There are no in person tours at present, but I can offer phone consults to help plan your holiday.
From a statisfied customer:
“I think I can safely say, the best part of 2020 for me was meeting Dr. Tong and using her consultation services for not one, but two trips to Montana across a 6 month time frame. Due to the pandemic we were not able to take an actual tour with her, but we paid for a consultation where she went over - in detail - things for us to do based on what we wanted to experience. Words do not express how much thanks I have to Dr. Tong for her valuable information. What I learned from her opened my city eyes to a world I only knew in books and on the edges. … I recommend a consult with Dr. Tong before you head to Montana. It is well worth it and will provide you with experiences to remember for the rest of your life.”
How do I book a customized trip? Please fill out the Options form. We will reply with suggested itineraries and prices.
Do you do tours for non-English speakers or international travellers? I am proficient in Chinese (Mandarin), and have travelled widely in Asia, Africa and Europe, so international travellers are more than welcome.
How far in advance should I book? We recommend that you contact us 14 days in advance for day trips and at least 30 days in advance for overnight trips.
How do I pay? Payment can be made by any major credit card or by cheque to "Big Sky Safaris LLC". Upon receiving your payment/ deposit, we will provide you with an email confirmation. Your credit card details will be taken when you reserve a tour online and you will be charged for half the total trip price if you fail to cancel/ reschedule more than 7 days before the start of a day trip and more than 14 days notice for overnight trips.
What is your cancellation policy? Deposits are non-refundable. For day trips, cancellation requests received within 7 days of the day trip will receive a refund of half the total trip price. For overnight adventures, cancellation requests received within 14 days of the start of the trip will receive a refund of half the total trip price.
If you have to cancel your trip, in some instances Big Sky Safaris LLC will apply your deposit or payment toward a future trip with us, or you may transfer your reservation to a friend or family member.
In very rare cases, we reserve the right to cancel a trip due to weather, snow or water conditions or other unforeseen circumstances that could be safety concerns. If one of these things leads to us cancelling your trip a refund will be provided or alternate reservation will be made based on the client's preference.
Our full cancellation, amendment and refund policy has more details.
What if it rains? Most trips will continue rain or shine, but we may contact you about doing something else that is better-suited to the weather than the original activities requested.
What should I bring? We recommend sturdy and comfortable walking boots or shoes, layers (the weather in Montana can be variable), waterproof clothes, binoculars and cameras. Activities like cross-country skiing or horseback riding will have their own set of specialised equipment which we will either provide or list in a confirmation email.
Do you have binoculars to recommend? I will provide a Swarovski telescope for looking at wildlife, but you might want binoculars of your own and a lighter pair can be good for hikes. Click on this link for some examples of good compact binoculars. For birding, the top of the line is usually Swarovski and most people go for 8x or 10x 42. For a much more affordable and still excellent option, I recommend Nikon Monarchs. Vortex is also excellent for the price.
Participant responsibility and waiver of liability
It is the responsibility of you and your group to select the options appropriate for your physical abilities and interests. There are inherent risks involved in any adventure activity and we would be happy to assist you by providing any additional information you might need about any one of our activities so you can make the best decision for your group. It is the responsibility of group members to be in good enough health to participate in the trip you have chosen. Participants need to let their guide know of any medical history that could inhibit their ability to participate in the activities. People with a history of heart trouble or any other potentially serious medical condition should consult their doctor before participating in adventure activities.
Big Sky Safaris LLC is not responsible for things including, but not limited to inclement weather, delays beyond our control, personal injury, evacuation costs, loss of articles or belongings or financial loss due to cancellations. We will provide you with a full version of our liability waiver to sign at the start of your trip.