If you're considering a trip to South Dakota, stop looking around and book with My XO Adventures. Daniel was our tour guide --he is truly one of a kind. Our tour took us through some of the most breathtaking locations, including Mount Rushmore, the Badlands, and so many hidden gems we never would have known about without him. We also went to Wyoming and saw Devils tower and beautiful frozen waterfalls. But what made this trip amazing wasn't just the scenery, it was Daniel himself. From the moment we started, it was clear that Daniel goes above and beyond for his guests. He thought of everything--water, coffee, snacks, chargers, binoculars--literally everything we could have needed. He is like a walking encyclopedia, sharing history, stories, and fascinating details that made each location come alive. We never felt rushed; instead, he took his time to make sure the experience was all about us. One of the most memorable highlights was something completely unplanned--stargazing in the Badlands. Living near a city, I never get to see the stars like that. But out there, I saw shooting stars, the Milky Way, and even satellites. It was absolutely magical, and it wouldn't have happened without Daniel. He even brought his camera and took stunning photos, which he sent to us at the end of the day--such an amazing touch! This wasn't just a vacation--Daniel said something that really stuck to me, it was a reminder to slow down and reconnect with life and nature (I have a high stress career and always looking to disconnect). The beauty of South Dakota was unforgettable, but without Daniel, we wouldn't have enjoyed it nearly as much as we did. If you're on the fence about booking with My XO Adventures, just do it, It's SO worth it, and you'll walk away with memories that will last a lifetime. Thank you, Daniel, for making this one of the best trips I've ever had! read more

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We decided on the Badlands Sunset and Stargazing tour with XO. Our tour guide Dan (retired Dan) was phenomenal. We are in our 70's and Dan was so perfect for us. He knew so much about the Badlands. We learned so much that we never would have known if we just drove through on our own. He was a scout master and he comes prepared with his camera with lenses that take beautiful close up pictures that we never would have gotten on our own. He will take pictures of whatever you want. We were picked up at 3:15 and dropped off at 11:30! We even stopped on the way at Wall Drug. The day we went, unfortunately , the weather was not aligning with the night sky we needed to see the stars which is something no one has control over. But the sunset was beautiful and the Badlands did not disappoint so I got over my no star night. My husband said a few times to me, this is well worth the money. He was just the greatest and Aimee the owner was very much updating us about the details and they brought snacks and a huge sub sandwich. I am attaching some pictures but they are ones that I took. I haven't been able to save his pictures in my photos yet. I'm not great at figuring this tech stuff out. P.S. we saw so many bison really up close. read more

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Five stars all the way for our awesome tour with Daniel (shout out to Amy for taking my call and helping me figure out our tour)! My husband surprised me with a quick trip to Mt. Rushmore for a day of sightseeing (he is so thoughtful at helping me check things off my bucket list). I started planning our trip and booking a car. I realized that it looked like it was going to involve lots of windy roads, possible inclement weather and trying to figure out where to go to get the most in our day. I decided to reach out to my most trusted advisors (shout out Yelpers!) and found XO Adventures. After chatting with Amy, I was excited that Daniel was going to be able to give us a private tour during our short stay and even help with a special drop off location request. From start to finish, Daniel's positive energy and knowledge of the terrain made this tour amazing. We hit up all the spots, including a couple of roads that we were unsure if they would be open during our time here. We got lucky! We also got some great pics that Daniel took for us. We didn't have to be in selfie mode at Mount Rushmore and were able to get some great photos from Daniel and his pro camera. I really like that Daniel reached out ahead of time to check in on our goals for our short stay and made sure we met them. He exceeded my expectations and made our trip amazing and memorable. Thank you for making this trip unforgettable. read more

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Unequivocally and enthusiastically a five star experience. I took two tours with My XO Adventures, one to the Badlands with Dan and one to the Black Hills with Daniel (shout out to Amiee as well). You will not find more personable and knowledgeable guides. A tour with My XO Adventures will be your tour, personalized and entirely flexible. If I could give them ten stars I would. Book with XO! read more

