subject: The Grand Canyon: Best 1-day Smooth-water Float Trips [print this page] Grand Canyon National Park is certainly a lovely place. It is in the state of Arizona and consists of about 277 miles of wilderness. A lot of people visit it annually for the splendor and stress-free setting. In the Colorado River, which splits the canyon, people engage in smooth-water rafting. Truth be told, these float trips are so popular that many regard them to be the best one-day activity that you can do while seeing the South Rim.
These rafting trips run from March through November. They depart from Grand Canyon Airport in Tusayan, a small town that is situated minutes from the front gates of the main entrance. Do not mistake these smooth-water excursions with the more dangerous white-water rafting expeditions. You will not experience any rough water during float trips.
Make certain to reserve your rafting tour ahead of time as these trips have become very popular. I typically recommend reserving them a week or two in advance. Its not surprising to meet up with a traveler whos arranged their seats a year in advance. A part of the issue here are the motorized rubber pontoon boats - they accommodate only 19 people.
Rates for these tours aren't horribly expensive. Of course, each tour owner will set his or her rates accordingly. However,plan to pay around a couple hundred dollars for the most basic packages, which generally include Park charges, a meal, bottled water, river guide and bus transportation from the airport complex to Glen Canyon Dam (the starting place for all smooth-water trips) and back.
Lots of vacationers select the package that includes a plane trip to Page, Arizona, and a Jeep excursion to Antelope Canyon, which is legendary for its slot canyons, before rejoining the rest of the group for the river tour. If you have the funds, book this particular one. The airborne views are breathtaking and the Antelope side-trip is off the charts.
There's so much wildlife to see while you are on this style of adventure. It is extremely memorable especially if you go with family (kids as young as four years of age can do this trip). You can take pictures and keep it in a journal and album forever. What a memento that'll be. I know from personal experience that I still chat about floating past Horseshoe Bend.
There are no requirements to put on a life vest but I advise you error on the side of caution. Other things to carry along include a hat, sunglasses, a light-weight long-sleeved shirt, sport sandals, sunscreen, Chap Stick, salty snacks and bottled water. I also suggest preparing a dry bag with an additional set of clothes. The bus ride back is around two hours and you'll want to be dry and comfortable.
In addition to booking your trip in advance, I strongly suggest you reserve your seats using the web. It nearly goes without saying these days that the best rafting deals are on the net, and float tours are no different. Beware that the incredible bargains you see on the internet are Internet-only discounts. If you don't finish your transaction on the web page, youll wind up having to pay full list price. Not a good thing, especially when you can utilize the savings to buy impressive Native American crafts at the Cameron Trading Post on the return part of your journey.
