Columbia River Cultural Tours & Trip Packages

Columbia River Cultural Tours & Trips

14 Columbia River trips. Tours from 12 tour companies. 12 reviews. 5/5 avg rating.

4 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected. We are displaying some similar trips.
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Cultural
Columbia and Snake Rivers cruise
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5/5 Excellent
37 reviews
River Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Highlights

  • A narrated city tour of Portland
  • Visit Columbia River Maritime Museum which is one of the premier maritime museums on the West Coast
  • Tour historic Astoria, the oldest American settlement west of the Rockies
  • Get an up close look at Mount St. Helens
  • Multnomah Falls & Fish Hatchery
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Themes

50 plus, Cultural, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"AMERICAN CRUISE LINES STOLE FROM ME I am a dedicated hard working single father of two young daughters and worked for American cruise lines from February-August of 2023 first starting out as an engineer and eventually was asked and promoted to IT dept in May. Was offered a $3000 sign on bonus which i would use to move my daughters and myself from Tampa, Fl to Portland, OR. The company and supervisors knew IT would be a new role and there would be a learning curve for me but given some time i would easily grasp the position but regrettably i caught covid in July and was terminated two weeks later on July 28th after being incredibly ill with covid, but was told i was let go for (loss confidence). I returned to Tampa, FL and when i received my final two-week paycheck and without notice received.35 cents. I was told my sign on bonus was deducted which was 100% wrong the only stipulation for my sign-on bonus was i had to work for at least 30 days which i did. I was using those funds to move my daughters and myself the 3000+ miles from Tampa to Portland. This has been an incredibly costly and frustrating as one could imagine for a single father. American Cruise Lines is a very large and profitable corporation for them to do this to an employee i think is despicable. Date of experience: July 28, 2023"

Trip dates & details
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Portland, OR (Vancouver, WA) to Clarkston
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4.5/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Ship Cruise
Lodging level
Basic - 2 star
Physical level
Very Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Portland

Highlights

  • Explore Vancouver
  • Explore the eastern entrance to mount st. Helens or the spectacular Lewis river valley
  • Discover the art that lines each dalles streets, and taste the culinary expertise at some of the town’s most popular cuisine restaurants!
  • Enjoy the scenic beauty of this stunning and unique river-town
  • Footsteps of the historic lewis and Clark journey

Themes

Cultural, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"We had a wonderful cruise up the Mississippi from New Orleans to St Louis ! Great entertainment, great food , pools, hot tub and visiting interesting places."

Trip dates & details
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Oregon: Columbia Gorge
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5/5 Excellent
40 reviews
Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Strenuous
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Portland

Highlights

  • Ride with a scenic backdrop along the spectacular historic Columbia River Highway
  • Hike a route with stunning views and blooming wildflowers
  • Explore the informative Columbia Gorge Discovery Center
  • Visit Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood
  • Visit a remote Alpine lake fed by glaciers with imposing views of Mt. Hood

Themes

Cultural, Cycling & Biking, Local Immersion & Homestays, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife

What travelers are saying

"My husband and I booked a trip over a year ago with Sojourn for one specific reason, we were able to drive there and not have to take a plane. We have a doctors note stating my husband is unable to fly due to medical reasons. Now due to covid we cannot cross the boarder to get there so we have to cancel. I spoke with the owner of the company approximately late July and he suggested we wait to see what the U.S Government would decide on August 23 2021. I called him once it was confirmed that the boarder would be closed until September 29 2021 and wanted to cancel as it was getting to close. We paid over $6000 Canadian. The company has a waiting list for this particular time and trip and our place has already been filled, however, the owner will only refund us $2025. He refuses to refund the rest. We are so angry and disappointed as this was a lot of money and nothing to him. Now we are unable to plan a trip in Canada that we could actually get to. We thought we could trust this company as we had travelled with them before, sadly the owners greed wins and we are out a significant amount of money. I do not recommend booking with this company and will not ever again."