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Unforgettable, Personalized Tours - A Must-Do in the Black Hills! My husband and I had an absolutely fantastic experience with My XO Adventures! We did back-to-back tours, and both were nothing short of amazing. On the first day, Daniel, the owner, took us on the Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse & Custer State Park Tour. He is incredibly personable and funny--within minutes, he felt like an old friend. Some of the tour highlights included Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Custer State Park & Wildlife Loop Road, Needles Eye Tunnel, and Sylvan Lake. We saw so many animals along the way, and Daniel kept us entertained with his humor and deep knowledge of the area. The vehicle was spotless, comfortable, and stocked with snacks--a thoughtful touch. On the second day, we did the Badlands Sunset, Wildlife, and Amazing Night Sky Adventure with Dan (not to be confused with Daniel). Once again, we were blown away! We saw an incredible amount of wildlife, and Dan captured breathtaking photos with his professional camera, which he generously shared with us. He was so polite, knowledgeable, and passionate about the region--it made the experience even more special. A huge shoutout to Daniel's mother, Amiee, who handled our booking. She was incredibly polite, sweet, and quick to respond to our questions, making the process seamless from start to finish. If you're considering a tour, book with My XO Adventures--you won't regret it! This is a small, independently owned company that truly cares about providing a personal, high-quality experience. Wouldn't you rather be on a private, customizable tour instead of a crowded bus with strangers? We're so glad we chose My XO Adventures and highly recommend them to anyone visiting the Black Hills and Badlands! read more

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Hands down, the best part of our South Dakota trip. Daniel was THE best. I'm not kidding y'all. If you do one thing in South Dakota, it should be a tour with Daniel. And if you do a tour, it should include the Badlands because it's quite an amazing thing and w/o the insight and knowledge of Daniel (and "secrete roads in and out"), you just won't know how amazing it is. Daniel was a wonderful host. He was a great conversationalist but also not "too involved". I am really glad we booked our tour with him. And...having him tour us around the tourist places, made the trip so much easier for everyone and even made the remaining days of our vacation easier too. Book it. It's worth every penny. You'll be glad you did. read more

All time, best-ever guide on the planet. Hands down. these are the people if are looking for a tailored, one of a kind, experience. They know where to go, when to go, what to see and what time to see it without the crowds. Dark skies, hiking, scenic views, historical, scientific and cultural. Our group of three were well-seasoned travelers on our first trip to South Dakota. I knew that trying to create a weeklong agenda on my own, would be an exercise in futility without the aid of a knowledgeable guide, and hired the one with the best website and testimonials. Questions answered by phone/ email, our three day excursion was crafted... no driving, fun-filled, nuanced, and we loved our in-depth, experiential tour. Look no further. These are your people. read more

My XO Adventures - Glorious trip. Many thanks to XO Adventures. Simple. Amazing. Life Affirming. - Historical Tours Near Me - Rapid City, South Dakota

We went on 2 tours with xo adventures. Mount Rushmore and the black hills was the first one. It was an excellent tour that covered an incredible amount in one day. Rushmore, crazy horse and all of custer state park. Our guide David obviously knew a lot about the area and loved it. We had a lot of fun. Our second tour was the badlands night sky tour with Daniel. This was probably the most unique and best tour I have ever been on. Incredible views of sunset in the badlands from different points as well as a wonderful intimate experience under the stars. I can't say enough about it. Fantastic time. read more

Daniel gave us a tour of Wal Drug and the Badlands. He was able to show us a back way that gave us a special view of the park that was breathtaking. The timing of the tour was so we wound up in the park at sunset where the colors just popped. At the end he was able to find a unique spot for star gazing and brought folding reclining chairs so we could see the stars in comfort. Shooting stars and a northern lights appearance capped off a perfect day. He is extremely knowledgeable and made us feel like it was a family member showing us around. Since we were in the area for the week he also provided us with tips on what and when to go to other places in the area. Really wish we could have done all the tours but this trip for us was so much better with Daniel's knowledge. Before the tour we were also contacted by Aimee who asks questions and shows that this company really cares about the customer experience. One of the most service oriented companies I have ever dealt with, thanks Daniel! read more

If you want a personal tour, this is a good company. We were picked up at the hotel and it was us and our tour guide, Dave. Dave gave us a good overview of Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse Memorial. There was so many items to see you really need to come back if you want to read all the material at each site. Dave gave us a great in-depth tour of Custer State Park. There were many areas to see and we saw a lot. He was also great in finding bison and letting us watch from the vehicle for an extended period of time. Fascinating animals. We had a nice lunch at a small local restaurant serving bison burgers. Great personal tour company. read more

Thanks for an excellent adventure! Daniel gave us the Best day of our life Worth the money for all the wonderful memories. If you want to have good food and drinks along with The Best guide . You need to book with XO Adventures !! Dorothy Iddings read more