Grand Canyon Expeditions

We could not have asked for a better trip! Our family of five just rafted the Grand Canyon last week with Dave, Mackenzie, Maddie, and Sedona. What an incredible crew — they worked tirelessly to make the adventure fun and safe, and they fed us SO well. We ate fresher food at the bottom of the canyon than we do at home. And more importantly, they were all delightful humans who love this beautiful world and are thrilled to share it with others. It was a trip of a lifetime, and we are so grateful to everyone involved.

The 8 day motorized trip was amazing! The crews were professional in every way, from safety to the delicious meals they prepared! The people I met were just as memorable and fun as the trip, and the peaceful feeling the canyon offered made this a lifetime experience! I highly recommend GCE if you want to see and experience the Grand Canyon from a perspective that can not be found anywhere else!

My group and I had the best 8 days exploring the Grand Canyon thanks to the knowledge, care, and leadership of our crew. Den, Orion, Jacque, and Parker provided amazing meals, fun hikes, immaculate attention to detail, and great stories along the way! I will never forget my time down there thanks to everyone at GCE.

I cannot put into adequate words how much I enjoyed my trip down the Grand Canyon with this company. My friend chose GCE because of their long history of running Dorys down the river, requiring a high level of competence....they did not disappoint. Our badass team (who just happened to be women - the first time they'd worked together) were kind, professional, and super-efficient. It was clear they all had a profound love and deep knowledge of the river. I know I can speak for everyone on my trip when I say that we knew we were in good hands at all times, even during a monstrous rainstorm that required the rescue of several stranded river goers from other groups...we were kept safe and sound. The communication from the staff was perfect throughout, the food was AMAZING, the laughs too many to count, the journey fantastic. This was in all aspects a life-affirming adventure, made possible by the entire team at Grand Canyon Expeditions. Thanks to Brendyce, Ana, Alex and Cooper (and the entire GCE staff) for being the lead architects in memories made for a lifetime!

I want to sing the praises for our guides, Emily and Bert, on the May 15-22 Raft B expedition. Emily’s awareness of every bend and rock in the river and Bert’s knowledge of the Canyon’s geology and fantastic cooking skills made this an unforgettable experience. In addition, they both offered words of encouragement and a helping hand on some of the trickier parts of the trails we hiked. (I’m over 70 and hardly consider myself an outdoorsman.) I should add that by the end of the week, my 13 fellow guests and I deeply appreciated the stories and adventures we shared as our bonds strengthened every day of our journey through what I consider to be the most magnificent place on planet Earth. This adventure has been on my bucket list for decades. My heartfelt thanks to everyone at GCE, including the orientation staff who helped set the stage the night before we left, for a week I’ll never forget.

Dear Anna, Big Al,Kitty, Brandon, Kevin & Berry, I just wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt thanks to each of you for making my Colorado river trip such an amazing experience. Your hard work, expertise, and attention to detail truly made all the difference. From navigating the rapids to keeping the atmosphere fun and safe, you all went above and beyond. The memories we made on the river will last a lifetime, and it wouldn’t have been the same without you guys . I appreciate all the effort you put into making sure everything ran smoothly, and I’m so grateful for the camaraderie and support along the way. Thank you again for being such a fantastic team and for making this trip one for the books! With gratitude, John Duenes

This trip has been on my bucket list for many years. This trip did not disappoint. The guides were wonderful and fun. The trip down the river was exhilarating through the rapids, breathtaking in the scenery and adventurist in the hikes . I highly recommend!

I can’t say enough good things about this company and the fabulous trip they just provided for our group of 8. Remarkably well organized from start to finish, it truly was an expedition into a generally harsh environment that was made comfortable by their over the top efforts. Coffee brewing at dawn, great meals, daily excursions, knowledgeable and helpful staff, they made this the trip of a lifetime. Our trip leader Kitty is a master boatman and Big Al, Mattie and Austin made every effort to meet our needs. As we had a couple of physically banged up people in our group, this was even more important in including us (to our abilities) in the numerous daily adventures before us. Stop shopping and just book at trip with these folks! This was our second trip with GCE!

