Explore the Pacific West Coast of America on this scenic outdoor tour. From bohemian San Francisco, through serene Portland, to friendly Seattle, explore the states of California, Oregon and Washington. Get to taste some world-class wines, learn about Native American culture, and hike through the memorable landscapes of the Cascade Mountain Range, Mt. St Helens, Olympic Park, and Crater Lake. Stroll along sandy beaches, wander among giant Redwood trees and explore unique volcanic treasures while spending the nights in comfortable, well-located hotels and lodges. A region of the country that is often less traveled, this tour highlights the varied natural wonders and cultural history that the Western United States offers.

San Francisco - Welcome to San Francisco! Our tour group will meet in the hotel lobby at 4:00pm and drive to a view point over Golden Gate bridge and reserve a group dinner (not included, but an appetizer and drink offered) at a restaurant in Sausalito with beautiful view over the bay of San Francisco. You will be greeted by your Tour Leader and Driver who will share with you some important information about your upcoming adventure. They will hand out tour documentation with meeting times, daily programs and other helpful information. If you arrive early at the hotel and your room is not yet ready you can store your luggage at the hotel reception. San Francisco is a gorgeous city, full of character and very friendly locals. Its bohemian and liberal approach to life set it apart from many other US cities. We recommend you arrive one or two days prior to the start of the tour to fully appreciate all that the city has to offer. Please speak to your Kumuka consultant or travel agent with regard to arranging pre-tour accommodation.

Redwood National and State Parks - Jacksonville - We soon find ourselves on the Avenue of the Giants in Humboldt Redwood State Park where the tallest trees in the world stand majestically over us. Reaching up to 115 metres (380 ft) tall, and more than 2,000 years old, the Redwoods are truly a sight to behold. Heading on to Prairie Creek Redwood State Park we enjoy a short hike and hope to spot some elk. Next stop is Paul Bunyan’s Gift Shop and the End Of The Trail Native American museum located in an area known as the Trees of Mystery. A narrow gravel road then leads us to Stout Grove in Jedediah Smith Redwood State Park which contains a spectacular selection of old growth Redwoods. Back on the Redwood Highway we take a short stop at a botanical preserve of rare carnivorous Darlingtonia plants before crossing the border into Oregon and the town of Jacksonville where we stay for two nights.

Klamath Falls & Favell Museum - Crater Lake National Park - La Pine - A scenic drive following the old Applegate Trail, designated a National Historic Trail, along mountain lakes and forests brings us to Klamath Falls where we visit the Favell Museum. Considered to be one of the best museums of its type in the United States, it is dedicated to the preservation of Native American culture and houses over 100,000 artefacts. We will briefly stop at Fort Klamath, a military outpost near the western end of the Oregon Trail, a historic site of the last Indian Wars. Driving on the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway we reach Crater Lake National Park and explore the park on hikes along the rim with views of Phantom Ship and Pinnacles. We spend the night in La Pine, in Central Oregon.

Smith Rock State Park - Cascade Mountains – Sahalie Falls - Yachats - Before heading to the high Cascades we’ll stop for a walk at Smith Rock State Park with its deep river canyons and spectacular views. Then onto the McKenzie-Santiam Pass Scenic Byway which provides dramatic views of the snow-capped Cascade Mountains. We will visit Clear Lake, an amazing emerald coloured lake and hike along beautiful Sahalie Falls. Then, we will drive down through the lush green McKenzie River Valley. Following the road west, we arrive back on the Pacific coastline at the town of Florence. We drive northwards along the Pacific Coast Scenic Byway to Yachats. We check into an ocean front resort in Yachats for two nights.

Oregon Pacific Coast - Portland - Travelling north along the Pacific coast we stop for a hike amongst tranquil coastal forests and along a beach and have picnic lunch at a state park. After lunch spend some time shopping in the Pacific Northwest’s largest factory outlet mall with 65 tax-free stores. Then on to Cape Lookout State Park with its fantastic beach views and trails. A stop at the Tillamook Cheese Factory gives us a chance to try some of the most popular cheddar cheeses made in the western United States. After dinner we check-in for two nights at our hotel in Portland, Oregon’s largest city.

Mt. St. Helens - Aberdeen - Crossing into the state of Washington, today’s highlight is the active Mt. St. Helens volcano which catastrophically erupted on 18th May 1980. Approximately 230 square miles of forest were buried beneath volcanic deposits and the surrounding landscape was changed dramatically. It is now a protected area, allowing scientists to study how the environment responds naturally to such a disaster. At the visitor centre we will watch an interesting documentary film about the eruption, before driving up to the Johnston Ridge Observatory at 1,327 metres (4,314 ft). Be awed by memorable views of the lava dome, crater, pumice plain and the landslide deposit. We explore the area on foot following one of the many beautiful hiking trails. We’ll overnight in Aberdeen, gateway to the Olympic Peninsula.

