I went on the lava tube cave tour and the canoeing trip, and both were the most fun activities I participated in during the three days I stayed in Bend. From what people tell me, and just from my own experience, three days is not enough to enjoy what Bend and Central Oregon have to offer. Fortunately, by going with Wanderlust, I got a great taste of the vast array of activities that people experience in the area. First off, the lava tube cave tour was not only extremely fun, but also enlightening. Jared was very attentive and kindly went above and beyond in fielding all of our questions. In addition, he helped me summon up the courage I needed to eat an ant that apparently tastes like sour patch kids (I couldn't really taste it, but I'll take the protein). Furthermore, he showed us hidden caverns within the cave, encouraging all members to do a little bit of rock climbing (if he asks you whether you're feeling adventurous, just say yes). The canoeing tour with Travis was just as entertaining. Before we hit the lake, however, Travis lead us through the history books of Bend, educating us about notable figures that shaped the origin of the city. We paddled around Elk Lake for a good hour and a half (it could've been longer, but time flies when you're enjoying yourself), and though the scenery itself makes the experience worth it, Travis took the trip further by being an encouraging teacher. For any first-time visitors to Bend who are willing to spend a little dough on a great experience (it's not cheap by any stretch), I'd highly recommend going with Wanderlust. I only met two of the guides, but I think it's safe to say that they both represent the professionalism that Wanderlust strives for. P.S. I know I'm supposed to vote for one guide to get the free beer, but sorry! I don't think I can. You were both amazing guides, and my family and I really appreciate your efforts! read more

I did the New Year snowshoe tour with my fiance and it was the best news year celebration we've ever had. Jason was a perfect guide and was super knowledgable about the surrounding area and the bonfire with hot chocolate and champagne was a perfect way to cap off the hike. We will definitely be back! read more

BEST TOUR EVER!! felt so safe and had so much fun! the people were so nice ! definitely a must when coming to Bend!!

Did the Views & Brews tour, canoeing across Elk Lake (today's choice) and had a wonderful time. Jared did a great job explaining everything from geology to brewing techniques as well as explains some of the flora & fauna if the area. He has definitely learned a lot of the local trivia of the area. Ask him questions. Great workout and totally fun trying to race back after a few brews (plentiful taster flights from Cascade Lakes - or Deschutes if the night tour). read more

We had the most magnificent time with Wanderlust Tours. They provided an unforgettable experience for our family. We participated in their cave tour and it was the highlight of my teens trip. Colton, our guide, was knowledgeable and personable. We had such a great time we immediately looked to book the canoe tour, but unfortunately there was no openings. Highly recommend! read more

Fantastic canoe trip with Courtney today. She was the perfect combo of entertainment, enthusiasm, expert field guide, and canoeing tour guide. She was very patient with us and the kiddos and gave great directions. What an amazing, relaxing ride down the Deshutes. So beautiful and peaceful. We really appreciated the walk to the class V rapids. We're really glad she put her foot down and said no canoes past the danger zone. Ha! We also appreciated hearing lots of fun facts about Bend and huge props for COCC. Good times! read more

See all

My husband and I went snowshoeing for the first time with Wanderlust Tours and had such a fun time! Our guide (Danny) was super knowledgeable about Mt Bachelor and had a lot of interesting information to share. We made our own trail through the forest and he took our tour group to an amazing view of the snow covered mountains. The tour ended perfectly with hot chocolate :) It's a little pricey, but worth it for people who want a break from skiing and snowboarding! read more

Wanderlust Tours - Tours Near Me - Bend, Oregon

We've been living in Bend the past year, and booked a kayaking tour to celebrate my husband's birthday. Our tour guide, Katie, was the best possible guide we could imagine! She was so friendly and knowledgable, and especially kind and patient with our young daughters (she even rescued my oldest's beloved bucket hat after it fell into the water). She and the company were also especially understanding with a scheduling snafu on our end the weekend prior. Thank you so much, Katie and Wanderlust. Do not hesitate to book a trip with them; you'll be in great hands! read more

Such an amazing experience!! We had so much fun on the Shoes, Views, & Brews tour. Hannah was such an incredible guide! She was so knowledgeable about literally everything that she made the trip 100 times better! read more

