EcoTour Adventures; A Jackson Hole Safari

Josh Metten

If you want to truly explore the nature and wildlife of Jackson Hole, Wyoming; consider hopping in one of EcoTour Adventures' safari-style vans for a one of a kind experience.

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Anytime is Perfect

Tours can be scheduled at sunrise or sunset; and each season offers its own unique experience. Elk, Moose, Bison, Eagles and Bighorn Sheep are particularly out and about during the winter. And in the spring, you'll get to see colorfully lush foliage come to life along the valley floor. Highly educated naturalists guide you through Jackson Hole, Grand Teton National Park or Yellowstone for a half or full day.

We went out before the sun came up and were able to see a breathtaking sunrise over one of the large rivers in Grand Teton National Park. Our tour began with local snacks like muffins, jerky and trail mix. Jackson Hole roasted coffee was handed out to our small group in metal cups; the roast was perfectly bold without being overpowering. It may be the best cup of coffee I've ever had; all of the coffees in the area such as Great Northern and Cowboy Coffee are worth noting. Local and sustainable tastes better.

Perfect Views

To ensure everyone gets a window seat, groups consist of about 6 people. Each van is equipt with rooftop hatches so guests can capture amazing photography without disturbing wildlife or putting themselves in harm's way. Our guide, Josh Metten, is also a wildlife photographer and was able to point out prime photo opportunities. Check out his portfolio on Instagram. He was attentive to any stops one of us wanted to make.

And when you aren't snapping photos, binoculars are provided for viewing far away animals. There were times things weren't visible to the naked eye, but could be crisply viewed through those binoculars.

Relaxed yet Adventurous

You have the option to stay in the toasty warm van, or hop out and explore a bit. Even if you decide to take it easy, you'll see plenty of interesting and exciting things. I really loved how versatile the trip was. One of the older members of our group did a little bit of both, and it was nice for her to be able to stay warm when it became brutally cold for us Georgia natives.

Eco Conscious


EcoTour Adventures lives up to its name; each guide is trained to make the smallest environmental footprint possible by respecting wildlife and protecting the land.

Bio-diesel fuel is used in their vehicles, reusable food containers replace disposables and guides use the same paths every time, in effort to avoid disturbing wildlife. In the winter, this is crucial. Frightening an animal burns vital fat reserves it needs to get through the harsh, cold months.

Enhanced Trip

While only a few hours, we experienced days worth of excitement and adventure in our tour. We saw Moose, Wolf tracks, Sheep climbing the mountain and Elk "wintering" in the National Elk Refuge.

Josh informed us of current issues, events and information on the area. He also pointed out a unique homestead which we were able to hike to on our own, later that day.

We felt enriched; like we really got what we were looking for when we initially decided to fly out to the beautifully rugged land surrounding Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Whether you are on a romantic getaway or a trip with the whole family, EcoTour Adventures needs to be on your list.

Karyn Wofford
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Karyn Wofford is a writer with an expertise in lifestyle, wellness and travel. She's a contributor to Livestrong, the Mother Earth Living Blog, A Luxury Travel Blog and Diabetes Forecast. Karyn is also a US Global advocate for T1International. Follow her on Twitter @karynwofford
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