Go Grand Canyon Rafting This Labor Day Weekend
Labor Day is on Sept 2nd, and it is fast approaching.So if you want to spend it on a fun one-day rafting trip in the Grand Canyon, you had better book your trip now.
A Busy Holiday Weekend
This year the holiday falls on a Monday, meaning most of us will be able to enjoy a three-day weekend-an extra bonus I always look forward to! But Labor Day weekend (whether it's two-day or three-day) is always one of the Park's busiest times of the year.
I'm strongly urging folks to book their Labor Day float trips at least a week before the weekend begins. If you are lucky, you might still be able to get a seat 72 hours ahead of time, but it is a big risk to wait.
Just because the Grand Canyon rafting tours sell out over the holiday weekend, it doesn't mean you can't get a discount on the price. You will find some nice deals online that save you as much as 20 percent of retail price.
Buy Your Seats From The Tour Company
What's the trick? Well, I never use any of the big travel broker sites to book my tours. Go straight to the tour operator's website instead. The tour companies own and operate the tours. So they can offer you special discounts unmatched by middlemen.
One-Day Raft Trips
Most of the raft tours last all day so they start about seven in the morning. Tours leave from Tusayan, Arizona (just outside the South Rim's main gates) and Las Vegas-your choice.
If you leave from Tusayan, you have a couple of tours to choose from. The standard tour begins with a motor coach ride to Glen Canyon Dam, there you get on your 19-passenger pontoon raft and set off on a fun 15 mile trek down the Colorado River. The river portion ends at historic Lee's Ferry.
More "deluxe" Tusayan rafting trips start with a plane flight to Page, Arizona. That's where you'll board a Jeep for an off-road trip to the "Slot Canyons" in Antelope Canyon. After that, you head over to Glen Canyon Dam and continue the rest of your tour, which is just like the standard tour mentioned earlier. No matter which version you choose, you will ride back to Tusayan in a motor coach.
Vegas one-day float trips begin with an exciting chopper flight to the canyon bottom at the West Rim. Then you are given a half an hour to explore the region by foot. Then you hop on a motor coach and head for the Hoover Dam where you will begin the rafting portion of your tour, which takes you eleven miles down river to Willow Beach.
Smooth-Water Rafting
None of these float trips involve any whitewater , they're all smooth-water experiences that active seniors and kids as young as four can enjoy. That makes them ideal for family fun. It is easy to see why these tours are so popular.
Everything Is Included
Everything is included in your tour such as your lunch, gear, Park fees, taxes, and a tour guide. I suggest wearing a long-sleeved shirt, shorts, sunglasses, a hat and running shoes or river sandals. Be sure to wear something that is okay to get wet. Don't forget your sunscreen and bring along extra water. It's not a bad idea to bring along extra clothes so you can change into something dry at the end of your tour.
Labor Day weekend is a fantastic time for taking raft tours of the Grand Canyon. You will make great memories and have a lot of fun!
About the Author
Travel writer T. Delvecchio is an expert on 1-day rafting tours at the Grand Canyon. If you're looking for discounts on these terrific trips, start here: http://www.grandcanyondaytrips.com/rafting-tours
Tell others about
this page:
Comments? Questions? Email Here