We recently came home from a three-day, white-water rafting trip through the Grand Canyon! We chose Western River Expeditions to be our guide. Did we make the right choice? Is Western River Expeditions the right choice for YOU?
Let’s find out…
Why We Chose Western River Expeditions
We didn’t know many people who had taken this trip. Although my aunt rafted the Grand Canyon many years prior to us, she did not have any suggestions for a quality river guide. Thus, I took to the internet!
I watched numerous videos. I read endless reviews. I even made phone calls to talk to the booking agents. Fortunately, they had the patience of Job, and they tolerated my many calls and questions!
It didn’t take me too long to determine that Western River Expeditions would be a great fit for our multi-generational trip.
The National Park Service only permits a limited number of river outfitters to host guided tours each year. To review their list of approved companies, see it HERE.
How and when to book your Western River Expedition
We suggest you take a series of steps through the booking process…
- Determine WHO will be in your travel party. What will their ages be at the time of travel? How many people will be in your group?
- Identify a couple of timeframes, weeks, months, and years, that will work for you and your guests. We suggest late May or September, as the temperatures will be most comfortable.
- Determine how many days you want to be on the river. Are you looking for 3 days or 6 days on the river? All rafters must be 9-years-old or above to enjoy the 3-day experience. All rafters must be 12-years-old or above to embark on the 6 day experience.
- Call your travel agent or call Western River Expeditions to verify availability and make your deposit.
- Final payments are due 90 days prior to embarkation.
Rafting the Grand Canyon is a popular trip. Ideally, you will book your dates two years in advance. However, if you feel the urgent need to set afloat, you may find some space available on a trip that will leave sooner.
Which Western River Expedition is right for you?
Western River Expeditions offers several different choices when it comes to which trip to choose.
3 or 4 Day Trip
If you have little rafters that will be between 9 and 12-years-old, you can choose between the three and four day experience.
The difference between the three and four day trip is simply that the four day trip includes one overnight at Western River’s river-bank ranch. It offers a bit more time to unwind and enjoy the beautiful canyon region.
6 or 7 Day Trip
If everyone in your party will be 12-years-old or older by the embarkation date, you can choose the six or seven day rafting adventure. These options will take you through more of the Grand Canyon and offer you additional sites along the way.
Our thoughts on which trip to take…
We went with the three days. Originally we really wanted to go with the six day experience, be we were glad we started with the three day experience.
One of the biggest reasons that we went with the three day river experience was because of the minimum age requirements. We wanted to invite some of my children’s cousins that were younger than 12-years-old. My daughter also would not yet be 12-years-old during the summer we wanted to raft, so this immediately limited our choices.
The other recommended consideration that I learned through our experience is to take the three or four day trip BEFORE you commit to the six or seven day trip. On the three day trip, you will learn a lot about how best to pack and how best to enjoy your river time. And, if you make any mistakes, your suffering will be short lived.
For insight into my own mistakes and advice, read my article on tips and trips for your best rafting experience.
Getting to the River
Western River Expeditions reserves a block of rooms at the Marriott Hotel in Las Vegas. The shuttle will pick you up from the hotel on the morning of embarkation.
Rafters will be delivered to a small, regional airport, ride tiny planes with epic Hoover Dam views, and arrive at Western River’s riverside ranch. You will have an opportunity to use the restroom, then hustle out to board a five minutes helicopter flight down to the river bank. Yes, it is a whirlwind adventure. Kids LOVE IT!
Your guides and fellow rafters will meet you at the river bank, outfit you with a life vest, and whisk away your belongings.
The guides will offer you the basic rules in comedic style, and you’ll be off onto a big first day on the river!
What types of rapids will you encounter?
Most of the rapids you will encounter are level six and below. The rapids on the Grand Canyon are rated differently than the 1-5 scale of most rivers. However, those level 5 rapids will feel very intense. Prepare to get soaked!
If you are interested in learning more about the rapids on your route, consider purchasing this book:
It is waterproof, and you can take it with you on the river.
The great thing about having kids with you is hearing them learn and debate about the rapids. They quickly start to identify what the different levels of rapids, and it’s so fun to hear their perspectives!
Western River Expedition River Guides
The Western River guides are fantastic. They are funny.  They are engaging. They are accommodating. I couldn’t say anything less about them!
You will likely not experience any sort of a hiccup along the way because you will be so well taken care of!
Food Choices & Preferences
Let’s talk about the food. Food is a big deal to me.
Food Allergies & Specifications
When you make your reservations, you’ll have the opportunity to put any dietary preferences or needs in that reservation.
Western River Expeditions are very willing and able to accommodate various dietary restrictions. So please ensure that your needs are met by having this communication before embarkation day.
Close to your launch date, the company will reach out to you and offer you the menu and the substitutions they have made for you. They handle this thoughtfully and seamlessly. They never make people feel like a burden, even those that require accommodations.
What kinds of foods do Western River Expeditions serve?
It’s actually quite impressive.
The river guides cook full, hot breakfasts and dinners. Lunch is often cold cuts and fruit. Snacks are goodies like nuts, rice krispy treats, and even candy bars!
Breakfasts included foods such as pancakes and sausage. Dinners included steaks and spaghetti.
How much does it cost?
Honestly, guided rafting trips down the Grand Canyon are very expensive. There’s no way around it.
The three day trips are around $1,750 per person. The six day trips start at $3,345 per person. When budgeting, ensure you include round-trip flights to Las Vegas, transportation to and from the Las Vegas Airport, two hotel nights in Las Vegas, hotel baggage handling fees, and tips for the river guides.
It is very, very expensive to take this trip, but, fortunately, when you book it a year or two in advance, you have plenty of time to save up for your final payment!
Was the trip with Western River Expeditions worth the expense?
It was worth it.
It was worth it because…
…we got to raft the Grand Canyon!
…we got to explore the cracks and crevaces of the river banks!
…we got to meet wonderful people!
…we made life-long memories!
It was absolutely, 100% worth the expense!
Would we raft with Western River Expeditions again?
We’ll do it again.
In fact, we have already been researching dates and opportunities. Our next trip will definitely be the six day expedition!
Conclusion: Go book that trip with Western River Expeditions!
We had such a wonderful time, and we are so grateful to everyone at Western River Expeditions. Given how wonderful and flawless the journey was, we have no reason to look elsewhere for our next, epic white water rafting adventure!
