Rates Note:

Transfer Option:

Spring Flora & Fauna: Black Butte Trail - 3 Days
One of the best times for photo opportunities in Yellowstone National Park is springtime. Come to Yellowstone in the spring for a photographer’s paradise. We offer a special 3 day trip in Black Butte geared for photographers looking for that perfect shot.
In the spring Yellowstone National Park explodes with a rainbow of colored wild flowers: Indian paintbrush, sulfur paintbrush, yellow monkey-flower, Lewis’ monkey-flower, elephant’s head, shooting star, marsh marigold and blue penstemon to name a few. Colors in Yellowstone are at their peak in early July. Besides spectacular flowers, you will also see spring animals like mule deer, moose, American bison, bighorn sheep, elk and others. The sky will be painted with spectacular sunrises and sunsets. See why this is called Big Sky country.
Ride around the last of the drifted snow to the top of Bighorn Mountain carpeted in a profusion of flowers and gentle green grasses. Behold the majestic splendor of the Madison, Absaroka and Gallatin Ranges from 9000 feet, or relax in camp and capture streamside microcosms of unique plants such as a variety of grasses and ferns, and smaller animals like raccoons, river otters, shrews and others. Yellowstone National Park hosts as many as 200 species of birds including bald eagles, Peregrine falcons, and a plethora of ducks varieties.
This trip offers many choices for catching that perfect wilderness shot whatever your interests may be.

------------------- back to Top --------------------------

Sportsman's Lake - 3 Days

Join us for your vacation on a three day family oriented trip by horseback to Sportsman’s Lake in Yellowstone National Park, where a hungry host of captive West Slope Cutthroat trout await family fishing.
We will ride twelve miles into the camp where we will stay the remainder of the time. Guests can fish and play at their leisure in the family oriented camp site. There are places for kids to play including the ranger cabin porch to explore. There is a wide open meadow and the woods and rocks in nature’s play ground.
Or, if you desire, day rides out of camp will be possible to see local points of interest like Electric Pass with its spectacular view from 9000 feet. The more adventurous can head out to the Yellowstone National Park boundary on forgotten trails near Mol Heron Creek.
Wildlife is always plentiful in this area. Sportsman’s Lake is often home to moose which come out in the early morning or late evening to feed around the lake. Wolves, bears, mule deer, and elk are known to frequent the area.

We invite you to join us in this family playground and enjoy the backcountry of Yellowstone in the process. 

------------------- back to Top --------------------------

Slough Creek - 4 Days

This Yellowstone vacation trip will thrill fisherman and horseback riders alike with the great fishing and the spectacular scenery of Yellowstone National Park.
For the fisherman, you can ride into camp and spend the next three days fishing until your heart is content. The cutthroat trout are impressive, averaging 18 – 20 inches, and they are hungry. They can be caught with a variety of different flies and is a prime dry fly fishery. While cutthroat is the most plentiful fish, you may also catch rainbow and cutbow trout. The water is slow and clear at this time of year.
Sough Creek flows out of the Beartooth and Absaroka wilderness and makes its way into Yellowstone National Park. The creek cuts its way through short steep canyons and beautiful open meadows plentiful with lush vegetation and American bison. You may see other wildlife as well. The Slough Creek eventually empties into the Lamar River.
For the rider we can head up to Bliss Pass to see some of the most extraordinary scenery as we look over Pebble Creek at 9,000 feet and the Absaroka range in the distance.
If you are planning a vacation to Yellowstone National Park and love fly fishing mixed with spectacular views, this trip cannot be missed.
This trip takes us along the South Boundary Trail where we will follow the Snake River into some beautiful deep bends and some great cutthroat fishing. Here we stay in one camp site and, with a small group of no more than six. If you are an avid fly fisherman, this will be the fishing trip of a lifetime and the best part is traveling thru Yellowstone National Park on horseback. 

