allows for flexibility of pace for photographers and non-photographers alike.
Will wolf sightings be guaranteed?
Lamar Valley is widely regarded as one of the best places in the world to spot wild gray wolves, and sightings do occur; however, as with all wildlife, they can never be guaranteed. Your leader, Chris, assisted by an additional local guide in Lamar Valley, will do their best to maximize your chances of a sighting.
Is Yellowstone crowded in winter?
Winter visitation is significantly lower than summer, allowing for a quieter experience and more opportunities to enjoy wildlife and geothermal areas without the large crowds that accompany the other seasons.
Is winter a good time to visit Yellowstone National Park?
Many travelers consider winter the most magical season in Yellowstone. Snow-covered landscapes, fewer visitors, abundant wildlife viewing opportunities, and steaming geothermal features create a unique experience not found during summer, fall, or spring.
Accommodations
Motion Sickness
Transportation
Travel in a private 15-passenger bus between Bozeman and Yellowstone National Park, as well as around Lamar Valley, then in a snowcoach deep in the park to the geyser basins, because many interior park roads are closed to regular vehicles during winter. For maximum flexibility, we charter a private bus and snowcoach on four days.
Conservation
Our company ethos has always regarded conservation as inseparable from responsible tourism. We struggle with the dilemma that traveling worldwide expends climate-changing carbon. However, we wholeheartedly believe that traveling with us will cultivate your passion for conserving our beautiful world while stimulating each destination’s local economy. We encourage you to explore the various ways in which Cheesemans’ operates within this context:
- Cheesemans’ Trips are Carbon Neutral
- Offsetting your Travel to/from our Trip: We ask you to pledge to offset the carbon emissions for your travel to and from our trips. Use this tool to calculate your emissions and purchase your carbon offset today through Sustainable Travel International, or through your favorite carbon offsetting organization.
Together, we can continue exploring and cherishing this planet while working toward its long-term protection. Thank you for being part of this important journey with us.
Conditions
Read our current Terms and Conditions.