Trip dates & details
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Northwest Explorer with Rail
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5/5 Excellent
24 reviews
Private Guided
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Portland, Washington

Highlights

  • Washington and Oregon.
  • Mountains and Wine Country.
  • Unique train ride.
  • Charming small towns.
  • World-class wines.
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Themes

Culinary & Wine, Cultural, Winter Sports

What travelers are saying

"I had an absolutely fabulous time on InquisiTours Wine & Rails tour. We had amazing food and wine, saw some incredible sights, everything you'd expect, but it was the unexpected that made this a WOW trip. Guy's spirit and great story telling, along with the little surprises he had planned (and some he improvised) along the way were exceptional. And although I went only knowing one other tour member, by the end of the trip it was like hanging out with old friends, some of whom I still keep in touch with. I can't recommend InquisiTours enough even if, and maybe *especially* if group travel isn't your norm. (Disclosure, I was comped the trip and attended as part of the media, but all of the above is an honest representation of my experience and I would do it all over again on my own.)"

Trip dates & details
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4 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected. We are displaying some similar trips.
My selections:
Cultural

Columbia River Reviews & Ratings

5/5  Excellent
12  Reviews
See all Columbia River tour reviews
Excellent
7
Great
0
Average
0
Disappointing
0
Terrible
0
C

Corvette Guy

Sep 2022

Beautiful Way To See America

This is the second time we cruised the Columbia/Snake Rivers with American Cruise Lines. We took this trip on ACL Song in Oct. 2021. That time the fall leaves were...

J

James Bond

Sep 2022

Authentic Paddlewheel Cruising

We loved the Columbia/Snake river itinerary. It was beautiful on this 4th of July cruise with this authentic America West Paddlewheel ship all decked out in her fla...

T

TH

Aug 2022

Beautiful Columbia River

This was our second cruise on the Columbia River between Oregon and Washington with ACL. The views and locks are spectacular and the pace is very relaxing. Each to...

L

Lynn

Jul 2022

Great Cruise on the Columbia and Snake Rivers

From the first day, there was so much to do. We loved our port specialist, David and his lectures about where we were visiting and the information we learned about t...

F

Frances

Aug 2015

One of the best vacations that I have taken

I took my first cruise on American Cruise Lines was August 2014. I took the Columbia/Snake River cruise. It was on the Queen of the West. It was one of the best vaca...

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Columbia River Tour Selection Trips

Make the most of your Missouri River tour with these tips. 
  • Pack layers of clothing to prepare for changing weather conditions along the river.
  • Bring binoculars for wildlife spotting and bird-watching opportunities.
  • Don't forget insect repellent to ward off mosquitoes, especially during summer months.
  • Stay hydrated by bringing a reusable water bottle, especially during outdoor activities.
  • Learn more about the river's history and ecosystem by joining guided tours.
  • Be respectful of wildlife and follow guidelines for responsible viewing and interaction.
  • Pack sunscreen and a hat to protect yourself from the sun's UV rays during daytime excursions.
  • Stay informed about any safety protocols or regulations provided by your cruise operator.
  • Learn and abide by the regulations for boating, fishing, and hunting.

Additional details

Columbia River Cruises run between April and November, and follow part of the historic journey made by Lewis & Clark in the early 1800s.

Where is the Columbia River?

The Columbia River is located in the Pacific Northwest United States. It begins in Canada, flowing north, before turning south and entering Washington state. From there it winds its way into Oregon, and finally to the Pacific ocean. Most Columbia River cruises also include the Snake River - ending (or begining) the voyage in Clarkson, Washington.

Weather on the Columbia River

The Pacific Northwest never gets overly warm. Summertime temperatures will typically venture into the mid 80s Fahrenheit. In the springtime, expect some rain, and possibly heavy cloud cover. Be sure you’re prepared for some low visibility!

Another thing to be prepared for while visiting the Columbia River is the mosquitos. Due to the wet weather, they quite like the climate and are unavoidable, especially along the river.

What to wear on a Columbia River Cruise

Because the weather is mild, and can be rainy if you’re traveling in the spring or fall, layers are key along a Columbia River Cruise. Many port stops offer hiking opportunities, so be sure to bring a good pair of hiking shoes or boots, and good hiking socks - preferably with liners as well.

If you are prone to bug bites, long sleeves and pants will be your best friends. Look into lightweight and breathable materials so you’ll be comfortable yet protected. Bug spray is also advisable!

Columbia river cruises are casual - no need to worry about “dressing for dinner” unless you wish to.

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