Hurricane Ridge - Seattle - This morning, weather permitting, we drive the 17-mile long road which winds up to Hurricane Ridge, offering a fine view of the Olympic National Park mountains including Mount Olympus, which reaches an impressive 2,427 metres (7,962 ft). We experience the beauty of this National Park when we walk some the trails and picnic. In the late afternoon we board a ferry to Seattle where we will spend our final night. (Please note, if the weather does not allow us to venture to Hurricane Ridge then we will provide a city tour of Seattle as an alternative).

Sixth Avenue Inn

2000 Sixth Avenue

Seattle

Washington 98121

Tel: +1-206-411-8300

Travel insurance is compulsory for all tours. All clients MUST be insured to cover personal accident, medical expenses, cancellation, curtailment, repatriation, etc. Also, be aware that many activities such as trekking, bungy jumping or white water rafting may not be covered on your insurance policy. If you plan on doing any of these activities please purchase additional insurance. We recommend that you have a photocopy of this document, which you keep separate from the original. If you have not already arranged your own travel insurance then Kumuka can do this for you. Please visit http://www.kumuka.com/Travel-Insurance.aspx for more details or contact your nearest Kumuka office.

Please Note: You will not be permitted to join a Kumuka Tour without travel insurance.

It is important that you obtain the appropriate visas before you embark on your North America trip. The Kumuka website www.kumuka.com provides visa information, yet entry regulations can change without notice.  Further consultation with your Travel Agent or nearest Embassy is recommended.

Each client is solely responsible for obtaining all necessary visas and entry requirements before joining a tour. Kumuka does not accept responsibility for changes in regulations or requirements for visas. The information provided is given in good faith.

Important: If your travels involve entry into the United States, please read the following:

Beginning 1st August 2008, the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) will be accessible via the internet for citizens and eligible nationals of Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries to apply for advance authorization to travel to the United States under the VWP.  The ESTA system becomes effective on 12th January 2009.  All VWP travellers will be required to obtain an electronic travel authorization prior to boarding a carrier to travel by air or sea to the United States under the VWP.  Full details are available at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov 

Because of limited luggage space on transport, we must limit each passenger to one main backpack or suitcase, and one day bag. A frameless or internally framed backpack is the best way to carry your belongings since it is easy to lift on and off vehicles. A small daypack is practical for keeping general items (e.g. camera, books, water, etc.) at hand when your main pack is out of reach. It is also handy for day trips and excursions.

In North America tipping is a way of life and very much expected, as well as appreciated. For many, receiving tips is a means of supplementing their salary which is usually based on minimum wage. The standard amount in restaurants and bars is 15% of the total bill (please note that sales and service taxes are automatically imposed in some restaurants and bars).  Chambermaids usually receive $1 or $2 per night in a hotel, simply left on the bedside table.

It is also customary in North America to show appreciation of your Tour Leader by tipping him/her at the end of the tour.

Whilst on tour you will probably want to stay in touch with family and friends. There are several ways of doing this:

Mobile Phone – Before departing your home country check with your phone supplier to see if it compatible with the mobile phone networks in the countries that you are traveling to, and how much will it cost to use abroad.

Email – Internet Cafes are very cheap and popular, and you are sure to come across several during your tour. If you haven’t done so already, set up a free Google Mail, Hotmail, or Yahoo email account which you can then access from any computer. Internet Cafes will charge a nominal fee for using their computers. Within Europe some hotels charge a wifi connection fee and we cannot guarantee a wifi connection at all hotels we use.

Twitter – A method of communication that is rapidly gaining in popularity on the Internet especially amongst travelers. Twitter allows you to send short messages and update your friends and family with where you are on tour and what you are doing. Create your free account at http://twitter.com. Visit Kumuka’s page on Twitter at http://twitter.com/kumuka

Facebook – Very popular website that allows you to upload stories, get in touch with fellow travellers before and after your Kumuka tour, upload photos and videos to share with other travellers, your family and friends. To create a free account, go to www.facebook.com and then become a fan of Kumuka’s Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/pages/Kumuka-Worldwide/26617121087?ref=ts

Postcards – The good ol’ fashioned postcard. But you will probably get home before the postcard does!

Under no circumstances are any illegal drugs allowed on any part of the trip. Anyone discovered in possession of any such drugs, will be asked to leave the tour immediately without question or refund.