------------------- back to Top --------------------------

Washburn Expedition Yellowstone Lake - 5 Days

Enjoy your Yellowstone National park vacation by horseback with our trip entitled “The Washburn Expedition”. The Washburn Expedition is a progressive travel trip of fifty to sixty miles following the route of General Henry Dana Washburn as he and several other men “discovered” the Upper Yellowstone and worked diligently to make it a national park. This trip will both explore the rugged wilderness of this region and discuss the history that has helped to shape this area.
A native of Vermont, General Henry Dana Washburn, following the Civil War, was appointed surveyor general of Montana in 1869. In 1870 he headed the Washburn-Langford-Doane expedition to find the headwaters of the Yellowstone River and discover what is now known as Yellowstone National Park.
Joining us for this expedition is special guest Dr. Kim Alan Scott, author of Yellowstone Denied: The Life of Gustavus Cheney Doane (University of Oklahoma Press, 2007). Captain Gustavus Cheney Doane was a member of the Washburn-Langford-Doane expedition.
We will stay along Lake Yellowstone our first night, then move down and ford the Yellowstone River, each day discussing the trip and trials of the Washburn, Langford, Doane party. Our last night will be spent on the shores of Heart Lake discussing the perils of Truman Everts, one of Washburn’s party, who was lost for 37 days and faced life and death perils. We will also discuss the current values of the National Park system set in motion by this historic party. Our information is pulled from the published journals and papers of the members of this party.

Come follow the trail by of the founders of Yellowstone National Park via horseback. It will be an educational trip you will never forget. 

------------------- back to Top --------------------------

Mirror Plateau - 5 Days

------------------- back to Top --------------------------

Fishing on the Bechler River - 5 Days
Thousands of years ago when the Yellowstone National Park region was a caldera, after the volcano blew, it began to fill with water collecting from snow melt and summer rains. Eventually the walls of the old volcano could no longer withstand the weight of the water and a fissure erupted allowing that water to rush out. That rushing water came down a canyon we now call the Bechler River Canyon named for Gustav Bechler who was a topographer who rode with the 1871 Hayden Survey as they verified the findings of the Washburn, Langford F. Doane expedition of 1870.
The area is acclaimed for wide meadows containing tall grasses and shallow sloughs with spectacular views of the Teton Mountains to the south, and the Madison Plateau to the north. To the east is the rim of the mysterious Pitchstone Plateau, a place with only few sketchy watering holes making travel across it nearly impossible.
The Bechler region is called the Cascade Corner. Waterfalls drop from the plateaus into the meadows. The canyon is spectacular, one water fall after another broken in between by cascades and cataracts. When we ride up the canyon we will stop and feel the mist from some of the falls and you will have the opportunity to take some very exciting photos. After this we will ford the river at a number of places, leading the pack string up to their bellies through the clear cold waters. The fish here are generally good sized rainbow trout that can be elusive but once you have one of these rascals hooked, hold on, you’re in for a fight! We also fish at Mountain Ash Creek, below Union Falls for brook trout.
Bechler is a photographer’s paradise. There is nowhere one can look without finding something worth capturing on film. Wild flowers, wild life, waterfalls, horse and people, hot springs or the Grand Tetons, all are right here.
Beside fishing and photography, the Bechler region is filled with swimming holes for the family or just friends. There are hot springs, warm water falls, and comfortable pools to swim in. Whether cooling off on a hot summer day or taking a warming dip on a cool fall day, the water is always inviting.
Join us for great fishing as we camp along the shores of the Bechler River and pursue 20 – 24 inch rainbow trout. When you get one on the line you know it! Come fish the still, glassy, deep waters of the Bechler River with the Teton Mountains in the distance. Experience moose walking through the meadows and eagles nesting in trees over looking the river. This is a once in a lifetime wilderness experience. When we’re not fishing, we’ll be finding some of the hidden warm water treasures of the backcountry of Yellowstone National Park to swim in and relax. 