I went on the starlight snowshoeing tour, and it's something I'll never forget for the rest of my life. Initially, I was nervous because it felt out of my comfort zone, but our guide Jared was extremely knowledgeable on the area and terrain. My husband and I were the only ones out that night, so we were joined by two other daytime guides and our whole little group trekked around together. It was awesome because we were able to move at our own pace (and I could take pauses during the uphill!) and explore the area at Jared's judgement. I was super impressed with his professionalism, genuine friendliness, and thorough knowledge of not only Mt. Bachelor, but the land, foliage, and animals within it. It was incredibly refreshing to be around a guide that was genuinely interested in every aspect of what he was doing, and never once hesitated to answer our questions or share his knowledge with us. It was truly a beautiful experience-- there's nothing like trekking through the snow with nothing but headlamps and the stars to light the way. We'll definitely be back to WT next time we're in Bend! read more

Our group of 6 friends took a kayaking trip on 8/4. Most of the adventure was great, but it started with a disorganized hassle. Hence, the 3 star review. We had a hard copy confirmed reservation from one of their approved resellers. However, when we arrive they had no record of it. The situation was made so much worse as the one very young and inexperienced (he even mentioned he was on the job only a few weeks) in the office had no clue what to do. He was nice enough, simply incompetent at the administrative procedure. I think he may have been a guide himself. Also, he was the only person there with over 20 people arriving simultaneously for scheduled tours. Very unprofessional and disheartening first impression. Fortunately a couple of more mature and experienced guides showed up after 10-15 minutes of confusion. In particular, Colton, took charge and realized the error and went above an beyond to get addtional kayaks and do what was need to make sure that the company did not leave 6 or more people high, dry and very unhappy. The other concern was the condition of the van used. I happened to look at the tires and noted how bald they were. Fortunately no problem. Again, not professional. Now the good news. The kayaking itself lead by Colton, and a woman(whose name unforutanely I forgot) was a great experience. Incredible scenery and Colton offered a wealth of information about the area-scientifically and historically. He is a great story teller and overall nice guy. I would say put him in charge, but then we lose his experience in the field. Clean up your administrative act please. read more

Tour guide was friendly and knowledgeable. We had a wonderful experience! Worth every penny.

Best day ever on lake sparks!! Nick took our family ( 2 adults and 3 young kids) to an amazing canoe adventure. He is very knowledgable so we got the full details on the area wildlife, nature , geology and any question we had ( and believe me three kids have tons of questions) was answered with smile, patients and great explanation. This is defiantly our Oregon trip highlight until now. Thank you Nick!!! read more

Today we had a ton of fun with two other couples on a Shoes, Brews, and Views tour. Our guide, Nick, was great! He filled us in on all kinds of cool info about the volcanos and wildlife. The trek was challenging in all the recent snow, but not difficult. The ambiance and company couldn't be matched. To top it off, we got to enjoy some delicious beer. I highly recommend a snow show trip to anyone. read more

See all

I went on a night canoe trip at the base of Mt. Bachelor. It was absolutely perfect. Of course being on the lake at the base of Mt. Bachelor was wonderful but I would like to add that our guide was great too. Working with the office persons at Wanderlust was the best!! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND Wanderlust as your "go to" tour in Oregon! read more

We did the prohibition cave tour with Courtney. Courtney was AWESOME! Very knowledgeable and fun! The cave tour was better than expected and the Whiskey tasting was fun as well! read more

My two kids (aged 13 & 11) wife & myself thoroughly enjoyed an excellent morning tour through Boyd cave today. Our cave guide was Jack and like the other reviews say, he was very entertaining as well as knowledgeable about the cave & surrounding flora & fauna. Jack's passion for the high desert was obvious from the moment he picked us up. In the short drive out to Boyd cave, Jack gave us a brief history lesson on the area that included information about the volcanoes that created the lave tubes, the forest in the area and the people that settled the Oregon high desert. Boyd cave itself was a fairly easy walk (in & out is less than1 mile), with some stooping and 1 short crawl. I highly recommend this Wanderlust tour, just about anyone can complete this hike. My only regret is I saved this tour for our last day. Jack had a few recommendations of other things to do & see in Bend which we were not able to do - this time. We will definitely book another tour with Wanderlust when we go back to Bend. Absolutely money well spent! read more

