Russian River Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience the Russian River. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Russian River Kayak Tour at the Beautiful Sonoma Coast

• 5-Day California Vineyards, Waves and Wine small group tour

• Women Only 5-Day California Vineyards, Waves and Wine Tour

It’s free to visit the Russian River, but you can book tours to get out on the water or explore the area. Kayak tours start at around US$135, while private day trips from San Francisco that include stops at local vineyards start around US$620 per person. You can also book extended, multi-day tours throughout the region from US$3,995 per person.

Yes, the Russian River is worth visiting for its scenic waterways that wind through redwood forests and rolling vineyards across Sonoma County. You can paddle a kayak through quiet green pastures, swim at sandy river beaches, or sip Pinot Noir made on-site from local wineries in the Russian River Valley. This is a compact, easy-to-navigate stretch of wine country that is well worth exploring. Tours are a great way to experience the region's highlights in a single itinerary: Your guide will handle transportation, so you can relax and enjoy the scenery—and the wine!

Per one customer who booked the Russian River Kayak Tour at the Beautiful Sonoma Coast, "This was an absolutely incredible tour—our guide was friendly, flexible and an expert on the coastal estuary. He had my kids completely captivated and looking at the area in a whole new way. We saw so much wildlife! It was an absolute blast."

The Russian River Valley American Viticultural Area (AVA) is in the heart of Sonoma County, but the river itself flows through both the Sonoma and Mendocino counties of Northern California. Top Napa wineries source their cool-climate grapes from the Russian River Valley AVA, which produces excellent pinot noir, chardonnay, and zinfandel.

The Russian River Valley American Viticultural Area (AVA) is especially renowned for its award-winning pinot noir and chardonnay wines. There’s enormous soil variety in the valley and the particular composition of the soils (containing volcanic ash, sand, silt, and clay) is ideal for pinot noir grapes in particular, a grape that’s notoriously difficult to grow.

Yes, you can swim in the Russian River and there are many great swimming beaches. Some are only open seasonally, while others can be used at any time—although lifeguards won’t always be present. It’s a good idea to wear a life jacket because the river can be unpredictable.

Yes, motorboats are allowed on the Russian River. However, non-motorized means of travel along the river are more common, such as kayaking, canoeing, and paddle-boating. Motorized boats must limit their noise, and a 5-mile (8-kilometer) per hour speed restriction applies when passing swimming beaches, diving platforms, or other places with people moving around.

The Russian River Valley in Sonoma County is home to 70 wineries, which produce 30 different types of wine. The Russian River Valley has some of the oldest grape vines in California and wine has been made there since the 1870s. It now produces gold-standard California pinot noir and chardonnay.

Northern California’s Russian River Valley is best known for its cool-climate wines, particularly pinot noir and chardonnay. Its particular combination of climate and terrain means the conditions are especially good for hard-to-grow pinot-noir grapes. The Russian River Valley also produces good zinfandel, syrah, and sauvignon blanc, among other varieties.

There are tons of things to do when you're done visiting the Russian River. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in Napa & Sonoma:

• Oxbow Public Market

• Madonna Estate Winery

• Jacuzzi Family Vineyards

• Castello di Amorosa

• Calistoga

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in Napa & Sonoma.