Pacific Northwest Expeditions

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September 28, 2021

Multnomah Falls, Oregon

45.576° S -122.116° E

Dave Katz, Video Chronicler

Starting in 2023, we are pleased to offer complimentary beer & wine aboard National Geographic Quest, National Geographic Venture, National Geographic Sea Bird, and National Geographic Sea Lion. See our new Free Bar Policy under special offers for details.

We're a winner of Conde Nast Traveler's 2022 Readers Choice Awards

Spring forward into stunning landscapes and compelling history

The Columbia and Snake Rivers take on a new kind of vibrancy in spring. Join us as we cruise spectacularly scenic waterways when wildflowers are blooming, waterfalls are brimming, and salmon-fishing is at its peak. Experience un unmatched perspective on Columbia River Gorge, Hell's Canyon and more aboard our nimble 62-guest expedition ships.

View the full itinerary and take advantage of airfare and solo travel savings in 2023.

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Pacific Northwest

Columbia & Snake Rivers Journey

Duration

8 days

Apr
Sep
Oct

From

$5,827

Prices are per person

Highlights

Pacific Northwest

Columbia & Snake Rivers Journey

Duration

8 days

Apr
Sep
Oct

From

$5,827

Top Highlights

Sail in the wake of Lewis and Clark and their legendary Corps of Discovery expedition
Spend a day cruising through the spectacular Columbia River Gorge, taking in the views from the bow and perfecting your landscape photography skills
Taste the bounty of the region through their harvests and fresh, local, and delectable cuisine
Experience the region up close on water-level Zodiac and kayak forays on the Palouse River or by hiking monumental Beacon Rock
Transit a series of eight locks that lift the ship 700 feet—10 times the elevation of the Panama Canal

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Special Offers

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Pacific Northwest

Exploring British Columbia and the San Juan Islands

Duration

8 days

Sep
Oct

From

$5,288

Prices are per person

Highlights

Pacific Northwest

Exploring British Columbia and the San Juan Islands

Duration

8 days

Sep
Oct

From

$5,288

Top Highlights

Sail among remote islands to kayak or hike where sea lions, river otters, bald eagles, and white-sided dolphins can be found
Go through Desolation Sound, on the north end of British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast, a mecca for kayakers with its calm, sheltered waters and outstanding natural beauty
In Alert Bay visit the U'Mista Cultural Center to see a stunning collection of potlatch masks created by the Kwakwaka'wakw peoples
Search for humpbacks and orcas, visit the Whale Museum, and learn about local populations from a researcher for the Center for Whale Research
In lovely Victoria tour private gardens, take a bike ride, and enjoy a private evening event at the Robert Bateman Centre

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Special Offers

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Expedition Highlights

Hike island forest trails in search of wildlife, kayak verdant shorelines, and bike the waterfront of a scenic city—or cruise by Zodiac and visit a mixture of quaint and world-class museums. Options abound for indulging your interests in the Pacific Northwest. Hear the legends and learn the traditions of Native Americans and First Nations through their art or moving performances. Taste the bounty of the region. Dine on salmon straight from local waters, foraged wild mushrooms picked within 50 miles, and provisions delivered directly from farmers along our route.

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Life Aboard

Relax and settle in to life aboard as you cruise the waters of the Pacific Northwest. Your expedition ship offers the absolute best way to access all the sites, culture, and history along the river—without ever having to change hotels or wheel luggage around. We add to that the luxury of comfort with a quality of shipboard life and a philosophy of wellness designed to relax and rejuvenate body, mind, and spirit as you cruise the Pacific Northwest.

Expedition Dining—Then & Now

The Pacific Northwest is known for its incredible bounty and some of the freshest ingredients around. You can look forward to meals that celebrate the region’s world-famous flavors, like a vibrantly pink coho salmon filet, bright green coils of fiddlehead ferns, and a bottle of terroir-rich pinot noir.

Hells Canyon

There's no other way (not even a hike) to get up close with Hells Canyon besides a jet boat ride.

Wildlife & Natural Wonders in the Pacific Northwest

From killer whales to bighorn sheep, the wildlife and scenery of the Pacific Northwest are vastly varied.

Ready for the adventure of a lifetime?

1 212.765.7740

1 212.765.7740

Discover the Pacific Northwest

Expedition Leader

Veteran expedition leaders are the orchestrators of your experience. Many have advanced degrees and have conducted research or taught for years. They have achieved expedition leader status because they possess the skills, the experience, and the depth of knowledge necessary to continually craft the best expedition possible for our guests.

Naturalist

Our naturalists, passionate about the geographies they explore (and return to regularly), illuminate each facet through their enthusiasm and knowledge. Our guests consistently cite the expertise and engaging company of our staff as key reasons to repeatedly travel with us.

Certified Photo Instructor

Expeditions in the Pacific Northwest offer an exclusive service—a certified photo instructor. This naturalist is specially trained to offer assistance with camera settings and the basics of composition and to help you become a better, more confident photographer.

Historian

On the Columbia River, enjoy the company and perspective of a historian who can quote extensively from the journals of Lewis and Clark. And on expeditions that sail along the coast, go with a cultural interpreter or an anthropologist who has lived among the Coast Salish peoples of the San Juan Islands.

Video Chronicler

Video chroniclers accompany every expedition and shoot vivid HD footage—with no recycled footage ever—to provide you with a professionally edited and completely authentic memento of your expedition. Working during the day and editing into the night, they have your video ready for preview prior to—and available to purchase at—disembarkation.

