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Unearthing a giant of the jurassic period
WHEN TO GO
12-16 JUNE 2023
LENGTH
4 NIGHTS
GROUP SIZE
8 GUESTS
JOIN THE PALAEONTOLOGISTS
In a first-of-its-kind partnership, The Luminaire and Naturalis Biodiversity Center, an award-winning museum and research centre in the Netherlands, present the unique opportunity to participate in an active dinosaur excavation at a classified dig site in northern Wyoming, USA.
Join expert palaeontologists, researchers and geologists from Naturalis, to unearth the bones of a Diplodocus, one of the world’s largest and most captivating dinosaurs, from the ground where they have lain hidden for 150 million years. Alongside like-minded travellers, be among the first to expose the remains of this gigantic creature from the Jurassic period and help shape our understanding of that lost world.
How significant are these fossil deposits and what do we hope to discover from unearthing this dinosaur?
12-16 JUNE 2023
From £14,000 per person, with all standard inclusions.
The total size of this small group experience is eight guests. A portion of the sales from each journey will support the work of Naturalis’ scientists in Wyoming and all over the world.
INCLUSIONS
Three mornings at the dig site actively working with Naturalis researchers and palaeontologists
A guided walk around the site with a geologist
Briefings with Naturalis experts
A guided hike in the Pryor Mountains to observe the local wildlife
Guided hikes to discover ancient petroglyphs and ice caves
Four nights' accommodation in luxury safari-style tents
Camp games, including blow darts and disc golf
All meals & drinks are included at the camp
Arrival/return airport transfers and all local transfers to activities
Inspiring pre and post-trip webinars with a Naturalis expert
EXCLUSIONS
Flights to/from Wyoming
Drinks other than local wine and beer
PRIVATISE THIS JOURNEY
To privatise this dig between August and September 2023, speak to a Travel Designer.
ENHANCE YOUR EXPERIENCE
Ahead of your journey, visit a Naturalis-affiliated museum in Chicago, New York, or Washington DC and gain a deeper understanding of the research the experts are undertaking and how the project came to be.
The ultimate viewpoint of the dig site is from the sky. Take to a helicopter with a Naturalis geologist to survey the area and neighbouring palaeontological sites.
Encounter the wild landscapes of Wyoming with an afternoon on horseback or on water.
Spend an evening stargazing with an astronomy expert.
A 3D-printed version of the fossil you uncover.
For those wanting to extend their journey, trips to Yellowstone and Grand Teton before or after the excavation can be arranged upon request.
Speak to a Travel Designer about exclusive experiences that can be added to your journey.
ROAM THE LAND OF THE DINOSAUR
An unforgettable journey back through time to the Age of Dinosaurs begins at an undisclosed location in the remote wilds of northern Wyoming. In the company of an international team of scientists from Naturalis, led by Prof. Dr Anne Schulp, learn about the techniques involved in excavating and recording dinosaur fossils at the dig site and experience the exceptional, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of personally uncovering one of the bones of a Diplodocus.
Opt to appreciate the excavations from the sky by helicopter, revealing the trackways of the dinosaurs that once lived here.
THE EXPERIENCE
Over three full mornings at the site, there will be unrivalled opportunities to personally make remarkable new discoveries, contributing directly to active research.
Accompany experts on prospecting walks to search for new bones and fragments, learn how to wrap bones in plaster jackets and use the on-site reference library to identify finds.
Your participation in this momentous experience will grant you a place in history, as a ‘Sponsor of the Diplodocus Dig’, with the option to take away a 3D printed version of the bone you uncover.
BEYOND THE DIG
As night falls each evening, further your curiosity through inspiring conversations with your travelling cohort, and enjoy a chuckwagon dinner, where a banquet of grilled steak and seafood will be served.
Away from the dig site, encounter the frontier spirit of Wyoming by observing wild, free-roaming horses and the native North American Bighorn Sheep, or develop a rich understanding of petroglyphs, getting to know how the sandstone walls were intricately carved throughout the years.
THE CAMP
Home for the next four nights is a specially developed luxury camp near the excavations, offering uninterrupted views across the rugged, open landscapes of northern Wyoming.
Spacious safari tents with generous verandas are furnished with fabrics and artworks crafted by local artisans for an atmospheric stay, whilst canopy beds, private bathrooms and rain-style showers deliver on comfort. Dedicated tents serve as lounging areas, bars and dining rooms, decorated with thoughtfully sourced wooden furniture, and a team of chefs will prepare memorable campfire grills and dinners under a clear, star-filled sky.
ABOUT NATURALIS
The Naturalis Biodiversity Center is the national Natural History Museum of the Netherlands, and one of the largest in the world. It was awarded the European Museum of the Year in 2021 and is a longstanding heritage institution. A national research institute, researchers at Naturalis commit to understanding, reporting and conserving biodiversity.
“THERE IS SOMETHING DECIDEDLY MAGICAL ABOUT SLOWLY REVEALING A DINOSAUR SKELETON" - PROFESSOR DR ANNE SCHULP
THE EXPERT
PROF DR. ANNE SCHULP
A professor of vertebrate palaeontology at Utrecht University and researcher at Leiden’s award-winning Naturalis Biodiversity Center since 2013, Prof Dr. Anne Schulp has made his passion for the Age of Dinosaurs his life’s work.
Over the last two decades, he has worked on projects aross the globe, including the excavation of one of the most complete and best-preserved skeletons of a Tyrannosaurus Rex ever found in Montana, which is now a much-prized centrepiece of the museum, as well as a herd of Triceratops, discovered in Wyoming.
MORE JOURNEYS RE-DISCOVERING THE NATURAL WORLD
A PRIVATE DIG
For those wishing to participate in the Wyoming dig as a private party or family, speak to a Travel Designer about a bespoke journey.
Trip departures to suit guest preference, between August and September 2023
From £28,485 per person, based on a party of four guests. A portion of the sales from each journey will support the work of Naturalis’ scientists in Wyoming and all over the world.