Imagine spending the day at Crater Lake, the deepest lake in the United States and the second deepest in the western hemisphere, and having lunch at the lodge overlooking this marvel of nature. Imagine abundant wildlife in the river corridor such as beaver, deer, elk, bald eagles, osprey, mallards, cougars and black bears. Imagine being able to walk down at those one rafts or to be on a raft looking up at those on the trail.

 

And, you can do both of these, or one or the other. You can walk part of the way each day and join the rafters after lunch, or raft in the morning and walk in the afternoon. Or, for those who are die-hard walkers, you can walk the entire trail. If floating down the river is your thing, you can do the entire trip that way!

 

Imagine only carrying your water, camera, and rain gear in your day pack. Your clothes will be carried on the raft in waterproof bags, as will the coolers with your beer and wine. Imagine noon rolling around and looking down on the beach along the river to see our guides and rafts pulled up with camp chairs for each person and a gourmet picnic lunch waiting for us.

 

Imagine staying in three different wilderness lodges along the way, each unique to the river and canyon but all very, very special with family-style meals, private bedrooms and baths, but away from elements of "civilization" such as power lines and telephone lines! Generators power all the lodges and the only way in is by the river or on the trail.

 

Imagine being away from the noise of television, radio, and CELL PHONES for four full days! it's heaven on earth. Imagine an area that limits the number of people who can be in this canyon, either on the trail or on the river, to 125 a day. That includes walkers, boaters, anglers, photographers, or anyone else. This rule is strictly enforced by law, whether you are on your own or part of a group so you never have to worry about crowds.

 

Imagine on the three nights off the river -- the night of arrival, the night after we finish the walk and the night before we come home -- staying in a lodge that was named one of the Top 25 in the US by Travel Leisure. Imagine having our Farewell to Oregon dinner at the Jacksonville Inn in the historic mining town of Jacksonville. Imagine having all of your expenses, with the exception of airfare and wine or beer covered in the package price, as well as all tips to the guides and staff at the lodges.

 

Imagine not having to worry about getting from and to the airport at Medford, Oregon, knowing there will be two airport pickups, both arriving and departing. Imagine doing all of this from Sunday to Saturday and arriving home with NO JET LAG! Don't just imagine! Do it and come with for the trip of a lifetime. See what beauty this country of ours has to offer. 

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Southern Treks Small Group Tour 2020: $2578 pp