Guest Reviews

Five Stars in Every Way Wow, wow, wow. I just returned from the 7-day motor trip with GCW over Memorial Day weekend and the trip exceeded every expectation.

The team does a great job providing info on their site on what to expect on the trip, but I thought I’d share my experience as well in case it’s helpful.

Our guides, Teddy and Paige, were outstanding—always preparing us for what was ahead each day, prioritizing safety, sharing the history and geology of the canyon and knowing when to simply let the beauty of the Grand Canyon speak for itself.

The food was fresh and spectacular: salmon, lasagna, fajitas, pork chops, excellent coffee, and dessert every night. Snacks were available throughout the day from apples to Oreos, Pringles, Snickers, granola bars, and more, and there was always plenty to go around. Everyone also received an insulated mug to use for drinks or snacks.

I was particularly drawn to this company for their style of motor boats. With only seven passengers per side, everyone could face outward toward the canyon, had plenty of personal space, and could easily access their gear throughout the day.

The campgrounds were fantastic and even as a solo traveler, I had no trouble finding a little privacy each night.

A typical day for our group started with coffee at 5AM, breakfast at 6AM, boat loading around 6:45AM and then on the river by 7AM. We'd spend the day exploring side canyons, hiking (usually 1–2 hikes per day with options for shorter or longer routes depending on preference), and running rapids before arriving at camp in the afternoon around 3 or 4PM. Little Colorado and Havasu Creek were a true highlight.

If you're considering a Grand Canyon rafting trip, don’t hesitate to book with GCW who have this experience down to a science. It truly is a trip of a lifetime and the camaraderie you’ll experience with your fellow rafters is amazing. I’m grateful for companies like GCW who are committed to helping people respectfully experience such a beautiful place. Book it, it’s worth every single penny.

Pro tips: Bring neoprene socks and gloves to give you a little extra warmth in the morning and sun protection throughout the day. A small towel or sarong you can dip into the water is also a great way to cool down during the day.

Grand Canyon Whitewater River Rafting Our experience with Grand Canyon Whitewater was absolutely fantastic. From beginning to end, we were treated as active participants in a magnificent adventure through a truly awe inspiring place, the Grand Canyon. Our guides educated us with historical and scientific details as well as showing us, the places they have found to be both stunningly beautiful and fragile environmental treasures. Our guides, Rachel, Page, Gabe and Maya were so helpful, kind and understanding with each guests needs. This created a family of adventurers from the start and made this trip fantastic for everyone.

Meals were incredible and varied. It was truly amazing how the guides worked seamlessly in preparation and breakdown of every meal! Absolutely fantastic and delicious!!

Rachel and Page navigated the river and its' rapids impeccably! Gabe was knowledgeable and caring and insured that each guest was comfortable and safe. Each guide shared their awareness of the magnificence of the canyon and our responsibility to insure its protection. Maya, our intern, jumped into this experience like she was born into it!!! All guides shared their experiences and knowledge of the canyon with care and sense of awe. This was a stellar experience and one everyone should should experience in their lifetime!

Wet and Wild on the river with Johnny. I have been to the Grand Canyon many many times. I’ve hiked in and out, rode mules ou, stayed a phantom ranch, I’ve been all over both rims and camped everywhere around the canyon. This rafting trip was like none of those experiences. I’ve been white water rafting so I knew what to expect.
I had a blast! I slept like a baby, worked hard to load and unload, and had a poo with a view every day.
The scenery between those walls is ever changing.
It’s truly magnificent. The river water was cold and the sun was warm. A beautiful balance. The crew of four were all young, strong, experienced and friendly. Johnny the main guide handled things with a cool head and a professionalism that made me at feel at ease. Bryce and Savanah were a cute couple that clearly loved what they do. Tyler a friend of theirs worked so hard you’d think he was a paid employee. At the end of each day they took well deserved time for themselves before cooking our dinner. They read stories, told jokes and wore silly clothes sometimes. They led hikes and talked about the rivers history geography, and some folklore.
They meals were delicious and made with quality ingredients every day. There was tons of healthy and junky snacks available anytime. You won’t go hungry. There is always some patience required when traveling, working beside and camping with 24 strangers but for me it was all good. The hikes were not easy, the loading and unloading was heavy at times but the satisfaction of a job well done was worth the effort. I think the trip was well worth the money. I would get wet and wild on the river with Johnny anytime!

Bucket List trip exceeds all expectations The entire experience exceeded expectations; the quality and setup of the boat (back support all day!!), the guides, the food, the camp site locations, the number of big horn sheep spotted, and the depth and variety of the rock walls to been seen down in the canyon. Our guides and cooks, Rachel, Paige, Gabe and Mya were exceptional hosts, taking care of us both in the boat and at the campsites and hike outings. Highly recommended experience!!

