Explore the Olympic wilderness and the San Juan Islands on this 8-day small ship expedition exploring coastal Washington. Highlights of your voyage include floating the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks; cruising Seattle's picturesque waterfront; kayaking, paddle boarding, and skiff exploration in glacial fjords and the San Juan archipelago; and hiking in the Olympic Mountains, Mt. Constitution, and Washington State Parks. Look forward to unhurried time for watching gray whales, orcas, seals, sea lions, eagles, and sea birds while your ship explores scenic winding channels, temperate rain forest, and old growth forest. Uncover native cultures of the Pacific Northwest, spend time on your own exploring quaint Friday Harbor, and enjoy hand-crafted cuisine including an oyster and clam tasting hosted by local growers.
Highlights
Hike in the Olympics as you look for bald eagles
Kayak, paddle board, and investigate bird rookeries on the emerald waters
Land in one of the most scenic areas of the Salish Sea and watch for orcas
Discover the hidden coves and bays of the Washington State Marine Park
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Seattle was founded along the shores of Elliott Bay. Today, set sail from Fishermen's Terminal, transit the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks, and cruise the city’s picturesque waterfront before dropping anchor in a tucked away bay to begin your Pacific Northwest cruise.
Wake up surrounded by the wilderness of the Salish Sea. Today, there will be many opportunities to investigate this sea-salty playground of islands. A guided kayak reveals local inhabitants—sea stars, anemones, jelly fish, perhaps even inquisitive harbor seals. Walk along a curiosity-rich intertidal zone or stretch your legs on a mossy hike. And tides and current permitting, sail through swirling waters of Deception Pass. Cap off your first day of adventure with a front-row view of the sunset from the bow.
You’ve landed in one of the most scenic areas of the Salish Sea. The rocky outcroppings of Lopez Island play host to harbor seals—and it’s also orca territory. When kayaking, keep your eyes peeled above and below the surface. Join your expedition team on deck searching for whales, seals, and sea lions as you cruise through the myriad San Juans—no two islands are the same. Drop anchor near San Juan Island—the second largest landmass in the archipelago—to explore tide pools and skiff or kayak into hidden coves, as conditions permit.
Your Captain navigates through the islands to your basecamp at Orcas Island—for a day of play where the options are unending. A local favorite, hike Mt. Constitution—it’s the highest peak in the San Juan Islands and has a stunning view of the archipelago. If you’re interested in skiff exploration or more paddling, the kayaks and paddle boards are up for grabs.
The treats keep a-coming! Enjoy your day anchored at picturesque Sucia Island—total year-round population of four—a Washington State Marine Park filled with hidden coves and bays. Explore the intertidal zone with your guides, hike across the island, and kayak in a protected bay. Weather permitting; there’ll even be a barbeque ashore.
Make it an ideal morn by kicking it off with an early soak in the on-deck hot tub, a paddle along the shores of the Olympic Peninsula, or both! Your Captain sets the course today for explorations in the rain shadow of the Salish Sea. You may find yourself hiking deep into the mossy, towering old growth of the Olympic Peninsula or beachcombing for anemone and hermit crabs along the shores of Puget Sound. Or perhaps, a chance to kayak and paddle board, investigate bird rookeries, or search for whales in the Sea’s rich emerald waters.
Wake up in one of the quietest reaches of Puget Sound—Hood Canal, a glacial fjord separating the Olympic and Kitsap Peninsulas. You’ll be hiking in the Olympic Mountains—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—surrounded by rainforest, old growth forest, and small quaint towns. Keep watch for resident bald eagles. And, enjoy the bounty of the sea—a tasting of locally-grown oysters and clams. This evening, wrap it up with a Farewell Dinner and slide show highlighting your week’s adventures.
Day 8: Seattle | Disembark
1 Breakfast
After breakfast, say goodbye to your newfound friends and disembark the ship back at Fishermen’s Terminal. Transfer directly to the Seattle airport or to your Un-Cruise overnight hotel stay.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
$2,495
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Navigator
Main Deck, cabins 201, 204-208 and 210. Queen or twin beds, private bath with shower and view window.
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Trailblazer
Observation Deck, cabins 310-325. Queen or twin beds, private bath with shower and view window.
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Pathfinder
Observation Deck, cabins 300-309. Outside entry, queen bed, sitting area, private bath with shower and view window.
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Admiral
Sun Deck, cabins 400-403. Separate sitting area, queen or twin beds, private bath with shower, large picture window with sofa bed/triple.
Notes
- All rates are in USD, per person, based on double occupancy.
- Rates do not include port taxes and fees, which vary by itinerary.
- Children 8-13 are welcome on all sailings and will received a $500 per child savings
Due to the nature of your explorations, itineraries are guidelines and may change in order to maximize wildlife and natural encounters. Variations in itinerary and the order of days may occur.
Our guide and driver were very good with their knowledge and were very helpful with our questions. It was a very pleasant visit that would have been impossible to do on our own. Hotels and restaurants were fantastic. The special places we got to go to, like the kitchens, were great. Enjoyed the entire trip!
Meyer Smolen
TrustScore 4.7 | 119 reviews
TrustScore 4.7 of 5
Based on 119 reviews on
5 hours ago
COSTA RICA a trip of a life time travelling round this beautiful country. All went like clockwork even when the weather was against us and all transfers seemed to be part of the holiday not a chore. Would definitely use Adventure Life again having previously used them 20 years ago!!
Cynthia Calton
5 hours ago
Adventure Life helped me plan my trip to Antarctica. They always responded fast to my emails and were a pleasure to deal with.
Debbie W
23 hours ago
From the initial meeting and planning process with our trip planner Jess, through to the finalizing of our itinerary, trip details and questions, I was very impressed with the professionalism, thoroughness, organization and attention to details. I would highly recommend Adventure Life to anyone looking to plan a unique travelling experience, knowing that the expertise and experience provided will result in a seamless trip of a lifetime.
Lynn Farquharson
1 day ago
The travel specialists we've worked with for 2 vacations have made the trip planning process easy! They ask good questions to ensure they understand our goals and likes and have done an excellent job matching adventures with our preferences - even suggesting things we would not have thought about on our own!
Amy
2 days ago
Erin is great to work with on our adventure to Antartica. She gave us great choices and is very knowledgeable about the options. Her recommendations saved us from making some big mistakes.