Pacific Northwest by Train: Portland, Seattle & Vancouver

• U.S. citizens need valid government-issued identification, such as a Real ID or passport, for air travel within the United States.
• Canadian citizens need valid government-issued identification for air travel within Canada.
• Canadian citizens entering the U.S. and U.S. citizens entering Canada need a valid passport with an expiration date extending at least six months beyond the date of reentry.
• If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact your destination country’s consulate for your specific entry requirements.
• You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to goaheadtours.com/entry-requirements and searching the code PTR.

• Round-trip flights booked through Go Ahead Tours arrive in Portland, Oregon, and depart from Vancouver, British Columbia (or Victoria on the tour extension).
• Transfers to and from the airport at your destination are included for travelers who have purchased their flights through Go Ahead Tours. Travelers who booked their own flights are responsible for securing their own airport transfers.
• When you arrive in Portland, a Go Ahead representative will be waiting for you in the arrivals hall with a Go Ahead sign or one bearing your name. If you don’t see a representative immediately, please be patient and stay in the arrivals area. They may be assisting another traveler who has also just arrived and will be back shortly.

Physical Activity Level

This is a moderate physical activity-level tour. You can expect casual walks and plenty of time to explore throughout the course of the tour.

Tour Pacing

This is a briskly paced tour. The pace of a tour itinerary considers how often you’ll switch hotels, the amount of planned daily activities, and how you’ll get from place to place. You can expect:

• Most days full of included activities (more if you add excursions)
• Most transportation by motor coach, some by train (and ferry on the tour extension)
• Daily drive time varies and can be lengthy

Walking, Terrain & Physical Requirements

• Travelers should be prepared to walk two miles per day on surfaces including city streets, cobblestones, stairs, and hills.
• Travelers should be healthy enough to participate in all included walks without assistance.
• Please note: Adding optional excursions may increase the total amount of walking on your tour.

Climate Considerations

• In spring (April-May), expect cool, crisp temperatures ranging from the low 40s F to the mid-60s F across Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver. Rain is a reliable companion throughout the region, so a waterproof layer is always a smart addition to your daypack—and at Mount Rainier, snow at higher elevations is common well into May.
• Summer (June-August) brings the Pacific Northwest’s finest weather, with warm, comfortable temperatures climbing into the upper 60s F to the mid-70s F across the cities. Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands enjoy some of the sunniest conditions in the region, while Mount Rainier’s higher elevations run noticeably cooler and can turn quickly—pack accordingly.
• September and October usher in crisp, golden days with temperatures in the mid-40s F to the low 70s F, along with the first bursts of fall color across the region’s forests and parks. Rain becomes more frequent as autumn deepens, but the crowds thin out and the landscapes take on a moody, atmospheric beauty all their own.

Physical Activity & Tour Pace Questions

• Go Ahead Tours and the Tour Director who accompanies your group are unable to provide special mobility or luggage handling assistance to travelers on tour. The responsibility of the Tour Director is to ensure the group enjoys a smooth and informative journey, and they can’t be relied on to provide individualized assistance to any one traveler.
• This tour moves at a steady pace to avoid missing scheduled stops. The rest of the group cannot miss any scheduled activities because of the needs of an individual.
• Due to the pace and physical activity level of this tour, mobility aids such as wheelchairs or walkers will be difficult to use and are not recommended. Please notify Go Ahead Tours before your departure if you plan to bring these on tour with you.
• If you have mobility concerns or tour pacing questions, please visit our Help Center or send a message to our Customer Experience Team.

Transportation by Train

Your journey through the Pacific Northwest includes two rides aboard the Amtrak Cascades—from Portland to Seattle, and onward from Seattle to Vancouver, BC. Running along one of North America’s most scenic rail corridors, the Cascades threads past the glittering waters of Puget Sound, the rugged peaks of the Cascade Range, and the lush, rain-softened landscapes of Washington state. The onboard Bistro Car serves fresh, regionally sourced food and drink—think Pacific Northwest microbrews, locally roasted coffee, and wine from the region’s celebrated vineyards.

Coach Class is included as part of your tour package, but you can choose to upgrade to Business Class for an additional cost.

For this tour, you’ll choose between two service levels:

• Coach class: Settle into a wide, reclining seat with ample legroom, no middle seat, and at-seat trays, reading lights, and electric outlets. Your seat is reserved in advance, so all that’s left to do is sit back and watch the Pacific Northwest roll by—with easy access to the Bistro Car throughout the journey.
• Business class: Step up to a dedicated business class car with wider seats, extra legroom, priority boarding and deboarding, and a complimentary non-alcoholic beverage—all with the peace of mind of a pre-reserved seat.

