Lonely Planet Experiences: Columbia Gorge Meditative Waterfalls Scenic Tour
Portland, USA
From USD 77.00
Office phone number: +1 503 889 6410
Lonely Planet Experiences: Columbia Gorge Meditative Waterfalls Scenic Tour
Portland, USA
Culture shock rating
Worried we’re going to shock your senses? Relax! We believe part of the fun of travel is immersing yourself in the destination and its culture, meeting the people, and learning what makes the place tick. We’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The cultural shock rating ranks how different the experience is from most Western cultures. But no matter the level, don’t worry, you’ll have a local, in-the-know guide with you every step of the way.
Low
Consider these tours your 101 intro to a place. Transportation might be private or a very comfortable public option, and the activities are usually visits to iconic sites and locations that are familiar to most Western cultures – but that will still give you fantastic insight into a destination.
Medium
Expect to rough it for parts of this tour, whether that’s on a packed public bus or in a local market off the tourist trail. There might be a few language barriers or unfamiliar cultural customs, and you’ll get an experience different from what you're used to at home.
High
You're out there in the global community! We’re going to take you down streets you’d rarely explore on your own, introduce you to local customs and languages, and take you for a ride in whatever transport is available. Get ready to take it as it comes, whatever comes. There might be a shock, but oh man, it’s worth it.
Physical rating
Worried our tours are too tough? Relax! From leisurely strolls to muscle-burning treks, we’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The physical grading gives you an idea of how much huffing and puffing you can expect on the tour.
Low
Slow and steady is all you need here. These tours have very limited physical activity, such as walking relatively flat streets, sites, or markets, and climbing in and out of the transport provided.
Medium
Not too hard, not too soft, these tours are just right! You can expect a bit of physical activity, but nothing overly challenging – perhaps walking up and down hills, riding a bike for up to 30 kilometers along mostly flat terrain, or jumping in a kayak for a gentle paddle on flat water.
High
Get ready for a workout! These tours are our most challenging and involve intense walking, hiking, kayaking, swimming, or bike riding. You could be making steep climbs by foot or pedal, or working your core in the water. We recommend you have a good level of fitness to join this tour.
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Tour snapshot
Grab your hiking shoes and join an expert local guide for an unforgettable tour of Columbia Gorge and its beautiful waterfalls. Just outside of Portland’s urban centre, a world of natural wonder awaits – one that you’ll have the chance to experience for yourself on a scenic hike that takes in not only the best of the gorge, but some off-the-beaten-path gems, too.
Experience the best travel stories for yourself. Join a local expert and uncover hidden gems on this city adventure hand-picked by the world's leading travel publisher. Lonely Planet Experiences powered by Urban Adventures bring stories to life in the best-loved cities around the globe.
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Highlights
- Get an in-depth exploration of Columbia Gorge with time to meditate on the area’s wonders
- Gaze at impressive vistas and be gently misted by waterfalls.
- Enjoy hikes off the beaten path, to lesser visited waterfalls
- Experience the pleasure of “forest bathing”
- Transportation in a roomy Sprinter van for the short, 30-minute drive from Portland
- Each Lonely Planet Experience comes with six-months free access to Lonely Planet’s Guides App which includes over 8,000 destinations guides and unbeatable discounts to Lonely Planet Guidebooks
Local Impact: How you will help the local community by joining this tour:
- On this tour of the Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area, you will be taking trails and pathways that are beyond what most visitors experience while here. In fact, about 30% of your time on the tour is on a trail that is used by fewer than 5% of the visitors to the Columbia River Gorge.
- The tour also supports the local communities by providing snacks from a locally-based purveyor, a small woman-owned business in Portland. In addition, if you choose to purchase something from the Vista House, which stocks a large variety of local craftspeople (including Native American craftspeople), proceeds go to the not-for-profit foundation that maintains the rest stop and historical site.
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Schedule details
- Duration: 5 hours
- Meeting point:
1210 SE 7th Avenue, at the Around Portland Tours shop, on 7th Avenue between Salmon and Main Streets.
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- Starting time: 8.30 AM
- Ending point:
1210 SE 7th Avenue, at the Around Portland Tours shop, on 7th Avenue between Salmon and Main Streets.
Language: English
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, transportation in comfortable Sprinter vans, trail mix provided, reusable water bottles provided.
Exclusions: Tips/gratuities for your guide.
The waterfalls and vistas of Columbia Gorge prompt awe and wonder among all those who visit – for good reason. Century-old trees, majestic eagles, pounding waterfalls, ferns, flowers, fungus, ancient rocks, tiny salamanders, forest frogs: it’s like entering a mythical world like no other.
Your tour takes you to important vistas and headlining waterfalls, like the unmissable Multnomah Falls, the tallest in Oregon and one of the tallest year-round waterfalls in the U.S. And weather permitting, we’ll also visit the unusual and visually stunning Vista House; a rest stop on a dramatic rocky outcrop. But beyond that is so much more beauty to discover. You’ll also have the chance to explore a few waterfalls less visited (and only accessible with small hikes), pausing as much as you can to experience the health benefits of negative ions and to breathe deeply in the forest – something known as “forest bathing.”
With a little extra time, this tour allows for a more in-depth experience with the waterfalls of the gorge than any other tour, enough to meditate on the wonders around you. You will return with beautiful photos, as well as a deeper sense of the majesty of the world just outside Portland’s urban center.
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Additional information
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, transportation in comfortable Sprinter vans, trail mix provided, reusable water bottles provided.
Exclusions: Tips/gratuities for your guide.
Dress standard: Comfortable clothing/shoes for walking over uneven terrain are suggested. Most months of the year include the possibility of rain and mud. Outside of July and August, footwear that can handle occasional muddy trails and puddles is suggested; rain ponchos are available.
Your Trip: For your Urban Adventure you will be in a small group of a maximum of 10 people.
Confirmation of booking: If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We'll see you at the start point. Get in touch if you have any concerns or require more information via the email address or phone number on your voucher.
Additional Information: The short- to medium-length hikes to view waterfalls do include uneven terrain and elevation gain. The steepness of the trails and elevation gain will vary based on time of year and weather, as well as the aptitude of the group, but could include as much as 800 feet (250 meters) elevation gain.
Closure of sites: Weather conditions, maintenance, and other natural events can cause closures of roads, trails and historic structures. In these events, alternate itineraries will be offered. If advance notice is possible, guests will be notified of the change the day prior to their departure.
Child Policy: This is a child-friendly tour. Children between the ages of 0 and 11 inclusively are permitted on this tour at the rate listed above. Please select ‘child’ above when booking. Please inform us at the time of booking if you’ll be bringing a child under the age of 7 so we can provide appropriate car seats. You can do so in the special request box on the checkout page. Some very small children may find the hiking difficult.
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Local contact
Office phone number: +1 503 889 6410
Email address: info@portlandurbanadventures.com
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