What a thrill. Just got back from the 8 day motorized raft trip! Been waiting my whole adult life for this trip and it did not disappoint! Our guide Adam was the best. He knew the river and canyon backwards and forwards. He was a great storyteller and a wonderful guide and boatman. I always felt safe and he got us the best camping spots and the knew the best side canyons to explore. Swamper Orion was awesome. He was a great cook and a hard worker. We were never hungry! Both these guys were the best.

What can you say? This was glamping beyond my wildest expectations! The food was fresh every day, two hot meals and a cold lunch each day, cold juice and soda beverages at any time. The guides, Glade and Hannah, were terrific, like personal chefs there to assure you had a great time and were safe. They aimed at the best part of every rapid- a real E-ticket ride. Some advice: 1. bring more alcohol-it was hot in August, probably 100, we are not big drinkers but 3-4 cold beers a day would sure have been nice, we ran out on day 6 2. wear light colored clothes if the weather is going to be warm 3. bring a walking stick, very helpful on the hikes scrambling over boulders and rocks 4. bring more alcohol 5. a waterproof day pack to have some gear readily accessible on the raft would have been nice 6. Have a set of river shoes, and a set of hiking shoes for shore excursions. My river shoes were great on wet rocks in the river, but tenuous at best when hiking 7. bring more alcohol 8. I balked at the sarong idea and regretted it, sarong would have been great to keep cool on the raft and to provide additional sun protection 9. Gel or spray on deodorant would have been nice, I brought body wash but it did not really cut it. 10. Consider going in May-mid July time frame when river is running clear. Once monsoon season starts in Arizona the river runs silty. Still a great trip. GCE is one of the few companies that provides cots and sleeping pads and sleeping bags as part of the experience, other companies might charge extra.

What a great experience. Eight days traveling through the Grand Canyon on a raft was a blast. Our raft guides, Jim and Ben, took great care of us. They both had a wealth of knowledge on the history, geology and biology of the Canyon and expertly guided us through the rapids. The many hikes were amazing, visiting waterfalls and oasis on side canyons. We never got hungry with Swampers Julie and Reagan, who always kept us fed. The food was 5 star with filet mignon, pork chops, burritos and other great dinners. The breakfasts were always great with mounds of pancakes, French toast , scrambled eggs and bacon. This should be on everyone's bucket list and GCE should be there to guide you.

We took a 14 day Dory trip with this company. From start to finish-even from the booking- everything went as smoothly as could possibly be imagined. The guides were the most experienced and instructive they could possibly be. The weather was just our good luck. The food was exquisite, and while I have no other reference to compare this company to others, my first hand experience with this company is enough to give them my very highest recommendation. I will add trekking poles and good hiking shoes to my checklist for the next time, as there are some excellent hiking opportunities afforded.

Randy is a tool. One star because the guide was making sure your safety was #1. Come on man. I have just returned from a 7 day trip and it was the most epic experience ever. We were with A group from Grand Canyon Brewery and had the time of our lives. Guides made sure we were SAFE at all times and had our lives in their hands. We trusted them. They were super fun, had great knowledge of the history and geology of the canyons. The crew Prepared the most amazing restaurant quality meals using Dutch ovens and grills. They were super accommodating, charismatic, and professional. If you wanna be safe , experience they canyon, and have one of the best trips ever, then go with GCE.

