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Badlands Private Tour: Family-Owned Expert Guides
5.0
21 Ratings
Rapid City
Embark on a private Badlands tour with GeoFunTrek experts. Explore the secrets of this unique landscape with knowledgeable guides and create lasting memories with your group.
Embark on a private Badlands tour with GeoFunTrek experts. Explore the secrets of this unique landscape with knowledgeable guides and create lasting memories with your group.
Duration:
9 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Museum of Geology - “What the mind does not know, the eye cannot see”, is especially true of the Badlands. Here is where the veil of mystery will be lifted from the Badlands and its secrets revealed. This is the scientific institution where the geology and paleontology of the Badlands were defined and understood. The time spent here with your local experts will open your mind to what is to come.
- Museum of Geology - “What the mind does not know, the eye cannot see”, is especially true of the Badlands. Here is where the veil of mystery will be lifted from the Badlands and its secrets revealed. This is the scientific institution where the geology and paleontology of the Badlands were defined and understood. The time spent here with your local experts will open your mind to what is to come.
What's Included
- Bottled water included
- Complimentary snacks provided
- Bottled water included
- Complimentary snacks provided
What's Not Included
- Lunch
- Lunch
Additional Information
The Badlands hold a treasure trove of mysteries best revealed and demystified by an experienced guide. Guides at GeoFunTrek Tours are local mavens, boasting decades of experience. We do not employ seasonal, part-time, or intern guides. This family-operated business runs all tours by family members: Cindy, Christopher, and John Esposti. Our expertise and…
The Badlands hold a treasure trove of mysteries best revealed and demystified by an experienced guide. Guides at GeoFunTrek Tours are local mavens, boasting decades of experience. We do not employ seasonal, part-time, or intern guides. This family-operated business runs all tours by family members: Cindy, Christopher, and John Esposti. Our expertise and proficiency ensure a memorable day out. With GeoFunTrek Tours, you always engage with the top team!
All tours are PRIVATE TOURS, reserved for the group making the booking with no extra guests included. One adult must accompany minors. Infants aged 3 and below are free of charge and are allocated their own seating. When necessary, it’s the family’s responsibility to provide child car seats. Our most spacious vehicle is a 9-seater Sprinter van. Larger groups can arrange for bigger transportation or we can supplement with a Honda Pilot. This tour is ideal for families spanning three generations, groups of couples, and friends.
- GEOFUNTREK TOURS SAFETY UPDATE COVID-19 Your comfort and safety are our primary concern. Take a private tour, limited to your group only and enjoy the day. We have only three guides: John, Chris & Cindy. They are family members from the same household. They constantly monitor each other’s health. So even when not at work “THE BOSS” is always watching. We do not have vehicles with a wheelchair lift. We can accommodate a folding wheechair and the guest must be able to enter and exit the vehicle on their own. We will gladly assist with any needed assistance and pushing.
Location
Museum of Geology
501 East Saint Joseph Street, 3rd Floor of O'Hara Builidng on SDSMT campus
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(21 Ratings)
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1 star
Andrew_c
Oct 4, 2024
Highly recommended! - Tour Date: 9/24/24
This is my family's first time in South Dakota. We have wanted to go to the Badlands for quite sometime now and we wanted it to be the best experience. We spoke to John, one of the owners before the tour for a special request- to see the sunset in the Badlands. John said we'll check the weather and if it was favorable, we will adjust the tour time so we can see it. We got lucky that the weather was good on the day of the tour. Chris, another one of the owners, was our guide. He took us to the Museum of Geology and then to the Minuteman Missile National Historic Park. Chris knew we collect cancellation stamps at each national park we go to and made sure to take us to the visitor center of the Badlands and to different viewing areas of the park. The Badlands was beautiful and awe-inspiring! We weren't rushed, we had enough time to take photos and Chris took our photos when we asked him to. We went to Wall Drug for dinner and went back to the Badlands in time to set up for sunset. It was wonderful! Chris said we got lucky because it was one of the clearest sunsets he has seen lately. On our way home, we mentioned to Chris that we would like to see some stars and the Milky Way and he promised to take us to a place close to our hotel to see the night sky (see photo). He went out of his way to accommodate this special request and we appreciated that.