------------------- back to Top --------------------------

Fishing on the Lamar River - 5 Days

Join us for your vacation fishing trip by horseback as we explore the Lamar River Valley. The Lamar River Valley within Yellowstone National Park is the most common place for watching wolves, bear, and American bison interact. From where the Lamar River leaves the upper Lamar Canyon and flows to join the Yellowstone, visitors can see spectacular wild life interactions on a daily basis from the safety of their cars. However, for the more adventurous, ride with us up the upper Lamar and see the wildlife in a more intimate setting as buffalo stroll down the trail 100 yards from our campsite watch bears forage on the hillsides, and wolves dog trot along in search of prey.
This trip is an adventure fisherman’s paradise with scenery as wild as the animals. Our trail starts at the Soda Butte Trailhead, where the Lamar River meets the road. We’ll travel up the Lamar River, ford Cache Creek. Beyond this we will ford Calfee Creek traveling up to a camp near Miller Creek where you’ll find the fishing excellent. Fishing the Lamar rivals that of Slough Creek. Big deep pools abundant with healthy size cutthroat trout are scattered throughout the river. Actively feeding fish and nice hatches characterize this fishing trip.
On this trip you will see where one of the hottest and most violent fires of 1988 began which was caused by a lightning strike on Clover Creek across from where we will fish. At night we will discuss many things from fire ecology to the effects of the reintroduction of the wolves. We will discuss the rich history of the Nez Perce Indians who were native to this area. They fled down the drainage with 600 men, women, and children and twice that many horses. Other topics of interest are wildlife management, buffalo, brucellosis, the Army managing the Park and the Folsom Peterson Cook expedition of 1869.
Our rides will be 10 to 12 miles a day which will take us to designated fishing spots. You are invited to a fishing trip that rivals few and will leave a lasting impression of Yellowstone National Park on your memories.
Bechler is a photographer’s paradise. There is nowhere one can look without finding something worth capturing on film. Wild flowers, wild life, waterfalls, horse and people, hot springs or the Grand Tetons, all are right here.
Beside fishing and photography, the Bechler region is filled with swimming holes for the family or just friends. There are hot springs, warm water falls, and comfortable pools to swim in. Whether cooling off on a hot summer day or taking a warming dip on a cool fall day, the water is always inviting.
Join us for great fishing as we camp along the shores of the Bechler River and pursue 20 – 24 inch rainbow trout. When you get one on the line you know it! Come fish the still, glassy, deep waters of the Bechler River with the Teton Mountains in the distance. Experience moose walking through the meadows and eagles nesting in trees over looking the river. This is a once in a lifetime wilderness experience. When we’re not fishing, we’ll be finding some of the hidden warm water treasures of the backcountry of Yellowstone National Park to swim in and relax. 

------------------- back to Top --------------------------

Slough Creek - 4 Days

This Yellowstone vacation trip will thrill fisherman and horseback riders alike with the great fishing and the spectacular scenery of Yellowstone National Park.

For the fisherman, you can ride into camp and spend the next three days fishing until your heart is content. The cutthroat trout are impressive, averaging 18 – 20 inches, and they are hungry. They can be caught with a variety of different flies and is a prime dry fly fishery. While cutthroat is the most plentiful fish, you may also catch rainbow and cutbow trout. The water is slow and clear at this time of year.
Sough Creek flows out of the Beartooth and Absaroka wilderness and makes its way into Yellowstone National Park. The creek cuts its way through short steep canyons and beautiful open meadows plentiful with lush vegetation and American bison. You may see other wildlife as well. The Slough Creek eventually empties into the Lamar River.
For the rider we can head up to Bliss Pass to see some of the most extraordinary scenery as we look over Pebble Creek at 9,000 feet and the Absaroka range in the distance.
If you are planning a vacation to Yellowstone National Park and love fly fishing mixed with spectacular views, this trip cannot be missed.
This trip takes us along the South Boundary Trail where we will follow the Snake River into some beautiful deep bends and some great cutthroat fishing. Here we stay in one camp site and, with a small group of no more than six. If you are an avid fly fisherman, this will be the fishing trip of a lifetime and the best part is traveling thru Yellowstone National Park on horseback.