This was my 4th trip down the Colorado River with 4 different companies and I was very impressed by Grand Canyon Expeditions. On this trip I took my wife and two sons (aged 16 and 13). Food: this company does not hold back when it comes to food. The river guides/boatmen did a fantastic job cooking us hot breakfast and dinners each day and excellent cold lunches. We had fish, pasta, chicken, and steak over the evenings. One of my sons is a very picky eater and the company was so very helpful in shopping and bringing specific foods for his tastes. Hikes: The river guides/boatmen know the canyon very well and can pick out some amazing hikes that are suited for the group. Every hike was well described to help each person decide if this particular hike was for them or not. I did every hike but some in my family decided to stay behind and that was good for them. There is no pressure to do each hike and most often a shaded place to sit, relax, and enjoy the beautiful scenery the canyon always offers. One of the best things about a canyon river trip is the endless options of hikes. As I've noted this was my 4th trip and I did hikes I had not done before which was very neat to make this trip unique on its own. River/boating: The rafts are standard for the canyon and fit 15 people comfortably. The river guides/boatmen we're very experienced with every rapid and the entire stretch of the river which made us all comfortable and feeling safe. We were instructed to stay on the inside of the boat for some rapids but were allowed to stay on the pontoons for most others, depending on the rapid and the abilities of the rider/guest. I really appreciated this because it meant that the driver of the boat considered each and every rapid and didn't take a broad approach of mandating everyone always stays on the main raft. The boatmen were also very considerate to the guests and circumstances, such as one cloudy and chilly morning having several rapids in a row, the guide decided to take the raft down one of the bigger rapids backwards so the guests didn't get another soaking of cold water on a cloudy day. We appreciated that very much. There were almost always "pit stop" breaks once in the morning and once in the afternoon. These were nice to stretch legs, walk around a bit, and relieve the bladder. Snacks: there were ample snacks each day and very tasty. I loved the apples, oranges, and treats each day and found myself looking forward to snack time each day. Camping: New to me this trip we're cots and chairs. This made camping exceptionally more enjoyable than on previous trips because it meant sleeping above the ground and always having a place to sit above the sand. Tents were provided to anyone that wanted them and we only had them when it rained one evening for a bit. Sleeping bags, a tarp, and a ground mat we're provided also and we're of top notch quality. I know my sleeping had been used previously but I never would have guessed that looking at it, it looked and felt brand new. Final thoughts: If you're adventurous, I highly recommend this trip with GCE. They're very professional, capable, accommodating, and over all offer a great customer experience. This is one of those trips where it could be a once-in-a-lifetime experience and if that's you, great, go for it, but do it right and sign up with GCE for an excellent experience because when things are done right, those once-in-a-lifetime experiences might become family traditions or repeated every so often. Tips: Leave the watch at home, you won't need or want it. Take tons of pictures, but put the camera down to enjoy the moments. Be prepared using the packing list GCE sends out. You won't need everything on the list but consider reach item and what works for you. If you use your phone for pictures bring a power brick that uses solar power to recharge. The one I used, I'll post down below. I took 2 of them and they got several phones recharged through an 8 day trip before being completely dead. However, when I do the trip again, I'll keep these clipped to the boat through the day instead of taking them out to charge only at rest times. If I do this trip again, and I probably will, I won't hesitate to go with GCE again. Solar Charger 38800mAh Solar... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08BZ83FD1?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Trying to avoid using overused words such as "amazing," "awesome," and "fantastic," all I have left is: BEST. VACATION. EVER. GCEX is one of those rare companies that gets it right, down to every detail. Kudos and never-ending thanks to Marty, Sara, Trevin, Allison, Adam, Chase and especially Shaun - the swampers (boatman's assistant) get paid NOTHING: they do it because they love it, with the possibility of becoming a boat captain somewhere - possibly - in the future. I have to steal from another review on another website: If you have been thinking about doing this, STOP THINKING and do it, and do it with this company.