We took two different tours with Wanderlust. Jeff helped us plan our 4th of July one that we would never forget. He was very helpful. In the morning we went Kayaking with Seamus and had an incredible time. He made the trip fun and kept it interesting. What an incredible morning with amazing views at every turn. In the afternoon we went to the lava caves with Chaney. He was GREAT. The experience was awesome and he made it a wonderful time. Before we entered the cave he gave us great information. And then while in the cave he continued to make the adventure informative and fun. Thanks to all the people at Wanderlust for making it an amazing day. read more

See all

I just returned from Bend, OR after hosting a group of 11 business associates in the area. The absolute highlight of the entire trip was our tour with Wanderlust Tours. I can not say enough amazing things about how easy Wanderlust tours made it to book a specialized excursion for our group, everything was handled professionally and personalized to our time frame and interests. Our tour guide, Jeff, was wildly informative, fun and created a unique experience that the group will remember forever. Jeff led us into the caldera of the Newberry Volcano. We hiked to view waterfalls, wildlife, mountains, and to top it off an outstanding obsidian flow. If you are ever in the area, I highly recommend a tour with Wanderlust Tours! Just simply the best experience we could have asked for. read more

Spent a few days visiting Bend, Oregon and took 2 guided tours with Wanderlust. The tour guides were very knowledgeable and experienced. They were educated on nature/ecology and the history of Bend. We took the nighttime snowshoeing tour(7 degrees! but a clear night), and the cave tour(we wore hiking boots which were perfect, jeans, jackets and gloves for crawling around). read more

Went on the Volcano tour this morning it was wonderful. Erika was our guide she is very knowledgeable about nature and the area. The views were amazing. Learned alot this morning. There were only 5 people on the tour and she let us customize what we did. read more

Very fun, very nice people, ask for Rachel and don't be afraid to go by yourself. Rachel will buddy up with you and you will have a great time! She got my asthmatic chubby self all the way through the tours with flying colors and I had a really great time. The tours are very inexpensive and you can arrange for hotel pick up if you need to. Skeleton Cave is amazing and Rachel's depth of knowledge made the trip unforgettable. I would give them 6 stars if I could! read more

I was recently on a modified hike with Wanderlust Tours and am very surprised that nobody has reviewed them on Yelp yet. Jack was our guide and he was asked to create a hike for us along the Deschutes River by Mount Bachelor Village. I understand that their tours do not usually come across other humans so we had it easy. I thoroughly enjoyed Jack's easy going manner and humor as he pointed out things for us to notice. He shared both the natural and cultural history surrounding the area and made me want to expand my knowledge on nature. I encourage anyone considering Wanderlust Tours to try them as this brief hike has made me want to come back to try Wanderlust Tours' other activities like their moonlight canoe tours and volcano tours, etc. If you are visiting Bend, look them up. read more

Highly recommend the Brew Bus! At one of the stops you get to see how the brewery makes their beer and you get generous beer tasters at every stop. We also had a very knowledgeable and friendly tour guide, Travis, who had insight into Bend's beer culture as well as the sightseeing in and around Bend. This city has so many breweries that it was impossible to try them all in one visit, so I will definitely be visiting again soon. The beer won't drink itself! read more

So this review is NOT about their actual tours, which I am sure are great but their level of customer service and information posted on their website. I was interested in doing one of the half day bike tours offered on their website. To start I e-mailed the company and after a day received no reply. No problem, the next day I called and left a message. Their voice mail states that they are most likely on the phone and will get back to you in just a few minutes (I called during business hours). Didn't hear from them. Called again the following day and finally got someone. I was informed that you need a minimum of 10 people for a half day ride. I can fully understand the need for a minimum, it just would have been helpful if they had posted that on their website so I didn't waste my time over the last couple days. read more

Bachelorette party on the brew bus tour was awesome. We had some last minute changes and they made it seem flawless. Chaney our chauffeur was awesome! read more

This is a completely pro outfit. Folks on the phone are helpful and friendly. Our guide, Courtney, was knowledgeable, friendly and really seemed to enjoy her job. Our family of 4, including 8 year old twins, are by no means athletes, so signing up for a snow-shoeing tour was a bit of a stretch. They assured me over the phone they would adjust to the needs of our group, and that was exactly true. Courtney didn't push us beyond our comfort, and adapted to our interests, sharing quite a bit of information about the woods and surrounding. The best. read more

We have been on several tours with Wanderlust. Everyone has been a lot of fun , educational and an exceptional experience!

