Sturgis Ultimate USA Tour
The ultimate 22 day tour to the world famous Sturgis Bike Rally, and much, much more besides! Starting in Las Vegas and including Yellowstone, Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Rocky Mountains, Grand Canyon, Monument Valley and the iconic Route 66.
22 days, approx. 3,100 miles
31 July to 21 August 2020
Day 1. Arrive in Las Vegas
Settle into our themed hotel, right on the city’s famous Strip. This evening, we’ll all get together for a welcome meal, & celebrate the start of the adventure! Afterwards, take in the fantastic sights of Las Vegas – from the beautiful dancing waters of the Bellagio, to the calm canals complete with singing Gondoliers at the Venetian. Check it all out, maybe have a little flutter, lose your jetlag & acclimatise to the heat.Day 2. Free day
This morning, you’re free to do as you please until we meet up later to collect our trusty mounts, which we’ll be riding across deserts, through canyons, & over mountains in the coming days. But first, you have another evening to enjoy the hustle & bustle of Las Vegas, & prepare for an early start in the morning. While you are in Las Vegas why not consider treating yourself to one of our exciting Helicopter Tours!Day 3 – 189 miles.
Saddle up & move ‘em out for an early ride along The Strip as we leave the city (& the traffic) behind, & head through the Valley of Fire State Park, for our first taste of the dramatic scenery that will become a hallmark of this tour. We’ll stop for brunch in a one-horse town, then onward, following the winding course of the Virgin River to our overnight at Zion Canyon. Stable your steel mount for the evening, & take the free shuttle bus to explore the canyon, or maybe enjoy a refreshing swim in the pool, against the dramatic backdrop of majestic mountain peaks.Day 4 – 81 miles
Zion is one of the west’s most stunning National Parks, & the ride through it is one of our absolute favourites. Experience the dramatic scenery, closeness to nature, & wonderful colours of the rocky canyon as we climb the winding switchbacks to the cool green plateau above. We continue on towards Bryce Canyon, to marvel at the fascinating hoodoos & rock formations, & later we’ll have the chance to have dinner at a Cowboy Cookout, or watch real cowboys in action at the rodeo!Day 5 – 242 miles
Today we head northwards on scenic highways, we will ride through Circleville, where Butch Cassidy spent much of his childhood. We lunch at the Big Rock Candy Mountain, and spend tonight in the Olympic Ski Resort of Park City.Day 6 – 273 miles
This morning we’ll join the freeway for a while, then on to Bear Lake, for lunch. We’ll cross briefly into Idaho, before entering Wyoming & on to our stay in the cowboy town of Jackson Hole, in the foothills of the Grand Teton Mountains. There’s so much to do here; have a ride on horseback, a trip out on a chuck-wagon for supper, or just ride and enjoy the incredible scenery.
Day 7 – 176 miles
Today we’ll ride through Yellowstone where the scenery is stunning & a visit to Old Faithful, to see the most famous geyser in the world erupt is an absolute must! After lunch at Buffalo Bill’s former hunting lodge, we head east through the Sleeping Giant Mountains on our way to Cody for our overnight stay. You have the option of watching a cowboy shootout on Main Street, or a not-to-be-missed visit to the Rodeo to see the real cowboys doing their stuff!
Day 8 – Free Day
By popular demand, we have included a second night in Cody, to enable you to explore this great little town. The Buffalo Bill Historic Centre provides a fascinating insight into the man, the battle of Little Bighorn, & life back in the days of the pioneers who helped to shape America’s history. Or take a 175 mile loop ride up to the Beartooth Pass in Montana, to enjoy the challenging switchbacks & beautiful mountain scenery. The Chief Joseph Highway is one of the most beautiful rides you’ll ever experience. Alternatively, you may prefer to return to Yellowstone, to take a second look at this fantastic National Park. It’s your day – enjoy it!
Day 9 – 184 miles
Leaving Cody, we’ll be riding the sweeping roads & switchbacks of the Bighorn Mountains, & with the summit at almost 9500ft., look out for snow! After descending to Bear Lodge Resort for a delicious lunch, it’s back on the bikes for even more breathtaking scenery & brilliant riding roads. Tonight you get the chance to dine in the same restaurant used by Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid! Call in at the adjoining Occidental Hotel, for a taste of western life at the turn of the last century. We’re right in Indian country now, so it may be prudent to form the bikes into a circle & post a watch at nights!
