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Ecotours and Pacific Northwest Trips

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Join Bird Alliance of Oregon as we explore the most exciting destinations in the Pacific Northwest and across the globe! Led by passionate and experienced guides, our world-class Ecotour program offers fun and engaging opportunities to observe, learn and build a deeper relationship with the natural world. Our trips are a treasure of birding, wildlife-watching, natural history, and cultural experience.

Bird Alliance of Oregon is dedicated to environmentally and socially responsible tourism.

10% of your Domestic or International Ecotour fee (Pacific Northwest trips not included) is a tax-deductible donation to Bird Alliance of Oregon and supports all facets of our Conservation, Education, and Sanctuary efforts.

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Our Commitment to Sustainable Ecotourism

Bird Alliance of Oregon is thrilled to announce that we are now business members of Sustainable Travel International . Our membership demonstrates our commitment to promoting sustainable ecotourism practices and preserving our planet’s natural resources.

By working with Sustainable Travel International, we have access to the latest research and best practices in sustainable tourism, ensuring that our ecotours are environmentally friendly and socially responsible.

We strive to minimize our ecological and carbon footprint and give back to the places and communities we visit. Join us on a journey that respects the planet, supports local communities, and creates unforgettable experiences. Book a once-in-a-lifetime trip with us today!

Pacific Northwest Trips

Explore the Pacific Northwest with local experts and guides from one of Oregon’s oldest conservation organizations. These trips are open to people of all skill levels, with a focus on comfortable travel and pacing, broad natural history, and attention to the conservation issues of the region.

• *FULL* July 5-July 7, 2024 Birds, Plants, and Bugs of Mt. Adams
• September 7-9, 2024 Grays Harbor Shorebirds
• October 5-6, 2024 Raptor Migration at Green Ridge
• October 11-14, 2024 Oregon’s Wild Southern Coast
• November 7-10, 2024 Olympic Peninsula
• January 16-19, 2025 Wallowa Winter Wonderland
• Coming soon! February 21-23, 2025 Owls by Day in Walla Walla
• Coming soon! February 28-March 2, 2025 Skagit Valley Birding

Domestic Ecotours

Bird Alliance of Oregon’s Domestic Eco-tours are full-service birding, natural history, and cultural experiences. Our goal is to make your trip easy: we arrange all travel, food, and accommodations, and provide expert birding and natural history guiding, so all you have to focus on is what’s on the other side of your binoculars.

• *FULL* September 9-13, 2024 California Condors and Coastal Migration
• *FULL* September 15-21, 2024 Ice Age Floods
• November 30-December 8, 2024 Winter Wildlife: Whooping Cranes, Butterflies, & Specialties of South Texas
• February 12-16, 2025 Winter in Arizona
• February 25-March 2, 2025 San Diego and the Imperial Valley
• May 8-May 15, 2025 The Warbler Tour! Magee Marsh and Michigan

International Ecotours

Bird Alliance of Oregon naturalists team up with local expert guides in each destination to provide the best birding, natural history, and cultural trips from Brazil to Ireland to Indonesia. These trips not only highlight the amazing diversity of birds and wildlife, but local and global conservation issues as well. 

• *FULL* November 8-17, 2024 Explore Guanacaste, Costa Rica!
• *FULL* February 4-14, 2025 The Best of Panama
• May 14-24, 2025 Amazon River Cruise
• *2 spots left* May 24-29, 2025 Magical Birding in Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley(Amazon River Cruise Optional Extension)
• May 28-June 13, 2025 The Gems of the Silk Road
• *FULL* July 8-18, 2025 Newfoundland & Nova Scotia: Extreme Tides, Seabird Colonies, and Whales
• *FULL* September 8-22, 2025 Wild Borneo!
• *1 spot left* February 6-20, 2026 Kenya: Kilimanjaro to the Coast!

Our Philosophy

We strive to create a positive, non-competitive group dynamic that helps everyone feel welcome, comfortable, and engaged throughout the trip. This environment lends itself to the formation of lifelong friendships and deep connection with the natural world. The pace of our trips is suitable for avid birders and the novice alike. We model best practices in the field and always interact with nature in a respectful manner.

All of our Ecotours are designed to keep you safe, curious and inspired. We want every participant to experience the joy of discovery, the power of a strong conservation ethic, and a true sense of belonging in the Bird Alliance of Oregon community.

