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Sail along the mighty Columbia and Snake Rivers for a view of the forested mountains, snow-covered volcanoes, and desert canyons first explored by Lewis and Clark. Our voyage follows the path of the Lewis and Clark expedition from Astoria, Oregon, to Charleston, Washington. Navigate these historic waterways on board the expedition ship M.V. Sea Bird.
Day 1 Portland, Oregon
Embark on the Sea Bird and cruise the lower reaches of the Willamette River through the center of Portland before heading upstream on the Columbia River.
Sea Bird
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Day 2 Eastern Washington’s Wine Country
Wake up to find that you have traveled from the lush forests of the western slopes of the Cascade Mountains to the arid plateaus to the east—an area gaining acclaim for its expanding wine industry. Spend the day enjoying the river's changing landscapes as you sail through several locks before arriving at the spectacular desert canyons of the Snake River.
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Day 3 Clarkston and Hells Canyon
At Clarkson, we travel by comfortable jet boat up the Snake River over rapids, through steep, narrow gorges, and past abandoned homesteads and gold mines to Hells Canyon, the deepest gorge in North America. Or, follow in the steps of Lewis and Clark along the Clearwater River, visiting several of their actual camp sites.
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Day 4 Palouse River
This tributary of the Snake River empties out from a remote, narrow canyon, ideal for exploring with the Sea Bird's Zodiacs or kayaks. It is also a good area for hiking. If conditions permit, the crew will set up a special barbecue on deck while you continue cruising down the Snake River in the afternoon.
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Day 5 Columbia River Gorge
In the morning, visit the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center where exhibits depict the cataclysmic geologic origins of the gorge, the region's diverse ecology and natural history, and its 10,000-year-old rich human history. This afternoon, continue to sail through the Columbia River Gorge, perhaps the most spectacular section of the entire river. On the way, we pass through the locks of the mighty Bonneville Dam.
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Day 6 Astoria
Today, we reach the mouth of the Columbia River at Astoria. Visit Fort Clatsop, with its reconstruction of Lewis and Clark's winter headquarters. See the fascinating Columbia River Maritime Museum, which chronicles the history of river navigation; and explore this port town, the epicenter of the fur-trading empire in the early 1800s.
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Day 7 Portland
Arrive in Portland and transfer to the airport for your flight home.
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Accommodating just 64 guests in 32 outside cabins, Sea Bird is large enough to operate in remote environments in comfort, yet small enough to enter ports and narrow inlets inaccessible to bigger ships. She carries sea kayaks and a fleet of Zodiacs, which can be launched at a moment’s notice, providing easy access to coastlines and other places of interest. Each cabin faces outside. All cabins have windows and are attractively and comfortably furnished with lower berths, private bathrooms, reading lights, and individual climate control.
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