Adventures in the Wild Northwest

Explore the best of America's wild north west on this great escorted tour, starting by the harbourside in San Francisco and then travelling through the land of the giant redwoods to the Oregon Dunes and coastal Newport. Continue on to Portland and the dramatic Columbia River Gorge before ending in dynamic Seattle, with a trip up the Space Needle.

Tour Itinerary

Day 1 - San Francisco

Arrive in San Francisco, one of America's greatest cities. Transfer to your downtown hotel close to the harbourside. Meet your Tour Director to find out more about the adventure ahead and hook up with your travelling companions at an early afternoon Welcome Reception. You can stroll along later to Pier 39 to see the local sealion population and soak up the streetlife.

Hotel: Radisson Fisherman's Wharf

Day 2 - San Francisco - Richardson Grove State Park - Garrberville

Take a stroll across the Golden Gate Bridge with your Tour Director before the tour heads out from San Francisco and into California's fertile wine growing country. Today you'll also have your first encounter with the giant redwood trees, stopping off to wander through woodland and even walk through a huge tree. This evening you'll stay by the Eel River at the historic Benbow Hotel, arriving in time for afternoon tea.

Hotel: Benbow Hotel

Day 3 - Garberville - Eureka - Gold Beach

Travel along the Avenue of the Giants to see an amazing array of giant redwoods on your way through California. Stop off at the 19th century logging town of Eureka Before heading into the Northern California Redwood National Park, to see more giant trees, some of which are more than 100 metres in height and over 1,000 years old. Next you'll enter Oregon for a jet boat ride on the Rogue River, a wild waterway that tumbles from the Cascade Mountains to the Pacific. Look out for local wildlife like great blue heron, bald eagles, black bear, black-tail deer and river otter.

Hotel: Jot's Resort

Day 4 - Gold Beach - Oregon Dunes - Newport

Visit the shifting sands of the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area and gear up for a thrilling dune buggy ride. Next you'll take a look at the 19th century lighthouse of Heceta Head, considered one of the world's most beautiful. Keep northwards to the coastal town of Newport and in the evening settle down for a local beach bonfire.

Hotel: Hallmark Inn

Day 5 - Newport - Mc Minnville - Portland

Seek out the local marine life at the tide pools in Quarry Cove to spot sea stars, sea urchins, anemones, kelp crabs and more. Later you'll learn about the history of aviation at the Evergreen Aviation and Aerospace Museum, which has a replica of the 1903 Wright Brothers' Flyer, a Russian space capsule, Howard Hughes' famous Spruce Goose and a Titan II missile launch room. Arriving in Portland there will be an orientation tour, which will also stop at the city's colourful International Rose Test Garden. Later, enjoy a pizza feast in a historic, and reputedly haunted, old Portland restaurant.

Hotel: Fifty

Day 6 - Columbia River Gorge excursion; free time in Portland

Today you'll explore the Columbia River Gorge, which is more than 1,200 metres deep in parts and more than 125 kilometres long. Stop at Crown Point on the Historic Columbia River Highway for outstanding views across the canyon. You'll also see the incredible Multnomah Falls, second-highest waterfalls in America, and also stop at the historic Bonneville Lock and Dam where a park ranger will tell you about the area and talk about the famous Lewis and Clark Expedition which passed this way in the early 1800s. Spot salmon, trout and huge sturgeons at the Fish Hatchery before returning to Portland for time in the afternoon to spend independently.

Hotel: Fifty

Day 7 - Portland - Olympic National Park

Find out all about the eruption of Mount St Helens at the active volcano's visitor centre, telling the tale of the dramatic events of May 1980. You can see a working seismograph there are even step inside a volcano model. Next, the tour moves westwards to the coastal Olympic National Park, a World Heritage Site, home to three distinct ecosystems. Here you'll see one of the only temperate rainforests in the world and hike to the atmospheric Hall of Mosses. Your hotel for the night boasts panoramic coastal views, ideal for watching a spectacular Pacific sunset.

Hotel: Kalaloch Lodge

Day 8 - Olympic National Park - Seattle

Head for the top of Hurricane Ridge in a 4WD vehicle, following the twisting 27-kilometre road to witness fantastic panoramas and blustering weather. Back at the coast take the Puget Sound ferry to cross over to Seattle, where you can take a look around the original American farmers market, Pike Place. You'll also be able to head to the top of the world-famous Space Needle for great city views. In the evening celebrate a great tour with your fellow travellers at a Farewell Dinner.

Hotel: Crowne Plaza

Day 9 - Seattle

After breakfast make your way to the airport with the complimentary transfer for your return flight.

Departure Dates & Prices

These prices are correct at the time of the website going live, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking.

All tour information is correct at time of tours going live, however is subject to change, please confirm all details at time of booking.

Departs On	Returns On	Tour + Air
Monday, May 11, 2009	Tuesday, May 19, 2009	€1919
Monday, May 18, 2009	Tuesday, May 26, 2009	€1919
Monday, June 01, 2009	Tuesday, June 09, 2009	€1919
Monday, June 15, 2009	Tuesday, June 23, 2009	€1919
Monday, June 29, 2009	Tuesday, July 07, 2009	€1967
Monday, July 13, 2009	Tuesday, July 21, 2009	€2219
Monday, August 03, 2009	Tuesday, August 11, 2009	€2219
Monday, August 17, 2009	Tuesday, August 25, 2009	€2219
Monday, September 07, 2009	Tuesday, September 15, 2009	€2039
Monday, September 14, 2009	Tuesday, September 22, 2009	€2039
Monday, September 21, 2009	Tuesday, September 29, 2009	€2039
Monday, September 28, 2009	Tuesday, October 06, 2009	€2039

For single travellers purchasing the twin-share option, please note that there is a no smoking policy in all shared rooms.

The displayed prices are based on twin-share accommodation. A single supplement price is available on request.- These prices are correct at the time of the website going live, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking. All tour information is correct at time of tours going live, however is subject to change, please confirm all details at time of booking.

Included Highlights

• San Francisco - walk across Golden Gate Bridge; explore Pier 39
• Richardson Grove - ranger-led walk through the redwood forest
• Avenue of the Giants
• Eureka
• Gold Beach - jet boat down the Rogue River
• Oregon Dunes - dune buggy ride
• Heceta Head Lighthouse
• Newport - beach bonfire
• Quarry Cove - look for marine life at the Newport tide pools
• McMinnville - visit Evergreen Aviation and Aerospace Museum
• Portland - orientation tour, visit International Rose Test Garden
• Columbia River Gorge - see Multnomah Falls and stop at Crown Point
• Bonneville Dam - Park Ranger-led tour
• Fish Hatchery - view the trout, salmon and huge sturgeons
• Mount St.Helens - learn about the volcano at the visitor centre
• Olympic National Park
• Puget Sound - ferry cruise
• Seattle - tour the city and travel up the Space Needle

Dining Highlights

• 12 meals are included in total
• Welcome Reception in San Francisco
• Eight full breakfasts
• Local restaurant dinner in Portland
• Two three-course hotel dinners
• Farewell Dinner with drinks in Seattle

First Class Travel Highlights

• Professional Tour Director
• Complimentary airport transfers
• Deluxe motorcoach transportation with air conditioning, restroom facilities and reclining seats
• Twin en suite hotel accommodation (all service charges, baggage fees and local taxes included - one suitcase per person)