Columbia and Snake Rivers Journey

Arrive in Portland, on the Columbia and Willamette Rivers in the shadow of snow-capped Mt. Hood. This afternoon, board our ship and discover why Portland is nicknamed “Bridgetown” as we sail under eight of the city’s 12 eclectic bridges along the Willamette, the first of five rivers we will encounter on this voyage. Dinner is included this evening.  

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Over two days immerse yourself in natural and man-made marvels. Explore the Columbia River Gorge with a stop at neck-craning Multnomah Falls and the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center & Museum. Take in, or hike, 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.

Reflect on Lewis and Clark's enduring spirit of discovery on a visit to the Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum, home to one of the largest collections of still-functioning antique cars and planes in the country, or on a trek through the Twin Mosier Tunnels on the historic Columbia River Highway. Experience engineering at a colossal scale as we pass through Bonneville Lock and Dam.

Taste the bounty of the region in the golden Hood River Valley, located in the shadows of Mount Hood. The valley is known for its fruit-growing orchards—including one of the world’s largest pear-growing areas. We'll tour its famous “fruit loop,” dropping in at a local farm to learn about organic farming and meet their charming farm animals.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Spend the day on the Columbia River traveling through some of the most scenic and geologically interesting stretches of the Columbia Plateau. Our onboard Geologist and Naturalists will discuss the Columbian basalt flows and the Missoula floods that sculpted the landscape 13,000 years ago. As we sail by landmarks from the epic journey of the Corps of Discovery, our Historian will relay their many adventures. This is also a great day to unwind with a massage.  

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Drive through some of the most fertile agricultural areas in the nation, with bright, rolling green fields of sprouting wheat, asparagus, and famous Walla Walla sweet onions. Now, vineyards are also bringing this area world-wide recognition. Early pioneer history and the friction between Cayuse and missionaries take the spotlight at the Whitman Mission, a National Historic Site. Enjoy lunch and a tasting at a local winery.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The still water of the Palouse River is the perfect mirror for the surrounding basalt cliffs as we set off on our Zodiac and kayak adventures, weather permitting. Visit Palouse Falls, where waters plunge 200 feet into a churning pool. In spring, the falls are at their peak, fueled by melting snows nearby. These falls and the surrounding canyon with its towering cliffs, cavernous holes in the earth, and winding water routes are part of geologically unique channeled scablands created by ancient floods. Afterwards, sail up the Snake River, enjoying a taste of local specialties.  

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today we find ourselves at the confluence of the Snake and Clearwater rivers, more than 450 miles from the sea. Travel by comfortable jet boat into spectacular Hells Canyon, which is mostly inaccessible by road. Carved by the Snake River, this 125-mile canyon is North America’s deepest river gorge. The earliest known settlers here were the Nez Percé tribe. As we travel up the river, we will see remnants of their ancestral horse trails along with pictographs and petroglyphs on rock formations. This evening a local winemaker joins us for a wine tasting and an informative discussion about the unique terroir of the Lewis-Clark Valley AVA, the newest Viticultural Area in the United States.   

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for connecting flights home. Choose to fly from nearby Lewiston, Idaho, or travel though the picturesque landscapes of the Palouse to Spokane, Washington, two hours away. Breakfast is included today. 

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Choose to fly into nearby Lewiston, Idaho, or fly into Spokane, Washington, located two hours away, by 1:00 PM, and travel though the picturesque landscapes of the Palouse to Clarkston to board the ship.

Meals Included: Breakfast

At Clarkston, we find ourselves at the confluence of the Snake and Clearwater rivers, more than 450 miles from the sea. The name Clarkston is in reference to William Clark; it's located directly across the river from Lewiston, Idaho, which is named for Meriwether Lewis. Travel by comfortable jet boat into one of North America’s most scenic spots, spectacular Hells Canyon. The 125-mile-long canyon was carved by the waters of the Snake River and at 7,993 feet is North America’s deepest river gorge—most of it inaccessible by road. The earliest known settlers in the canyon were the Nez Percé tribe and, as we travel up the river, look to the hillsides and see remnants of their ancestral horse trails along with pictographs and petroglyphs on the rock formations. This evening a local winemaker joins us for a wine tasting and an informative discussion about the unique terroir of the Lewis Clark Valley AVA, the newest Viticultural Area in the United States.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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 nearly 200 feet into the pool below. In spring, the falls are at their peak, fueled by melting snows nearby. These falls and the canyon are important features of the channeled scablands created by the great Missoula Floods that swept periodically across the region. Afterwards, sail up the Snake River, enjoying a taste of local specialties.  