I had a wonderful experience yesterday at Peekaboo Canyon with Bruce. As an older lady who was having difficulty with the altitude and was a little unsteady on my feet, I was very grateful for the extra care he took in getting me over the rough spots. He went out of his way to see that I had a good experience. The canyon of course is beautiful and not to be missed

First, it was an amazing trip. I waited almost 20 years to take this trip and had very high expectations. Adam and Kyle exceeded everything I had hoped to see, hear and experience. Thank you for having such an exceptional Guide team. Incredible. Adam's knowledge of the canyon's features, history and folklore are truly extraordinary. His story-telling is exceptional. He's a great communicator and strong Leader. 2. Adam made us feel safe. By the second day we knew what, "Get ready for a Rapid" vs. "I want everyone down in the boat with two strong hand holds" meant. I was especially impressed with Adam's communication before the large Rapids, "My plan-A is to enter from...then go left-to-right...Plan-B is to..., etc". This gave everyone a sense of security that Adam really knew what he wanted to do. It also allowed us to participate in the Rapid in the sense of knowing what was supposed to happen vs. "Oh my gosh, we're headed toward that rock wall" panic. 3. Like Adam, Kyle was an exceptional communicator. During lulls in the river Kyle went to the front of the boat and talked to all of us... turning what could have been a boring section into an interesting discussion. 4. I was especially impressed with Kyle's knowledge of the canyon's geology and his ability to distill information from scientific terms to those we could understand as he pointed-out features, faults, different types of rocks, etc. One of the participants was a PhD in Geology and had traveled the world. When Kyle started to speak "geology", the Geologist would lower his head and listen...then start shaking his head "yes". On Day-4 I asked him about Kyle's knowledge. He said, "Kyle hasn't been wrong yet". At dinner one night I heard a second Geologist say that Kyle had taught him how to recognize a specific type of rock he'd struggled with for years. Remarkable. 5. On Day-6 our oldest participant decided to hike up a fairly steep climb. While returning to the boat I was behind her and Kyle. Without drawing attention to the situation and potentially embarrassing her, I observed Kyle slowly and methodically...step-by-step walk her down a series of rocks....to the point of putting his hand ON a foothold and saying, "step here". This demonstrated a unique level of compassion and professionalism. Frankly, I wouldn't have had the patience. It was obvious that Kyle was going to make absolutely sure she safely negotiated the hike to the boat... regardless of time required. That evening several of us talked about Kyle's unique ability and patience. Most of us are over 55 years-old. Whether we wanted to admit it or not, Kyle's extra attention was calming to all of us. 7. The entire group was impressed with the level of organization during the 8-days. Side-trips, campsites, set-ups and tear-downs went smoothly. The food was almost too-tasty and plentiful, to wit, my surprise when stepping on the scales today. At night Mark told us what to expect the next day, etc. Finally, one of the Rapids/stories Adam told us was "Sockdollager" and that it meant a knock-out punch. The most recent definition from Dictionary.com (from 1838) is a person or thing that is remarkable, wonderful, superior. Per this definition, GCEX, Adam and Kyle are ALL sockdollager. Thank you for a sockdollager, experience!

After planning and dreaming for 2 years, GCE provided everything that I had hoped for and more. It truly was a life changing experience. The Canyon is an amazing place, but it takes a phenomenal guide and swamper to create the perfect experience. Emily Dale and Hannah French....thank you! Every moment was planned perfectly. Emily shared her love for the river and the canyon in all that she did. I will be back!

This company does it right, they have taken great pains to pay attention to every detail. Never have I ever had a trip such as the 8 day trip I'm just coming off of. Our guides, Irv, Jen, Zach (aka Kitty Cat) and Ben know the canyon and its history, all the cool spots to hike to, they are professional and extremely knowledgeable. You will want for nothing on this trip and if you do it is because you forgot to bring something from the list suggestions. By the second day I was hooked and am going to start planning for the next adventure with GCE.

