2013 GRAND CANYON RAFTING SPECIALS

SPRING "HIKERS SPECIALS"

THESE TRIPS ARE ALL PRICED FOR THE BEST VALUE OF THE SEASON! 
 APRIL TRIP OPTIONS: (click for details)
12-day Motor Powered - Full Canyon Trip  $2,695.00
6-day Motor Powered - Upper Canyon (required hike-out)  $1,295.00
7-day Motor Powered - Lower Canyon (required hike-in)  $1,695.00

**New for 2013**
 MAY TRIP: (click for details)
10-day Motor Powered - Full Canyon Trip  $2,695.00

You will enjoy extra time each day for extended hiking adventures and the Spring bloom of the Canyon. The temperatures are milder, there are fewer trips and people in the Canyon and because the Colorado River water is released from Lake Powell there is a consistent flow of clear water. 

If you get to raft the Grand Canyon with us, we think you'll agree with

Yahoo Travel's January 2012 featured article 

"5 TRIPS THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE" (click here to read) 

that listed Grand Canyon rafting as the #1 trip 
and Arizona River Runners as the featured company.

GROUP TRAVEL SPECIALS

Ask us about group pricing for 10 or more traveling together.

(excludes all 3-day Escape trips and Early Season discounts and specials.)

Consider a 2013 Grand Canyon rafting adventure for your next family reunion, team building retreat or friends get-a-way!

Call 1-800-477-7238 to check availability and make your reservation.

"Into the Wild" of the Grand Canyon ~ Arizona River Runners

Have you seen the movie "Into the Wild" directed by Sean Penn? It came out a few years ago and is a true story about a young man that graduates from college, chooses to shirk his parental connections and expectations, and strike out to explore life. Part of his exploring takes place on the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon which is quite entertaining.

Here's the really fun part. This kid meets an old hippy couple and travels with them for a while. The "old hippy guy" just happens to be a Grand Canyon/Flagstaff guy. He was initially working as support for the filming in the Grand Canyon and they realized he was perfect for the part of the hippy dude. So, they talked him into playing the part and he was actually very good. I doubt they had to put makeup on him or change his clothing because the part he plays is exactly the way he is in real life.....a genuine old hippy dude.....a real throwback to the 70's. He probably didn't even need any acting lessons or coaching for this part.

If you haven't seen "Into the Wild" definitely go rent it, stream it, etc. Even without knowing Brian Dierker personally, you will enjoy the movie. It's about life's choices and risks, and being present in your own existence.

Do you ever just want to go "into the wild?" Hike in the Grand Canyon? Raft the Colorado River? Experience nature in its truest form? Arizona River Runners has been around since 1970, and we can take you there. Whitewater rafting through the Grand Canyon is an experience you will never forget, but will want to do over and over! Call us at 1-800-477-7238 for your Arizona rafting vacation!

6, 7 and 8 Day Motor Trips: Rafting the Grand Canyon is What the Trip is About, But That’s Not All….

If you’ve chosen one of these Arizona River Runners' trips, you will be blown away by exquisite views, fun and excitement! Once everyone has arrived at Lees Ferry, has gone through orientation, and all the gear is packed in our waterproof bags, your adventure begins. Our 6 and 7-Day Expedition packages cover 187 miles of the Colorado River from historic Lee's Ferry to Whitmore Wash and take you through the Heart of the Grand Canyon. The 8-Day Adventure is our longest motorized trip and the only one to travel the full 280-mile length of the Grand Canyon to Lake Mead. On your journey through the Canyon you will enjoy unparalleled scenery with time to explore unique and spectacular side canyons, streams and waterfalls.

A favorite side stop and campsite is at Nankoweap Canyon (mile 52). If you know where to look you will see an ancient Anasazi stone storage ruins built into a ledge of dark rock high above the sandy beach on river right. Those willing to take the 600 foot vertical hike up to the Nankoweap granaries will be treated to one of the more spectacular 180 degree Canyon views. Hike up to Hilltop Ruins to see the stunning panoramic view of the widest sections of the Grand Canyon at mile 72. Each day brings new sights, exciting rapids, mid-morning and mid-afternoon hikes or stops so you will never be bored! You may see deer, Big-Horn Sheep, strange and unique flowers and plants! At mile 136 the welcome and refreshing spray from the spectacular 100-foot Deer Creek Falls is just one more reason to raise your hands and enjoy the unique beauty of the Grand Canyon.

