Discover the Pacific Northwest
7 days · Pacific Northwest, USA & Canada
G Adventures charges £1,600
No-markup version: ~£720 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
This self-launched version of G Adventures' 7-day Pacific Northwest tour takes you from Vancouver down through Olympic National Park, quirky Portland, majestic Mt Rainier, and hip Seattle — all on your own wheels and your own dime. You'll cover the same blue-green lakes of Lake Crescent, the Old Growth forests of the Sol Duc Valley, the wow-factor views of Hurricane Ridge, and the microbrewery streets of Portland, but instead of a small group vehicle you'll link it together with buses, ferries and car rental, sleeping in budget motels and hostels along the way. A flexible, independent road trip through primeval forests and vibrant cities at a fraction of the tour price.
Day-by-day
Vancouver to Sequim & Hurricane Ridge
Vancouver / Sequim, Washington
Pick up a rental car in Vancouver in the morning (this is the most flexible way to conquer the Pacific Northwest independently), cross the US border into Washington and catch the passenger/vehicle ferry across Puget Sound from Victoria or via the Anacortes route. Drive to Sequim in the early evening and catch sunset over Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park — the dramatic alpine views through old growth forests are a classic welcome to the region.
🚌Car rental (~£45/day split across the trip) + ferry
🛏Budget motel or hostel in Sequim / Port Angeles
- →Collect rental car in Vancouver
- →Cross US-Canada border into Washington State
- →Drive to Sequim via ferry across Puget Sound
- →Sunset visit to Hurricane Ridge viewpoint
Olympic National Park Full Day
Olympic National Park
Spend the whole day self-guiding through Olympic's extraordinary ecosystems. Drive to the Sol Duc Valley for the Lowland, Old Growth and Montane forest trails and the Sol Duc Falls, then head to the milky-blue waters of Lake Crescent for a shoreline hike. Rent a kayak on Lake Crescent or book a day pass for the Sol Duc Hot Springs resort if you want to soak after the trails. Pack a picnic lunch from the Sequim grocery store to keep costs down.
🚌Car rental
🛏Budget motel or hostel in Sequim / Port Angeles
- →Hike Sol Duc Valley trails to Sol Duc Falls
- →Walk the quieter Hurricane Ridge trails
- →Lake Crescent shoreline hike
- →Optional: kayak rental on Lake Crescent
- →Optional: Sol Duc Hot Springs day pass
Sequim to Portland
Sequim / Portland, Oregon
Take a slow morning to explore Sequim on your own — visit the nearby lavender farms if you're there in season, or walk the Dungeness Spit, one of the world's longest sand spits, in the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge. Then drive south on the I-5 corridor to Portland, arriving in the late afternoon. Check into a budget hostel or cheap hotel and enjoy a free evening on the town — Portland's food carts, breweries and dive bars are legendary.
🚌Car rental
🛏Hostel or budget hotel in Portland
- →Visit a Sequim lavender farm (seasonal)
- →Walk the Dungeness Spit trail
- →Drive I-5 south to Portland
- →Self-guided evening walk around downtown Portland
Portland to Mt Rainier
Portland / Crystal Mountain, Washington
Spend your morning exploring Portland on two wheels — the city has one of the best bike networks in the US and Biketown rentals are cheap. Pedal the waterfront, the Pearl District and quirky neighbourhoods like Alberta Arts. For a guided option, book a city bike tour direct with a local company. In the early afternoon head north towards Mount Rainier National Park and base yourself at a budget lodge or motel near Crystal Mountain / the park entrance for the next couple of nights.
🚌Car rental
🛏Budget lodge / motel near Mount Rainier entrance
- →Rent Biketown bikes / self-guided Portland cycle
- →Optional: book a guided Portland bike tour
- →Drive north towards Mount Rainier National Park
- →Evening at Crystal Mountain base area
Mount Rainier National Park
Mount Rainier National Park
Rise early to drive into Mount Rainier National Park ($30 entry covers the car for 7 days) and witness the famous sunrise light washing over the mountain's glaciers and subalpine meadows from Sunrise or Paradise visitor areas — on clear days the 360-degree views take in nearby Cascade peaks like Mt St Helens and Mt Adams. Spend the afternoon and early evening on the park's outstanding day hikes (Skyline Trail at Paradise and the shorter nature loops are top picks) before heading back to your budget base.
🚌Car rental (park entry ~£24 per vehicle)
🛏Budget lodge / motel near Mount Rainier entrance
- →Sunrise drive into Mount Rainier National Park
- →Hike the Skyline Trail from Paradise
- →Scenic 360-degree viewpoints at Sunrise area
- →Wildflower spotting in subalpine meadows
Crystal Mountain to Seattle
Seattle, Washington
Leave the mountains behind and drive northwest to Seattle. Check into a hostel in Capitol Hill or the city centre, then spend the day sightseeing at your own pace — Pike Place Market for the famous fish toss and food stalls, the Olympic Sculpture Park, Seattle Center and the Space Needle, plus the International District (Chinatown). Book a Space Needle ticket in advance online to skip the queue and save money.
🚌Car rental
🛏Hostel or budget hotel in Seattle
- →Wander Pike Place Market
- →Visit Olympic Sculpture Park & Seattle Center
- →Optional: Space Needle observation deck (pre-book)
- →Explore the International District / Chinatown
Seattle to Vancouver
Seattle / Vancouver
Enjoy a free morning continuing your own exploration of Seattle — grab a chowder or a famous coffee, browse the vintage stores in Capitol Hill, or wander the waterfront. Depart for Vancouver in the early afternoon, dropping off your rental car and ending your trip around 5pm. If you have time, grab a warm welcome-home dinner in Vancouver's vibrant Gastown or Granville Island district.
🚌Car rental + border crossing
🛏In transit / overnight departures (not included)
- →Free morning exploring Seattle at leisure
- →Drive/ferry north back to Vancouver
- →Return rental car
- →Optional farewell dinner in Vancouver
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£720 | £1,600 |
| Duration | 7 days | 7 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £880 per person (55%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£720
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Discover the Pacific Northwest cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £720 per person for 7 days in Pacific Northwest, USA & Canada. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £1,600 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £720 — a saving of roughly £880 (55%) per person.
How long is the Pacific Northwest, USA & Canada trip?+
This itinerary runs 7 days, covering 7 day-by-day stops through Pacific Northwest, USA & Canada.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, hiking, road-trip trip through Pacific Northwest, USA & Canada, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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