Wellness

Our wellness program embodies the belief that nature is vitalizing and that wildness, as Thoreau famously said, supplies a tonic. Wellness Specialists are fully accredited and experienced licensed massage therapists and are aboard every ship in the National Geographic-flagged fleet. They lead morning stretch class on the deck, aerobic walks ashore, kayak outings, and more.

Doesn't get better, a brilliant staff.

Stephanie O.

1 212.765.7740

Daily Expedition Reports

Daily Expedition Reports

10/27/2022

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National Geographic Sea Bird

Crow Butte

National Geographic Sea Bird climbed up the Columbia River. The ship made its way from the temperate rainforest across the deep and narrow basalt cliffs of the Columbia Gorge and into the dry sagebrush-steppe landscape of Crow Butte. The transformation took just a few hours. As the sun rose across the sharply edged riverine lines, guests sipped coffee and enjoyed breakfast. Afterwards, we enjoyed an expert talk on “Soils and Raptors” by naturalist and “Raptor Extraordinaire,” Zoey Greenberg. Emerging from Celilo Falls and the Long Narrows, we shuttled upstream to Crow Butte Island. Guests enjoyed aerobic nature walks around the island in the morning. Returning to National Geographic Sea Bird , guests enjoyed an afternoon of cruising through the Umatilla National Wildlife Refuge and educational presentations on “Salmon, Dams, and the Columbia River Treaty,” by Patrick MacQuarrie, river historian, and “Geology of the Columbia River Basin,” by the multitalented naturalist wizard, Jesse Humbert. Crow Butte and the refuge offered a plethora of birdlife for the guests’ enjoyment, including grebes, great blue herons, double-crested cormorants, American white pelicans, bald eagles, northern harriers, red-tailed hawks, kestrels, and several types of geese, including snow geese, cackling geese, and Canada geese. We also spotted buffleheads, widgeons, mallards, coots, gulls, and several sparrows. While naturalists wooed the “Sea Bird Nation” with natural science and history stories, the ship transited McNary Lock. The lock lifted National Geographic Sea Bird up 75-feet into Lake Wallula, eventually passing Wallula Gap and entering the Snake River by dinner. Once again, National Geographic Sea Bird made the once impossible journey possible. This was first accomplished by Lewis and Clark in 1805 and 1806 on their historic journey to open the West to a young and eager country. Photographers: Patrick MacQuarrie, River Historian and Naturalist ; Dr. Robert Jason, Guest ; and Kim Nesbitt, Photo Instructor

Daily Expedition Reports

10/26/2022

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National Geographic Sea Bird

The Dalles, Oregon

Dawn broke cold but clear with temperatures in the high 40s and partly cloudy skies. It was wonderful weather for an exploration of the transition zone between the temperate rainforest of the past two days and the shrub-steppe that begins here and dominates the landscape heading east.

Daily Expedition Reports

10/25/2022

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National Geographic Sea Bird

Columbia River Gorge & Hood River Valley

Today we had a wonderful introduction to the gorgeous farmland and industry of the Columbia River ecosystem. From experiencing the “Fruit Loop” to a salmon hatchery to a wonderful farm-to-table lunch, it was a beautiful day.

Daily Expedition Reports

10/24/2022

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National Geographic Sea Bird

Astoria, Oregon

Today we awoke eight miles from the Pacific Ocean, as the crow flies, in Astoria, Oregon. This was the saltiest air we will breathe all week. Our excursions for the day included a trip to the Astoria Column, a sensory-filled moment with a California sea lion haul out, a visit to the Columbia River Maritime Museum, and an immersive experience at the famed Cape Disappointment, home to the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center. Each of these sites highlighted an unforgettable element of the Pacific Northwest, as temperate rainforests captured our rapt attention and introduced us to the genuine beauty of the region. We saw a rough-skinned newt, a northern red-legged frog, two bald eagles, and several black-tailed deer. Sitka spruce towered overhead, and epiphytic ferns catalyzed our understanding of the vegetative wonders growing in this place. Beginning our voyage in such a historically, culturally, and ecologically rich location set a powerful tone and brought our ship community into the arms of a riverine environment that is unique on this planet. Let the adventure continue to unfold. Photographers: Zoey Greenberg, Naturalist , and Patrick MacQuarrie, River Historian

Daily Expedition Reports

10/22/2022

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National Geographic Sea Bird

Astoria, Oregon

An early morning mist covered the bay as guests awoke. After breakfast, guests departed across the iconic steel truss Astoria Bridge on their way to the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center. After arriving on the Oregon side of the Columbia River, guests began exploring Waikiki Beach with the incoming tide. A connecting trail provided a scenic hike to a cliff with views of the Pacific Ocean and the Columbia River Bar. As the morning sun peeked out from behind the clouds, guests continued on their hike to the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center. A ranger provided a brief history of the area before guests began a tour of the museum. After learning about the amazing history of the Corps of Discovery, the group returned to the ship for lunch. After lunch, guests left to explore the 30-acre park situated on a hill overlooking the quiet town of Astoria. A small gift store offered balsa wood airplanes, and height-enthusiastic guests adventured 164 steps up the Astoria Column to launch their planes into the brisk fall wind. Upon returning to the buses, guests were transported to an active California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) haul-out. One guest counted approximately 250 individuals basking in the sun on an abandoned dock. After a short ride, guests visited the Columbia River Maritime Museum to explore the huge collection of vessels and historical ephemera from the area. Photographers: Aaron Raymond, Photo Instructor , and Patrick MacQuarrie, River Historian

Exploring the Pacific Northwest reveals great natural beauty, and yet it features modern incredible feats of human engineering—an imposing system of locks and large-span bridges. To explore it by ship offers a chance to marvel at both.

Sven-Olof Lindblad

1 212.765.7740

1 212.765.7740

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