------------------- back to Top --------------------------

Thorofare River - 7 Days

Experience your horseback vacation in Yellowstone National Park’s most secluded and beautiful landscape first hand. Thirty-three miles from any road in any direction, this is one of the most remote locations in the lower 48 states.
Come with us as we follow the trails of fur traders and trappers who traveled north and south through this area between 1806 and the 1840s. Sit before our campfire and learn the stories of mountain men who have passed through this area like Jim Bridger and Osborne Russell. Hear the stories of rangers capturing poachers who tried to take advantage of these remote places.
This trip is a progressive travel trip where we will move every day and see new scenery and new places. Our gentle horses will cover some miles as we wind along the Yellowstone Lake, then follow the Upper Yellowstone River where few people go. We’ll ride below the Trident, along the Thorofare River or at least to its confluence with the Yellowstone River. It will be some of the most amazing scenery you will ever see in your life. For the photography enthusiast, bring your camera. We will ride an average of 12 miles a day and cover close to 70 miles by the end of the trip.
And although this trip isn’t a designated trout fly fishing trip, bring your fly rod along. There will be places every evening to fish, and the resident Yellowstone Cutthroat here, though small in numbers, are not small in size.
You will have the opportunity to see abundant wildlife. While guiding trips in the area I have seen grizzly bears, gray wolves, moose, elk, mule deer, bison and black bear.
If you are ready to take an amazing trip into some of the most remote landscape in the United States or if you are interested in finding out more information, I encourage you to drop us an email or call. We will be happy to assist you with your questions and help get you started on your own amazing adventure.
This is a once in a lifetime wilderness experience. When we’re not fishing, we’ll be finding some of the hidden warm water treasures of the backcountry of Yellowstone National Park to swim in and relax.

------------------- back to Top --------------------------

Hoodoo Basin - 5 Days

On this vacation by horseback, we will explore a remote and often forgotten part of Yellowstone National Park. Retired park ranger John Lounsbury will join us in our exploration of the Lamar River Canyon. The canyon is home to wolves, bear, and buffalo. Our destination will be the base of Parker Peak where we’ll explore the Hoodoo Basin with its wonderful wind weathered formations and haunting solitude. This is a progressive trip that will take us to Yellowstone’s eastern boundary deep in the Absaroka Range.
The Hoodoo Basin lies at the head of the Lamar River within the farthest reaches of the Upper Lamar region below Parker Peak. A Hoodoo is an eerie looking wind eroded geological feature cut into erodible rock.
Our journey will begin at the Soda Butte trailhead. From here we will head into the Lamar River Canyon. We will cross Cache Creek and the Calfee Creek before turning up Miller Creek to its head waters. From here we will head up the switchback trail toward Parker Peak before dropping down into the Upper Lamar region below Hoodoo Peak where the wildlife is abundant. Elk, deer, moose and buffalo all roam within the canyon. There are abundant predators as well: wolves, grizzly bear, and black bear.
This region’s history is rich with Native American tales. We will travel portions of Chief Joseph’s trail as he fled from the U.S. Army in 1877 trying to save his people. There are places high within the mountains where local tribes went to knap flint into knives, spear points, and arrowheads. You can still see evidence of these places today. Gathered around the evening campfire, we’ll discuss tales of the Sheep Eater Indians and Chief Joseph’s flight. We will also discuss how the army tried to protect the fledgling Yellowstone National park, poachers and their part in the wild life management, as well as fire ecology, and the Folsom, Peterson, Cook Expedition of 1869.
Join us and become mesmerized by the solitude of Yellowstone’s Hoodoo Basin

