DETAILS
Exploring the Columbia and Snake Rivers by ship is a study in contrasts. It’s at once relaxing and mentally stimulating. It reveals great natural beauty, and yet it features modern marvels of human engineering such as an imposing system of locks and dams. We’ll visit the Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum, enjoy a farm-to-table lunch in the Hood River Valley, visit important landmarks of the Lewis and Clark expedition, and board kayaks, Zodiacs, and local jet boats for a unique perspective. Our culinary program focuses on locality and sustainability, allowing you to taste the region’s bounty. Throughout our journey, our superb expedition team will put everything into context.
- Pricing from
- $5,454
- Trip Type
- Closer to Home, Group Travel Tour
- Departure Dates
-
Oct 12, 2024 - Oct 19, 2024
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SEA BIRD
CAPACITY: 31 outside cabins accommodating 62 guests.
OVERALL LENGTH: 152 feet. REGISTRY: United States.
PUBLIC AREAS: The ship features a library; global market; lounge with full-service bar and facilities for films, slide shows, and presentations; observation deck; partially covered sun deck with chairs and tables; and LEXspa. An open Bridge provides guests an opportunity to meet the officers and captain and learn about navigation.
MEALS: Served in single seatings with unassigned tables for an informal atmosphere.
Menu emphasizes local fare.
CABINS: All cabins face outside with windows, private bathroom, and climate controls. Cabins are equipped with Wi-Fi and multiple electrical and USB outlets. Botanically inspired shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, and lotion are all available in cabin bathrooms, as well as an Expedition Essentials Kit. Hair dryers, complimentary insulated water bottles, and a National Geographic Atlas are available in each cabin.
EXPEDITION EQUIPMENT: Zodiacs, kayaks, paddleboards, snorkeling equipment, bow camera, hydrophone, splash-cam, underwater video camera, and video microscope.
SPECIAL FEATURES: Guest internet access, certified photo instructor.
WELLNESS: The vessel is staffed by a wellness specialist and features exercise equipment, LEXspa, and outdoor stretching area.
PRE- AND POST-VOYAGE EXTENSIONS
Portland & Willamette Wine Country Experience: Enjoy a guided exploration of the city’s must-see highlights, neighborhoods, and lush parks along with a visit to a few of the region’s most acclaimed boutique wineries. Hotel stay included.
Lewiston Two-Day History & Wine Extension: Venture into the U.S.’s newest-designated wine growing region to try award-winning vintages on a historic and culinary adventure. Hotel stay included.
CANCELLATION POLICY
Number of Days Prior to Expedition Start Per Person Cancellation Fee
120 or more days – No penalty: Advance Payment will be credited toward your next expedition**
119-90 days 50% of trip cost***
89-0 days 100% of trip cost***
**Advance payments will be credited in the form of a Lindblad Expeditions Travel Certificate, valid for 12 months from the date of cancellation, and which may only be applied towards final payment on any future booking.
***Trip cost is total price paid including extensions, airfare, and other additional services. We strongly recommend that you purchase a travel protection plan
TOUR MAP
ITINERARY
-
day 1
CLARKSTON, WASHINGTON/EMBARK
Choose to fly into nearby Lewiston, Idaho, or into Spokane, Washington, two hours away. Transfer to Clarkston to board the ship in the afternoon. (D)
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day 2
CLARKSTON
Today begins at the confluence of the Snake and Clearwater rivers, 450 miles from the sea. Travel by comfortable jet boat into one of North America’s most scenic spots, spectacular Hells Canyon. The 125-mile-long canyon is the deepest gorge in North America—most of it inaccessible by road. As we travel up river, observe remnants of the Nez Perce tribe including ancestral horse trails along the hillsides, and pictographs and petroglyphs on rock formations. This evening we are introduced to the unique terroir of the Lewis-Clark Valley AVA (American Viticultural Area), the first of several wine regions we will pass through. (B,L,D)
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day 3
PALOUSE RIVER
The still water of the Palouse River is the perfect mirror for the surrounding basalt cliffs as we set off cruising on our Zodiac and kayak adventures. Visit Palouse Falls, where cascading waters plunge 198 feet into the pool below. In spring, the falls are at their peak, fueled by melting snows nearby. Afterwards, sail up the Snake River, enjoying a taste of local specialties. (B,L,D)
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day 4
WALLA WALLA
Drive through some of the most fertile agricultural areas in the nation, with bright, rolling green and purple fields of sprouting wheat, asparagus, and famous Walla Walla sweet onions. Wine lovers can wander downtown on a wine walk, sampling from the vineyards that bring worldwide recognition to this area. Or opt to visit the Whitman Mission, a standout museum and National Historic Site where friction between Native Americans and white missionaries erupted into an event that reverberates in our culture today. As we sail through the Horse Heaven Hills AVA, enjoy a Food & Wine-curated wine selection from this unique region. (B,L,D)
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day 5
CRUISING THE GORGE
Today we will spend the day cruising through some of the most scenic and geologically interesting stretches of the Columbia River and the Columbia Plateau. Our onboard geologist and naturalists will talk with you about the Columbian Basalt Flows and the Missoula Floods that sculpted the landscape 13,000 years ago. Relive the historic tales of the Corps of Discovery through the eyes of the historian as you sail by landmarks from their epic journey. Or unwind with a massage from the wellness specialist. (B,L,D)
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day 6
HOOD RIVER, OREGON/CRUISING
Immerse yourself in natural and man-made marvels as we explore the scenic Columbia River and pass through Bonneville Lock and Dam. Take a steaming cup of coffee to the bow where our naturalists offer honest perspectives on the controversial history of dams along the river. In the afternoon, make a stop at neck-craning Multnomah Falls before an optional hike of iconic Beacon Rock, the 848-foot basalt column where Lewis and Clark first noticed the tides affecting the water levels in the Columbia River, more than 120 miles from its mouth. This evening enjoy an exclusive culinary and wine experience. (B,L,D)
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day 7
ASTORIA
Navigate the Columbia to the mouth of the river at Astoria. At Cape Disappointment, take in the dramatic scenery where Meriwether Lewis saw the Pacific for the first time in 1805. In the afternoon, there are several options to explore the Astoria area, from learning its modern and maritime history at fascinating museums to sampling the local beer and oysters in this off-beat seaside town. (B,L,D)
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day 8
PORTLAND/DISEMBARK
Arrive in Portland, located on the Columbia and Willamette rivers, in the shadow of snowcapped Mt. Hood. The city is known for its ecofriendliness, microbreweries, and coffeehouses. After breakfast, disembark the ship and transfer to the airport for your return flight home. (B)
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