Having trouble deciding between our 3 Day Escape and 6 Day Motor trips? You aren’t alone! We are frequently asked about the difference between these two trips and for advice about which one to pick. Let’s dive in.
6 Day Motor
Our 6 Day Motor trip travels 187 river miles from Lees Ferry (Mile 0) to Whitmore Wash (Mile 187).
The adventure starts with the mile-high walls containing millions of years of geological history rising above you. Each day you’ll explore places such as Redwall Cavern, hike to magnificent lookouts, or view ancestral Puebloan remnants. Sit back and relax while your guides tell stories about historic river runners and give in-depth interpretation of the Grand Canyon. You’ll end each action-packed day connecting with friends over a riverside meal. Set up camp on the Colorado River’s sandy beaches and soon you’ll find yourself snuggled up under a blanket of stars reminiscing about the day’s events.
On this trip, you’ll spend 5 nights camping alongside the river and end with a helicopter ride out of the canyon. This longer trip allows you to see more of the canyon and take side hikes to see waterfalls, scenic vistas, side canyons, and experience bigger whitewater, including iconic rapids like Crystal and Lava Falls.
Start/End Locations: Our 6 Day Motor trip offers the option of round-trip transportation from either Las Vegas, NV or Marble Canyon, AZ.
3 Day Escape
This action-packed adventure blends a western ranch experience with a whitewater rafting trip. Despite being a shorter trip, you’ll still see ⅓ of the canyon from the river as you travel from Whitmore Wash (Mile 187) to Pearce Ferry (Mile 280).
Begin your trip with a flight to the Bar 10 Ranch on the north rim of the canyon where you’ll spend your first day and night of the trip. There you can enjoy horseback riding, skeet shooting, an optional ATV tour and a country western show. Sleep out on the deck, in the lodge, or in a Conestoga wagon.
After breakfast, a breath-taking helicopter ride will transport you into the canyon where you’ll board the rafts and take in the views as you travel the river corridor. Rapids are interspersed between calm stretches where you can get to know your fellow rafters and hear stories about former river runners. Late in the afternoon, you’ll pull over to set up camp, eat dinner and sleep under the stars.
Your final day starts with breakfast before loading the rafts for another day of adventure. Crash through a few more rapids on your way to a hidden waterfall. By early afternoon, you’ll transfer to a jetboat to cruise out of the canyon and board a bus to head back.
You can also watch a video of the 3 Day Escape itinerary here.
Start/End Locations: The 3 Day Escape has two separate trip options, Round-trip from Las Vegas, NV, or from South Rim, Grand Canyon. From the time you land at the Bar 10 until you board the bus back, both trips are exactly the same.
Which one should I pick?
Our 3 Day Escape is a great introduction to camping and rafting in the canyon. It’s perfect for people who love to be on the go and participate in a wide variety of activities. There is a lot packed into a short amount of time, but you’ll still have time to experience the Grand Canyon and disconnect. Guests commonly book this trip as a graduation present, a birthday celebration, a family reunion, or a weekend getaway. This trip is perfect for families on road trips who want to combine the Grand Canyon with other national parks in the Southwest, like Zion. It is also a fun getaway for couples who want to pair our 3 Day Escape with a nice hotel and show in Las Vegas.
If you have the time, choose our 6 Day Motor. We always recommend spending as much time in the canyon as you can! Raft through all the famous whitewater and explore deep within the canyon. You’ll see some incredible places that are only accessible by raft. Another highlight of our longer trips is the time spent with the other guests on the trip. Enjoy spending time hanging out in camp sharing stories and relaxing at the end of the day. If this is the option you are leaning towards, you may also want to consider our 7 Day Motor trip too. It is the exact same trip, just a day longer and is offered more frequently so you’ll have more date options.
We’ve had lots of guests book either a 3 Day or a 6 Day and come back a few years later with friends or family and choose the other trip type. You really can’t go wrong booking either one for your vacation!
If hiking a strenuous 8 miles and rafting sounds more like your perfect vacation you can check out our sister company, Grand Canyon Whitewater, for more trip options. They offer a 4 Day Motor with Hike Out and a 5 Day Motor with Hike In.
Feel free to give our office a call if you still need help deciding. Adventure awaits!