Grand Canyon Expeditions The Grand Canyon is a 10, and if you are ok with luxury camping a motorized raft is the way to see it. Virtually everything we saw, did, or ate was 5 stars! The food was great. Filet Mignon, something baked fresh everyday, ice, fresh fruit, blue berry pancakes, Italian night, Mexican night. I gained weight. The crew was great. Expert boatmen, ( I've been a boater for 20 years) funny, knowledgeable, accommodating. You couldn't ask for better. The hikes and side trips were indescribable. So why the low rating? We didn't get to see Havasu Falls. No idea what we missed but my Brother who had seen it 30 years ago was very upset. He claimed it was the most spectacular falls on the trip. Interestingly it's the only site in the canyon helicopter will take you. Our problem was that GCE trips leaving on Saturday are, apparently "scheduled" to be the 7th & 8th boats to Havasu. Boats 7 & 8 are forced to tie up in a rapid and our guides flatly refused to risk our lives tying up there. I respected their decision but we had offered to skip breakfast to get a head start and in fact had allowed other boats to pass us. Evidently 7 & 8 were our position like it or not. TIPS: Everyone needs glasses. Shades for those fortunate to have good vision Tri focals for me. Bring a small water proof box that attaches to your life jacket. Keep cleaning supplies in it. I used my T shirt which became sand paper after a few days. My glasses suffered. Go in the summer when it's hot. The water is in the 40's and you need the heat from the July sun if you expect to wear a swimsuit. Hat with a big floppy brim is much better than a baseball cap.

"Come roll in all the riches around you and for once, never wonder what they're worth..." - Alan Menken (Colors of the Wind from Disney's Pocahontas) I post reviews about as often as I bathe in a silty river, but I, like the river, want to give more than I take. I read almost every review on multiple sites before embarking on my life-changing experience. So here I am a day later enjoying my "breakfast" Hard Cider beer (as I did on the boat each day) and reminiscing with tears of longing to be back on the river and the song Colors of the Wind flowing through my mind. There are no words that can express my experience with the Grand Canyon Expeditions company (GCEX), the Canyon, the River, or the energy and spirits that captivated me. My eyes widen and a huge smile gushes across my face thinking of my voyage. Many factors (weather, my own mindset, river flows, fellow rafters) beyond anyone's control went into my trip, but I must say that GCEX played a huge role in making it absolutely amazing. The crew at GCEX is outstanding! Nan from the main office answered, my now as I look back, superfluous questions with kindness and assurance. Shelly who did the LV orientation showed excitement and care in guiding us the night before we left. My guides during the trip included Marc (Lead for the trip- 30 yrs of experience- his actions showed confidence and leadership), his swamper- Ron (sympathetic and kind who always took extra care of anyone in need- sprained ankles to vegetarians), my boat guide Kyle (extremely knowledgeable about the canyon and funny, but most importantly he showed kindness and respect to the animals and land), and his swamper- Jeremiah (first timer on the River- went overboard literally to pick up other people's trash out of the water and was hilarious keeping everyone in good spirits) were all amazing!!! I booked a specialized Geology trip so that I could absorb as much Canyon as I could- Sue was our Geologist and she was absolutely enlightening being packed with so much knowledge (and cheesy rock jokes) my brain needed a nap just to process all of the content! All of the crew bent over backwards in providing a helping hand up a steep ledge, finding the last bag of Oreos in the bottom of the boat for the kids on board (ok, I indulged), guiding new campers how to set up a tent, keeping us cool on the hot boat with their water gun, and just lending an ear for conversation. I felt safe and secure with all of them in every situation- rafting (10+ level rapids) and hiking (around foot wide ledges) to reach breathtaking waterfalls. Again words lack in expression in attempting to explain the Grand Canyon to someone who has not indulged. Even those that have indulged still lack the vocabulary for conveying its grandiosity. The hikes and stops that the guides chose were incredible and varied in all levels of ability. We explored Redwall Cavern (fossils), human-chained a float in the Little Colorado River, hiked and jumped from the waterfall at Elves Chasm, hiked to the upper portion of Deer Creek Falls and swam under the intense lower falls, and slide down the natural waterslide in Havasu Creek. I know I missed naming some of the remarkable locations, but it was just one exciting moment after another that I couldn't keep track! After the trip (which you won't understand until you experience this incredible trip)- -You'll still want to "burrito" yourself into your bed at night. -Sitting on your toilet at home will never be enjoyable again. -You'll find a desire to wake up in the middle of the night just to see the most spectacular star show on Earth. -You'll start calling crumbs in your house "micro-trash" and yell at family members to pick them up. -You'll see the nearest flowing water source and suddenly sense an urge to pee in it. And, you will never look at a sand pail the same way! -Days after your trip you will still feel The River lulling you to sleep. -You'll feel fulfilled and incomplete at the same time... :-)