Every morning you wake up to great cowboy coffee, from Toucanet Coffee, eat a delicious breakfast with fresh fruit and juice, before hitting the river! Then each day as the sun begins to sink, camp is set on a beautiful sandy beach. The stories of the day are shared over another delicious dinner. The stars begin to glisten. The quiet serenity of the universe is spread out above your bedroll as the magnificence of the heavens envelopes your soul.

All too soon your adventure comes to an end. But you will remember it forever, how you “shot the rapids of the Colorado River,” where you hiked in the footsteps of John Wesley Powell and others. Come along and join us on this amazing adventure. You'll talk about it for a lifetime if you do. You'll regret it if you don't. Call us at 1-800-477-7238 to book your rafting adventure now!

Call for Grand Canyon Rafting specials for the month of May!

Rafting the Grand Canyon is What the Trip is All About, But That’s Not All….

It is true; rafting is what you do on a Colorado River Rafting Trip with Arizona River Runners. But that isn’t all! You will be “entertained” for your entire journey. From the time you get to the Canyon (or even before, such as the helicopter ride on our 3 Day Escape), you will not be bored or wanting for something to do! Each trip is unique on its own, filled with exciting and fun things.

Our 3-Day Escape provides you with a scenic flight to the Bar-10 Ranch on the North Rim of the Canyon. Here you can spend the night at the Ranch or in a covered wagon! In the morning you are helicoptered to the Canyon floor. Rafting and hiking, not to mention eating, follows for the next day and a half.

Our longer trips involve more intense rafting, and there are some with a “hike-in” or “hike-out” before or after your rafting adventure! The longer trips provide more opportunities for additional off-river time to take in the spectacular vistas and side stream hikes, to explore along the side stream corridor.

During the evenings our guides feed (yeah!) and entertain you. On clear nights, stargazing is a favorite pastime of our rafters. Where you sleep is a vision – look up and take in all the stars, you’ll never see anything like it again!

Give us a call (800-477-7238) and we’ll be more than happy to talk to you about all that goes on our rafting trips!

Looking for that perfect Spring 2010 Rafting and Hiking Trip?

We do our absolute best to make your trip with us the absolute best of your life. Whether you have traveled the world or are taking your very first vacation, we want to deliver an unforgettable rafting and hiking experience in Arizona. Below was a letter we received from veteran travelers who shared their experience with us:

Of course the Canyon was spectacular and the weather was absolutely perfect and the food was superb and the whitewater exhilarating, the real treat on this trip was the care, commitment, and passion exhibited by your employees, Pam in reservations and our guides Travis, Kenny, and Chelsea and the countless others behind the scenes.

We have been fortunate to travel worldwide to many exciting and wonderful destinations but the experience is always bet defined by the people who take care of you and the new friends that you make on the journey. From my first call to ARR when I had all my questions answered by Pam I felt that I was in good hands with the people that genuinely cared about their customers. I knew that was the case after meeting our guides, getting our welcome briefing and being the first boats loaded and on the river.

While I knew whitewater rafting through the Grand Canyon would be a lifetime experience what I did not expect was to be in the company of Guides whose displayed passion for their work would be so compelling. Our lead, Travis, has an incredible knowledge of both the history and geology and willingly shared his love of the River and Canyon. Even more significant was his engagement and safety of each and every customer on the trip. Kenny was an encyclopedia of geological history and led us on some incredible hikes taking the time to show us many details of ancient life and Canyon formation. He is not only one of the most personable and gracious people I have ever met but also one of the hardest working. Chelsea was the perfect complement to these two guys. She worked harder than any two guys and probably would have done all the work if Travis and Kenny let her. But that was not the case…these three operated as a team with a common goal…to share their home in the Canyon and passion for their work. The fact that all three played guitar and sang every evening was a wonderful bonus!

