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An adventure packed with sights, bites and hikes in the Pacific Northwest

From Seattle to San Francisco, this 11-day tour packs in all the highlights. Say hi to the market’s famous fish-throwers, sample Seattle’s small-batch local brews, wander through fields of wildflowers in Mt Rainier National Park, share a meal with the Native American people of Warm Springs and paddle your way along the river in Bend. 

Start
Seattle, United States
Finish
San Francisco, United States
Destination
United States
Style
Comfort
Theme
Explorer
Code
SSEWC
Physical rating
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1, Max 12

Why you'll love this trip

  • Get sustainable in Seattle with a walk through the converted Gas Works Park with its unrivalled panoramic skyline views, followed by a visit to a zero-waste, family-owned microbrewery.

  • Explore back alleys, narrow corridors and tiny storefronts on a tasting tour of Pike Place Market that will bring you up close and personal with the local vendors.

  • Marvel at the massive active stratovolcano that is Mt Rainier as you hike through meadows of wildflowers and up to lookout points of the surrounding Cascade Ranges and Nisqually Glacier.

  • Native American River to Table experience with a picnic lunch which acknowledges the role salmon played in tribal history.

  • Sample the culinary delights of Portland on an optional food and drink tour through the city’s local neighbourhoods.

  • Hit the river and paddle along the Upper Deschutes River in Bend, one of the West’s most famous and celebrated rivers.

Is this trip right for you?

  • Please ensure you consult your local government’s advice regarding domestic travel prior to booking this trip.

  • This trip is new to our range this year. And while we have thoroughly researched every detail of the logistics, new destinations and working with new partners can sometimes throw us some unexpected surprises. More often than not, it’ll be a great surprise. But every now and again there might be a hiccup. We like to think that’s what puts the ‘adventure’ in ‘adventure travel’.

Stunning sunset view in Olympic National Park, Washington, USA
View of Mount Rainier from road, Washington
Fremont Seattle Gasworks Park with view of the city, Washington
Panoramic view of the Pacific Coast, Goat Rock, Sonoma Coast State Park, California
Tomales Coast, California, USA
Food Carts of Portland Bike Tour, Oregon
Mount Saint Helens Volcanic Monument with a view of the volcano, Washington
Man walking through Muirwoods, California, USA
Landscape view of Crater Lake, Oregon in summer
Tomales Bay, Oyster Shucking, California, USA
Pike Place Public Market sign in Seattle, USA

Itinerary
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Welcome to Seattle, the city famous for coffee, grunge, tech and some talented fishmongers. Your trip starts with a group meeting at 10am, followed by a VIP food tour of the iconic Pike Place Market. Sample delights like freshly baked breakfast treats, seasonal produce and hot-smoked salmon. You’ll also get a lesson in bean-to-bar chocolate making and get to chat directly with local merchants, including those famous fish-throwers. If you’re still hungry afterwards, you can grab something for lunch in the market (at your own cost) before we take a short drive through the neighbourhood of Fremont for a bit of sightseeing and beer tasting. Check out the wonderfully quirky Fremont Troll statue – a massive sculpture under the George Washington Memorial Bridge created by local artists. Take in unrivalled views of the Seattle skyline from Gas Works Park, a former coal gasification plant that has been converted into parkland, with the old plant repurposed into the landscape.

Finally, finish your tour of the area with a stop at Fremont Brewing, a family-owned brewery featuring small-batch beers and zero-waste production processes. The brewery uses on-site generated steam and invests 60% of its energy into renewable sources to reduce its carbon footprint. Afterwards, you’ll be driven back to your hotel and have a free late afternoon to explore Seattle at your leisure.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Seattle - Leader led walking tour of Fremont
  • Seattle - Food Tour of Pike Place Market
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance and emergency contact details at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.

