Self-Drive 1-Day Grand Canyon Whitewater Rafting Tour
Recommended by 90% of travelers
Las Vegas, USA
- 17 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Add a thrilling outdoor adventure to your vacation with this small-group whitewater rafting trip down the Colorado River. Take a road trip to Peach Springs, Arizona, the gateway to the Grand Canyon. Then, take on the mighty Colorado River’s varied rapids on a 40-mile (64-kilometer) journey through the canyon. Boxed lunch is included, and hotel pickup and drop-off from Las Vegas is available as an upgrade.
- Have the chance to raft down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon
- Benefit from the expertise of your Hualapai guide on this small-group tour
- All necessary equipment, plus lunch, is provided for your ease
- Drive your own car, or upgrade for round-trip Las Vegas transport
What's Included
- White Water Rafting tour
- Lunch
- Round-trip transportation from Las Vegas (if option selected)
- Local Guide
- All taxes, fees and handling charges
- Hotel pickup and drop off (unless option selected)
- Gratuities
- Rescheduling within 30 days of date of travel will result in a USD$25 fee per person
Meeting and Pickup
You can head directly to your preferred meeting point, or request pickup.
Itinerary
Begin this outdoor day trip by driving from Las Vegas or Flagstaff to Peach Springs, Arizona—a 2.5-hour journey southeast from Sin City and a 1.5-hour trek west from Flagstaff. (Alternatively, upgrade for included round-trip transit from Las Vegas.)
Meet your Native American river guide, who provides your small group with a brief safety orientation and equipment overview before you board a pontoon raft.
From there, the voyage continues along 40 miles (64 kilometers) of the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon, with a total of six sets of rated rapids before the water evens out. Stops are made throughout the trip to discover hidden canyons and waterfalls, including a side hike to a travertine waterfall.
Enjoy a complimentary boxed lunch in the solitude of the canyon and be sure to bring a waterproof camera to capture the photo opportunities.
Return by van to Peach Springs, where this tour ends (unless Las Vegas transit has been booked).
Meet your Native American river guide, who provides your small group with a brief safety orientation and equipment overview before you board a pontoon raft.
From there, the voyage continues along 40 miles (64 kilometers) of the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon, with a total of six sets of rated rapids before the water evens out. Stops are made throughout the trip to discover hidden canyons and waterfalls, including a side hike to a travertine waterfall.
Enjoy a complimentary boxed lunch in the solitude of the canyon and be sure to bring a waterproof camera to capture the photo opportunities.
Return by van to Peach Springs, where this tour ends (unless Las Vegas transit has been booked).
1
Hualapai Lodge
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
2
Grand Canyon National Park
3 hours • Admission Ticket Free
3
Lake Mead National Recreation Area
2 hours • Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Minimum age is 8 years
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Transportation option is only available from Las Vegas. Transportation is not available from Flagstaff or Sedona, Arizona.
- Please note: rescheduling within 30 days of date of travel will result in a USD$25 fee per person.
- Stroller accessible
- Important: In order for local operator to confirm this tour ALL traveler names must be provided as they appear on a government issued ID such as a driver's license or passport. Your tour will not be confirmed unless all names are provided.
- All travelers MUST bring a government issued ID on the day of the tour
- We recommend you wear shorts and a T-shirt made with fast-drying material and a swimsuit underneath. Also, wear tennis shoes or river-type sandals (not flip-flops) and sun block.
- We recommend you bring a light backpack, a hat with a retention strap, sunglasses, waterproof or Ziploc bag for your camera, and money (for souvenirs and tips). Please do not bring valuables.
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers
Supplied by
Frequently Asked Questions (15)
Q:How long is the drive to the launch location for the Self-Drive 1-Day Grand Canyon Whitewater Rafting Tour?
A:The drive is about 180 miles in each direction from Las Vegas. Please allow ample driving time to arrive in Peach Springs no later than 7:30 am for a van transfer to the river.
