Grand Canyon Expeditions
Grand Canyon Expeditions
5
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Full view
About
Experience areas of Grand Canyon that are only found from the water, explore side canyons that hide emerald pools, hidden waterfalls, beautiful flowers and plants, and wildlife that is just as laid back as you are. Relax and enjoy sleeping under the endless tapestry of stars, eating delicious meals, and letting life on the Colorado River become part of who you are. Grand Canyon Expeditions rafting tours create memories that last a lifetime.Join us on the Colorado River and see what 50 years of rafting the Grand Canyon brings. Our intimate knowledge of the Grand Canyon and its breathtaking geologic features, rich historical sites, and hidden wonders, make your vacation an experience, and not just a Colorado River whitewater trip. During your Grand Canyon rafting experience our guides will take you on tours that include everything from hiking and swimming in side canyons to running class IV whitewater rapids that spray refreshing jets of liquid diamonds into the air.Let our experienced guides show you the wonders of the Grand Canyon on one of our guided raft tours. We also provide special interest trips focusing on the canyon's archeology, ecology, geology, and history. Call us or book online today to book the adventure of a lifetime - a Grand Canyon rafting trip with Grand Canyon Expeditions!
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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5.0
148 reviews
Excellent
138
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4
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Blujeans856
Granite Bay, CA7 contributions
Sep 2020
We just got back from 8 days on the Colorado with Grand Canyon Expeditions. We have been fortunate to travel and vacation all over the world for the past 40 years and without a doubt this trip tops them all. I have a bad back and an ulcerated colon and was concerned about hurting myself while on the trip. Neither ended up being an issue. The guides are experts at what they do and the rapids, while wet and wild and an absolute blast never posed an issue for my back. If you want to get wet, you can choose to sit up front but if you prefer to stay relatively dry, you can sit in the middle where the impact from the rapids is less severe. We never saw any boat that had capsized or had passengers who had gotten thrown out of the boat. The food was absolutely incredible, even for a very picky eater such as me. There were numerous stops to get out and walk around with optional hikes to waterfalls or other equally beautiful locations. The vast majority of the hikes were easy to moderate but a few provided opportunities for individuals to press on further and higher if you wanted. Our trip was from Sept 12-19th and the weather was absolutely perfect. There was no moon the entire time so we could see the MilkyWay each night stretching from the Southern Horizon up across and all the way to the North. No cell phones, no internet, no email... just a great time to re-connect with your loved ones. And yes, the world was still dealing with Covid and yes I was concerned about that. Everyone's temperature was taken every day. You had to wash and sanitize your hands whenever you were around the food or refilling your water bottles. There were 17 people on our trip and no one got sick. We all got along incredibly well and all became great friends. Our guides were Emily and Den. Tony and Alex were their right hand helpers. They clearly knew their stuff. I can't wait to do this trip again!
Written September 24, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Your trip sounded incredible! Thank you for letting us share the magic of the canyon with you.
Written October 9, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Graeme A
Alloa, UK10 contributions
Jul 2022
Just returned from 8 day motorised Grand Canyon rafting trip with Grand Canyon Expeditions, and cannot recommend this company enough. Pre trip information and updates were excellent and inclusion of hotel night in Las Vegas pre and post departure including orientation meeting meant you were fully ready for the fantastic adventure that awaits you. We had Art as our Boatman and Randy as our Swamper, both highly experienced and experts in their field. Art was an oracle on the history and geology of the Canyon, giving us such enlightenment and a true awareness of the beauty and power of nature around us.
GCE kit you out with the best quality gear - wet bags, sleeping cots, tents, sleeping bags and during the trip feed you to the highest of standards. We had Chinese, Italian and even Fillet Steak for dinners, plus cooked breakfast and hearty lunches. They also had great vegetarian and pescatarian options.