Other Transportation

• All other included transfers throughout the tour are handled by private motor coaches, which use steps for boarding and do not generally offer ramps or lifts.
• Travelers joining the tour extension will also cross by ferry from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay.

• As this tour relies on trains for the majority of your transportation, please pack with mobility in mind. Travelers are limited to one checked bag and one personal item per person, as storage on trains and motor coaches is limited.
• The cost of a checked bag is not included in your airline ticket.
• Some airlines may impose additional charges if you exceed baggage size and weight restrictions. Be advised that you are responsible for any baggage fees incurred on all flights.
• Contact your airline(s) for baggage size and weight restrictions for your flights.
• Make sure you label your baggage and keep valuables, medication, and documents in your carry-on.
• Travelers must manage their own luggage throughout tour as porters are not guaranteed. This includes at hotels and airports.

Train Baggage Allowances & Expectations

• When traveling on the Amtrak Cascades, luggage is checked similarly to an airline. Each passenger may check their bag free of charge, provided it does not exceed 50 pounds or 75 linear inches (length + width + height).

• We recommend packing lightweight, moisture-wicking layers that can be easily added or shed throughout the day, as Pacific Northwest temperatures can shift quickly—particularly at higher elevations like Mount Rainier. A waterproof jacket or rain shell is an absolute must in this region.
• A sturdy pair of waterproof walking shoes or hiking-ready sneakers is strongly recommended, especially for exploring Stanley Park, Mount Rainier National Park, and the trails of Butchart Gardens.
• You may want to pack dressier attire if you plan to visit a high-end restaurant or attend a special performance.
• It is preferable not to visit churches or other religious sites with bare legs and shoulders (and entrance may be denied on this basis).
• We recommend packing a reusable water bottle to cut down on single-use plastic waste.
• In case of emergencies, we also recommend packing your medical insurance card in your carry-on.

• Go Ahead handpicks every hotel you’ll stay at, striking a balance between comfort, location, and local charm.
• Specific properties will vary based on your departure date, but are typically three- to four-star hotels; always include private bathrooms; and usually have in-room safes for valuables. Additionally, your hotels will have Wi-Fi, but access may be limited to common areas. There may also not be elevators.
• Unfortunately, we can’t guarantee that your accommodations will have laundry services or facilities. We recommend checking directly with your hotels once they’ve been confirmed, about 30 days prior to departure.
• Some hotels on this tour are situated on narrow streets; as such, our buses can’t drop you off right out front. In these instances, you’ll have to walk your luggage to the property, no more than a few blocks.
• All of North America operates on 110-120 volts and uses Type A or B plugs with two flat pins or two flat pins and one round pin, respectively.
• Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date.

• Excursions are available for purchase prior to departure, and most excursions will be available for purchase while you are on tour directly through your mobile app for an additional $10 USD.
• We recommend purchasing excursions at least three days prior to your tour departure. Please note some excursions have advance booking deadlines. Check your tour itinerary for more information to ensure you don’t miss the deadline to add them.
• Optional excursions may be canceled on tour due to reasons like low enrollment, weather, or unexpected closures. If an excursion you signed up for is canceled by Go Ahead Tours, you will be refunded the full cost of the excursion. Please note it may take up to 60 days for your refund to be processed.
• Your Tour Director may offer their own optional excursions which can only be purchased on tour via cash (in local currency).

• At least 60 days prior to departure, check with your doctor or healthcare provider for the latest updates and entry requirements, or visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website at cdc.gov.
• If you have dietary restrictions and/or food allergies, please notify Go Ahead Tours at least 30 days prior to your departure by logging in to your account and updating your traveler info. To update this information closer to your departure date, please contact our Customer Experience Team.
• If you have medication that you take daily, be sure you have enough for each day of the tour as well as any possible delays encountered.
• Most of our itineraries include headsets used during certain sightseeing tours so travelers can hear their guides or Tour Director. If you use an assisted listening device, such as a hearing aid or cochlear implant, please visit our Help Center or contact our Customer Experience Team. Please note that, at this time, not all our destinations offer headsets due to supplier limitations.
• The water is safe to drink throughout your tour unless posted otherwise.

