Enjoy a mellow rafting trip on the Colorado River during this full-day tour from Sedona. En route to Glen Canyon, where your raft float takes place, drive through the Sonoran Desert highlights including the San Francisco Volcanic Field and Painted Desert. Stop at a trading post of the Navajo Nation and browse the Native American jewelry and arts for sale. While floating down the Glen Canyon section of the Colorado River, marvel at the natural beauty, and take a lunchtime swim or hike to see Anasazi petroglyphs.

Full-day tour with rafting down the Colorado River and a trip through northern Arizona
Cruise down the smooth waters of the Colorado River aboard a raft and take in stunning views of Glen Canyon
Enjoy a picnic lunch on a riverside beach and see ancient cliffside pueblo petroglyphs
Drive through the San Francisco Volcanic Field and the Painted Desert
Visit the historic Cameron Navajo Trading Post
Round-trip hotel transport from Sedona included

Why Travelers Choose This Tour

While the Colorado River normally is a rough-and-tumble affair, this trip gives you a safe but exciting trip through Arizona’s canyon country. You’ll board the raft near the Glen Canyon Dam, where the waters are calm, making the trip family-friendly.

What's Included

Hotel pickup and drop-off
Lunch
Professional guide
Float trip along the gorgeous Colorado River
Beautiful views on your trip to and from the river
Smaller group sizes allow for personalized attention from your tour guide
Arizona State Law Requires All Children Eight Years and Younger to be in a Car Seat/Booster Seat.

Gratuities not included
Average gratuity is 15% to 20% if you enjoyed your tour
Guests are required to provide their own car seat/booster seat for their tour.

Meeting And Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Start time

07:00 AM

Pickup details

*Complimentary Sedona/Village of Oak Creek (6:00-6:30am) and Flagstaff (7:00-7:30am) hotel pickup (Flagstaff pickup within city limits only). Minimum 4 guests required for tour to operate.

What To Expect

Your day begins with pickup from your Sedona hotel and a scenic drive to the Colorado River in a comfortable climate-controlled van.

Take in the scenery as you travel through northern Arizona's dramatic terrain en route to Glen Canyon Dam, passing by some of the 600 volcanoes that make up the San Francisco Volcanic Field, which borders the Colorado Plateau. In the distance, see the Painted Desert, which is part of the Petrified Forest National Park. Take a break to stretch your legs and check out the goods at a trading post, operated by the Navajo Nation of Cameron since 1911, and now a popular rest stop for travelers to the Grand Canyon.

When you arrive in the town of Page, head to the base of the Glen Canyon Dam, which formed Lake Powell by blocking the mighty Colorado River. Your rafting trip starts nearby, and you'll receive a safety briefing before setting out on this calm stretch of the famous river.

Your Colorado River float covers 15 miles (24 km) as it winds through gorgeous Glen Canyon. Enjoy a picnic lunch during a stop on the river (sandwich, snacks and fruit) and have time to swim in the chilly waters of the Colorado or follow your guide on an easy hike to see ancient petroglyphs created by the Anasazi, who built their homes in these cliffs.

Your rafting trip ends at Lees Ferry, located in the Glen Canyon Recreation Area. Lees Ferry once served as a ferry crossing and military outpost, and is now considered the official starting point of the Grand Canyon. Hop into your vehicle there and relax during the drive back to your Sedona hotel.

Please note: This tour is seasonal and operates from May 1st to October 1st only.

Glen Canyon Dam

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area

3 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Redstone Tours (Pass By)

Horseshoe Bend

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Historic Navajo Bridge

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Oak Creek Canyon (Pass By)

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
All the vans are fully climate controlled
It is recommended that you bring extra layers of clothing in the Spring and Fall
The trip is only smooth water
A stop is made for lunch on a large sandy beach where there is a huge wall of ancient Indian petroglyphs
Not wheelchair accessible

Not recommended for travelers with back problems
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
Arizona State Law Requires All Children Eight Years and Younger to be in a Car Seat/Booster Seat. Guests are required to provide their own car seat/booster seat for their tour.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers

Cancellation Policy

This experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Reviews

4.5

15 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

Showing 1-10 of 15 reviews

Fun tour.