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Drive through some of the most fertile agricultural areas in the nation, with bright, rolling green fields of sprouting wheat, asparagus, and famous Walla Walla sweet onions. Vineyards are also bringing this area worldwide recognition. Early pioneer history and the friction between Cayuse and missionaries take the spotlight at the Whitman Mission, a National Historic Site. Enjoy lunch and tasting at a local winery.  

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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 discuss 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 our historian as we sail by landmarks from their epic journey. This is also a great day to unwind with a massage.  

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Over two days immerse yourself in natural and man-made marvels. Explore the Columbia River Gorge with a stop at neck-craning Multnomah Falls and the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center & Museum. Take in, or hike, 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.

Reflect on Lewis and Clark's enduring spirit of discovery on a visit to the Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum, home to one of the largest collections of still-functioning antique cars and planes in the country, or on a trek through the Twin Mosier Tunnels on the historic Columbia River Highway. Experience engineering at a colossal scale as we pass through Bonneville Lock and Dam.

Taste the bounty of the region in the golden Hood River Valley, located in the shadows of Mount Hood. The valley is known for its fruit-growing orchards—including one of the world’s largest pear-growing areas. We'll tour its famous “fruit loop,” dropping in at a local farm to learn about organic farming and meet their charming farm animals.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Arrive in Portland, located on the Columbia and Willamette rivers, in the shadow of snow-capped Mt. Hood. The city is known for its ecofriendliness, microbreweries, and coffeehouses. After breakfast, disembark the ship and transfer to the airport for return flights home. Breakfast is included today. 

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Arrive in the early afternoon in Portland, located on the Columbia and Willamette Rivers in the shadow of snow-capped Mount Hood. The city is known for its ecofriendliness, microbreweries, and coffeehouses. This afternoon board our ship and discover why Portland is nicknamed “Bridgetown” as we sail under eight of the city’s 12 eclectic bridges along the Willamette River, the first of five rivers we will encounter on this voyage. Dinner is included today.  

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We begin our journey by navigating the Columbia to the mouth of the river at Astoria. At Cape Disappointment, where Meriwether Lewis saw the Pacific in November of 1805, explore the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center, see Cape Disappointment Lighthouse and the north jetty of the Columbia River Bar. Visit the Columbia River Maritime Museum, which chronicles the history of river navigation and all aspects of maritime commerce in the region. Hear harrowing stories of crossing “The Bar” at the mouth of the Columbia, one of the most dangerous passages in the world. In the afternoon, there are several options to explore the Astoria area.  

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Over two days immerse yourself in natural and man-made marvels. Explore the Columbia River Gorge with a stop at neck-craning Multnomah Falls and the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center & Museum. Take in, or hike, 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.

Reflect on Lewis and Clark's enduring spirit of discovery on a visit to the Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum, home to one of the largest collections of still-functioning antique cars and planes in the country, or on a trek through the Twin Mosier Tunnels on the historic Columbia River Highway. Experience engineering at a colossal scale as we pass through Bonneville Lock and Dam.

Taste the bounty of the region in the golden Hood River Valley, located in the shadows of Mount Hood. The valley is known for its fruit-growing orchards—including one of the world’s largest pear-growing areas. We'll tour its famous “fruit loop,” dropping in at a local farm to learn about organic farming and meet their charming farm animals, followed by a delicious farm-to-table lunch.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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 discuss 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 we sail by landmarks from their epic journey. This is also a great day to unwind with a massage.  

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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, conditions permitting. Visit Palouse Falls, where cascading waters plunge nearly 200 feet into the pool below. These falls and the canyon are important features of the channeled scablands created by the great Missoula Floods that swept periodically across the region. Afterward, sail up the Snake River, enjoying a taste of local specialties.  

