In The Wake Of Lewis And Clark

Portland to Portland

River/Canal Cruising | 6 Nights | American History, Nature & Wildlife

Top▲Highlights

Beginning as a trickle in the high alpine meadows of western Canada, the Columbia River flows through great, forested mountains and down desert canyons. Joined by the Snake River, it rolls with increasing force through fertile farmlands, past snow-covered volcanoes, and finally knifes through a mountain range to complete a 1,200-mile journey to the wide sea. This is the grand gateway to the West, pioneered by Lewis and Clark, roamed by fur traders, and traversed by courageous settlers as they forged their way over the Oregon Trail. Our comfortable, small ships, are designed for exploring these historic waterways. Their size and maneuverability enable you to travel from the mouth of the Columbia all the way inland to Idaho, more than 450 miles upstream — a voyage impossible for a big ship.

Top▲Itinerary

NOTE: All itineraries on the website are constantly being updated. This itinerary may not be the most current, so please check with one of the Specialty Cruise Advisors on the left to ensure that this is the most current one.

Top▲Dates & Prices

Seasonality

September to November

Cost Per Person Double / Sole Occupancy and Single cabins also available.

This example may be available on other dates or with different itineraries. We will gladly research other options for you! Special savings may be available for groups of 6 or more. Prices shown are per person, based on double occupancy, for standard and/or inside stateroom unless stated otherwise, are capacity controlled and are subject to availability. Fare is shown in US dollars unless otherwise stated. Government Fees and Taxes are additional. Refer to appropriate supplier brochure for terms and conditions. Pricing for Singles, 3rd, 4th or 5th guests if available, will be provided upon request and is subject to stateroom category availability. Unless specified, airfare is not included. Full details of airfare offers will be provided upon request and may vary by departure location. Prices vary by date of travel, were available when written, but are subject to restrictions and availability when booked, and may be withdrawn at any time. Offer not combinable with other promotions or discount offers. FST #ST37451 / CST #2092247-50 / WST #602-708-936

Top▲What's Included

• All accommodations aboard ships or in hotels per itinerary or similar
• All meals and nonalcoholic beverages aboard ship, meals on land as indicated
• Air transportation where indicated as included,
• Shore excursions, sightseeing and entrance fees, special access permits
• Transfers to and from group flights
• Use of snorkeling equipment and wet suits
• Use of kayaks (where available)
• Tips (except to Egyptologists and ship’s crew)
• Taxes and service charges
• Services of a ship physician on most voyages, and services of our expedition staff.
• Not Included -- Air transportation (except where shown as included), extensions, passport, visa, immigration fees, scuba diving (where available), meals not indicated, baggage/accident/travel protection plan, items of a personal nature, such as alcoholic beverages, e-mail, laundry. Gratuities to Egyptologists and ship’s crew at your discretion.

Shore Excursions and Activities (Included)   Show All Details    Hide All Details

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  Day 3 - Jetboat up the Snake River or follow in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark (Clarkston)

  Today, we have two choices of activities. One option is to travel by comfortable jetboat up the Snake River, into Hell’s Canyon. We stop to take in the old homesteads and the ever-changing geology of the river, and look for Rocky Mountain Bighorn sheep. At Buffalo Eddy we see petroglyphs etched by the Native Americans. Or you can follow in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark along the Clearwater River, visiting several of their actual campsites. Led by our local historian, we learn about their relationship with the Nez Perce. We observe the rocks exposed in the shallow waters, recognizing them as the dangerous obstacles that nearly sunk one of the Corps of Discovery’s newly hewn canoes. The ponderosa pines along the river were the material used for the making canoes.

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  Day 4 - Take a kayak adventure looking for birds, deer and beaver and more (Snake River)

  The still water of the Palouse River is the perfect mirror for the surrounding basalt cliffs as we set off on our morning Zodiac cruises and kayak adventures, looking for birds, deer and beaver. The wide river bottom and towering cliffs seem out of place for such a small river; we learn that 12,000 years ago the “Bretz Flood,” a catastrophic natural event, formed the landscape. We travel by motor coach to Palouse Falls where cascading waters plunge into pools below. As we travel, we search for the mule deer, American coots, western grebes, great blue herons and graceful cormorants that are often seen here.

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  Day 5 - Columbia Gorge Discovery Center (Columbia River Gorge)

  At the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center, we learn about the cataclysmic geological origins of the gorge, the region’s diverse ecology and its 10,000-year-old rich human history. This area was once home to Celilo Falls where Lewis and Clark described a gathering of some 10,000 natives who came to fish and trade from the far corners of the Pacific Northwest. When the river was harnessed for hydropower, navigation, irrigation and flood control, the Celilo Falls were drowned. Hood River, one of the towns we pass through as we pass through the Gorge, is the windsurfing capital of the world because of its almost constant gusts.

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  Day 6 - Walk through the full-scale reconstructed fort (Astoria)

  We end our journey in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark by navigating the Columbia to the mouth of the river at Astoria. At Fort Clatsop, where explorers hunkered down for the wet winter of 1805-1806, we walk through the full-scale reconstructed fort. The Columbia River Maritime Museum chronicles the history of river navigation and this port town, the epicenter of the fur trading empire in the early 1800s. A series of fascinating displays about the many shipwrecks in the area is especially intriguing. The beautiful scene here is so at odds with the descriptions Lewis and Clark gave of their terrible winter. For an even better view, we can climb the 160 steps to the top of Astor Column.

Top▲Vessel Information

National Geographic Sea Bird

Motor Vessel | 62 Passengers | Operated by Lindblad Expeditions,

Our twin expedition ships, National Geographic Sea Bird and National Geographic Sea Lion, can reach places inaccessible to larger ships due to their small size, yet each comfortably accommodates 62 guests in 31 outside cabins. The feeling, we’re told, is often compared to that of a large private yacht, with everyone integral to the adventure. Accessibility means freedom. Our captains have decades of sailing experience in the regions we explore. They know when and where to navigate so that you feel the places we visit are all ours.

Our seasoned crew consists of expert Zodiac drivers and considerate service providers. Their energy, enthusiasm and field expertise are sure to enhance your experience. This is what expedition travel is all about: not just seeing wildness, but being out there, in it. Public Areas: Our twin sister ships feature a Library; 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. Our "Open Bridge" policy provides guests and opportunity to meet our Officers and Captain and learn about navigation. Meals: Served in single seatings with unassigned tables for an informal atmosphere and easy mingling. Breakfast is a wide selection buffet and lunch is often served family style. Menu emphasizes local flair.

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