Wild Canyons and Rafting Road Trip
About Grand Canyon Guru Custom Tours
This itinerary was designed by our destination experts to inspire your canyon country adventure. Here at Grand Canyon Guru, we’ve never designed the same trip twice because we handcraft every itinerary to create a once in a lifetime adventure. We love the wild canyons of the American Southwest and want to share that with every client we work with by offering the highest quality lodging, unique tours, exclusive access, the best local guides, and professional support for every tour we design. Most people only get the chance to do a trip like this once in a lifetime, so our trips focus on the best experience possible for the time and money you’re investing, rather than the least expensive. We will take care of all the details so you all you need to do is show up and enjoy your trip.
Tour Overview
- 5-Days w/Lodging, Transportation and Tours
- Flagstaff to Flagstaff
- Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend Rafting, Wupatki, Sunset Crater
- Rafting, Hiking, Mule Ride, Slot Canyon Tour
- Customized Itinerary and professional support
- From $2,075 per person based on double occupancy
Tour Highlights
- Kick of your trip in Flagstaff, AZ and enjoy a scenic trip to Grand Canyon’s South Rim that offers incredible mountain, forest, and desert views along the way.
- Take advantage of your in-park lodging by easily walking to epic canyon views and exploring charming Grand Canyon Village which is home to restaurants, bars, shops, and visitor centers, all within site of the largest canyon in the world.
- Set out on one of visitor’s favorite canyon adventures, a guided mule ride, and see a new part of the canyon. Your guide will expertly lead you along the canyon’s rim to memorable photo ops and teach you about the canyon along the way.
- Go beyond Grand Canyon to explore other parts of the Colorado Plateau. A scenic flight takes you over to Page, AZ where you will embark on a guided trip through the southwest’s most famous slot canyon, Antelope Canyon. Next you will head to a Colorado River smooth water float trip that takes you through the famous Horseshoe Bend.
- Explore the rest of the South Rim on a road trip along Desert View Drive to see many unique overlooks and climb the stunning Desert View Watchtower.
- Stop at two national monuments to learn more about the area’s indigenous people and volcanic past.
- Explore the charming mountain town of Flagstaff, AZ and walk through the historic downtown to indulge in great food and drinks, and maybe even walk the Brewery Trail.
- Enjoy an easy departure home from the conveniently located and easy to navigate Flagstaff Airport.
Tour Itinerary Details
Day 1: Flagstaff to Grand Canyon
Your adventure begins from the moment you touch down in the scenic mountain town of Flagstaff, AZ. You will enjoy every minute of the stunning drive up to Grand Canyon that takes you through ponderosa pines forests, aspen groves, and iconic western sagebrush landscapes. Head into the national park where you will enjoy convenient lodging that is only a few minutes' walk away from your first awesome South Rim views and an easy stroll through historic Grand Canyon Village. You can explore as much as you like of the historic buildings and take advantage of the many rim-front restaurants and bars for a meal with a view you won’t forget.
Day 2: Grand Canyon Mule Ride
Enjoy a tasty brunch at El Tovar hotel before hitting the trail for today’s adventure. You’ll begin by meeting one of Grand Canyon’s most beloved residents, its mules. Gear up and get comfy on your mule so you can sit back and enjoy the canyon vistas and endless photo ops along your journey. Your guide will expertly take you right along the canyon rim, so you won’t miss a moment of the views and will teach you about how the canyon formed, its indigenous people, and its unique wildlife. Return to the mule barn, give your mule one last pat, and then head wherever you would like on the South Rim to wrap up your day. Opt into a canyon hike, a decadent meal, or an unforgettable sunset along Hermit Road for an evening to remember.
Day 3: Canyon River Adventure
Explore Grand Canyon from a whole new perspective as you fly to Page, AZ to see the canyon from the water on a smooth water rafting adventure. Take off from Grand Canyon Airport for a scenic and easy flight to Page which takes you over the spectacular colors of the Painted Desert and Horseshoe Bend on the way. From Page, you will explore Lower Antelope Canyon with a Navajo guide who will share the canyon’s unique story and most photogenic spots. Next up, you will board river rafts to adventure down the Colorado River on a flatwater float trip. Gaze far up at the canyon walls above as you enjoy this relaxing float that includes stops at ancient Native American pictographs, a catered beachside lunch, and ends at Lees Ferry. From there a comfortable coach bus will take you back to your South Rim lodging via the Cameron Trading Post, a southwest shopping destination for authentic Native American jewelry, pottery, rugs, and more.
Day 4: Grand Canyon to Flagstaff
Today’s adventure begins with a road trip along scenic Desert View Drive where you will be able to stop at any of the numerous overlooks along the way, each offering a unique and different view of the canyon and Colorado River. Before you leave the South Rim, you will explore iconic Desert View Watchtower where you will enjoy the Native American artwork found throughout the watchtower as you climb to the top for an unforgettable view of Grand Canyon and the Colorado River. Once you exit the park you are in the Painted Desert where you will get to enjoy views of different red rock formations along the way to two national monuments. At Wupatki National Monument you will learn about indigenous lifeways and have a chance to explore some unique multistory Puebloan architecture. At Sunset Crater National Monument, you will feel like you’ve stepped onto another planet as the you adventure into the volcanic landscape which is full of unique geology and plants. After you’re done, head to Flagstaff, AZ where you will want to spend the rest of the day walking around this charming mountain town. Downtown offers a unique “brewery trail” that leads to you to endless delicious microbrews as well as many top-rated restaurants serving up everything from delicious southwestern fare to perfectly made classic food.
Day 5: Depart Flagstaff
You’ll be glad on your last day that you opted into the convenience of flights into and out of Flagstaff. The small and easy to navigate airport is a relaxing way to depart after 4 full days of exploring the southwest and the best of Grand Canyon.
Included in your Custom Wild Canyon’s Tour
Self-Drive Tours Include
- Custom designed itinerary and guide
- Professional booking and support
- 4-nights lodging listed on your itinerary
- All tours listed on your itinerary
- Rental car for 5-days
Private Tours Include All Self-Dive Tour Inclusions PLUS
- Airport pick-up and drop-off
- Private transportation in a modern, spacious touring vehicle for 5-days
- Services of a professional tour guide for 5-days
- Private hikes and tours with your guide
- All park entrance fees
Not Included in your Custom Wild Canyon’s Tour
- Gratuity for your tour guides
- Airline Flights
- Additional experiences, services and meals not included in the trip cost will require an additional fee paid directly by the client during the trip.
- TRAVEL INSURANCE IS NOT INCLUDED, BUT HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