Washington's Puget Sound is a haven for whales. Today we drive to Puget Sound (1.5hrs) and board our boat in search of whales. In this area humpback whales, minke whales, grey whales, and orcas have been seen. Sit back, keep your eyes peeled and enjoy the cruise. Back on dry land we make our way to Olympic National Park, our first stop being the Elwa Klallam Heritage Centre. The centre is home to an exhibit: c'ix'íc'n: A Klallam Village. Artifacts have been recovered from the ancient village site near Ediz Hook and are now on display in the Great Hall of the centre. The Village site is over two thousand years old and is the largest excavated in Washington State.

Our hotel for the next 2 nights is in Sequim which is located along the Dungeness River near the base of the Olympic Mountains.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Port Angeles - Elwa Klallam Heritage Center visit
  • Puget Sound - Whale Watching
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Today we’ll explore one of the most iconic sites on the Olympic Peninsula: The Hoh Rainforest. This UNESCO Biosphere reserve offers a lush green canopy blanketed with mosses and ferns. Unchanged for thousands of years, this constantly misty and noticeably silent environment invites quiet contemplation as well as offering up a variety of walks and hikes. You may even encounter some of the herds of Roosevelt Elk that call the Hoh Rainforest home.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Olympic National Park - HOH Rainforest visit
  • Olympic National Park - Hiking
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

After breakfast we hit the road for Mt Rainier National Park. The drive will take us 3 hours through the scenic Washington State landscape. Upon arrival we will head out on the leisurely Nisqually Vista Loop Trail for views of the rocky river valley and the Nisqually Glacier. Tonight we will settle into our hotel.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Mt Rainier National Park - Hike
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
Special Information
Today’s hike is 1.1 miles (1.8 km) with 200 feet (61 m) elevation gain.

Spend today exploring the iconic Skyline Loop Trail of Mt Rainier National Park. With creek-fed waterfalls, meadows of wildflowers, scampering marmots, and spectacular views of both Mt Rainier and the Nisqually Glacier, you can’t go wrong with a day hiking the park’s most famous path. On clear days, you may also get to spot the neighbouring peaks of Mt St Helens, Mt Adams and Mt Hood. Stop for a picnic lunch midday and soak up the beauty of Washington state’s most famous geological landmark.

This afternoon we hit the road for Portland (approximately 2.5 hours’ driving time). In Portland, you have the option to join a food and drink tour (at your own cost) through one of the city’s neighbourhoods.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Mt Rainier National Park - Hike
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
Special Information
Today’s hike is 5.5 miles (8.9 km) with 1450 feet (442 m) elevation gain.

Welcome to Portland! Your tour starts at 9am with a group meeting followed by a Food Carts of Portland bike tour. Portland’s famous food carts are scattered throughout the city and your expert guide knows the most delicious ones to check out. Work up an appetite with on this easy 8-12 mile (11-17 km) culinary cycling experience where you’ll get to sample everything from Oregon farm-to-table delights to snacks to satisfy late-night cravings. This evening, you might like to head out for a casual meal with your group or check out Portland’s local bar scene.
Included Activities
  • Portland - Food Carts of Portland bike tour
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
Special Information
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting at 9am as we will be collecting insurance and emergency contact details at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.

After breakfast, head to Warm Springs for a First Nations River to Table Native experience provided by The Nez Perce Tribe. This meal acknowledges the place salmon have played in tribal history, when these fish were sold to, and traded with, neighbouring tribes, settlers and explorers. Share a simple salmon picnic lunch which celebrates this ancient tradition. From here, it’s a one-hour drive to Bend and your hotel. Tonight, your group might like to check out one of the restaurants in the historic Old Mill District.
Included Activities
  • Warm Springs - Native American River to Table lunch
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
Special Information
Today’s total driving time is approximately 3 hours.