This is one of the few Grand Canyon rafting companies that goes through the entire Canyon from Lees to Pearce Ferry. Most others take out at Whitmore Wash or Diamond Creek. This was the full experience. I did this trip in July 2017. It was the trip of a lifetime. Our guides were awesome (Greg, Dustin, Hannah, Tom, and James) were amazing. Knowledgeable in natural and human history of the Canyon, as well as river lore. Our lead boatmen Greg and Dustin were simply amazing. They landed us in the some stretches of the River that I thought would be impossible. The food was absolutely amazing, wonderfully prepared by our guides and their swampers. Nutritious and delicious! I would go with GCEX again in a heartbeat.

Probably everyone who works on the Colorado is a character, but I've been through the canyon 3 times with GCE now, and I have to think their people are the best. This year Trevin and Ben (and Julie and Jake) kept us challenged and entertained with a Hall of Fame collection of the canyon's best hikes through clear water waterfalls, dry washes, and slot canyons (with an impromptu concert in one by Flamenco guitarist extraordinaire Jake), and on top of that they used those hikes to carefully time our days so that we hit max water flow at all the biggest rapids (down which they invariably took the angriest lines). You will NEVER forget a ride down Hermit, Sockdolager, Crystal or Granite with these guys. Eight days sounds like a long time to go without a warm shower or a toilet you don't have to share with 31 other extremely well-fed people. But eight days wasn't nearly enough.

Amazing trip with a couple incredible guides. Trevin and Emily were fantastic. Their passion for the surroundings and experience on the River rubbed off on all 28 guests. It was a memorable journey we will remember for a long time. Top notch all the way through!

Trip of a lifetime. Just returned from 8 awe inspiring days in the Canyon with GCEX. I am someone who researches something to the Nth degree, and I must say, GCEX lived up to all of their amazing reviews across all channels (TripAdvisor, Facebook, etc). The level of organization was incredible, comforting to a planner like myself. Every detail was well thought out and our safety and overall experience were of utmost importance to the guides. Our boatmen Bobby & Glade, plus helpers Jay and Sean, made the trip incredible -- they were fun and worked very, very hard for us. We had a few 70-year olds that had mobility issues, and they were always considered and accommodated. First class tents, cots, equipment and rafts. Seriously the trip of a lifetime, and I can't wait to go again. After seeing other companies on the river, I was glad GCEX was our choice - they're top notch!!! Go with GCEX, you won't regret it!!! A perfect, life-changing trip!!!!!

Just finished an 8 day trip on 5-20-16. The experience was above and beyond what I had expected and I cannot more thoroughly recommend this company two boat captains, Glade & Sally were off the chart exceptional and made everyone 100% comfortable. The Canyon lives up to its billing as one of the seven wonders of the world. If you are thinking of doing this trip, make it happen. This is the right outfit to work with

I just had to counter the one star rating that Randy gave this company. My husband and I went on the seven day rafting trip last year. We saved for five years to afford the trip, and we do not regret ONE penny we spent. This Trip was Magnificent! I have told everyone I know that if you can only do one spectacular trip in a life time, do this one!!!!, First class boatmen (and women) Preacher Bob and Donna, You two were the BEST. The food was better than any first class restaurant I have eaten at, the boats were safe and comfortable, the sights, OMG, Words simply cannot describe how beautiful the canyon is. Sleeping under the stars (I did not know there were that many) swimming in the falls, hiking up the trails, all the wildlife, photo opportunities around every corner, making GREAT new friends, learning how the canyon was formed, and soaring canyon walls around every corner, WoW! even using the potty was a scenic experience. To give this company one star because you missed one side trip is more than a shame, it is shameful! All I can say is if you have every thought about taking a trip like this, DO IT, and do it with Grand Canyon Expedition!