Guest Reviews

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.

Excellent experience, amazing crew Great trip, with the best crew I can imagine! GCW did an excellent job preparing me for the trip, and the experience was out of this world. Not only was I in one of the most amazing places in the world, I was eating fresh cooked meals and being treated to more comfortable accommodations that I would have imagined for such a remote trip. There was music and laughter and an overall great vibe thanks to the trip leader and the rest of the crew.

I did the 5 day motor trip "hiker's special" with hike out. The hike out is a lot but totally manageable and they even provide support crew for that portion! GCW really has a system in place to make sure everything about the trip is fun, comfortable, and safe. The price seemed VERY reasonable for what you get on this trip! Loved it so much, and hope to be back next year for the lower canyon.

Visiting the Grand Canyon by raft should be on everyone’s bucket list; it was hands-down one of the best trips of my life, and this outfitter is outstanding.The crew was absolutely exceptional. They guided, cooked incredible meals, ran massive rapids with total confidence, led fascinating side hikes, and kept every one of us safe the entire time. I loved the hiking almost as much as the whitewater itself.The food was phenomenal, especially considering everything is packed in on the rafts. Fresh, delicious, and plentiful every single day. I personally enjoyed the more recent human history along the river (the old mining camps, outlaw stories, early river runners) even more than the geology lessons and endless dates and names, but there’s something for everyone. A few practical tips for future guests: In summer you really only need a rain jacket. One fellow rafter nailed it: “Bring twice the beer and half the clothes.” As an electronics engineer, I can confirm a simple lanyard for your phone is plenty. A little splashing won’t hurt it. In fact, 2–3 phones overheated on our trip because they were sealed in thick “waterproof” pouches with no airflow; keep it simple and let it breathe. If you’re even thinking about a Grand Canyon rafting trip, just book it. You won’t regret it.

Best trip ever Best crew,great food,sleeping under the stars,overall a 10 like some of the best whitewater I have ever been on!!!

Trip of a lifetime. This is a trip that can change your perspective, appreciation, and outlook on life in the most positive way depending on which window you choose to look through. More than ever it is important to get in touch with nature on a more personal level. A multi day raft trip through Grand Canyon can do just that. There is no cell phone coverage, no outside distractions, only the natural beauty and light of a sunrise, sunset, the relaxing sound of the river making its way to the sea or the brilliance of the Milky Way at night. "I don't know anything with certainty but the sight of stars makes me dream.

Trip of a LIfetime! From the first time we got on the raft until we got off, it was wonderful. Excellent guides and the camping, food and activities were non stop. Follow the packing list and you will be prepared!

I took this trip with my sister.

A fantastic lifetime experience The 8-day trip we took with Grand Canyon Whitewater was absolutely spectacular! Our guides were skilled raft operators, knowledgable about the Grand Canyon and great cooks. They were completely organized and prepared, anticipateling all of the needs of our expedition. It was the experience of a lifetime.

life changing I had my third trip to the Colorado River with Grand Canyon Whitewater this past summer. I have to say it is life changing and the memories of my happy place are what sustain me through any difficult times. I was a volunteer for Ability 360. The guides were amazing providing support to all the participants that made any complicated issues simple and fun!!

* Eight Day Grand Canyon Trip The knowledge of the guides was insightful. It made the trip more meaningful. Truely enjoyed the side trips into the canyon. I was surprised at the quality of the food. I packed as recommended however it was too much stuff. I met some wonderful people.

Grand Canyon Whitewater Fall Hikers Special This is a great trip because it is done in October when no motor trips are allowed on the river. The canyon is quieter, the days are shorter, and the temperatures more moderate, but usually the weather is nice, with high temps in the 80's. Because it is the last trip that GCW does each year, the company treats it partly as a reward to the guides after a long season on the river. On this trip, instead off six rafts to carry 24 guests, plus two gear rafts, we had 8 passenger rafts and one gear boat, with only 19 passengers - a guide to guest ratio of 2.11 instead of the 3 to 1 ratio more conducive to making money. The trip is more relaxed, the food is awesome, and with 15 days there is more time to do hikes in the beautiful side canyons. Most people think that running the Colorado river through the Grand Canyon is all about the big rapids; although that is true to some extent, the fall trip is typically run at lower water, so the rapids aren't as big as in mid-summer when more water is released from the Glen Canyon dam to create power for hungry air-conditioners. For me, the side canyon hikes are the biggest draw in this fall trip. The days being shorter means that hikes taken in the afternoon see lower angled sun. Instead of direct sunlight as is the case at mid-day in June, when the lightning is too bright and flat, October trips provide softer and more beautiful reflected light, not only in the main canyon but especially in the side canyons, making for beautiful photography opportunities. I'm not a professional photographer but I am an avid photographer: I usually carry a DSLR and a long lens for catching wildlife shots, plus an iPhone and a go pro for catching people and videoing rapids.

I have been on 6 trips with Grand Canyon Whitewater and 1 with their sister company, Arizona River Runners. All of them were oar trips, and 5 of them were this end-of-season Hiker's special. the quiet, the great food, the hikes, the relaxed atmosphere, the nicer temperatures, all make for a superb family trip, a great trip with a friend for two, or even a solo trip. You make friends on these trips, believe me!

I could go on and on (I already have!) but I will end this here with a hearty recommendation to try a GCW fall trip. I fully recommend it.

Fun on Grand Canyon Whitewater Trip Relaxing and fun trip down the Colorado River to enjoy the scenery of the canyons. The meal service and the sleeping cot provided were very good. We especically enjoyed the daily short hike to the swimming hole or waterfalls.