I know that none of this would be possible without the commitment and dedication of a management team that has truly broken the code…hire the best employees, operate with quality equipment, and recognize there is no substitute for passionate customer service. I thank you and all of your team for a truly perfect vacation.
-Gordon & Gail -- Peachtree City, GA

Take advantage of our April 2010 “Hikers Special” by going to to www.raftarizona.com and clicking on “Browse Our Specials”, or call 1-800-477-7238 for the adventure of a lifetime!

A Few Words on Hiking the Grand Canyon

By Bianca Bauch, An Arizona River Runner's Guide

I have hiked down to the Colorado River from the rim some fifty times. Which is not to brag, it's not any spectacular feat, it's just time in the Grand Canyon which is always a blessing. I have hiked out of Grand Canyon enough to notice a trend in myself, a certain anxiety that comes with the inevitable butt kicking effect of those last thousand vertical feet. No matter the time of year, (usually fit in the summer and sloppy in the winter), it is always an effort. A glorious, one step after the other, effort. I call them "zen steps" where I meditate, let each step just flow like water and my mind float somewhere above. I take easy breaths, sip water and I swear my heart beat slows to the rhythm of each footfall. Sometimes I partially close my eyes and breathe deep, still walking. And it never fails, as the rim is within a few more steps a bittersweet wave floods my heart. I never feel ready to walk back into the rim world. I start planning the next trip to the Canyon. I feel a peace that comes with good hard exercise. I wonder what would happen if I just turned around and went back home. I think about steak and potatoes. And I always turn back to the vastness of our glorious Canyon, while tourists excitably push around to get their memories, and I give thanks and blessings for being humbled once again.

Note: Join ARR this Spring with their new Grand Canyon Rafting – Spring 2010 - “Hikers Special”.

Grand Canyon April "Hikers Special" Rafting Trips from Arizona River Runners

Arizona River Runners
Originally uploaded by Arizona River Runners

Arizona River Runners adds New Grand Canyon Rafting – Spring 2010 - “Hikers Special” to Rafting Schedule

(Grand Canyon, Arizona) - Enjoy the Canyon in a whole new way as the spring bloom adds even more color and beauty to an already amazing landscape. Those willing to hike more will be treated to additional breathtaking viewpoints and unforgettable side-canyon experiences as this special three-part trip is available to guide travelers into the lesser-seen side of the Grand Canyon. With extra time each day passengers will experience the astounding views of hidden waterfalls, ancient Indian ruins and magnificent overlooks. The Colorado River provides not only the excitement of the biggest whitewater in North America but you can also savor calm moments on the river to reflect and renew.

Arizona River Runners is offering three new spring trips! All three trips will allow you more time for additional side-canyon hiking and discovery in the milder temperatures of the desert in April. Exploring the Grand Canyon by river is an experience unlike any other. This is the only time these special trips are being offered during the 2010 season!

April 3-14, 2010, 12-day motor powered trip. This 12-day/11-night adventure travels a total of 225 miles through the Grand Canyon. The trip begins at Marble Canyon, and ends at Diamond Creek. This trip discovers the rush of excitement from rafting the Colorado River whitewater. Escape completely on a worry-free vacation with no schedules and no stress - where time stands still!

April 3-8, 2010, 6-day motor powered trip. You can experience 87 river miles during your 6-days and 5-nights of some of the most spectacular views and gorgeous sandstone rock formations of the upper Canyon. On day six you will start the 7.5 mile final hike out of the Canyon on the Bright Angel Trail to the South Rim. Great trip for those wanting more hiking and it fits perfectly into a weeklong vacation.

April 8-14; a 7-day motor powered trip. After an exhilarating 7.5 mile morning hike from the South Rim to the river just below Phantom Ranch you will spend the next week exploring the 138 river miles to Diamond Creek. You will have the opportunity for more off-river time to take in the spectacular vistas and side stream hikes. This trip is great for those who realize that you not only enjoy the spectacular rapids of the “inner gorge”, but also the many sights there are to explore along this section of the Grand Canyon corridor.

Go to www.raftarizona.com and click on “Browse Our Specials”, or call 1-800-477-7238
for the adventure of a lifetime!