Smithsonian Exclusive Tour: Natural History & Space Exploration
5.0
48 Ratings
Washington
Embark on an exclusive 5.5-hour guided tour of the Smithsonian's Natural History and Space Exploration museums in Washington DC. Discover fascinating exhibits, from dinosaurs and diamonds to planes and spacesuits, with expert guides to bring them to life.
Duration: 5 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History - This is your chance to experience the two most popular museums in Washington DC with the help of our expert guides navigating the crowds! Start your day with the largest Natural History collection in the world. Stones, bones, and bugs clamor for your attention at the Smithsonian Natural History museum as the largest taxidermied elephant in the world trumpets your welcome (his name is Henry!). From the most famous single artifact in the Smithsonian collection - the (supposedly) cursed Hope Diamond - to the recently revealed renovated Fossil Hall with Mastodon, T-Rex, and Diplodocus looming over the path, your inner child will remind you of how fascinating the natural world’s mysteries are.
  • National Air and Space Museum - After a break to recharge, cross the famous National Mall to the Smithsonian Air & Space museum. Currently undergoing its own renovation, there is still plenty to see! Starting with a family in Ohio solving a problem not even Leonardo DaVinci could. We speak, of course, of the Wright Brothers who launched the world to literal new heights. The original Wright Flyer from 1903 gets its own exhibition gallery to set the stage for what comes after. From the first military flyer in 1909 (also a Wright Bros. creation) to the golden age of setting records and commercial aviation, imagine the guts it took to trust your life to this novel technology. Then head to the even more intimidating exploits in the space exhibits. Where you view some of the actual artifacts man set out to conquer the vast unknown in an inhospitable environment and then back to Earth’s warm embrace. But the highest heights are those of imagination that inspire us to the risk so much.
What's Included
  • Exclusive Tour Guide (Not available with ‘SAVE! BOOK SEMI-PRIVATE’ option)
  • Private Transportation between Destinations
  • Curated Combination Museum Tour
  • Scheduled Lunch Break
What's Not Included
  • Hotel pickup or drop-off
  • Gratuities
Additional Information

With this 5.5 hour personalized guided double feature tour, take the opportunity to explore the two most frequently visited Smithsonian museums in Washington DC. Benefit from the expertise of our professional guides as they navigate the throngs for you! From dinosaurs to diamonds and from aircrafts to celestial bodies and spacesuits - our guides are equipped with the stories to breathe life into these relics.

Tour highlights generally comprise (but are not restricted to):
-Henry, the largest stuffed elephant
-Hope Diamond
-The Nation’s T-Rex (Wankel’s T-Rex)
-Meteorites
-1903 Wright Flyer
-1909 Wright Military Flyer
-Spirit of St. Louis
-Neil Armstrong’s spacesuit

  • It is imperative that you provide us with guests MOBILE PHONE NUMBER (including country code)
  • Notes: Natural History Museum, Air & Space Museum and other attractions or museums in DC may be subjected to occasional closures without previous warning from the museum management. When this occurs, we will provide guests with an appropriate alternative if the museum opening time is delayed more than 1h from the tour starting time. In these cases we are unable to provide refunds or discounts. Appropriate dress is required for entry into some sites on this tour. No large bags or suitcases are allowed inside the museum, only handbags or small thin bag packs are allowed through security. Due to increased security measures at many attractions some lines may form on tours with ‘Skip the Line’ or ‘No Wait’ access. Some specific rooms inside the museum are subjected to a very quiet or restricted right to speak inside, in this cases your guide will provide the information about this places before entering the specific rooms where this rule applies. Some collections may vary along the year.
Location
1010 Madison Dr NW
Madison Drive Northwest
Meet your guide on the large stairs at the Madison Drive NW entrance of the Museum of Natural History, facing the lawn of the National Mall.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(48 Ratings)
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Phillip_s
Apr 13, 2024
Museum Favorites - Our guide Amanda was very knowledgeable and pointed out details in the museums that we never would have found on our own. Great tours of Natural History and Air and Space!
Review provided by Viator
Cynthia_k
Mar 23, 2024
Smithsonian - Our guide Tim was knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the Smithsonian Tour. Loved seeing Lucy and the Hope Diamond. Very worthwhile and highly recommend.
Review provided by Viator
757bobd
Dec 2, 2023
Maureen made the Air & Space Museum come alive! - Maureen was awesome... took my son and nephew and they had a BLAST! Great story teller and lots of great energy.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Danp2938wk
Nov 1, 2023
Grad A - Rebecca was a very informed guide, very professional and enthusiastic and prompt. She took us to. Exhibits that were interesting and on her best list. The only change I would suggest is less time and explanation at the Wright exhibit where she shared interesting minutiae about the brothers and others but not terriblyintesting as most Americans (and maybe this only applicance to us vs foreign visitors which I doubt) have a good understanding fo their flight history, while more time in the Space sector would have been more illucidating. overall very happy with the tour and her!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Y7085ildavidd
Oct 21, 2023
Private tour of smithsonian air and space and American history - From the very beginning this was a seamless experience. Our guide Richard was amazing. From lining up an hour before the tour started so we were first in line to all the amazing stories he told us through the day - this is the reason you NEED to book a tour. If you have limited time to see everything this is the only way to do the Smithsonian. Cant recommend enough
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Suzanne_w
Oct 20, 2023
Great plan for visiting the displays! - Our guide Rebecca, was very knowledgeable and had a great plan of what to see and how long to spend in each area we visited. We enjoyed her sense of humor and extra stories.
Review provided by Viator
Dojeda226
Sep 4, 2023
Space & Aviation and Natural History Museum Tour - Richard was our tour guide. He was very informative about the history of both of the museums we attended with him. And he added a special touch, by telling amazing stories during the tour. We enjoyed a full day with Richard! He was great.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
B4422tutimg
Sep 2, 2023
Well done - Awesome guide. Knowledgeable. Adapted to whi was in the group. Ended on time and was a treat to deal with.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Robert_w
Aug 29, 2023
It was a great day! - Rebecca did a great job. She was enthusiastic and knowledgeable. She guided us through the vast space expertly. She shared knowledge not on the display. All in all a fantastic day!
Review provided by Viator
Roving08259010761
Dec 27, 2023
trip to the past and future - The museum is very beautiful, very interesting. It was an excellent option to take a private tour. We learned a lot, Rebecca was an excellent speaker. The opportunity for improvement is related to the time of the tour, I understood that it would be two hours, however Rebecca only agreed to about 1:30.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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up to 8 guests
1 Adult
May 2024
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