After breakfast, head out on a half-day guided kayaking adventure along the Upper Deschutes River, one of the West’s most famous and celebrated rivers. Paddle past the Old Mill District, a historic area formerly occupied by two lumber mills, and float with your group across Bend’s serene Mirror Pond. In the afternoon, you may like to take a stroll through Drake Park or along the river, or admire the many historic buildings around town. This evening, join your group for sundowners at the Crux Fermentation Project where you can sample local brews, grab dinner from one of the many food carts, and enjoy views of the Cascade Range.
Included Activities
  • Bend - Kayaking
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

After an early breakfast, drive to Crater Lake National Park which was formed when an eruption triggered the collapse of a tall mountain peak. It’s home to the deepest lake in the USA, a scenic wonder which has attracted artists, photographers, and sightseers from around the world. You’ll have plenty of time to enjoy a picnic lunch and admire the lake’s beautiful blue water and surrounding scenery before the drive to Medford where you’ll spend the night at a hotel.
Included Activities
  • Crater Lake National Park - Walk
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
Special Information
Today’s total driving time is approximately 3.5 hours.

After breakfast, you’ll spend the day heading south to our overnight stay in Santa Rosa, arriving in the late afternoon when you’ll have some free time to wander around town, grab a bite to eat, or maybe visit a wine bar.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Today’s total driving time is approximately 6 hours.

Leaving Santa Rosa early, we make our way to the coast today. Our first stop is Goat Rock and the Sonoma Coast State Park. You can take a walk along a nearby beach to spot resting sea lions (if the season is right) and admire the rugged coastline, crashing waves, and precarious point lighthouse. Keep an eye out for migrating grey whales. There are quite a few beach walks and coastal trails, so the weather and the group’s appetite for activity will help decide which one to take. After your walk rolling up your sleeves and have a go at shucking your own oysters! Not only will you be tasting the best oysters in a beautiful picnic setting, you’ll also be supporting a fellow B Corp and climate action champion. In the afternoon it's time to head back to San Francisco, but not before one last chance to soak up some more of the area’s incredible scenery. Make your way to Muir Woods National Monument and be dwarfed by the old-growth coast redwoods, the tallest living things in the world. Take a loop hike through a cathedral of giant trees. We will arrive back in the city around 5pm where your adventure ends.
Included Activities
  • Muir Woods National Monument hike
  • Sonoma Coast State Park - walk
  • Tomales Bay - Hog Island oyster tasting
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Please note no accommodation is booked in San Francisco this evening. Your tour will end at a hotel at Fisherman's Wharf. If you wish to spend longer in the city, which we highly recommend please talk to your booking agent to request additional accommodation for you.
Want to tailor this itinerary?

Meals

10 breakfasts, 5 lunches

Transport

Private vehicle

Accommodation

Hotel (10 nights)

Included activities

  • Seattle - Leader led walking tour of Fremont
  • Seattle - Food Tour of Pike Place Market
  • Port Angeles - Elwa Klallam Heritage Center visit
  • Puget Sound - Whale Watching
  • Olympic National Park - HOH Rainforest visit
  • Olympic National Park - Hiking
  • Mt Rainier National Park - Hike
  • Portland - Food Carts of Portland bike tour
  • Warm Springs - Native American River to Table lunch
  • Bend - Kayaking
  • Crater Lake National Park - Walk
  • Muir Woods National Monument hike
  • Sonoma Coast State Park - walk
  • Tomales Bay - Hog Island oyster tasting

Dates & availability

Trip departures are unavailable.

There are currently no scheduled departures on our Best of Pacific North West trip. If you are interested in other trips in the region visit one of the links below.

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Important notes

Travellers on Intrepid trips are required to produce proof of full vaccination against COVID-19. Read details here.

1. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 10am. Please make your own way to the Joining Point Hotel listed in the Essential Trip Information for this itinerary.
2. On the final day, this trip finishes at approximately 5pm on arrival in San Francisco at our hotel. If departing this day, please do not book any flights before 8pm. If you would like to spend more time in San Francisco, we can request additional accommodation for you post tour. Please speak to your booking agent.
3. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights on your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
4. Please ensure you have checked local state information regarding COVID-19 restrictions and regulations before you travel.

Essential trip information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

View Essential Trip Information

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