OMG! This trip was absolutely amazing! An absolute trip of a lifetime with some incredibly rad people (guest and guides). Across the board, the Outdoors Unlimited (OU) crew was the dream team! Everyone was so freaking cool, in their own way to contribute to the vibes and needs of the trip! Laura: Perfectly decisive trip leader! Kind, knowledgeable, fun, and firm. Ben: The most knowledgeable person I'll ever meet regarding the Grand Canyon and rafting. I am fortunate to have been on a trip with this legend. Kevin: Good vibes. Awesomely snarky and fun attitude. Josh: Wild and crazy, but super safe. Tony: The wisest and strongest man on the river. Super cool guy. Cris: Chill. Sits back and takes it all in, but then pipes up and adds so much positivity! The meals were incredible - I ate better in 2 weeks in the canyon than I do at home! Breakfast, lunch, dinners and desserts were A+. Crazy good quality, diversity (steaks to ahi tuna steaks to cakes and cookies)...Freaking on point! All of the gear provided was top notch too. As a avid camper/backpacker and gearhead, I was hesitant before arrive, but everything OU provided worked perfectly. I would 100% recommend Outdoors Unlimited for your Grand Canyon rafting trip! read more

My second trip with OU. 12 years since the first one and everything was fantastic and as good as I remembered! Good times on boats, good times in camp, great food, fun hikes, great river stories. OU runs a tight ship. Their guides are top-notch and they take such good care of everyone. I'm already planning my return trip in 2027! read more

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I went on the 14 day paddle rafting tour because I wanted to experience the rapids. I strongly recommend going with a company that specializes on rafting if that is your thing. I was guaranteed the paddle rafting, however, when I arrived, I learned that if there wasn't enough people interested then the boat would be pulled and I'd have to be on an oar boat. Luckily, I got to experience the full rafting like I wanted but was misinformed upon booking. I also learned upon arriving that if I get sick then I would be quarantined. I had an upset stomach due to nerves and medication side effects so beware of this upon booking. I definitely recommend travelers insurance! The crew was great, I just wish the guide from the paddle rafting would have taken the paddling as serious as the leader (Heather) because it was very sloppy as people kept hitting each other's paddles, were out of sync, and some weren't even pulling their weight. If the full canyon experience interest you, I recommend booking a motor tour since the water is mostly flat and you can experience the upper and lower in just 6 days for less cost than the 14 day oaring. They tend to stop at the same places as we did so you wouldn't miss out on anything. The food was good, the campsites were set up great, I just wish I had accurate and more detailed information upon booking along with Heather's guidance on the rafting. read more