By choosing to travel with Bird Alliance of Oregon, you are supporting the critical conservation work that drives our mission. In addition to our work to protect the Oregon landscape, we strive to highlight and invest in conservation initiatives in the places we visit to help promote the understanding, enjoyment, and protection of native birds, other wildlife, and their habitats. Please join us on an upcoming adventure!

Click below for information about policies, pricing, deposits, cancellations, travel insurance, and more.

View Adult Education Policies and Guidelines

Policies and guidelines.

• Domestic and International Ecotour Policy
• Pacific Northwest Trip Policy
• A How-to Guide for Accessing Your Account and Completing Registration Forms
• Group Birding and Trip Etiquette

EcoTours / Pinot Patrol Wine Tours

Updates From This Business

Looking for Tours?

We're known for our Sightseeing and Wine Tours.… read more

Our summer tours have been great!

Our Sightseeing and Wine Tasting tours have been… read more

Portfolio from the Business

Wine and Sightseeing Tours

Highlights from the Business

Eco-friendly

Certified professionals

Locally owned & operated

Offers customized solutions

Established in 1992

Available by appointment

Review Highlights

“ Jeff called us before the tour to confirm reservations and to let us know that the fires may alter the tour. ” in 46 reviews

“ I took the tour that included the Columbia River Gorge , Multnomah Falls and two other waterfalls and Mount Hood. ” in 5 reviews

“ We ended up visiting Elk Cove , Argyle, Willamette Valley Vineyards & Winter Hill. ” in 3 reviews

Location & Hours

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Serving Portland Area

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About the business.

Business owner information

Group Tours (2-13 guests) and Private Custom Tours from the Portland area to the Columbia River Gorge including Multnomah Falls / Mount Hood "Loop" Tour, Winery Tours in the Oregon Countryside, Northern Oregon Coast including Cannon Beach, Whale Watching with Central Coast Sightseeing, Astoria History, Mount Saint Helen's Volcano Tour, Native American Cultural Tours, Microbrewery Tour, and Portland City Tours. EcoTours of Oregon Day Tours / Pinot Patrol Wine Tours Established in 1992. Specialized in Sightseeing Tours, Nature Tours and Wine Tours of the Portland & Wine Country areas of Oregon. Tours for Individuals, Couples, Small Groups and Conventions. Tours include door-to door transportation from the Portland Oregon USA metro area. We have organized many of Portland's top conventions and visitors since 1992. A partial client list includes: U.S. State Department, U.S.A.I.D., The World Affairs Council, Oregon Tourism Commission, National Geographic Expeditions, National Audubon Society, Cruise West Cruise Lines, Lindblad Expeditions, Stanford University Alumni, The Wildlife Society, Nike Corporation, Intel Corporation, World Oregon Our Convention Tours have included: Catholic Charities NASA Space Grant American Society for Enology & Viticulture National Society of Professional Engineers Mennonite Disaster Service Collegenet American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency) Glass Art Conference-Bonnie Gilchrist Events …

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• 2 star rating Could’ve been better
• 3 star rating OK
• 4 star rating Good
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Overall rating

Jeff was referred to us by another company we'd tried to book with but which couldn't accommodate us, and it ended up being a fun and excellent tour overall. Jeff is very knowledgeable about the winemaking industry in the Willamette valley and we enjoyed his stories involving its major players. Two of the three wineries we visited -- Rex Hill and Sokol Blosser-- were superb, as was the lunch stop (Trellis). We didn't care for the third winery (Four Graces). Overall a great time and would recommend.

Business Owner

Nov 14, 2023

Thank you for taking the time to post a review Adam. I'm glad you found it "fun and excellent tour overall". Sorry about the Four Graces tasting. I had not been there in a while and thought it might be worth a try. Best wishes, Guide, Jeff

Our family was in Portland for a wedding, and the bride was so thoughtful to set up this tour through the Columbia River Gorge for her guests. Jeff is an excellent guide and picked us up at our hotel. We were able to see Latourell, Multnomah, and Wakheena waterfalls; Bonneville Dam; and various scenic viewpoints. He provided interesting information and stories about the various points of interest, complete with visuals that we passed around in the shuttle. It was a great time and an efficient way to spend a morning if you're only visiting Portland for a few days and don't have a rental car.

Multnomah Falls

Bonneville Dam visitor center

Sep 27, 2022

Thanks for your review Nina! Glad you enjoyed yourself. Best wishes, Guide, Jeff

Im not even into wine and it was a great time. Jeff is respectful and has plenty of knowledge. Learning all the different things ranging from soil types to how Willamette valley has changed. An overall good time. Would recommend to anyone.

Jul 21, 2023

I appreciate the review Logan! Thanks for hiring me. Guide, Jeff

Jeff (owner) provided an awesome tour of Mount Saint Helens. If you're interested in volcanos, geology, and the environment, this is the tour for you. It's a good value.

Thanks Mike! Glad you thought the tour was awesome! Best wishes, Guide, Jeff

We had an excellent day with Jeff on his Columbia Gorge Waterfalls/Mount Hood loop tour! Jeff is very knowledgeable about the local history and the ecology of the Northwest. We had great stops to see the spectacular scenes of the Columbia River and Gorge. The day was capped off with a trip to the Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood. The price was very reasonable, the van comfortable, the conversation and information perfect, and the timetable was prompt. I only wish we had more time in the area to take a Mt. St. Helens or Winery Tour with Jeff. Hopefully, we will have a chance to use Jeff again on our next trip to the area. I highly recommend EcoTours of Oregon and Jeff the owner/operator/guide! You won't be disappointed.

Mt. Hood from Timberline Lodge

Jun 24, 2021

Thanks Jack. After a year off, it sure is nice to be back out showing off the beauty of the Northwest with guests again. Thanks for hiring me!

A long overdue review. Better late than never. First time traveling to the Oregon and Washington Area last year and we were scared of the fires up there. Jeff called us before the tour to confirm reservations and to let us know that the fires may alter the tour. We said we were okay. That was very nice of him to call. Jeff is the owner of EcoTours. I read about his tours from TripAdvisor and liked the tours he offered. There were two forest fires at Crater Lake and river Columbia Gorge. The alternative route we took to the old highway was really nice and first time Jeff discovered some local tiny waterfalls. Dog Creek Falls, a 25 feet tall waterfall in Central Gorge, Washington was nice because you could walk up to it and take a photo. The rest of route highlighted the nature and beauty and seeing the fish hatchery location was cool as well as we saw little pockets of fire between the trees in the mountains above. If you are a Steven King's fan then Timberline Lodge at Mt. Hood, you should go. My mom was super excited because this location was used for the exterior of the Overlook Hotel in The Shining movie. Jeff Davis is very personable, knowledgeable and friendly and knows a lot about the area. It was a fun, relaxing and easy going exploration of beautified scenery of Oregon and Washington, despite the fires and smoke around us. Next time if we are back in Oregon, I would love to try another tour and you should too!

Nov 8, 2018

Thanks Priscilla! Although the fires of 2017 made us alter our itineraries, things have settled down now. Glad you enjoyed yourself. Jeff

I was attending a scientific conference in Portland and we had the chance to get a tour of the incredible nature Oregon has to offer. Our tour guide was well informed, funny and interesting. He gave us a full picture of the history, ecology and human interaction with the region. It was a great experience!

May 16, 2018

Great to see this nice review. Thank you! It is even better to hear you were with the big Ocean Science Meeting & Conference.

I booked a tour of Mt. St. Helen's with Jeff for 6/3/17 weeks before. On the morning of, Jeff calls to warn that the weather had changed and that most likely we would not be able to see the mountain. He gave us a choice to continue or cancel with no charges. This is honest business practices at it's best. He could have easily not said anything and taken us, and we may have been bummed, but he didn't. This was a $500 loss to him but it's things like this that'll keep him successful. Thanks Jeff and we hope to see Mt. St. Helen some day on your tour.

Dec 18, 2017

Thanks Terrance, I would feel terrible with disappointed guests. Hope to see you when the weather improves!

We were only in Portland for a few days so we needed to make every minute count. JEFF at EcoTours truly made this happen. We did the all day Mt St Helens tour which was the highlight of our visit. We were picked up at our hotel right on time by Jeff in a comfortable van. He is amazingly knowledgeable about every aspect of Mt St Helens and the eruption. We stopped on site for great views and photos. He even brought and set up high power spotting scopes so we could see point of interest that we couldn't get near. He even spotted a herd of Elk on a hillside that we all took turns watching.

Thanks for the nice review. I feel lucky to be able to show guests these amazing places for work. I enjoyed being up there also! Thanks for hiring EcoTours of Oregon!

Our first time in Portland and we could not have had a better experience on our tour!...Jeff is extremely knowledgeable about the history of Oregon and has 29 years of experience doing tours! We originally were going to do a Mt. Saint Helens tour but Jeff advised that the weather was not great and visibility would not be good for that tour ...Jeff wanted to assure us a great experience so instead, we got a private tour of Portland including breathtaking views and an unforgettable experience!