Dale_G, Jun 2022

Guides both in van and river trip were great. Didn't want it to end. Each did a great job explaining what we were seeing. Do need to give the van driver a little more time to get to the destination for them tour. This is a great tour.

I thought the raft trip was leaving...

Gail M, Oct 2016

I thought the raft trip was leaving near Sedona. That 4 hour van ride was torture. The raft trip was great. The 4 hour van ride back was more torture.

This was a very fun trip. Weather was...

Donald G, May 2016

This was a very fun trip. Weather was perfect, which added a lot. The views were awesome. Would definitely recommend.

Ron and I really enjoyed the Glen...

Ronald B, Oct 2015

Ron and I really enjoyed the Glen Canyon Float Trip. It was relaxing and informative. Jeremy, our float guide, was wonderful and did a great job answering our questions. Sheldon, our bus driver, was also wonderful. We had no ideas about what to do with the rest of our time in the area and he was very helpful with ideas. He also had a lot of information about the area as we drove. I would definitely recommend this trip to families. The water was calm so it would be safe for kids of all ages. It was amazing. Thank you to everyone who made the trip possible.

The tour began with a 3 hour van ride...

Heather D, Aug 2015

The tour began with a 3 hour van ride from Sedona to Page, AZ. Although our guide was super nice and extremely informative, I wish I would have known that the trip included a 6 hour round trip drive to the rafting location. There were no details about this part of the tour when I originally booked. However, the rafting experience was great! Our guide, Sonny, was of Navajo descent and knew of the local customs and history of his tribe. During our journey down the river, he shared interesting facts about the river and pointed out important geogological formations. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute on the river.

This trip itself was very relaxing and...

Denise B, Sep 2014

This trip itself was very relaxing and the view from the river is amazing! The guide was informative and interesting. Truly something everyone should do! The only thing negative I have to say about the trip is that it is a long day! It's a 3 hour drive from Sedona to Page, where the tour begins. And another 3 hour drive back to Sedona from Lees Ferry.

The Viator company, I believe, has many...

Diane C. B, Oct 2013

The Viator company, I believe, has many different tours happening at the same time(s). I booked this float trip before the Goverment shutdown and unfortunately was caught up in it as the Grand Canyon was "closed". This Viator company made a great suggestion to visit Monument Valley instead and I am glad I went! Spectacular, once in a lifetime experience, and also with our driver and tour guide "Lynn" with party of 7. Stop off at Cameroon Trading Post and Gouldings for lunch was perfect. Lynn made the entire trip; naturalist, historian, great sense of humor, and a great driver. We even saw a California Condor at sunset-how rare! My thanks to a company so well organized and communicative! DCB, Long Island, New York.

Had a great time with my wife, 8 yo and...

james p, Apr 2013

Had a great time with my wife, 8 yo and 6 yo. Would highly recommend

Our trip was great. The was...

Janet A, Sep 2012

Our trip was great. The was knowledgable and very friendly. The lunch was fair. Somehow,some way it should be taken on the raft and eaten in the shade of a bluff. It needs to be kept colder.

Realy enjoyed the informative van ride...

William E, Jul 2012

Realy enjoyed the informative van ride up and back. The river float was excellent also. Only negative was the bag lunch. Why pack chocate chips and mix with m and ms in plastic bags during 90+ weather. Very messy to eat.

Great experience on this...

Lauren L, Aug 2011

Great experience on this tour--excellent guides (bus driver and boat guide) and fantastic scenery. Learned quite a bit of history of northern Arizona along the way. Well worth the investment!

This was wonderful, our guide was very...

Denise S, Aug 2011

This was wonderful, our guide was very knowledgable as well as full of fun!

The long run from Sedona to the river...

Paul B, Jun 2007

The long run from Sedona to the river became an interesting and memorable part of the trip as our driver guide kept up a steady stream of interesting facts, anecdotes, and information about the striking countryside we were passing through. Once on the river, our raft operator was equally adept at pointing out interesting views. The river and the canyon were truly beautiful and the stop at the petroglyphs was amazing. A good lunch and a dip with some other hearty souls in the 47 degree river made for a truly wonderful experience and a great vacation memory!