• This tour includes three dinners: They may be set menus, buffets, or family-style meals, depending on the location. Dinners also include one glass of beer, wine, or a soft drink, as well as water.
• Breakfast each morning is also included at the hotel and is typically buffet-style with hot and cold options.
• Portland’s food scene is as creative and boundary-pushing as the city itself. Look out for Stumptown Coffee, the city’s legendary food cart pods serving everything from Vietnamese banh mi to wood-fired pizza, and the Pacific Northwest’s beloved Dungeness crab. The Willamette Valley’s world-class pinot noir is never far from the table.
• Seattle is a seafood lover’s paradise—fresh-caught salmon, Dungeness crab, and briny Puget Sound oysters are staples of the local table. Pike Place Market is the ideal place to sample the city’s finest produce and artisan goods, and the city’s thriving Asian food scene is not to be missed.
• Vancouver’s culinary landscape reflects its rich multicultural fabric, with some of North America’s finest Chinese, Japanese, and Southeast Asian cuisine sitting comfortably alongside Pacific Northwest seafood and farm-to-table dining. Don’t leave without trying spot prawns, fresh sushi, and a bowl of ramen in one of the city’s celebrated noodle houses.
• On Vancouver Island (on the tour extension), Victoria’s British roots show up deliciously in its beloved afternoon tea tradition—best experienced at the grand Fairmont Empress. Beyond that, look out for locally harvested shellfish, wild salmon, and the island’s thriving craft beer and cider scene.

• At the conclusion of your tour, it is customary to offer your Tour Director and driver a gratuity in local currency. Please keep current exchange rates in mind.
• We recommend tipping the equivalent of $10-$12 USD per person per day for your Tour Director and $4 USD per person per day for your driver.
• If applicable, we also recommend $2 USD per local guide.
• Tips can only be paid in cash.
• If you are traveling to multiple countries with different currencies and the same Tour Director, ask them what currency they prefer for their tip.
• The cost of porterage is included in your tour price, and it is not necessary to tip baggage handlers.

• You will use the U.S. dollar and the Canadian dollar on this tour.
• We strongly advise that you take debit and credit cards, which can be used to withdraw cash at local banks as needed.
• You can use most cards at ATMs on the international networks Cirrus and Plus, but make sure to check with your home bank about withdrawal fees.
• International banks and businesses primarily accept debit and credit cards that work with the EMV chip system. If you don’t already have at least one card with a chip in it, we strongly recommend requesting one from your bank prior to your tour.
• Plan ahead and bring cash to tip your Tour Director, local guides, and bus drivers.

• To help you feel prepared before traveling on tour, we strongly recommend downloading the EF Go Ahead Tours mobile app. It’s free and provides information about important deadlines and entry requirements, as well as your detailed itinerary, packing tips, and more. You can also connect with fellow travelers through the app’s chat feature.
• Wi-Fi is available in most hotels, though some charges may apply.
• There is no Wi-Fi on any of the motor coaches.
• Please contact your mobile service provider for information on roaming charges.

• Your Tour Director will be leading your group throughout your journey.
• The role of the Tour Director is not only to provide information and context on the destinations you visit, but also to confirm services, coordinate inclusions, prepare each day’s activities, and support travelers while on tour. As such, they must focus on the success of the group, and cannot provide individualized assistance to any one traveler.

• One of the benefits of traveling with EF Go Ahead Tours is having access to our 24/7 Emergency Support Team.
• Our extensive network of global offices and our integration of ISO 31000 Risk Management Guidelines help this dedicated team anticipate and address on-tour challenges in a flexible, iterative way.
• Using a combination of extensive training, thorough incident response planning, and decades of experience, this team assists travelers and Tour Directors in case of emergencies—stepping in for everything from personal health concerns and injuries to major world events.
• Our On-Tour Support team can also provide additional help to travelers on tour, arranging assistance from outside specialists and liaising with local and international authorities as needed. And if there’s an emergency on the road or at home, the team will facilitate and support communication between travelers and their families.

• East destination on this tour is on Pacific Time (PT), which is three hours behind Eastern Time (ET).
• When it’s noon in New York City, it’s 9 a.m. on tour.

• When you travel with Go Ahead Tours, you’ll make a positive impact on the places you visit and the people and animals you meet along the way. That’s because our three core Responsible Travel commitments—protecting the environment, supporting local communities, and promoting animal welfare—are at the heart of every tour we offer.
• Travel, when done responsibly, can have an enormously beneficial socioeconomic impact on communities. To maximize your impact, eat at locally owned restaurants and shop at small businesses. Ask your Tour Director to point out restaurants they recommend.
• Prepare for your trip: Be aware of monetary norms such as tipping and negotiating in a market; learn about the destination’s forms of etiquette; and take some time to learn a few words in the local language.
• When interacting with locals, make sure to ask people for permission before you take their picture, and approach cultural differences with empathy and an open mind.
• Go Ahead Tours encourages travelers to limit their waste while on the road, especially single-use plastics. You can cut back on generating plastic waste by packing your own toiletries, using electronic documents, and bringing a reusable water bottle and shopping bag. If you need to use plastics or paper, please recycle.