Describe your most memorable vacation- Grand Canyon Rafting Excursion!
When I was around 12 years of age, I went on one of the most SPECTACULAR trips one can go on- Rafting down the Colorado River!
I went on this excursion with my Dad and 12 other people along with 2 guides. We went through Colorado River Expeditions.
Here is their link – Colorado River Expeditions
Day 1:
We flew into Las Vegas and spent a night in a resort before embarking on our journey!
Day 2:
We took a bus, along with others going on this trip, to a small airport several hours away where we were weighed, along with our luggage, to ensure the plane was evenly distributed! That’s how small and dinky this aircraft was. WHAT AN EXPERIENCE!
We flew over the GRAND CANYON and landed in the MIDDLE of the DESERT! There wasn’t even a runway, just a small landing strip in an area covered with cactus and miles of desert. From there we took a jeep to a Ranch where we were able to buy little souvenirs and last-minute items before making our way to the edge of the canyon to take a helicopter to the rafts awaiting us! If you ever can, taking a helicopter ride through the canyon is an experience in and of itself. The views, exhilaration, and experience are truly magical and give you an idea of how vast the Grand Canyon is.
Once at the rafts, we strapped our bags in and began rafting down the river on our 3 day Colorado River Expedition!
Days 3, 4, 5:
We spent the next 3 days rafting down the river, camping out on the banks, exploring wildlife (snakes and spiders, one was in our tent, YIKES!), bathing in the river, jumping off cliffs, getting caught in a torrential downpour, flying through the rapids in the rafts, swimming, taking pictures, hiking, laughing, making memories, meeting new people (I met a couple and their kids who were from Germany!), eating DELICIOUS food cooked by our guides, and losing your toothbrush in the Colorado river (I’m guilty of this).
Day 6:
Our guides parked our rafts, (there were 3 rafts I believe, and around 10-11 people total), and we made our way through the canyon exit and into the bus waiting to take us home. I remember the bus ride home was long and then little by little civilization started to appear as we ventured closer and closer to Vegas. They dropped us off at our resort, we made our way in and explored Vegas that night, and then headed home the next day.
There is no other experience quite like this, and to have had the opportunity to go on this trip was truly INCREDIBLE!