Although most people see the Grand Canyon by helicopter or airplane,
one-day Grand Canyon rafting tours give you another option. Several tour
companies offer this experience. Rafting is a wonderful way to see the
Colorado River and the awe-inspiring canyon it created over the
millennia.
Some companies offer longer raft tours down the
Colorado, but the single-day experience is best for most people because
it doesn't take too much time away from their other vacation activities.
So, unless you're coming to the area specifically for river rafting,
you'll probably want to choose the one-day excursion. It will give you
an amazing experience but still leave plenty of time for you to explore
the rest of the area. If you want a longer rafting trip, it's easy to
look online for outfitters that offer multi-day rafting tours.
Once
you compare their cost to the price of Grand Canyon helicopter or
airplane tours, you'll realize that rafting tours are quite reasonable.
Tour operators in Las Vegas can organize your entire trip, including
transportation to your raft's launch site. Read the fine print before
you book anything, though - you're paying good money and you'll want to
make sure you understand everything your tour includes.
Single-day
smooth-water float tours can be taken from the South Rim or the West
Rim. The version from the West Rim begins with a helicopter ride to the
canyon floor. You'll then be transported to the base of Hoover Dam,
where you'll get aboard your raft. After floating through Black Canyon,
your river tour will end at Willow Beach, Arizona. All in all, you'll be
on the water for about 11 miles.
Two types of smooth-water float
tours originate at the South Rim. Both packages start at Tusayan,
Arizona's Grand Canyon National Park Airport. The most affordable (and
popular) of these smooth-water float tours takes you by motor coach to
Page, Arizona. From there you'll make your way to the base of Glen
Canyon Dam. That's where you'll board your raft and begin your 15-mile
float down the calm waters of the river. Your rafting tour will end when
you arrive at Lee's Ferry. The other South Rim package flies you to
Page by airplane and includes a 4x4 ride to Antelope Canyon, but the
river portion is the same. Your boat will be an adventure-grade pontoon
raft that can seat as many as 19 people.
You'll float down the
river on calm water on all of these trips - there aren't any white-water
rapids along your route. That's why they're so perfect for any age
group. Children must be at least four years old, however.
Summer
is peak season for these tours. It's not unusual for them to sell out,
so don't wait to the last minute before making your arrangements. I
strongly recommend you book your rafting trip in advance. You can look
online to find the float tour that suits your needs perfectly, and
you'll find the best prices there too. Some of the deals I've found
online have been almost embarrassingly good.