I went on a 9-day trip July 2020. It was spectacular, from the hike down to the final jet-boat ride to Pearce Ferry. The guides were serious career 'riverfolk' and I never once feared for my safety. They were patient, knowledgeable, personable and professional. The food was plentiful and outstanding from snacks on the boat to hors d'oeurves to meaty dinners to sumptuous wraps for lunch, all carefully prepared and served (due to COVID) by the staff. Alcohol was also plentiful, but not enough that people started to act stupid. The boating was outstanding. I rode in an oar raft and had my choice each day of which boat to ride in. There was also 1 paddle raft. We went on some beautiful hikes (1-3 hours) and mini-excursions to waterfalls. We usually left camp around 8:30 (coffee served at 5:30) and got in around 4:30, so we didn't have to sit around in the hot sun. Some days had more rapids than others, Granite, Hermit, Crystal and Lava Falls were quite memorable, especially the huge wave in Hermit. You get a major splashing in the front, while the back is relaxing and less exposed to the waves. I wore a SS water shirt and my life vest on top, board/rafting shorts and a sunhat. I had a LS button down shirt that I used mostly to cover my legs (many used a 'sarong' for this). I never wore my spray jacket once (returned to NRS/Amazon). I also never wore my LS cotton T, long pant or socks. Sleeping was hot, usually I just laid out in a pair of shorts and maybe got into my liner around 3:00 AM, and twice I used my sleeping bag. We had no insect problems (except in your headlamp beam and some red ant bites), only 1 night of rain, a ripping monsoon that soaked us as we tried to assemble tents (hit at 7:45 pm), but it passed in an hour or so and we dried out in the morning before setting out. My wife was not able to go, so I took my 17 year old daughter. We had friends on the trip, even though we signed on late, picking up space only 2 weeks before launch due to COVID cancellations. I will be going back with my wife, hopefully next summer and will opt for OU again, unless logistics force me use another rafting company. There were 21 guests and 6 guides. 2 PROBLEMS I had were: (1) Hiking down I kicked a rock, a common thing while hiking, but it did cause me to wince a bit. Then when I got to the bottom of Bright Angel Trail to meet the rafts (8 mile hike) and changed to my river sandals (heavy duty Chacos) I noticed my big toenail was a little dark and a bit "loose". On day 2, during a short stop at a waterfall, I was walking up the creek and my foot slipped forward on a rock, nothing major, but my toe hit just right and it ripped the big toenail 90% of the way off, attached only in the bottom lift corner. Not life- or trip-threatening, but a real PAIN IN THE ASS to keep clean and eventually my toed swelled to the point that I could no longer wear my sandals and was stuck with flip-flops. This meant that hiking and climbing was awkward and there were even hikes I could not go on due to inadequate footwear (flip-flops). So, my first piece of ADVICE is to buy closed-toed river shoes. I'm older (62), so maybe a younger person could get by with Chaco or Teva sandals, but most everyone else (INCLUDING the guides) had shoes on. Anything from Keen open water shoes to high-quality Astral water shoes. (2) During the day you are issued a "day" dry bag that carries your supplies for that day. It's small, 5-L and doesn't hold much. You need to think about hikes, camera, snacks, rain gear, meds, etc. When I go again I plan to purchase my own day bag, maybe 10 or 15-L big. The larger "Night" and "Sleeping Gear" bags were more than adequate for the rest of our gear. On the trip we had 4 guides (Heather "chief", Ben, Travis and Kevin) and 2 baggage boatmen (Lee & Jeff). They were all superbly skilled and interesting to talk to. The baggage boatmen were on the trip to gain river experience so they could become guides and carry passengers--THEY DO NOT GET PAID. So, it's important to remember to "tip" at the end of your trip (we tipped $700 on charges of $6608) as this is the only monetary remuneration the baggage boatmen receive. I know it seems like a lot of dough, but their hard work and willingness to help (& listen!) was worth every penny; just have to build it into your trip cost if you can. I guess that's about it. The social dynamic is different I'm sure with every trip, so you'll obviously find situations where you need patience with others and times where it seems like one big party with the best of friends! A "bucket list" trip for sure and this company offers everything you could want or need for this adventure of a lifetime. read more

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Outdoors Unlimited provided a fun, educational and safe rafting experience. We just completed the 2 week paddle trip (August 2024) and it was a incredible adventure. The food was EXCELLENT, the crew worked so hard to ensure everything was organized and ready for us on shore, and on the water. We were lucky to have Heather, Sean and Tom as our leaders / guides, and the boat crew was always patient, kind and willing to help us. It was a fantastic experience. read more

Where to even begin! I did the Upper Canyon paddle trip with two family members. Outdoors Unlimited truly made it the trip of a lifetime. This was our first time at the Grand Canyon AND first overnight river trip. We couldn't have asked for a better experience. The whole OU team was amazing from day one. The days were paced so it never felt like too much, even when we had a couple days of paddling into the wind. Our guides were engaging, super knowledgeable, and pushed us with the perfect balance of fun & adventure. Plus the meals were delicious...as a vegetarian, I wasn't sure what to expect. Turns out I could expect plenty of tasty veggie options, and my fam loved the meaty meals, too. I wish I could give more than 5 stars to the whole trip. :) If you're looking for an amazing Grand Canyon adventure, book with Outdoors Unlimited!! read more

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Grand Canyon is beautiful. Seeing it up close from the river was an unforgettable experience every day on our 12-day trip. The guides were amazing. We had an overall wonderful trip only marred by a trip leader from hell, Ben. From the outset Ben declared that no questions were allowed. Hikes were announced as "the trip has left" with Ben marching up the cliffs and everyone scrambling behind him. He had no regard or care for guests. He even left camp one night to spend time with his girlfriend who was leading an Oars trip camping on a nearby beach! Btw-it would be helpful if the rafting company warned guests about Tolio, foot eating bacteria. It is easy to prevent but really hard and painful to treat late. read more

My wife and I put a $1,200 deposit down on the 14 day Colorado trip for 2021 back 2020 with Outdoors Unlimited. We asked to reschedule the trip to 2022 and came to find out that we have to cancel the entire trip and lose half our deposit. When I asked why, I was told "well we aren't a travel insurance company" -- this makes no sense, it is a question of good customer management and service. While their trips may be great, the business practices leave a lot to be desired. BUYER BEWARE. read more