We highly recommend this private tour of the Badlands, etc. It was an amazing way to experience a beautiful part of South Dakota!
Review provided by Viator
Susan_c
Sep 17, 2024
Excellent tour - We really enjoyed touring the Badlands with Chris! He was a great guide and very informative.
We also got to see the Prairie Homestead and the Wall drugstore. We would highly recommend Chris and his company.
Review provided by Viator
Robert_m
Sep 5, 2024
Badlands excursion - John was an excellent tour guide! His knowledge of the Badlands and its Geology was amazing! He was also very knowledgeable about the Black Hills region in general. Once in the Badlands we pretty much tailored our own day!
Review provided by Viator
Gary_h
Jun 23, 2024
Knowledge and fun. Accommodating. - Chris is very knowledgeable as he grew up in the area. He knows the geology, the animals and how to find them. We even saw a burrowing owl standing sentinel over its new home in the prairie dog town.
Review provided by Viator
Roberta_k
Oct 20, 2023
The Badlands are GREAT! - A great day exploring the Badlands. Chris was our guide for 2nd day and his was terrific! Very interesting geology. Enjoyed the Geology museum and Minuteman Missle site/museum was very interesting. Definitely recommend this tour! Private tours the best!
Review provided by Viator
912kristil
Oct 10, 2023
Outstanding tour and guide - Wanted to give a big round of thanks to our guide Chris for an A+ tour of the Badlands. Although the scenery alone can only be described as stunning, Chris’ commentary and insights added so much to our day. Visited a fossil /artifact/geology museum to get an understanding of how the badlands evolved, a wonderful burger and fry lunch in Wall, and then a drive through the Badlands that culminated in a view of sun setting over this beautiful park. Chris was knowledgeable, fun and so friendly! Having a driver allowed us to see all the highlights and allowed everyone to enjoy the trip without the stress of searching for sights. Booking was great, follow thru perfect. Would absolutely recommend… and see the Badlands… like a surreal landscape like no place else I’ve ever been.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Allysonh865
Oct 10, 2023
Spectacular Experience!!! - Cindy is the best tour guide you will ever have the good fortune to meet!
We took a Badlands tour with her at the end of September on the last day of our vacation and she was absolutely fantastic. It is quite evident that she has spent a lifetime in tourism and is an expert in her field. She educates you with knowledge about the Black Hills and Badlands areas and you enjoy every minute. We told her what we most wanted to see and she went above and beyond to make our day perfect.
Look no further if you want the best tour possible. Thank you Cindy!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jol149
Sep 27, 2023
Fantastic Tours with GeoFun Trek Tours - One word, Fantastic! My family and I booked two tours with GeoFun Trek Tours. Our first tour was to the Northern Black Hills with John as our tour guide. Knowledgeable does not even begin to describe John. Through his knowledge, love of the area, and the poetry he recites made for a fantastic day. He was patient, understanding, and allowed us to make it a very personal and special private tour.
Our second tour was to the Badlands with John as our tour guide again. Through his knowledge of this area, his ability to communicate this knowledge and share his experiences was unbelievable. His passion comes through which allows one to see it through his eyes not as a tourist. Again, an unbelievable tour and experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Wendy
Aug 29, 2023
Fun, knowledgeable, flexible touring that is worth every penny! - My 12-year old and I spent an incredible day touring with Cindy. She is incredibly knowledgeable, flexible and thoughtful (and attentive to restroom stops!). Cindy took the time to understand what we were interested in seeing and tailored the day to us. We experienced places we wouldn’t have thought/known to visit on our own and especially loved learning about how the Badlands were formed and what we were looking at in the layers of rock. And, we were very fortunate to see big horned sheep and buffaloes! We highly recommend GeoTrek Tours - worth every penny!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Warren_n
Aug 28, 2023
Great day in the badlands - Great tour with Chris who was excellent and very knowledgeable. Chris went out of his way to ensure we spent sufficient time at the places which we particularly wanted to. Would definitely recommend this tour.
Review provided by Viator