------------------- back to Top --------------------------

Bechler River - Photography - 5 Days

Thousands of years ago when the Yellowstone National Park region was a caldera, after the volcano blew, it began to fill with water collecting from snow melt and summer rains. Eventually the walls of the old volcano could no longer withstand the weight of the water and a fissure erupted allowing that water to rush out. That rushing water came down a canyon we now call the Bechler River Canyon named for Gustav Bechler who was a topographer who rode with the 1871 Hayden Survey as they verified the findings of the Washburn, Langford F. Doane expedition of 1870.
The area is acclaimed for wide meadows containing tall grasses and shallow sloughs with spectacular views of the Teton Mountains to the south, and the Madison Plateau to the north. To the east is the rim of the mysterious Pitchstone Plateau, a place with only few sketchy watering holes making travel across it nearly impossible.
The Bechler region is called the Cascade Corner. Waterfalls drop from the plateaus into the meadows. The canyon is spectacular, one water fall after another broken in between by cascades and cataracts. When we ride up the canyon we will stop and feel the mist from some of the falls and you will have the opportunity to take some very exciting photos. After this we will ford the river at a number of places, leading the pack string up to their bellies through the clear cold waters. The fish here are generally good sized rainbow trout that can be elusive but once you have one of these rascals hooked, hold on, you’re in for a fight! We also fish at Mountain Ash Creek, below Union Falls for brook trout.
Bechler is a photographer’s paradise. There is nowhere one can look without finding something worth capturing on film. Wild flowers, wild life, waterfalls, horse and people, hot springs or the Grand Tetons, all are right here.
Beside fishing and photography, the Bechler region is filled with swimming holes for the family or just friends. There are hot springs, warm water falls, and comfortable pools to swim in. Whether cooling off on a hot summer day or taking a warming dip on a cool fall day, the water is always inviting.
Come to Yellowstone National Park’s Cascade Corner and photograph the magnificent waterfalls. This time of year is spectacular in Yellowstone National Park. The brilliant colors of autumn, the bright blue skies and crisp white clouds create the perfect back drop for photography here in America’s wonderland. Take time to capture the people, horses, wildlife and scenery. In the off time, relax in the warm waters of this area to rest your bones and rejuvenate your soul.

------------------- back to Top --------------------------

Fan Creek - Photography - 3 Days

This trip will feature the less traveled season of late summer / early fall in Yellowstone National Park. The wildlife will be very active and the scenery breathtaking. Bring your camera! Up here we have seen moose grazing with our horses, elk crossing the creek below camp and wolves trotting down the trail. Take time to catch the perfect shot of the aspens in their full golden glory on a day ride to the high mountain Sportsman’s Lake.

------------------- back to Top --------------------------

Summer:
Average maximum summer temperatures are usually in the 70s (25C) and occasionally in the 80s (30C) in the lower elevations. Nights are cool and temperatures may drop into the 30s and 40s (0-10C). Depending on the elevation, temperatures may even fall into the 20s (-5C) with a light freeze. June can be cool and rainy; July and August tend to be somewhat drier, although afternoon thundershowers and lightning storms are common. During lightning storms get off water or beaches and stay away from ridges, exposed places, and isolated trees. At any time of year, be prepared for sudden changes; unpredictability, more than anything else, characterizes Yellowstone's weather.

Fall Colors
© National Park Service We recommend that you bring a warm jacket and rain gear even in the summer. If you plan to visit Yellowstone during spring or fall, call ahead for current weather and road information since sudden storms may result in cold temperatures, snow and/or temporary road closures. In summer, stop at visitor centers or ranger stations for weather forecasts. Always carry extra clothing when hiking. Good walking shoes and layers of clothing are recommended throughout the year.

Fall:
Autumn weather can be pleasant, although temperatures average 10 to 20 degrees lower than summer readings--highs in the 40s to 60s (5-20C). Over-night temperatures can fall into the teens and single digits (10 to -20C). Snowstorms increase in frequency and intensity as the weeks go by. At any time of year be prepared for sudden changes; unpredictability, more than anything else, characterizes Yellowstone's weather.

Sudden storms can cause a drop in temperature or result in precipitation. Always carry extra clothing when hiking. Good walking shoes and layers of clothing are recommended throughout the year. If you plan to visit Yellowstone during spring or fall, call ahead for current weather and road information since sudden storms may result in cold temperatures, snow and/or temporary road closures.

Personal Items:
All toiletries should be neutral or unscented as much as possible

_ Shampoo / Conditioner
_ Deodorant
_ Toothbrush / Toothpaste
_ Soap
_ Razor / Shaving Cream
_ Sunscreen
_ Lip Balm
_ Brush / Comb
_ Small Mirror
_ Wash Cloth / Towel
_ Medications
_ Contacts / Glasses
(The West is a very dry climate, if you are wearing contacts, we recommend bringing your glasses as well).