Jul 2021
The answers provided are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 30 days in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
pamela-mcg
Loved every minute, our guide Trent was terrific, knowledgeable, adventurous, expert and funny and made our trip more than we could have imagined. Trent made the rapid's exciting, fun and told us stories of interesting parts of the canyon as we passed. We felt completely safe and loved the cooling off of the water even though we were completely soaked. The waterfall was a highlight too. We would highly recommend this all day tour. The 2nd half floating down stream after lunch could be a bit shorter if there was another place to disembark.
Reviews
4.6
based on 50 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Tonya_N, Jun 2023
This was an amazing trip, so glad we did this! We went 5/31 and it was cold, so dress accordingly. Between the 40 degree water and the wind, it can be cold. Be prepared for a long day from the long bus ride into the canyon and the long ride out, but again worth the experience! Kyle, our guide through the canyon, give great perspective on the history and beauty of a wonderful landmark. Memories my family and I will cherish for a lifetime.
Marian_M, Apr 2022
We had a great trip! Dale was safe, knowledgeable and fun guide. The views were spectacular, the rapids were exhilarating! Be prepared to get wet and for the 45 degree water.
I recommend packing lots of sunscreen, hand sanitizer and a change of clothes for the bus ride back.
Plan on the trip taking all day! It was the best day of our vacation.
Kathleen_S, Sep 2021
Booked with Viator believing they were an honest company. Had an amazing river trip and loved having the Hualapai tribe take us down the river. However, Viator doubled the price and when questioned and asked for their "meet the price" refund, they began giving every excuse in the book, even sending me an empty website with no trips whatsoever on it. I will never book with them again!!! Do your homework when you find a tour and avoid Viator!!!
Response from Host, Sep 2021
I'm am surely happy you had a great time on the tour as that is the most important thing. As for the pricing issue, there are many different types of Grand Canyon Water Tours from Pontoons to up river trips that are substantially less than the White Water. Our pricing has been in line with everyone for 20 years. I hope this solves the mystery Best Randy
Joanna_T, Sep 2021
Riding the rapids was so exciting. Our raft guide made sure we were safe while having maximum fun! The water is quite bracing at first but feels nice an a warm day. Then after lunch it is a calm, slow ride to the pick up area. Bus driver was wonderful too! Just remember there are no restrooms while on the River. The ride to and from the river is very bumpy because of dirt roads. If you get motion sickness take precautions.
Response from Host, Sep 2021
Thank you for taking the time to write a review. It's nice to see all these great reviews as we all know things can sometimes go wrong and we appreciate those who take time and acknowledge the good ones. Best to you and your family.
Randy
pamela-mcg, Aug 2021
Loved every minute, our guide Trent was terrific, knowledgeable, adventurous, expert and funny and made our trip more than we could have imagined. Trent made the rapid's exciting, fun and told us stories of interesting parts of the canyon as we passed. We felt completely safe and loved the cooling off of the water even though we were completely soaked. The waterfall was a highlight too. We would highly recommend this all day tour. The 2nd half floating down stream after lunch could be a bit shorter if there was another place to disembark.
Response from Host, Sep 2021
Thank you for the review. We are always happy to see positive reviews and are glad to see your family had a great time. Hope to see you again soon, Randy
Jessica_J, Jul 2021
The entire experience was AMAZING! Our guide Elias was very nice and handled the Colorado river and it’s rapids with ease. Definitely a “must do” experience!!!
Response from Host, Aug 2021
Very glad you had a great time. Thank you for taking the time to tell us of your experience. I look forward to seeing you all next time.
Randy
Mark_Olbrych, May 2021
Guides were great. Very helpful and nice. Great equipment. Distance a little bit long and flat at mid point.
Response from Host, Jul 2021
sorry it took so long for me to comment on your review. We are proud of our trip and this year has been a trying one on all of us. Demand has skyrocketed and we've been busy. The boats have been pushed hard and they are just getting the maintenance back in control. I appreciate you nice review as we do take pride in what we put out there. I hope to see you all again soon,
Best to you and all of your family,
Cheers,
Randy
Hemini_P, Oct 2020
It was excellent and amazing experience!! Our guide Kevin was knowledgeable and funny and very helpful!! We had lot of fun and i will recommend this tour!!
Jeffrey_W, Jul 2020
Excellent adventure. Well worth the price. Guide was competent, friendly, & made every attempt to accommodate..