Days 10-13 – 199 miles
We’re heading for Sturgis today, & crossing the state line into South Dakota. We’ll be in the beautiful Black Hills Region for the next 4 days, giving us plenty of time to soak up the crazy atmosphere of the worlds biggest motorcycle rally. Indulge in a beer at One Eyed Jack’s or the Broken Spoke Saloon, & watch the bikes parade up & down Main Street. Watch the headline bands playing at the famous Buffalo Chip campground. We stay in a 4* in the lively old gold rush town of Deadwood, around 12 miles from Sturgis. Rich in pioneer history, Deadwood hosts the cemetery where Calamity Jane lies beside her friend Wild Bill Hickok, who was famously shot here in 1876. Over the next few days you’re going to see more motorcycles than you’ve ever seen before, but if you feel you’ve overdosed on steel & chrome, you can always head out to the peaceful tranquillity of Badlands National Park, picturesque Spearfish Canyon, or maybe visit Devil’s Tower for a ‘Close Encounter.’
Day 14 – 200 miles
Leaving Sturgis early we’ll ride through Keystone, & stop for a photo at Mt Rushmore, then on to visit the fascinating Crazy Horse Monument. Today we’re heading back into Wyoming & southbound through Custer State Park, where buffalo still roam, alongside bighorn sheep & cute little prairie dogs on the plains. Later we’ll ride along part of the notoriously dangerous old Deadwood-Cheyenne stagecoach route, where robberies, horse thefts & murders were commonplace in the late 19th century.
Day 15 – 260 miles
Continuing south into Colorado & towards Denver, we’ll be visiting the old Fort Laramie. No longer the old wooden frontier fort you may expect, but a fascinating living history museum. After a visit to Thunder Mountain Harley-Davidson, we’ll spend tonight at Loveland, on the edge of the beautiful Rocky Mountain National Park.
Day 16 – 227 miles
Riding west through the Rockies, we’ll be taking in all the fantastic forest & mountain scenery today, arguably the best of the whole tour. Wrap up warm, as it gets pretty cold at almost 12,000 feet. You can even park the bike & walk up to the snow line from here! Relax in the evening when we reach Glenwood Springs, by taking the waters in the natural spa, reputed to have health-giving properties.
Day 17 – 235 miles
Continuing south on scenic mountain roads studded with old silver mines, we continue through Colorado to Durango, passing through historic frontier & silver mining towns of yesteryear. We’ll be stopping for lunch at Silverton, a fascinating old town, with the most beautiful stagecoach in the street, not to mention the original old steam train still running every day.
Day 18- 164 miles
Today we will visit four states all at once, at “Four Corners,” where Colorado, Utah, Arizona & New Mexico meet. We continue south-west into Utah today, where you’ll ride the road with one of the most magnificent views in the world – the approach to Monument Valley. Perhaps take a tour down into the valley floor, guided by a genuine Navajo Indian, who will tell you all about the folklore & traditions of these sacred lands. Later, enjoy the glorious sunset over the valley from your balcony, & if you’re an early bird, the sunrise is pretty spectacular, too!
Day 19 – 185 miles
This morning we leave Monument Valley, & the awe-inspiring formations of buttes & mesas, familiar through many films & TV adverts. We’ll cross into Arizona, & ride through the Painted Desert, for a traditional Navajo lunch. Then ride on to the Grand Canyon for our overnight stay, in plenty of time to watch the colourful sunset over the biggest hole in the ground you ever did see! You have time to fly over the Canyon by helicopter too!
Day 20 – 245 miles
Today we join some of the most scenic parts of the iconic Route 66, through Seligman, Kingman & over the twisty Sitgreave’s Pass into the quaint old mining town of Oatman. We overnight on the Mother Road, in the heart of Kingman,
Day 21 – 162 miles
Our final riding day sees us crossing into Nevada and riding over the spectacular Hoover Dam, as we head back to Las Vegas. Time to return our motorcycles, & later maybe join up for a fond farewell meal, & recap on the wonderful adventures we’ve enjoyed together in the last 3500 miles!
Day 22 – departure
Say goodbye to Las Vegas, and we hope to ride another amazing adventure with you again sometime.
Sturgis guided motorcycle tours USA, prices:
| Per person: | 2020 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 people, 1 bike, 1 room | £5275 | |||||
| 2 people, 2 bikes, 1 room | £7385 | |||||
| 1 person, 1 bike, 1 room | £8995 |
