Grand Canyon River Rafting Expedition

To really experience the Grand Canyon, you need to get to the bottom of it, and there is no better way to do that than on a Grand Canyon River Rafting Expedition!

For many, rafting down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon is the dream of a lifetime. Float through the deepest canyon on earth on a comfortable motorized raft and capture spectacular images of gorges, waterfalls, and streams. Experience a truly life-changing event while making a deep connection with nature. Learn the history and geology of the Colorado River, form bonds with new friends, and create memories that will last you a lifetime – all under the guidance and experience of the best guides in the business!

Arizona Raft Adventure’s (ARA) motorized rafts are a great way to experience the Colorado River. While the rafts have plenty of room to keep our camera equipment safe and dry, they are also nimble enough to offer excitement as we go through the rapids. Our journey from “put in” at Lee’s Ferry to “take-out” at Diamond Creek will take us down 225 miles of the Colorado River. You will see places you have never seen, do things you’ve never done, and awaken every morning to beauty so breathtaking the images and memories will last a lifetime. Because our group size is limited to 12 photographers, everyone will be ensured a “best seat in the house” on the river and during our side canyon adventures.

Our rafting adventure will begin in Flagstaff, Arizona, two days before the start of our expedition. In Flagstaff, we’ll spend time reviewing elements of composition, camera techniques, shooting strategies, and how to protect our camera equipment. ARA will guide us on our eight-day expedition rafting down the Colorado River. Everything we need will be carried with us on the raft. Our guides will share our itinerary, location, logistical considerations, and canyon geology throughout the trip. You’ll have plenty of time to enjoy the cool waters of the river, explore intriguing side canyons with streams and waterfalls, relax in the warm sun with cool refreshments, and share intimate evenings with new friends. ARA will provide all camping equipment and services, including portable showers and toilets, tents for sleeping, and all meals.

Following our eight days on the river, we’ll spend a final day back at the hotel in Flagstaff, where we’ll review and work on our images using various post-production techniques.

This expedition will leave you with a truly life-changing experience.

Itinerary & General Information

• August 13th – Arrival at the hotel / meet-and-greet at 5 PM, followed by a group dinner.
• August 14th – We’ll do a sunrise shoot using techniques and skills to manage high contrast and dynamic range. After breakfast, we’ll meet for post-production lessons and to work on our images. We’ll have an early dinner at 5 PM and a 7 PM Orientation Meeting with Arizona Raft Adventures guides.
• August 15th – After an early breakfast, we’ll board our bus for a two-hour ride to our “put-in” location at Lee’s Ferry, where we will load and board our private motorized raft for the expedition. After a short day on the river, we’ll camp for our first night of sleeping under the stars in the Grand Canyon!
• August 16th to August 21st – You’ll sleep under the stars for the next seven nights in one of the most spectacular locations in the world! You’ll have plenty of time to enjoy the river’s cool waters, explore intriguing side canyons, relax in the warm sun, and share intimate evenings with new friends.
• August 22nd – Our last morning on the river. After breakfast and a short drift downstream to our “take out” location at Diamond Creek, we’ll transfer all our items to the bus and begin our drive back to Flagstaff. We’ll stop for lunch in a park along the drive, and we should reach our hotel with plenty of time for check-in, clean-up, and relaxation before dinner. Our guides will be invited to join us for dinner, allowing us to reminisce about our adventure and thank them for their service.
• August 23rd – After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll meet at 9 AM and spend the day working on our photos in a private conference room. We’ll have plenty of space to set up our laptops, share some of our images from the expedition, participate in post-production lessons, and work on our images. We’ll break for the day in the late afternoon and enjoy a final group dinner. Our final night at the hotel is included in the expedition.
• August 24th – Travel home.

What to Expect

The majority of our days will start early. After a quick coffee or tea, we’ll be off on a new adventure into a side canyon or back on the river.

Sleep under the stars for eight nights in one of the most spectacular locations in the world! Our guides will share our itinerary, location, logistical considerations, and canyon geology throughout the trip. You’ll have plenty of time to enjoy the cool waters of the river, explore intriguing side canyons with streams and waterfalls, relax in the warm sun with cool refreshments, and share intimate evenings with new friends.

Arizona Raft Adventure’s (ARA) motorized rafts are a great way to experience a rafting adventure down the Colorado River. The rafts are comfortable, with plenty of room to keep our camera equipment safe and dry. They are also nimble enough to offer excitement as we go through the rapids. Our journey from “put in” at Lee’s Ferry to “take-out” at Diamond Creek will take us down 225 miles of the Colorado River. Because our group size is limited to 12 photographers, everyone will be ensured a “best seat in the house” on the river and during our side canyon adventures.

ARA will provide all camping equipment and services, including portable showers and toilets, tents for sleeping, and all meals. You will see places you have never seen, do things you’ve never done, and awaken every morning to beauty so breathtaking the images and memories will last a lifetime.

You’ll benefit from our guidance, hours of capture time in the field, and several days of classroom instruction/sessions as you learn new techniques and strategies for creating dynamic images before and after our time on the river.

Tuition & Payment Terms

What’s Included in Your Tuition:

• 11 nights lodging (4 hotel / 7 camping)
• All meals, snacks, and soft drinks during the workshop
• All permits and park fees
• All ground transportation during the workshop
• All camping equipment and meals on the river
• Tips for crew, drivers, and guides
• Waterproof dry bags (excluding your camera gear), mug, and Colorado River Guide Book
• Workshop course materials
• Photographic guidance, instruction, and review from your photo instructors
• Online prep & orientation classes prior to the workshop
• Post-production classes and techniques during the workshop
• Online post-production classes after the workshop

What’s Not Included in Your Tuition:

• Transportation to/from your home to the hotel in Flagstaff
• Lodging beyond the 11 nights included in the workshop
• Travel Medical and Trip Cancellation Insurance (required)
• Alcoholic beverages
• Items of a personal nature
• Anything not listed as included

Payment Terms:

• Your deposit of $3,495 will hold your space in this workshop (Non-Refundable)
• An interim payment of $3,000 is due by November 1, 2022 (Non-Refundable)
• Any remaining balance is due no later than January 1, 2023 (Non-Refundable)
• These payments are non-refundable under any circumstances, which is why we recommend getting trip cancellation insurance. These travel workshops take place at locations that require significant arrangements and planning, insurance, and permits. Suppose you wish to protect your investment in the workshop and travel costs. In that case, you may want to investigate travel insurance with a carrier such as Travelex. All of our other standard Terms and Conditions apply
• Need special payment arrangements? No problem, just contact us.

What to Bring and How to Prepare for Your Workshop

Please see our How to Prepare For Your Workshop page for guidelines on workshop prep, gear, and packing. Approximately 90 days before your workshop, you will be sent a PDF with more specific instructions.

This budget includes Arizona Rafting Adventures outfitting services @ $3,375 & $610 gratuities per person.