This is a trip of a lifetime and a bucket list 'must do’ and Grand Canyon Expeditions GCE are the leaders in providing an adventure you will never forget
GCE kit you out with the best quality gear - wet bags, sleeping cots, tents, sleeping bags and during the trip feed you to the highest of standards. We had Chinese, Italian and even Fillet Steak for dinners, plus cooked breakfast and hearty lunches. They also had great vegetarian and pescatarian options.
This is a trip of a lifetime and a bucket list 'must do’ and Grand Canyon Expeditions GCE are the leaders in providing an adventure you will never forget
Written July 14, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andrew Hadley
2 contributions
Aug 2021
I took my family and father in law on a trip through the Grand Canyon (The Big Ditch) this summer. It was one of the most incredible journeys of my life and to see the look on my kids faces as they experienced wonders they had never witnessed was worth every penny. Trevin and Tabitha were the most fun, knowledgeable, entertaining and experienced guides we could have asked for. Everything about the trip was amazing,
Written September 14, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ArizonaRose58
Tucson43 contributions
Jun 2021
This was a truly wonderful experience. Our 8-day Colorado River rafting trip through the Grand Canyon was an experience of a lifetime, and not for the faint of heart, especially for us "older" adventurers. Grand Canyon Expeditions had fantastic guides, Treven and Adam, who shared so much about the history and geology of the River and Canyon. We ran rapids screaming and also silently floated, amazed at the grandeur of the Canyons and buttes above. We slept under the stars and wondered at the brilliance of the clear night skies. We saw Big Horn Sheep on the canyon ledges and Great Blue Herons along the river shore. All meals were terrific. I felt totally safe and cared for. I would highly recommend GCX for nature lovers and active adventurers.
Written July 4, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Deborah K
Carbondale, CO99 contributions
Oct 2022 • Friends
Be prepared to have great breakfast, lunch dinner and snacks with lots of desserts! Not enough hiking for me to keep from gaining weight with all the great food. The guides really had their system down with the loading, unloading , cooking and clean up every day! Beware of the big oar boats in the back will Buck you in the huge rapids. Some people get a thrill from that but my body has been through to much abuse from athletic endeavors in my life to come out unscathed. The tents were easy to put up and take down and ample sleeping gear for warmth was provided. Although I wish I would have brought my little air sleeping pad as the ‘80’s thin thermal rest was too thin.
Written December 3, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
fkwagn
Sebastopol, CA14 contributions
Jun 2021
What a phenomenal adventure. With 30 years of whitewater experience I was really expecting my first trip on the Grand Canyon to be behind the oars. But when one of my best rafting buddies told me about his experience on a GCX 8 day motorized canyon raft trip, I thought, why not? What a great choice! Absolutely no regrets or complaints what so ever. My wife and I would gladly do this again.
Written June 20, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cathy G
Minneapolis, MN34 contributions
May 2022 • Friends
Just got back from the 8-day motorized trip and it was fabulous. I can’t say enough good things about the trip. In and out of Vegas was very easy; hotel the night before and after to keep the group together. The bus ride included a couple nice stops to get the last few things.
And then time to get in the river. From that point on everything was taken care of by the terrific guides and swampers. The food was delicious - amazing what they can do in those conditions! We had a couple days of windy, sandy days but we soldiered on and were rewarded with perfect days the rest of the week. A great variety of stops to break up the day in the boat. You spend a lot of the day getting splashed if you sit up front but it is so fun in the rapids.
At night in the camps, you get to relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery. Then served a better dinner than most of us make at home including dessert! And sleeping under the star filled night can’t be beat. After a good night’s sleep, you’ll wake to the smell of coffee and breakfast to get you ready for another day. A great week to spend with old friends and make new ones. If you are planning to raft down the Colorado, you should definitely go with GCE!
And then time to get in the river. From that point on everything was taken care of by the terrific guides and swampers. The food was delicious - amazing what they can do in those conditions! We had a couple days of windy, sandy days but we soldiered on and were rewarded with perfect days the rest of the week. A great variety of stops to break up the day in the boat. You spend a lot of the day getting splashed if you sit up front but it is so fun in the rapids.
