Western River Expeditions

Once in a lifetime experience. Our four day trip was perfect for our two 9 yo boys. They loved it. Our guides, Shad and Emily kept us informed and safe, not to mention they worked their tails off to keep us comfortable. Personally, I saw so much natural beauty magnificently play out in front of my own eyes that I would like to share it with others that I love. This trip is highly recommended.

Hot & Unforgettable

t's really hard to quantify the experience in a few short sentences. As one who has lived most of my life in urban environments, I was utterly shocked by the adjustment to 100% outdoor life, there were a lot of moments where I was convinced my domestic instincts weren't equipped for such an intense experience. Despite feeling unprepared and a little shocked by a myriad of intensities, (110 Degree Weather, 40 Degree Water, Hours of Uninterrupted Sun Exposure, Chugging Gallons of water to just stay hydrated enough to not get horribly ill) I have literally nothing but glowing remarks for both the trip as a whole and for the unbelievably accomodating and talented guides who transformed the experience from a journey of basic survival to an exciting and enjoyable adventure! Our Capitan (Ludkey, or Lucky) was amazing, charismatic and sincere, he found humor in awkward and scary moments, broke tension without removing the seriousness of our safety and health, and genuinely seemed to enjoy the unique experience with us, taking time to share his own secret spots and stories to make the experience richer! Hank, our second in command on our boat, was new to the trip but took incredible efforts to point out countless points of interest, you would see him each morning and day on the raft diligently studying guide books and following directions from Lucky, he used this knowledge and skill he was gaining each day to teach us many fun facts and on several occasions, keep us safe and healthy. The Tag team between Hank and Lucky made me feel like we were really being taken care of the entire time and that they were going above and beyond to make the trip not just bearable for us city folks, but special and unique! Scotty and Paco piloted the second boat (which we never traveled on) but even from limited interactions at Camp or during Frolicks I found them warm and helpful. Scotty took time to share his passion for music and songwriting with us, a few tunes are still stuck in my head ("Just a Caged Chicken!") and Paco, on multiple occasions, provided caring attention to even the most minor ailment (my partner got really sick the second day and her and Hanks efforts are what brought him back to 100% so he could enjoy the rest of the trip!) not to mention she literally dragged my big butt out of a hole I fell in and took time to give me Advil for the minor bangs I got in the process. I will genuinely never forget the experience, it absolutely had its ups and downs and if your not the outdoorsy wilderness type prepare for a transition period as your body acclimates, BUT, do not write this off because it's a little bit difficult or might push you a little. You will never experience the grand canyon with the same intimacy, you will never see stars so bright, you will never grow so close to a group of complete strangers this fast. It's absolutely not your "Reading a book on a beach" type of vacation, you will likely return home and feel you need another vacation, but if you're on the edge, if you're wondering if you should do it, my answer is, without hesitation, DO IT!

Western River does such a fantastic trip that I had to do it twice!! Western River made everything work so well. Just show up and enjoy the ride. I am looking at my pictures to get back to "A canyon state of mind". What a trip - I just want to go back again.

Amazing trip down the Grand Canyon. Experience was a once in a life time one, staff was excellent, equipment excellent. Highly recommend.

This was a fantastic trip! Knowledgable, skillful, and personable guides made all the difference. The huge boats felt extra safe but were still lots of fun in the rapids. We decided that the best way to take in the vastness AND the small details of the Grand Canyon is by boat.

Highly recommend! Everything was great from the guides to the rapids to the stops. This is the best way to see the Grand Canyon without a doubt!

Shad, Dan, Emily and R.D. were great. It was a great experience! I highly recommend Western River Expeditions.

We had an absolutely amazing time!!!! We will be back

Loved every part of our 7 day Grand Canyon experience. Huge whitewater, beautiful waterfalls and views, incredible hikes and side trips, amazing food, very fun guides. This was my 3rd trip with Western River Expeditions and they never fail to impress. I initially thought 7 days would be too long, esp with teenage (non camper) daughters in tow. But we all left wanting more. Take this trip. You will love it!

Ellyn Klein opted not to leave a text review of Western River Expeditions