This was an amazing trip! Our guide, Kyle was the reason we had so much fun. His enthusiasm, always happy attitude, positive outlook on life and concern for our safety and comfort was awesome. The other 3 guides were also incredible. They all started working at 4 am and did not stop until around 9 pm! The scenery is so diverse and awe inspiring. The campsites were all so pretty and the dinners varied from spaghetti, to mexican night, to 1 inch thick steaks on the last night. Yum... We also had hot cooked breakfasts and tasty wraps or sandwiches for lunch each day.One suggestion for all those getting ready for the trip is the day pack should be listed as required, not optional and definitely have good rain gear and hat lanyards. Also, understand you will be setting up your own tent and cot each night and reversing that the next morning (coffee at 5:15 am), everyone helps load and unload the boat each evening too. It is all fun, you just need to be ready for it.

Excellent, historical and fun adventure with Capt. Zach, Capt. Adam, Tabitha and Alan! The food, hikes, and white water rafting was over the top!

Pretty much the best experience with the best crew and guests you can imagine. Den, Ben, Julie & DD were so gracious, fun, and knowledgable. The company provided all the little details to make the trip comfortable. The other guests were so much fun to meet and spend time with. Overall a great experience! No need to look any further than GCEX. 11 out of 10.

WOW! Words couldnt even begin to describe how incredible this trip was. Duffy, Kiersten & Den were our Raft Guides - SO knowledgable, funny, and kind - they made the trip for my mom, sister and I. The food was incredible, the hikes were spectacular, and the late night conversations and non-stop laughs were unforgettable. I would absolutely recommend GCE to anyone interested in exploring the Grand Canyon.

This is the second trip for me and my daughter. Emily and Faith were truly exceptional guides. Even when the weather wasn't perfect, they added humor and camaraderie for the group. Food was truly amazing. My body is telling me ( I will be 74) that 2 trips are enough, but I am seriously considering doing this next year! GCEX is the BEST outfitter, bar none!

One word describes this trip ……. EXCEPTIONAL! From day 1 in the misty rain through our last day in the sun, this trip was truly the trip of a lifetime. I cannot say enough good about Emily, Bacco, Randy, and Faith. Not only did they guide us safely through wonders of the Grand Canyon, they were full of the knowledge and stories (with just a hint of embellishment) about the Grand Canyon that kept us all asking for more. In addition, the quality of the meals was incredible; not a small feat in this world apart from normal civilization. As an ecology trip we also enjoyed the wisdom and enlightenment of Carri and Dylan; knowledge that would have gone unnoticed had they not been along on our trip. Finally, I believe that we had an exceptional group of travelers to share this adventure. Everyone pitched in to make the trip enjoyable. It's fantastic when a large group of strangers on day 1 can leave on day 8 as new friends looking forward to meeting again some day in the future. All-in-all GCE has done an excellent job in making this a trip of a lifetime.

If I could give our trip more than 5 stars I would. I cannot say enough about how truly perfect our trip was with Greg and Tom on May 2-9. They were the best boatman and swamper ever!!! The other passengers on the trip definitely made it super fun. I didn't believe 8 days on the river could make such an impact on me. I did not want to leave. It does something to you being IN the canyon ON the river. You cannot understand the feeling until you experience it for yourself. Definitely the trip of a lifetime, for sure! Thank you for one of my best trips ever!

Loved the Canyon loved the guides. Food was exceptional and never ran out I will be back. Trip was like coming home after a long absence.

Where do I begin? First of all, my husband and I had been on a 9 day rafting trip, 22 years ago, from Phantom Ranch to Diamond Creek. I had always described that trip as the most fun I've had in my life. We had the good fortune to nab two spots (off of the waitlist), and take a 16 day dory trip. This September dory trip was a gazillion times more fun and has now cemented a place as lifetime number one experience. We knew several people on the trip, and became fast friends with the rest of the group. I credit the expertise, the big hearts, and the knowledge of the boatmen and women who guided us, played with us, and shared their love of the river and the Grand Canyon with us. Floating through such a rich landscape and learning about the geology and history, hearing stories of past trips and adventures, and being treated to three delicious meals a day was just marvelous. The rapids were thrilling, the peaceful floating down the river was restorative to the soul. Hiking in the beautiful side canyons, catching a glimpse of a Peregrine falcon or Kestrel, a Western Kingbird (first time I'd seen one!), deer, bighorn sheep, and was that tiny bird flying waaaaay high a condor?, were all highlights of the adventure on top of the water and rapids. I live in a city and the only stars I get to see at night are the big dipper, maybe Venus or Mars if lucky, Orion in the late night... so getting to lie in a cot under the stars each night was unforgettable. I would count shooting stars, "one more, just one more before I close my eyes" and watch for satellites passing overhead. Being away from the world is a very powerful experience. No news, no email or phone. Just the wonderful people and boatmen, a merry band of friends collected for this 16 days, and the adventures we had along the way. I found that I wanted to take everyone home to continue friendships. I plan on more trips, more exploring, more starry night skies, for as long as I can manage it. I understand the hook the Grand Canyon sets in a person. I feel that pull still and there is a piece of my heart left there in that beautiful place. I thank the boatmen we travelled with: Andy, Lew, Jim, Doc, Coop, Hanna and Gretchen. I look forward to the time we may meet again, for more fun boating!

Thank you. I had an amazing holiday. The rafting was everything I expected with the excitement of the rapids along with grazing at the ever-changing landscape. Then the unexpected - swimming under waterfalls and star grazing seeing the milky way.