Design your Own Grand Canyon Rafting Trip
Exploring the wonders of the Grand Canyon while floating down the majestic Colorado River is not your run-of-the-mill white water rafting trip. Dwarfed by mile-high canyon walls, river runners can take in the hidden beauty of the canyon, an opportunity not afforded to other tourists. Experienced tour guides know that each trip is unique already but due to limitations of staffing and equipment, they may be unable to accommodate special requests or group needs. Fortunately, there are a few outfitters that can work around special wants and needs and will create customized trips for groups that give the guides enough advance notification.
Most Colorado River rafting expeditions last between three and fourteen days and utilize either motorized or oar-driven rafts. A motorized trip can cover the full 188 miles of the Colorado River's run through the Grand Canyon in as little as seven days. Those who prefer oar-powered trips will spend fourteen days covering the full length of the canyon.
Typical days on the river include some rafting, some hiking, and stops for lunches and rest breaks. Trips start early in the morning with a great breakfast, and usually end early in the evening when most are ready to retire for the evening. Most outfitters offer assorted trips; some focus more on hiking or archaeology while others allow more time for animal watching or exploring the canyon's flora. Along with all the options available there are still those who, for many reasons, may want or need to design different itineraries specifically for their trip.
The Grand Canyon was, at one time, home to indigenous tribes. In parts of the canyon there are great archaeological sites, hikes, caves and even digs that some groups might like to explore. Such a hiking-intensive trip would require all participants to be quite physically fit and able to handle the very hot weather that is common in the canyon during the late spring and summer months. However, there are guides with the knowledge and experience necessary to lead such an excursion.
While many people tend to believe that a Colorado River rafting trip would require all participants to be physically fit, this is no longer true. Yes, hiking requires fitness, but there are excursions that can be designed to accommodate the elderly and disabled. It is even possible to plan something as large as a family reunion, with a group spanning a wide age and fitness range. The outfitter will likely require a bigger staff to accompany a diverse party such as this, but it can be done.
A Grand Canyon rafting trip is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. By customizing a trip to suit the needs of your party, you can make sure the expedition delivers for everyone coming along for the ride.
About the Author
Stephen Daniels is an acclaimed http://netbiz.com internet marketing strategist. If you are interested in hiking the Grand Canyon or rafting down the Colorado River, he highly recommends you look to the guides at http://www.hatchriverexpeditions.com/ . Their guides promise to educate and entertain you.
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