_ Clean T-Shirt, Underwear and Socks for each day of trip
_ 2-3 pair of jeans (1 pair for every 2 days)
_ 1 Long Sleeve / Flannel / Quilted / Sweat Shirt
_ Sweats or Warm Pajamas
_ Swim Wear
_ Spare Pair of Warm Socks
_ Soft / Lightweight Camp Shoes
_ Riding Shoes (Need to have a heel on them and toes covered. Boots are preferred – no tennis shoes!)
_ Hat (Cowboy / Ball Cap / Bucket Style)
_ Rain Gear – absolutely NO PONCHOS; no umbrellas
_ Warm Cold Weather Coat

Overnights are in tent camps along the way. Well trained guides will prepare delicious meals, see to your comforts, and create a cozy camp atmosphere.
If you have a dietary restriction, we are very willing to change the menu for you or if it is very restrictive we can cook separately just for you. You are our guest and we want you to feel as such.

We set up a sun shower for our guests to shower in a private area, away from streams to prevent soap from contaminating the waters of our favorite national park.

At every camp we set up a latrine where our guest may refresh themselves and use sanitary wipes in a secluded area.
The guest’s tents and gear are100 yards away from the cooking area to help in the avoidance of bear problems. All guests and guides sleep 100 yards away from the cooking area.
All food and scented materials stays in the cooking area where it is hung from a “bear pole” high in the air to keep scents and bear attractants out of reach of the bears and to keep bears away from the guests. Bear problems are rare. Bears do not like large horse herds, or groups of humans. The hanging of the food and the clean kept camp help avoid any bear attractants
Dinner is cooked in the core camp area, where the bear pole is and the food is kept.
Tables and chairs are set up, table cloths and dishes are set, the camp cook prepares his meals in a clean outdoor kitchen and he has been trained in food service and cleanliness.
The food has been transported in dry boxes and coolers. Once meals have been prepared and consumed the guides wash the dishes and discard leftover foods in a separate garbage sack. The guests are entertained around the fire in the evening, and finally prepare for bed by brushing their teeth and washing up in the core camp area to keep all odors in the core camp. Then they go off to bed and sleep in their tents, which have all been set up in a generally close proximity.
Dietary restrictions
If you have a dietary restriction, we are very willing to change the menu for you or if it is very restrictive we can cook separately just for you. You are our guest and we want you to feel as such.

Lodgings before or after the trip: There are hotels, motels, and cabins in most major towns around the Park, as well as in the Park. We would be glad to help you arrange accommodations if you need them.

This trip includes and can accommodate special dietary requests.

Can I bring my own livestock?
We do not advise our guests to use their own livestock. Our herd has a definite routine and pecking order, and does not like to be disrupted.

Can I bring my own saddle?
You may bring your own saddle provided it fit’s the horse we have for you to ride. An ill-fitting saddle is very hard on horses who work everyday.

What is the youngest guest you will take?
Age is not our requirement but maturity. All of our guests need to be able to follow directions and have the stamina and strength to steer and command their own horse. Our horses are well trained and it takes very little strength to steer them. I have had five-year-olds who were able to hand their horses and six year olds who were not able. It depends on the child.

How safe are your horses?
These horses have been in the business of carrying guests for quite some time. They are very gentle, and are chosen for this line of work because of their particular gentle temperment. All horses are still to be considered living free thinking animals and must be treated with care and respect for their size, but we do all we can to minimize and trouble between our horses and our guests.

Tack:		Western
Horses:		Quarter, Appaloosa, Morgan, Paint, Mule
Pace:		Walk and trot over mountain terrain. 3 to 5 hrs of riding each day. Ride can be physically tiring. | Walk |
Level:		(1 to 2 out of 5)    All riding levels
Age:		Min 7
Weight:		Max 250 lbs
Riders:		Min 4 riders	Max 8 riders

Can I bring my own livestock?
We do not advise our guests to use their own livestock. Our herd has a definite routine and pecking order, and does not like to be disrupted.

Can I bring my own saddle?
You may bring your own saddle provided it fit’s the horse we have for you to ride. An ill-fitting saddle is very hard on horses who work everyday.

