SURF and the Black Hills, ancient and dark matter: South Dakota, US

September 2026 - 5 days

Register for 2026 and we will contact you when confirmed details, including dates and prices are available.

Journey to where the universe reveals its most elusive secrets; the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF), a world-class laboratory buried nearly 2 kilometres beneath the Black Hills of South Dakota. Shielded from cosmic radiation by layers of ancient rock, SURF is a sanctuary for some of the most sensitive and groundbreaking experiments in particle physics and many other fields of science.

Take a front row seat and discover how scientists chase elusory neutrinos, probe the mysteries of dark matter and explore nuclear fusion - all in an environment as extreme as the particles they study.

SURF and the Black Hills of South Dakota are at the frontier of discoveries, where new-age particle physics converges with ancient geology, palaeontology and deep time. Nestled in a former gold mine surrounded by hills rich in fossils, caves and prehistoric wonders, this unique tour bridges the ancient and the avant-garde. From the subatomic to the paleontological, South Dakota is where the past and future of science collide.

In partnership with Intrepid Travel.

DAY 1: ARRIVE IN RAPID CITY

On arrival, check into a 4-star hotel in Rapid City, South Dakota. The remainder of the afternoon will be free for you to explore this charming city. Its close proximity to the national parks, Mount Rushmore and SURF make it the perfect homebase.

In the evening, meet with your tour leader and the group for a welcome meeting followed by dinner at a local restaurant.

DAY 2: THE JOURNEY MUSEUM, MOUNT RUSHMORE AND THE BLACK HILLS INSTITUTE OF GEOLOGICAL RESEARCH

This morning, you will start with a visit to the Journey Museum, so called as the collections here tell you the story of the local area from the beginnings of the universe to the present day and cover a vast array of scientific fields, from astronomy, local palaeontology, human origins of the Lakota Sioux people and archaeology to natural history.

Afterwards you will take a short coach journey to Mount Rushmore, an iconic landmark in the US. While a famous and patriotic construction, you will learn more about the geology, material science and construction techniques used to carve these huge figureheads in a hard granite mountain with a local geology expert.

Continue on to the Black Hills Institute of Geological Research in Hill City, set amongst the landscape of the Black Hills. The BHIGR is at the forefront of earth sciences and palaeontology. South Dakota is home to a glut of dinosaur remains and BHIGR is at the forefront of local earth sciences and palaeontolgy, including STAN™, the second largest Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton found, on display here. The institute is a hub for research, collection, preparation and mounting of dinosaur fossils, and minerals from the Black Hills region.

Return to Rapid City for an evening at leisure.

DAY 3: HOT SPRINGS MAMMOTH SITE, WIND CAVE NATIONAL PARK AND INTRODUCTION TO SURF

After breakfast, you will make the short journey to Hot Springs to visit the largest mammoth research site in the world. Over 60 mammoths have been discovered here along with numerous other animals from the Pleistocene, many of which are on display here. The site boasts the largest concentration of mammoth remains in the world and is an active palaeontological dig to this day.

Afterwards you will drive to Wind Cave National Park, which was the first cave complex in the world to be designated a national park. The beauty of Wind Cave National Park lies both above ground with over 28,000 acres of prairie grasslands and forested hills, and below in a complex cave system with the largest concentration of rare intricate boxwork formations in the world. Explore both with local expert guides.

Return to your hotel where you will receive an introductory talk, giving you context about the incredible experiments going on at SURF ahead of your visit tomorrow, delivered by one of the scientists at the facility. 

DAY 4: SANFORD UNDERGROUND RESEARCH FACILITY

Today is dedicated to the Sanford Underground Research Facility in the town of Lead (“lee-d”), which is home to world-leading experiments aiming to shed light on some of the most profound mysteries of our universe, advancing energy independence and exploring the reaction of life to extreme environments. The facility is home to the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE), an international undertaking to understand the nature of matter. Researchers from all fields of science (particle physics, biology, engineering, nuclear astrophysics), conduct experiments here, buried deep underground away from the interference of cosmic radiation.

Your day here starts with a further talk from one of the scientists at SURF on their own research (to be confirmed), followed by a Q&A. Afterwards, you will be set up on a live link with one of the researchers in the underground laboratories to see exactly what the labs and experiments look like, and what life is like 2 kilometres underground.

For lunch you will visit the ethnobotanical garden “Čhaŋgléška Wakȟáŋ”- the Lakota word for “sacred hoop”, mimicked in the shape of the garden. 

After lunch you will explore more of the surface including: the engineering feat of the Historic Yates Hoistroom which transports people and supplies up and down the mine shaft and has done since the 1930s; the Wastewater Treatment Plant – one of the obstacles in operating a laboratory underground is pumping up the millions of gallons of water which would otherwise flood the over 500 km of underground tunnels; Kirk Canyon – the hidden underground experiments are intriguing but don’t forget to appreciate the geology of its setting, and other legacy buildings.

You’ll have some time to explore the museum and shop at the visitor centre before heading back to Rapid City and enjoying a final farewell dinner together reflecting on the incredible, mind-blowing experiments you encountered today.

DAY 5: DEPART RAPID CITY

This morning will be free for independent sightseeing. In the afternoon, there will be a group transfer to Rapid City airport for the flight home.