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

At Clarkston, we find ourselves at the confluence of the Snake and Clearwater Rivers, more than 450 miles from the sea. The name Clarkston is in reference to William Clark and it is directly across the river from Lewiston, Idaho, which is named for Meriwether Lewis. Travel by comfortable jet boat into one of North America’s most scenic spots: spectacular Hells Canyon. The 125-mile-long canyon was carved by the waters of the Snake River and at 7,993 feet is North America’s deepest river gorge—most of it inaccessible by road. The earliest known settlers in the canyon were the Nez Percé tribe and, as we travel up the river, look to the hillsides and see remnants of their ancestral horse trails along with pictographs and petroglyphs on the rock formations. In the afternoon, join your fellow travelers in the lounge for songs and stories by a local Nez Percé storyteller. This evening, enjoy the company of a local winemaker onboard. Sip their wines while we hear about how the geology of the area surrounding the Lewis-Clark Valley AVA, the newest Viticultural Area in the United States, affects the flavors of their wines.  

Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for flights home. Choose to fly from nearby Lewiston, Idaho, or travel though the picturesque landscapes of the Palouse to Spokane, Washington, two hours away. Breakfast is included today. 

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Choose to fly into nearby Lewiston, Idaho, or into Spokane, Washington, two hours away. Travel though the picturesque landscapes of the Palouse to Clarkston to board the ship. Dinner is included today.  

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

At Clarkston, we find ourselves at the confluence of the Snake and Clearwater rivers, more than 450 miles from the sea. The name Clarkston is in reference to William Clark and is directly across the river from Lewiston, Idaho, which is named for Meriwether Lewis. Travel by comfortable jet boat into one of North America’s most scenic spots, spectacular Hells Canyon. The 125-mile-long canyon was carved by the waters of the Snake River and at 7,993 feet is North America’s deepest river gorge—most of it inaccessible by road. The earliest known settlers in the canyon were the Nez Percé tribe and, as we travel up the river, look to the hillsides and see remnants of their ancestral horse trails along with pictographs and petroglyphs on the rock formations. This afternoon, join your fellow travelers in the lounge for songs and stories by a Nez Percé storyteller. This evening a local winemaker joins us for a wine tasting and an informative discussion about the unique terroir of the Lewis Clark Valley AVA, the newest Viticultural Area in the United States. Set sail this evening on the Snake River heading west, and overnight, transit two in the series of eight locks that will lower the ship some 700 feet, nearly 10 times the height of the Panama Canal’s locks.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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 nearly 200 feet into the pool below. These falls and the canyon are important features of the channeled scablands created by the great Missoula Floods that swept periodically across the region. Afterward, sail down the Snake River, enjoying a taste of local specialties.  

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

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 discuss 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 we sail by landmarks from their epic journey. This is also a great day to unwind with a massage.  

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Over two days immerse yourself in natural and man-made marvels. Explore the Columbia River Gorge with a stop at neck-craning Multnomah Falls and the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center & Museum. Take in, or hike, 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.

Reflect on Lewis and Clark's enduring spirit of discovery on a visit to the Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum, home to one of the largest collections of still-functioning antique cars and planes in the country, or on a trek through the Twin Mosier Tunnels on the historic Columbia River Highway. Experience engineering at a colossal scale as we pass through Bonneville Lock and Dam.

Taste the bounty of the region in the golden Hood River Valley, located in the shadows of Mount Hood. The valley is known for its fruit-growing orchards—including one of the world’s largest pear-growing areas. We'll tour its famous “fruit loop,” dropping in at a local farm to learn about organic farming and meet their charming farm animals, followed by a delicious farm-to-table lunch.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today we continue to navigate the Columbia to the mouth of the river at Astoria. At Cape Disappointment, where Meriwether Lewis saw the Pacific in November of 1805, explore the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center, see Cape Disappointment Lighthouse, and the north jetty of the Columbia River Bar. Visit the Columbia River Maritime Museum, which chronicles the history of river navigation and all aspects of maritime commerce in the region. Hear harrowing stories of crossing “The Bar” at the mouth of the Columbia, one of the most dangerous passages in the world. In the afternoon, there are several options to explore the Astoria area.  

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Arrive in Portland, located on the Columbia and Willamette rivers, in the shadow of snow-capped Mt. Hood. The city is known for its ecofriendliness, microbreweries, and coffeehouses. After breakfast, disembark the ship and transfer to the airport for return flights home. Breakfast is included today. 

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner