Mt. Rainier Full-Day Small Group Tour from Seattle

Yes, we have a limited amount of space to accommodate some luggage in our tour vehicle if you have a flight to catch after the tour. If you need to go to the airport directly after the tour and will have luggage with you, please notify us after you’ve made a booking to let us know what your flight time is and how many bags you will have with you. We are typically in the vicinity of Sea-Tac airport around 6:00pm-6:30pm, but it can be as late as 7:00pm. Please leave yourself at least 2 hours of buffer time to catch your flight after our tour.

Yes, we have a limited amount of space to accommodate some luggage in our tour vehicle if you have a flight to catch after the tour. If you need to go to the airport directly after the tour and will have luggage with you, please notify us after you’ve made a booking to let us know what your flight time is and how many bags you will have with you. We are typically in the vicinity of Sea-Tac airport around 6:00pm-6:30pm, but it can be as late as 7:00pm. Please leave yourself at least 2 hours of buffer time to catch your flight after our tour.

At a minimum, we recommend preparing 3 layers: a quick drying t-shirt, an insulating layer (wool sweater, hoodie, etc.), and a waterproof layer (wind breaker, soft shell jacket). Guests on early and late season tours (May to June or September to October) are advised to bring an additional insulating layer. A generally good rule of thumb is to bring one more layer than you think is necessary. If we are anticipating winter-like conditions (temperatures in the 30s-40s with sleet/snow), we will give you a heads up in advance so you can dress accordingly.

Yes, we will happily accommodate your dietary requirements with your own delicious meal. In order for us to arrange this for you, however, please notify us of your request no less than 72 hours before your tour. If there is less than 72 hours before the tour, we will do our best to accommodate you, but if we can’t, we will let you know at the time of booking.

Yes, we will happily accommodate your dietary requirements with your own delicious meal. In order for us to arrange this for you, however, please notify us of your request no less than 72 hours before your tour. If there is less than 72 hours before the tour, we will do our best to accommodate you, but if we can’t we will let you know at the time of booking.

While cruise ships usually dock in Seattle by 6:00am, passengers typically do not disembark until around 8:30am-9:30am as it takes time to collect baggage and clear customs. For guests coming off a cruise, we highly recommend a Private Tour. On a Private Tour, we can offer your group a personalized tour schedule and complimentary luggage transfer if you’re headed to a Seattle hotel or to the airport in the evening.

This tour includes a modest amount of walking on marked trails, but over uneven surfaces as well as up and down hill. There are no steep inclines on this tour. The total number of miles hiked each day varies, but is typically not more than 4-5 miles of cumulative walking. Our walking pace is very moderate—after all, we’re here to take in the scenery and enjoy our surroundings. If you have mobility concerns, please don’t hesitate to discuss them with us in advance and be sure to talk to your guide at the beginning of the tour so we can adjust our route accordingly.

Yes, we definitely will! We will have a chance to enjoy multiple waterfalls—some up close and some “hidden” waterfalls viewed from a distance. Have you ever seen a waterfall flowing directly out of a glacier? We’ll show you several! These are some of the best moments to just stop, stare and just take it all in.

We pick up from all hotels, AirBnB’s, and vacation rentals in downtown Seattle. Pick up times in downtown Seattle are typically between 7:40am-8:00am. Once you make a booking, please contact us to confirm your pick up location. At least 1 day before your tour, we will contact you to inform you of your individual pick-up time slot. This is the best way to avoid everyone standing at the curb at the same time. If you’re not staying in downtown Seattle or by Sea-Tac Airport, please plan to meet the group at the Seattle Hyatt Regency (808 Howell St.).

The wildflower bloom varies year-to-year and is dependent on a number of factors such as snow cover, rainfall, ambient sunlight and temperatures, but we typically expect to see wildflowers from the end of June through the middle of August. Outside wildflower season, the scenery is still spectacular. By mid-September, the hillsides start to turn shades of burnt orange and yellow when fall starts to set in. Fall is often the best overall time of year.

Weather in the mountains changes very quickly and is variable throughout the year. If the sun is out and we are walking, it can quickly get warm and a t-shirt will be comfortable. If the sun goes behind a cloud and a wind picks up, it can feel very chilly. Spring (May-June) and Fall (September-October) temperatures are often in the 40s-50s but can be as high as the 60s and 70s. Summer temperatures (July-August) are generally warm in the 70s-80s, but daily temperature fluctuation is common with early mornings in the 50s and late afternoons warming up to the mid-80s. Even in July and August, on a breezy overcast day above 5,000’, the temperature can be in the 50s and a sweater with a windbreaker would be a good idea. While weather is typically sunnier in July, August and September, it’s very difficult to predict ahead of time, so we recommend being prepared for everything.

Yes, we do pick up from Sea-Tac area hotels. If your hotel provides an airport shuttle service, then it’s most likely close enough to our route of travel for us to pick you up at your hotel. Sea-Tac area hotel pick-ups are conducted after downtown Seattle pick-ups and are usually between 8:15-8:20am. We will contact you at least 1 day before your tour to inform you of your individual pick-up time slot.

While we won’t be doing any intense hikes, please wear shoes that are comfortable to walk in on uneven ground and provide ankle support. On wet days and rainy days, sneakers can quickly soak through. Rubber soled hiking boots or rain boots are a better option on those days. You’re also welcome to bring an extra pair of shoes and socks if you’d like to be sure to have warm dry feet for the ride back to Seattle. We have plenty of room in the van to store your extra pair of shoes.

Sorry, we cannot pick you up at your hotel in Bellevue as it is considerably out of the way from our route of travel. Guests not staying in downtown Seattle or by Sea-Tac airport will meet the group at the Seattle Hyatt Regency (808 Howell St.). If you would like to be dropped off at your hotel in Bellevue after the tour, we can accommodate this request if you’re ok with being the last drop-off of the day. An additional $50 fee for drop-off in the Bellevue area will apply, but this is about the same as what you would pay for an Uber/Lyft.

The ground is typically still covered in snow at higher elevations (above 4,000 ft.) well into mid-June. Opportunities to throw wet snowballs or make a dirty snow angel will probably present themselves even until early July, depending on temperatures and sunshine. Thick snow is on the ground at higher elevations (above 7,500 ft.) throughout the year. While this trip will not travel to those elevations, abundant snow and massive glaciers are clearly visible over the entire upper half of the mountain throughout the year.