We went on one of the starlight canoe tours to Hosmer Lake two summers ago and it was amazing. Beautiful evening cruise with a very knowledgeable guide. They provide everything you need, including canoe, paddle, life jacket, & head lamp. Plus, you get a nice snack from one of the popular local bakeries (Sparrow Bakery) and some hot chocolate. I live here now and have kayaked every lake in the loop and Hosmer is still one of my favorites, thanks in no small part to this trip. read more

I have been on several tours with Wanderlust Tours. The guides are entertaining, personable and professional! I've been on several of their cave tours, and on a snowshoe tour. I was pleasantly surprised at how much the guides knew and were able to share with us, even on our bus drives out to the locations! Every detail was thought of - coming back from our snowshoe tour to hot chocolate and marshmallows - what a treat! Jack and James are both phenomenal guides, who cater each tour to the attendees. I wish I could take these tours every time I visit Bend!! Thanks for the fun times! read more

My daughter and I just got back from our vacation to Bend. We went on two tours with Wanderlust - the Starlight Canoe Tour and the Cave Tour. Both times, Joe was our tour guide, and he was super awesome. If you haven't been in a canoe before, I highly suggest you do so before you go on the canoe tour, though. I paddled around in circles endlessly! Even though I forgot to be at the scheduled tour meeting place at the specified time, they made other arrangements for me, which was FANTASTIC (otherwise, I would have been sulking for the entire trip). At first, they were going to charge me for the broken reservation, but then they decided not to, and they saved the day. I highly recommend this company! read more

The beer bus was so fun. Lots of diversity in breweries and plenty to drink. Super good value and yummy apps. Dan was a great guide as well! read more

This was our second time in Bend going through Wanderlust. We did the brew and view canoe tour on the river and it was beautiful. If you don't know how to canoe or kayak don't worry it's pretty cakey and our guide Katie was amazing. She was quick to help out and very knowledgeable. We had a great time and plan to keep returning to Wanderlust :) read more

We took the afternoon snowshoe trip with Jared and had a blast. We both rented snow pants and I also rented boots ($12 for both). Although we were at the ski resort, we spent most of the time in the woods and the scenery was beautiful. Definitely worth it! read more

My wife and I had a great couple of days with Erika and Jarrett. Did caving the first day with Jarrett- learned a ton. Scampered a bit also. Second day we did Snow Shoeing with Erika- Snowy day at Mt Bachelor so conditions were perfect and Erika taught us a bunch about NW ecosystem. Really fun and could not have been nicer folks from start to finish. read more

Great kayak trip on Paulina Lake. Alexis was a great guide and naturalist. She pointed out eagles and Osprey, talked about the geology of the area. She was engaging and friendly. Highly recommend Wanderlust for any tour! Never have gone wrong with them! read more

We had a great snowshoeing tour up on Mt. Bachelor with Erica yesterday afternoon! She was a great guide and very enthusiastic about the area. Also very knowledgeable about Bend and Oregon in general! Would definitely recommend booking a tour with this company. We spent about 2 hours snowshoeing in the beautiful snow. read more

We have used Wanderlust tours for 3 different canoeing tours. We have done the brew & moonlight canoeing in the past. It's a lot of fun & I would recommend checking it out if you haven't done it! You canoe out & usually find a little area of land to get off & admire the stars & do the beer tasting. Then you canoe back to where you launched the boats. The tour goes across the lake, pretty easy tour to canoe. Most recently we did the moonlight canoeing. Jeff was our guide & did an amazing job! He shared interesting facts on the way up & encouraged everyone to ask questions. He took us to Hosmer Lake which was different from the other tours we've been on. Our canoeing trip was during a meteor shower & the stars looked amazing. It was a little harder lake to canoe through but totally worth it. We didn't get off the canoes & enjoyed hot chocolate & some pastries in our canoes while admiring the stars. Our group decided not to use the head lights per Jeff advising us our eyes would just better for star watching. We love Wanderlust & will continue to use them in the future!! read more

We had the most memorable 2019 New Year with a wonderful walk in the dark. Stars were bright forest was beautiful, covered by a thick snow blanket, a warm fire, hot chocolate, alcohol and amazing stories from Danny,our outstanding tour guide,who traveled all over the world. Thank you for all!! read more

Wanderlust Tours lead by Dave is probably the most integrity built company and upfront group I have come in contact with. In the tour industry you never know what you are going to get. This company is a family feel and I had the best experience in snow I have had in years. read more