columbia and snake rivers of the west 2010

Columbia and Snake Rivers of the West 2010

Overview

9 Days/8 Nights — Portland, Oregon to Lewiston, Idaho

Sail in the wake of the Lewis and Clark Expedition into the American West on a luxury yacht cruise that encompasses human and natural history, and even time itself.

Experience the rivers completely by jet boat, kayak, inflatable skiff and by transiting through eight mammoth dams from the comforts of a luxury yacht. Meet wine makers and taste wine from the barrel in Washington’s wine country. Converse with local historians as they relate tales of the epic Lewis and Clark Expedition.

No other River Expedition or River & Wine Theme Cruise will take you this far into the breadth and depth of the wilderness, history and culture of the American West.

Daily Itinerary – Westbound – Lewiston to Portland

Day 1 : Board the Safari ExplorerWelcome! You will be met at the airport this afternoon and transferred to the Safari Explorer. The crew greets you with champagne and smiles, and we’ll enjoy a short dinner cruise along the canyons of the Snake and Clearwater rivers. This evening a local historian joins us in the salon for an informative presentation on the area.

 
Day 2 : Hells Canyon by Jet BoatAfter breakfast this morning we’ll transfer to a jet boat for an invigorating ride into Hells Canyon. Vertical cliffs carved by the river now hem in the rushing waters that we travel upon, and we’ll watch some of the most dramatic scenery unfold as we jet upriver. We’ll watch for big horn sheep and hawks throughout the day. After our excursion we’ll cruise the Snake River, passing through our first lock and dam called Lower Granite. After dinner our Expedition Leader will provide a brief orientation to the journey.

 
Day 3 : The Palouse CanyonWe’ll pass through the Little Goose lock and dam first thing this morning then anchor at the mouth of the Palouse River. The kayaks and skiff will be lowered for an up-close exploration of the pristine and lovely Palouse canyon. Watch for hundreds of cliff swallows that nest on the canyon walls, and for Northern harriers and osprey hovering above the still waters as they hunt.

 
Day 4 : Birding , Rivers and Historical ConfluenceToday we’ll transit through the McNary Dam locks. The McNary Dam encompasses an impressive wildlife region. Keep your eyes peeled and binoculars in hand to see some of the 212 species of migratory birds that rest here en route through the Pacific Fly-way: snow geese, tundra swans, canvasbacks, ring-necked ducks, redheads and many others. Later we pass by Sacajawea State Park and learn about the Lewis and Clark Expedition’s travails and triumphs through this river confluence area.

 
Day 5 : The Washington Wine CountryThe fastest wine-growing region in the U.S. is in eastern Washington, and today we’ll see why. With North Star and L’Ecole No. 41 on our itinerary, our “taste of Washington” will be most enjoyable. We’ll return to the yacht after our tours and tastings, and have time to relax onboard before dinner.

 
Day 6 : Cruising the Columbia RiverThe vast eastern plains give way to the flanks of the Cascade Mountain Range as we cruise west today. Watch as the banks of the river go from gentle and low-lying to cliffs rising hundreds of feet high beside us. The wind and weather shifts from arid to temperate as we come closer to the Pacific Ocean. We’ll stop in Hood River (the windsurfing capital of the world) this afternoon where we’ll have time to browse the boutique shops or tour the local brew pub. We’ll stay dockside here tonight, so take your time and enjoy the town.

 
Day 7 : Columbia Gorge and Bonneville DamThis morning we’ll cruise through the Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area. The outside decks provide the best views of this beautiful passage. At Bradford Island we’ll step ashore for a guided tour of Bonneville Lock and Dam, the final lock on our journey. We’ll visit the power station and fish ladders, learning more about how this engineering marvel fits into the local environment and community. This evening we’ll enjoy a festive Farewell Dinner as we drop anchor in a quiet channel for the night.

 
Day 8 : A Fond FarewellYour crew serves another excellent breakfast this morning before bidding you “adieu.” At 9:00 am you’ll be transferred to the Portland airport for connections home.

 

 

Eastbound

Safari Explorer Single Stateroom Master Stateroom Commander Stateroom Captain Stateroom Admiral Stateroom Commodore Suite Commodore Triple Admiral Triple Full Charter
Mar 20, 2010 $4,795 $3,995 $4,795 $5,095 $5,795 $5,795 $5,895 $4,895 $168,995
Apr 17, 2010 $4,995 $4,295 $5,095 $5,395 $6,095 $7,195 $6,095 $5,195 $178,995
Oct 2, 2010 $5,595 $4,895 $5,295 $5,595 $6,295 $7,395 $6,295 $5,295 $193,395
Oct 16, 2010 $4,995 $4,295 $5,095 $5,395 $6,095 $7,195 $6,095 $5,195 $178,995
Oct 23, 2010 $4,995 $4,295 $5,095 $5,095 $6,095 $7,195 $6,095 $5,195 $178,995
Oct 30, 2010 $4,995 $4,295 $5,095 $5,395 $6,095 $7,195 $6,095 $5,195 $178,995

 

Westbound

Safari Explorer Single Stateroom Master Stateroom Commander Stateroom Captain Stateroom Admiral Stateroom Commodore Suite Commodore Triple Admiral Triple Full Charter
Mar 27, 2010 $4,795 $3,995 $4,795 $5,095 $5,795 $6,895 $5,895 $4,895 $168,995
Apr 10, 2010 $4,995 $4,295 $5,095 $5,395 $6,095 $7,195 $6,095 $5,195 $178,995
Nov 20, 2010 $5,595 $4,895 $5,295 $5,595 $6,295 $7,395 $6,295 $5,295 $193,395

All rates are shown in US dollars, per person, double occupancy. Any stateroom (except Single stateroom) may be sold as a single for 175% of double occupancy rate.

About the American Safari Cruise Experience