Kim_E, Sep 2019
Caution!! Take waiver seriously. While everything went okay on our individual boat, and sights were phenomenal, another boat in our group flipped in the rapids, tossing all occupants and resulting in 2 serious head injuries and life flight. could have been avoided! No helmets are given out, NO instructions as to what to do if you go in. THE MOTOR FAILED on first boat that flipped and another boat the motor simply FELL OFF into rapids. We had to wait for a new motor to be put on our boat before we departed! No radios to communicate between boats. Ripped dry bags for your belongings. Horrible organization of bus rides to and from boats resulting in hour long waits back to your car. A lot of confusion. It was breathtaking, but go in knowing the risks you take. SAFETY was not a priority.
Wesley_B, Sep 2019
I booked this trip for my husband’s 30th birthday! It’s was so much better than we imagined! Tips: you will get wet and be in those wet clothes the whole time (but you also dry quickly)! Bring your camera with extra memory! They provide water the entire day and provide lunch! Wear sunscreen and a protective hat, you are in the sun most of the day! Shorty was our guide and he was amazing! Bring cash to tip your guide!
jbran37, Aug 2019
I was a little apprehensive at first because of the price being a little above what I wanted to spend, but man I'm glad I did it. The action started right away with our van driver taking us down the winding dirt roads that lead to the river at a pretty good clip, I kinda felt bad for the van. As soon as we got on the raft our guides introduced themselves, gave a few pointers, don't fall off, etc... and it was into the rapids right away! The hike to the cave and waterfall was pretty short, but it was fun climbing the rocks to reach the cave. We continued downriver and hit a few more good rapids, then stopped at a scenic point to stretch our legs before having lunch on the river between rapids. Once past the bigger rapids the views kept us in awe and constantly snapping pictures. We opted not to take the helicopter out of the canyon early and stayed on the raft and ended up spotting a small herd of bighorn sheep. I really can't say enough good about our guides, very knowledgeable and friendly. We went in mid August, it was very hot. I highly recommend wearing lots of sun protection, hat, balaclava, long sleeve shirt, and lightweight fast drying pants, sunscreen will get washed off pretty quickly.
Response from Host, Aug 2019
Thank you for that great review. We try very hard to put a smile on everyone's face and I'm glad we did it again here. Your review was thorough and accurate on the day and your tips are very helpful. Thank you again and we hope to see you on another adventure soon. Randy
Stacey_N, Aug 2019
Excellent guides and wonderful experience! Fun enough for the experienced rafter, and not overwhelming for the novice. Breathtaking scenery of the grand canyon from the Colorado. This is an excellent way to raft the Colorado without having to spend multiple days. The visit to the cavern was also very cool. Our guides, Dennis and Evan, were very hospitable, safety conscientious, and planned extra stops along the way to enjoy lunch, more scenery, playing in the water, etc. We saw lots of wildlife on the way to the launch site and also along the river itself. The trip was almost a two for one deal. To get to the raft launch site, we literally went off roading on a >15 mile trip down a dirt / gravel road. To say the least, it was a teeth rattling experience but added to the fun of the trip. Why pay for a separate off road experience when you can get this from booking the rafting trip? The booking agents were also helpful. They will call you the day before to go over everything.
Response from Host, Aug 2019
HI guys, really strive to make sure everyone has that fantastic trip you experienced. I like to speak directly with all the customers prior to going as I like to make sure all the little things are mentioned and you are completely ready for your trip. Sounds like that off roading portion was great as well. That's one thing Arizona and Nevada will never run out of.... off roading locations. Hope to see you again soon. Cheers.
Christopher C, Sep 2017
disappointed thought u actually paddled thru the rapids did not realize it was motorized,lot of money,would not do it again
Patricia H, Aug 2016
We had an amazing time. We plan to do it again sometime. Totally worth the money spent. Our boat driver was Gina, we LOVED her!!
Hazelan J, Jul 2016
This was a trip of a lifetime with my family. It was more than I expected: cliff diving, rock repelling, etc, etc. Joseph our trip leader was the BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!! He was so responsive to our needs and always answered our questions no matter how silly. We loved the whole experience and the helicopter ride was a 1st and only wished that it was longer.