What is the youngest guest you will take?
Age is not our requirement but maturity. All of our guests need to be able to follow directions and have the stamina and strength to steer and command their own horse. Our horses are well trained and it takes very little strength to steer them. I have had five-year-olds who were able to hand their horses and six year olds who were not able. It depends on the child.

How safe are your horses?
These horses have been in the business of carrying guests for quite some time. They are very gentle, and are chosen for this line of work because of their particular gentle temperment. All horses are still to be considered living free thinking animals and must be treated with care and respect for their size, but we do all we can to minimize and trouble between our horses and our guests.

Passports
Valid passport required by all nationals referred to in the chart ; validity varies - for most countries the passport must be valid for at least six months from the date on which the holder enters the USA. If not, the holder will be admitted until the expiration date on the passport; check with the embassy (see Contact Addresses).
Passport Note
(a) For nationals included in the Visa Waiver Program (see below), passports must be valid for at least 90 days from date of entry.
(b) All travellers entering the USA under the Visa Waiver Program require individual machine-readable passports. Children included on a parent's passport also now require their own machine-readable passport. Travellers not in possession of machine-readable passports will require a valid USA entry visa.
(c) Passports issued on or after 26 October 2005 will need to have a biometric identifier in order for the holder to travel visa free under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Machine-readable passports issued between 26 October 2005 and 25 October 2006 require a digital photograph printed on the data page or an integrated chip with information from the data page. Machine-readable passports issued on or after 26 October 2006 will require an integrated chip with information from the data page (e-passport).

The US has announced new measures that require all travellers to provide details online 72 hours prior to travel.
ESTA: The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) came into force on 12 January 2009. It is a fully automated, electronic system for screening passengers before they begin travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program. ESTA applications must be submitted at least 72 hours before travel to the USA. Some websites may charge you for the service but you can apply online for free at www.dhs.gov. The granting of an ESTA does not guarantee entry to the USA.

New Requirements for Travellers: As of 23 January 2007 all persons, including US citizens, travelling by air between the USA and Canada, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda are required to present a valid passport, or other approved document, when entering or re-entering the USA. Similar requirements for those travelling by land or sea will be introduced on 1 June 2009.

For further details about the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, visit the website of the US Department of State: (website: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html).

Visas
Not required by nationals referred to in the chart above for stays of up to 90 days except:
1. nationals of Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania and Slovak Republic, who do require a visa.
Visa Note
(a) Landed Immigrants of Canada and British residents of Bermuda who are citizens of, and have valid passports from, Commonwealth countries or Ireland are not eligible to enter the USA without a visa. (b) All passengers using US airports for transit purposes are required to obtain a transit visa. This does not affect qualified travellers travelling visa free under the Visa Waiver Program. (d) To qualify for visa-free travel under the Visa Waiver Program, nationals must travel on a valid passport, for holiday, transit or business purposes only and for a stay not exceeding 90 days. (e) Passengers must have the full address and ZIP code of where they are staying in the USA to be able to fully complete the I-94W form. Note: Airlines are also required to collect passenger details, including the address of their first night's accommodation in the USA, before they board the aircraft. (f) 2. Holders of UK passports with the endorsement British Subject, British Dependent Territories Citizen, British Protected Person, British Overseas Citizen or British National (Overseas) Citizen do not qualify for the Visa Waiver Program. A passport which states holder has right of abode or indefinite leave to remain in the UK does not qualify for visa free travel. (g) A visa does not expire with the expiry of the holder’s passport. An unexpired, endorsed visa in an expired passport may be presented for entry into the USA, as long as the visa itself has not been cancelled, is undamaged, is less than 10 years old and is presented with a valid non-expired passport, provided that both passports are for the same nationality. (h) Nationals of countries not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements (see Contact Addresses).
Types of Visa and Cost
Tourist, Business, Transit and Student: US$131.
Validity
Visas may be used for travel to the USA until the date it expires. Some visas are valid for multiple entries. The length of stay in the USA is determined by US immigration officials at the time of entry but is generally six months; there is, however, no set time.
Applications to:
Embassy or consulate (see Contact Addresses).
Working Days Required
Usually five after interview. Some cases may take up to 12 weeks – check with embassy/consulate.