Scenic vows of Oregon

Aug 12, 2021

Thanks for the nice review. Glad to hear you were happy with the “plan b”.

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Whale Watching & Coastal Sightseeing Tour

Tomorrow’s tour is only available by calling. Phone: 503-475-0226 Toll free: 888 TOURS-33 (888-868-7733)

Whale Watching Tour & Coastal Sightseeing Tour

Whale Watching Tour combines a scenic coast tour with the excitement of seeing 40-ton gray whales up close on the Pacific Ocean! Learn about the whales of the world, and the natural and local history of Oregon. Many beautiful coastal photo/sightseeing stops throughout the day.

Full day $159 per person. Group discounts available for 30+ guests.

One of the best kept secrets in Oregon is that there are traveling and resident California Gray Whales along the Central Oregon Coast from late March through November! The “Thar’ She Blows!” Whale watching tour is normally scheduled from 8 AM to 5:30 PM. Because we travel in small groups, options may be available to adjust our itinerary according to your wishes as the day progresses. The following is a sample itinerary.

8:00 AM: Pickup at your hotel or residence. Travel southwest from Portland through the picturesque farmland of the Willamette Valley, where many types of fruits, hazelnuts and flowers are grown. Pass through Oregon’s premier vineyard region, famous for its award-winning Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris wines. Link: Tour to The Coast

9:30 AM: Leaving the Willamette Valley, we’ll head into the Coast Mountain Range. During the drive to the coast, you will learn about the whales of the world, particularly about the California Gray Whales which we will be viewing up close from charter boats on the Pacific. We will stop for refreshments at the half-way point to the coast.

10:30 AM: Once at the coast, we’ll stop at a beautiful overlook to view the ocean from Siletz Bay. EcoTours carries 45-power spotting scopes on all tours in order to view wildlife such as the harbor seals and sea birds which sun and nest on the beach, offshore rocks and wildlife refuges of this area.

Links:  Siletz Bay  and   Boiler Bay Park

11:00 AM: We’ll board a 45-foot charter boat and head out into the beautiful blue-green waters of the Pacific Ocean. Gray whales feed in rich offshore waters only 50-100 feet deep, so most of our viewing is done within two miles from shore.

EcoTours’ guests have seen whales 95%+ of the times we’ve been out on the ocean, so our chances of spotting whales are excellent! Seeing, hearing, and even smelling the huge spouts of these enormous mammals is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that you will never forget! When Gray Whales dive down deep for feeding on the ocean bottom, their tail flukes extend into the air in an incredible and photographic show of acrobatics. Link: Coast Views with whales

12:15 PM: After our exciting ocean-charter boat ride, you will be shown the restaurants in the area and will have time for lunch on your own.

1:20 PM: After lunch, we’ll take in the local sights. Stops will be made for pictures at beautiful state parks between Newport and Lincoln City. The sights include spectacular beaches, rocky coastal cliffs and fir-clad mountains. Our last stop will allow guests to take a short walk on a beautiful beach.

Link:  Rocky Creek Park 

3:30 PM: Leaving the Coast, we’ll begin our trip back.  Socializing with our newly-formed friends makes the ride home enjoyable. The relaxing ride is scenic on the return also.

Link:  Cape Foulweather

5:30 PM: Arrive back at your hotel or residence.

If notified in advance, tour options include:

A stop at the Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport, as well as the Whale-Watching boat ride. Due to length of time needed at the Aquarium, the sightseeing stops will be limited.

Note: This Whale Watching tour is seasonal.

The best season is June through October. We can also see whales in migration in late December-early January and from April-May. Because small craft advisories can occur unexpectedly and EcoTours of Oregon places the highest priority on safety, on rare occasions we are only able do the sightseeing parts of the tour. On these occasions, the charter boat portion of your tour will be refunded in order to compensate for staying ashore. This is done in the interest of safety. If weather reports project bad weather the night before the tour, EcoTours will try to notify guests by phone in advance to give the option of not going on the tour.

The cost of the Whale Watching & Costal Sightseeing Tour is $159 per person. This includes door-to-door transportation, the charter boat ride, and the interpretive naturalist services of your ecotour guide. Group discounts available for 30+ guests.

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No matter which tour you choose, EcoTours of Oregon guarantees an exceptional adventure, filled with breathtaking views and unparalleled experiences. Book your tour today and discover why EcoTours is the ultimate choice for nature and wine enthusiasts alike.