At night in the camps, you get to relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery. Then served a better dinner than most of us make at home including dessert! And sleeping under the star filled night can’t be beat. After a good night’s sleep, you’ll wake to the smell of coffee and breakfast to get you ready for another day. A great week to spend with old friends and make new ones. If you are planning to raft down the Colorado, you should definitely go with GCE!
Written May 17, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ben W
3 contributions
Jul 2024 • Friends
What a great experience! 8 magical days rafting through the canyon with the best boatman and guide Adam Mathis and his swamper Orion, who were attentive, funny, skilled and hard working (def reccomend them if u get a choice). It’s a tough journey, but the team was great in preparing us, keeping us safe, and facilitating a once in a lifetime journey. (The food was great too and the company is LGBTQ+ friendly.)
Written July 16, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lyn L
Perth, Australia258 contributions
Jul 2022
Fantastic, awesome, amazing, unforgettable and every other positive. I have had some amazing adventures, and this one is up there with the best. I posted a review after my trip and recently Googled Grand Canyon Expeditions to show a friend who would love this trip. Everything is first class. We all met at our Hotel in Las Vegas and travelled by coach to the put in. There the rafts are inflated and stores stowed aboard and it is the start of an experience you will never forget. Sleeping on your mat under the starry, starry sky like you've probably never seen before. They provide amazing meals and you will not go hungry. Every day you learn about the canyon and the exploits of John Wesley Powell. You will walk to waterfalls, see the canyon from a high point and the thrill of those rapids. I could write pages and pages about how wonderful this trip is. To be honest I have to admit the memories, that will last my lifetime, bring me to tears it was so magical and wonderful. DO IT!!! Unfortunately the website does not allow me to put the correct date. It was more than 5 years ago
Written September 4, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
seasonit
Denver, CO75 contributions
Jul 2022
My sister and I planned an all women's trip with Grand Canyon Expeditions. We did the 8 day motorized raft trip, 2 boats. We also requested only women guides, and they were able to honor this request. This company is AMAZING! our guides were AMAZING! Den, Hannah, Kristin & Alex were so fun, knowledgeable and fantastic, we couldn't have asked for better Boatmen & Swampers! Nan in the office was so helpful and patient while we asked questions before the trip. We had planned this in 2019 for 2020 and couldn't do it..like everything else "cause of covid". GCEX was easy to work with to move to 2022. The food was delicious, the tents super easy to put up and of course the Grand Canyon...well, words will never describe our time on the river. The hotel they put you up in is great as well. Clean rooms and super nice employees, from the front desk to the people who clean your room, to the people who take care of the breakfast. Look not further if you are thinking of doing this. This company and guides are the way to go!
Written August 22, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The general rule at all times is you pee in the river and use the "groover" for the rest (the metal box toilet with a toilet sear). Due to lack of rain, urine remains and fouls the campsites. As everything has to be packed out, you're asked to minimize what goes in the groover. At night GCEX gave us a small blue bucket to avoid potentially dangerous rips to the water's edge in the dark (and it REALLY can get dark at times). In the morning the bucket gets dumped it in the river and rinsed with a bleach solution - a lifesaver for older guys like me! During the day it's men downriver and women upriver (or vice versa). Many people have sarongs which help for privacy and everyone does their best to respect everyone else. After a few days everyone pretty much gets acclimated.
Written June 21, 2021
Hi, We are booked to go in early June.
I'm concerned about sleeping LoL
Is there padding for the cots?
do I need to bring or can I bring a therma rest?