I can't recommend Outdoors Unlimited strongly enough! My husband and I did a full canyon trip this past July as a "pre-wedding honeymoon" and we had the most amazing experience. The guides are extremely professional and capable, while being great fun at the same time. The food, sleeping under the stars, and the people you meet, only enhance the natural beauty of the Grand Canyon. For the experience you get from the moment you inquire into trip availability to pulling off the river at the end of your trip, Outdoors Unlimited is topnotch and pays attention to the details (like a traveling library with all sorts of books and information about the Grand Canyon, the horseshoe games on the shore, the day hikes and other adventures). I couldn't be happier to have taken this adventure of a lifetime with Outdoors Unlimited! read more

OMG! Vacations don't get any better than this. It was so good, that I had to do the full river trip (upper and lower) two years in a row! Perfection came in the form of the great river, rapids, people, food, stars and of course the magnificent Canyon itself! With every twist of the river there was a new and more majestic view of the Grand Canyon. Every single meal was well planned and delicious. The safety instructions were detailed so that if a raft flipped in a rapid, each of us knew exactly what to do. The trip seems to attract like-minded people - people who enjoy the outdoors and travel with a high degree of concern for preserving the environment and our national treasures - very interesting and well traveled people. I especially enjoyed the range of ages. The guides are beyond excellent. They are gracious, impart their knowledge of the canyon and its geology, well skilled and helpful. While hiking, when needed there was always an extended hand to assist me to climb up a steep section. I simply cannot say enough wonderful, wonderful things about Outdoors Unlimited! They've been at it for so long, they've thought of everything - including a traveling library with books about rafting and the canyon. read more

OU (Outdoors Unlimited) has really mastered the Grand Canyon. Our 12-day float down the 240+ miles of the GC was astounding, breath taking, and ultra-extraordinary. To me the GC was a 240 mile long Yosemite Valley--soaring walls on both sides of ever-changing dimensions, beauty and geology. No cells phones or computers (no coverage or electricity)--so a defacto retreat from the world of screens, alerts, and messages. OU hosts this adventure with pretty flawless execution. Our guides (Mark, Phil, Chad, and Mandella) as well as our boatmen (Will and Kevin), were experts on the rafts (river skills, people skills, geology, history) as well as off the rafts (cooking, camping, logistics, waterfall hikes, canyon hikes, rim hikes, and paddle board coaches). I suppose if you are a person that prefers motocross, and snowmobiles, and 4-wheel driving to mountain biking and back country skiing and backpacking, then you would be better served by a motor-raft than a float trip. However, if you want to experience the texture of the river, the sounds of nature, and the spectacle of sights that the GC offers, the pace and peacefulness of floating are the way to go. And, as an extra bonus and contrast, running the rapids in paddle or oar boats let's you experience the full power and excitement of the Colorado in a much more intimate fashion. In camp, we had many amenities that made the trip feel luxurious after a day of hiking, swimming, rafting and paddle boarding: comfortable camp chairs, astounding outdoor bathrooms, cold beer and soft drinks, thick sleeping pads, h'ors dourvres, river baths, and post-card perfect views. Our food--or should I say cuisine--was A+: Thick filets, carnitas, seared ahi, rib eyes, salmon filets, chicken fajitas with fresh salads or veggies and followed by dutch oven desserts (pineapple upside down was the favorite). Breakfasts always offered a hot meat, a hot entree, plus yogurt, granola, fresh fruit (sliced artistically) plus very good, freshly roasted, well prepared coffee (and I am a coffee snob)--half and half included! For lunch we almost always pulled ashore and rolled out the full monty of some delicious sandwich salad (tuna, hummus, crab, taco) plus a full on deli and a generous selection of cookies, dried fruit, nut butters. OU has perfected their game and they recycle the same menu on each trip so that their skill and experience with each has reached an apex that leaves little room for improvement. I am most grateful for the solitude and time I got to spend with my bride and son and brothers and extended family. Something about being in the womb of nature with no other distractions let us be together in a way that is hard to achieve anywhere else. We made great friends with our other adventures, I think because we were all somewhat like minded and swept up in our experience on the river. I have been fortunate to visit many beautiful places, but this trip truly rises to the top in so many ways that I can only say: It is a place and an experience without comparison. read more