Incredible Grand Canyon Whitewater 7 day hiker’s special oar trip with hike out on the Bright Angel Trail 4-30-26 - 5-6-26This was our first trip to the Grand Canyon and my husband and I can’t say enough good things about it. From the inception of the idea, to the reservation experience, and then the actual trip—All positive thoughts.It is beyond fantastic the way everything worked on the trip—from the orientation before putting in the water, to the drop off at the Bright Angel for the hike out.All the guides were knowledgeable, personable, fun, and did their jobs with expertise and our every need in mind. There wasn’t anything they could have done better. And the food! Wow. It’s unbelievable how they could provide us with so many delicious, fresh meals. The only thing that could have been better for me personally, is to have had more than veggie burgers to substitutes when the others ate steak or other red meat, etc. Three meals of veggie burgers was a bit much. Maybe they could have thrown in a chicken breast or fish for those of us who don’t eat red meat. But we did enjoy a delicious salmon dinner one night and the rest of the food was heathy and delicious; and more than sufficient in amount.Grand Canyon Whitewater has thought of everything to make this a trip of a lifetime. The experience was otherworldly, and the guides provided us with everything (and I mean everything) we could have wanted, including humor, providing information, and making us feel a part of the group. We had so much fun. Plus we have a whole lot of new friends from the trip.Well done, Grand Canyon Whitewater. Thank you.We want to come back again next year and do the 15 day hikers special.Susie and Greg

We had an absolutely incredible experience with Grand Canyon White Water! From start to finish, everything was exceptionally organized, professional, and memorable. The guides (Bryce, Troy, Sam & James) were knowledgeable, fun, and made us feel completely safe while also making the trip exciting and unforgettable.The scenery was beyond breathtaking — seeing the Grand Canyon from the river gives you a completely different appreciation for its beauty and scale. Every part of the experience felt thoughtfully planned, and the staff went above and beyond to make sure everyone had a great time.This was truly a bucket-list adventure for my husband and I and one we will be talking about for years. Highly recommend!

The entire trip was planned and executed exceptionally by our guides. This was a 7-day rafting trip and there were lots of side activities (hikes, scrambles, swimming) to do along the way. The crew (Rachel, Paige, Gabe, Mya) were very attentive, prepared really great food, and allowed us to experience a lot of what the Canyon has to offer. The sights and stories were incredible and the rapids were a lot of fun. It was nice to see how well our group (~30) got along in such a short time. The provided equipment was in good shape and was better than expected - never have I thought a cot was comfortable to sleep on but this one was.Some things to keep in mind-The water is cold. If you want to be warm all the time it will be challenging. Even with the blazing sun, many spots on the canyon provide shade so you will get cold.-Position in the boat changes the above quite a bit. Sitting near the back lets you stay mostly dry. It will be hot during some longer boating only sections.-Sand is going to get everywhere. You have to accept it. You can spend 10 minutes meticulously cleaning your feet at night to lotion up and it will still feel gritty.-You will be sleeping in close quarters with others. Not touching but a few feet away and chances are you won't be sleeping in a tent. Tents make it warmer and the breeze really helps stay cool at night. Plus the nighttime stars are awesome.-You do help assemble/disassemble camp each day. It is not hard work as long as everyone participates.-Pack lighter than you expect. Your clothes are not going to feel dirty with how often you are getting in the river from rafting, to cool off, or swimming. Clean socks/underwear each day is nice but everything else is multi-day use. Baby wipes are a great way to clean off.

Excellent experience The entire trip was planned and executed exceptionally by our guides. This was a 7-day rafting trip and there were lots of side activities (hikes, scrambles, swimming) to do along the way. The crew (Rachel, Paige, Gabe, Mya) were very attentive, prepared really great food, and allowed us to experience a lot of what the Canyon has to offer. The sights and stories were incredible and the rapids were a lot of fun. It was nice to see how well our group (~30) got along in such a short time. The provided equipment was in good shape and was better than expected - never have I thought a cot was comfortable to sleep on but this one was.

Some things to keep in mind
-The water is cold. If you want to be warm all the time it will be challenging. Even with the blazing sun, many spots on the canyon provide shade so you will get cold.
-Position in the boat changes the above quite a bit. Sitting near the back lets you stay mostly dry. It will be hot during some longer boating only sections.
-Sand is going to get everywhere. You have to accept it. You can spend 10 minutes meticulously cleaning your feet at night to lotion up and it will still feel gritty.
-You will be sleeping in close quarters with others. Not touching but a few feet away and chances are you won't be sleeping in a tent. Tents make it warmer and the breeze really helps stay cool at night. Plus the nighttime stars are awesome.
-You do help assemble/disassemble camp each day. It is not hard work as long as everyone participates.
-Pack lighter than you expect. Your clothes are not going to feel dirty with how often you are getting in the river from rafting, to cool off, or swimming. Clean socks/underwear each day is nice but everything else is multi-day use. Baby wipes are a great way to clean off.

Bucket List We had an absolutely incredible experience with Grand Canyon Whitewater! From start to finish, everything was exceptionally organized, professional, and memorable. The guides (Bryce, Troy, Sam & James) were knowledgeable, fun, and made us feel completely safe while also making the trip exciting and unforgettable.

The scenery was beyond breathtaking — seeing the Grand Canyon from the river gives you a completely different appreciation for its beauty and scale. Every part of the experience felt thoughtfully planned, and the staff went above and beyond to make sure everyone had a great time.

This was truly a bucket-list adventure for my husband and I, and one we will be talking about for years. Highly recommend!

One of the coolest and best vacations we've ever been on. Grand Canyon Whitewater was an awsome trip! Fantastic scenery, food guides, hiking all first rate.
Sure it's camping but it's totally worth it!

The best way to explore, appreciate, and experience the Grand Canyon!

Amazing experience in the most beautiful place, with the best guides you could ask for! I did the upper canyon 5 day rafting "hiker's special" with hike out at Bright Angel. The boatmen navigated the rapids so perfectly -- they made some very technical boating look easy! And WOW what luxuries to have in such extreme wilderness -- fresh cooked meals, music... they even baked a cake! Communication before the trip was very clear, and the guides set a vibe that couldn't be beat. 10/10 recommend!Also... they have extra guides to make sure you make the hike out ok which I really appreciated. I took my time so as not to overdo it in the heat and enjoyed a nice walk with the best views imaginable and some great conversations.