I have a trekking back pack..... are we allowed a pack per person? or a couple stuff sax?
thank you
Written April 10, 2021
The cots are actually quite comfy. You also get a sleeping bag which you likey won't need in June . My first trip was in May and definitely needed it a few nights but the next one was in mid June and never even pitched the tent. On that trip I slept on top of the bag except a few nights when I needed to hide from the tamarisk beetles (mostly at the top end of the canyon).
Written May 26, 2021
Allison Carlin
Salt Lake City, Utah
Absolutely! We have guests come solo all of the time. Our reservation specialists can tell you which dates have more solo passengers if that's of interest to you as well.
Written October 9, 2020
Considering rafting trip with GCE but have a fear of the raft capsizing as although I can swim I would be out of my comfort zone in a fast flowing river. We are tow 60 year old's who have hiked from the South Kaibab Trail and Bright Angel and it is my hubby's dream to raft down the river. Any advice on which month is best and safety etc would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Written August 17, 2019
Grand Canyon Expeditions safety record is by far the best on the river and although anything is possible, if you go on the motorized 8 night trip, it is highly unlikely you would have a problem. Go early May, that is when I did, and by the way, I am a 65 year old female. It is a trip of a lifetime!!!
Written August 18, 2019
Mintx17,
Thank you for the review posted. Did anyone ever feel bored on the raft b/c spending 8 days on the raft/river is not a short trip. Was there side hike everyday? How did you all being kept entertained?
Look forward to hearing from you soon.
Written September 11, 2018
Sorry I’m just seeing this. We were never bored. There were hikes to slot canyons, water falls etc. the guides had activities (hulla hoops, Kub, water guns). The guides were also interactive with all
The guests as well as informative
Written July 26, 2019
How was the water? What kind of water bottle is best? Do I need a filtered bottle? I am kind of picky about water taste.
Written August 5, 2018
A durable plastic water bottle like Nalgene or something that can be dropped would be good. I brought two- one for water and one for afternoon cold coffee/tea (or in case one got lost). Many people had the tin can kind of water bottles. Personally, I don't like the metal taste with the can water jugs.
It will help to be able to attach a carabiner to it so you don't lose it in the rapids if you forget to tuck it away.
The team filters the water from the river everyday. I drank over a gallon a day and never got sick or an upset stomach so you should not have to bring your own bottle filtration system. But, if you are picky with water tastes, then maybe you should bring a filtered bottle. I've never used those (filtered-types) so I cannot recommend a brand- sorry!
Have a wonderful time! :-)
P.S. On my trip GCEX also supplied La Croix canned water. But, I don't know if that is a norm.
Written August 7, 2018
I get motion sickness in cars, trains and motorboats. I’d like to hear from GCE participants who also get motion sickness. How did you fare?
Written July 9, 2018
no one got seasick on the trip. the boat is long and wide - it easily handled the river without bouncing back and forth.
Written July 30, 2018
we like to hike - is there any hiking - although not intense - as opposed to just riding? thanks
Written February 5, 2018
Indeed there is. Actually there is as much hiking as rafting. Day to day it varies a lot depending how many miles they want to make that day. Some of the hikes can be challenging. Our group was primarily 50+ and most everyone made every hike although a few hung back at times. Personally, I found the hikes as interesting as the river time as you get to see so much that isn't visible form the river..
Written February 9, 2018
How for does a person need to be to enjoy? How much will a bad back and bad knees affect this trip if a lifetime? I know that hiking very far is out of the question for my husband, but hoping that rafting is not a factor.
Written June 23, 2017
There is a strap to step on to get on and off the raft but you will still need to able to roll onto the deck from the strap if you can't step up. The bad back may be an issue as you are sitting for extended periods in not always ergonomically perfect seats. One woman on our trip had a life history of back problems and she was not always comfortable but still enjoyed the trip. Bad knees may limit your hiking but you don't have to go any farther on hikes than you are comfortable--or even leave the raft if you don't want to. The geology/scenery from the river is spectacular enough to make the trip worth it. The hikes add to it for sure but are not necessary.
Written June 25, 2017
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