Stephen C, Aug 2015
Fantastic day of adventure for all the family which will stay with us for many years!
EVELYN B, Jul 2015
It as AWESOME!! It was everything we were hoping for and more. I would recommend this trip to anyone looking for a white water rafting trip, I am 63 years old and this trip was FANTASTIC!! I is a trip for all ages.
douglas m, Jun 2015
Beautiful scenery , well organized raft trip. Only drag was not oared raft so they motor through the rapids. Safer while taking away some excitement compared to other raft trips. Great for novices
Evelyn S, Apr 2015
Was a fabulous experience , staff and guides great. A fantastic lunch on the shore and a excellent hike to a water fall. I highly recommend this to everyone.
Nina L, Apr 2015
The drive down to the canyon was spectacular with blooming cacti. I would recommend fast drying clothes and a chnge of clothes at this time of the year. The ride after lunch got chilly for the people in jeans. The ponchos did not bring enough protection. Everthing else was stellar and worth the mone
Mrs k j B, Jan 2015
Was a fabulous experience , staff and guides great, however we still have not recieved our photos which were promised
Martha R, Sep 2014
It was just anazing! Great people n our boat, stopped and learned about the cay onto from our guide. Great trip
Margaret M, Sep 2014
This was an extraordinary day. Just being on the Colorado River IN THE GRAND CANYON is beyond imagining. The ride was fantastic and the vistas incredible and constant. There were 6 people on our raft plus the two river guides--they both were terrific. We did 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 rated rapids, and we were asking for more. This is a wild ride in the rapids and extremely calm between them. You definitely will get completely soaked, and the water is a year-round 45 degrees. Be sure to follow the what-to-wear and what-to-bring guidelines in the tour details. I would do this again and again and again.
Stephen N, Jul 2014
Started with a bang! An hour drive down a very bumpy, narrow road to the river. From there we were met by the rafting staff who were excellent. The morning included navigating the rapids and stopping to travel to a waterfall. Beautiful! The rapids were fun. After lunch, the afternoon was spent sailing along the Colorado River at a leisurely pace enjoying the views of the Grand Canyon. I was with a really good group of people from different countries which made the experience all the more enjoyable. The day ended with a treat as we were airlifted by helicopter out of the canyon. Brilliant! Great day!
Alison S, Jul 2014
This was the best day of our trip. The rapids were amazing we got soaked but we loved it. The canyon was beautiful and our guide was great even pulled over after lunch so we could jump of the cliffs and swim in the river. But to top all that the helicopter ride was spectacular .
Caroline O, Jul 2014
It was a fantastic trip and well worth the money spent.
Andre the guide was brilliant and informative.
Took 2 girls of 13 and 15 they had a ball - rafting before lunch and gentle ride down the river after - stunning.
Tips : wear a swimming costume you get very wet.
Take lots of suncream as v hot in summer
Take change of cloths for end as helicopter does not like you being wet
You have a 2.5 hour drive at the end to get back to lodge but fine if you know and you might have to wait for up to an hour for the bus to get you back after the helicopter ride.- the only down side
The only thing I would say they were a little disorganised at the beginning get the boats on water, but it was fine.
Andreas K, Jul 2014
Great, great, great! Wonder,why I had to become 76 to raft in the Gr.C., to climb ropes to a waterfall, and to even swim(volunterely)for half a mile down the Colorado.
Mischelle T, Jul 2014
My kids and I had the most fantastic day white water rafting down the mighty Colorado River into the Grand Canyon. The Hualapai River Runners have been providing tours for 42 years, and it shows. The large motorized rafts were great, and our guide was young and enthusiastic. There was a delay to the day's start while guides readied the rafts' motors, and also an unexpected lengthy delay on the return drive due to 2 other rafters taking a wrong bus. That said, the white water was great, the picnic lunch was perfect, the bonus stop to view a sky-lit cave and waterfall was awesome, and nothing can compare to the grandeur of the canyon setting. The day exceeded my lofty expectations. What a fantastic adventure!
Elizabeth G, Sep 2013
This was one of the most awesome experience we had on our trip out West. Would recommend highly.
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