Trip Info: 3 Day Escape Itinerary
Las Vegas, Nevada Trips
Las Vegas Trips are a convenient option for many guests. We recommend flying into Las Vegas, NV, at least one day before the trip and taking ground transportation (taxi, Uber/ Lyft, shuttle) to the designated hotel. All other transportation elements are part of your trip package.
The Day Before the Trip Begins: We recommend staying at the designated hotel in Las Vegas.
Day One at Bar 10 Ranch: Meet your Trip Host at 10:15 a.m. in the lobby of the designated hotel in Las Vegas. We will transport you to a small, local airport where you’ll check-in for the 40-minute charter flight to Bar 10 Ranch.
You will arrive at the ranch in time for lunch and spend the afternoon enjoying horseback riding, skeet shooting, and other activities. The Bar 10 Ranch has guided ATV tours available for an additional cost. You may sign up and pay for the ATV tours at the ranch orientation if you are interested. Evening begins with a hearty Dutch oven dinner, followed by a country-western show performed by Bar 10 staff. They have a variety of sleeping accommodations – in the main lodge, outside on a spacious upper deck under the stars, or in a Conestoga wagon. Wagons sleep two people comfortably and have limited availability. If you prefer a wagon, place your request with ARR at least 30 days prior to your trip.
On the River: The next morning you’ll have an early breakfast before heading down to the river. You’ll take a scenic and exhilarating 7-minute helicopter ride over an ancient lava flow before descending into the canyon. Meet your river guides, repack your gear into the provided dry bags, and have orientation before starting your river adventure.
Your day will consist of running rapids, a lunch stop, and admiring the beauty of the canyon. In the late afternoon, you will pull into camp for an evening by the river. Once the rafts are unloaded by the group “duffel line,” you can find your camp spot for the night. You can set up a tent or sleep in the open air. Your Trip Host will demonstrate how all of the provided camping gear works.
The guides hustle to set up the kitchen and an important part of camp, the scenic bathroom area. While you wait for dinner, enjoy sitting by the river and relaxing or wander over to the kitchen for appetizers. Camp chairs are set up near the kitchen area, so guests can chat and watch the river guides do their magic. Soon a fresh and delicious riverside meal will be ready for your dining pleasure!
As the day winds down, sit and watch a beautiful sunset, reflect on the day, or join in a conversation with other guests. At the end of the evening, head to your camp spot for a restful sleep under a canopy of brilliant stars.
Note: Keep in mind, there is no exact itinerary. Many factors go into the decisions about activities and where to stop for side hikes and camp. Other groups, guest abilities, extreme conditions, and inclement weather can greatly impact what this trip looks like.
The Final Day: As the sun peeks over the canyon walls, you’ll hear a guide call “Coffee!” That’s your cue to head to the kitchen and grab a cup of joe and get ready for the day. A short while later, guides will call you to breakfast. After breakfast, quickly finish packing up your campsite and personal gear and bring your bags to the rafts. Once the guides have packed up the kitchen, everyone helps reload all the gear. Then you are off for another day of adventure on the mighty Colorado River!
Your morning will be filled with rapids in the Lower Granite Gorge. Rain gear is a good idea while the river is still in the shade. By midday, you’ll finish running the last rapids of the Grand Canyon.
You’ll unpack out of the dry bags and transfer to a jet boat to cruise across the remaining flat-water portion of the river. This scenic jet boat ride out of the canyon to the upper region of Lake Mead takes about one hour. A shuttle bus will be waiting to transport you up a short unpaved road to an air-conditioned charter bus.
The bus ride back to Las Vegas is about 2 1/2 hours. The bus will drop off at the designated hotel first and then depart promptly for Harry Reid International Airport (LAS), usually between 4:00 and 6:00 p.m. If you choose to fly out of Las Vegas on the final day, make sure your flight departs after 6:30 p.m. Our bus must go to the airport immediately after dropping guests off at the hotel. If you have luggage stored at the hotel, you’ll need to factor in extra time to retrieve your bags and then arrange transportation to Harry Reid International Airport on your own.
This timing typically works well, but due to the remote nature of this trip and multiple forms of transportation, we cannot guarantee our exact return times.
South Rim Grand Canyon Trips
South Rim Grand Canyon Trips are best for guests who can drive to the South Rim in Grand Canyon National Park. If you fly to the area, there are numerous rental car agencies at Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix, Arizona (PHX), which is about 4 hours from the South Rim.
Alternatively, you could fly to Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, NV (LAS), which is about 4.5 hours from the South Rim. You can leave your vehicle at the Grand Canyon Airport free of charge for the duration of your trip.
The Day Before the Trip Begins: Plan to arrive at the South Rim at least one day before the trip starts. Lodging should be booked as soon as possible. Reservations in the park open one year in advance and can sell out. Additional lodging options are available in Tusayan, Arizona.
Day One at Bar 10 Ranch: Meet your Trip Host at 10:45 a.m. in the lobby of the Grand Canyon Airport, 3555 Airport Road, Grand Canyon Village, AZ 86023. Find parking and arrival information here. You’ll check-in for the 40-minute charter flight to Bar 10 Ranch.
You will arrive at the ranch in time for lunch and spend the afternoon enjoying horseback riding, skeet shooting, and other activities. The Bar 10 Ranch has guided ATV tours available for an additional cost. You may sign up and pay for the ATV tours at the ranch orientation if you are interested. Evening begins with a hearty Dutch oven dinner, followed by a country-western show performed by Bar 10 staff. They have a variety of sleeping accommodations – in the main lodge, outside on a spacious upper deck under the stars, or in a Conestoga wagon. Wagons sleep two people comfortably and have limited availability. If you prefer a wagon, place your request with ARR at least 30 days prior to your trip.
On the River: The next morning you’ll have an early breakfast before heading down to the river. You’ll take a scenic and exhilarating 7-minute helicopter ride over an ancient lava flow before descending into the canyon. Meet your river guides, repack your gear into the provided dry bags, and have orientation before starting your river adventure.
Your day will consist of running rapids, a lunch stop, and admiring the beauty of the canyon. In the late afternoon, you will pull into camp for an evening by the river. Once the rafts are unloaded by the group “duffel line,” you can find your camp spot for the night. You can set up a tent or sleep in the open air. Your Trip Host will demonstrate how all of the provided camping gear works.
The guides hustle to set up the kitchen and an important part of camp, the scenic bathroom area. While you wait for dinner, enjoy sitting by the river and relaxing or wander over to the kitchen for appetizers. Camp chairs are set up near the kitchen area, so guests can chat and watch the river guides do their magic. Soon a fresh and delicious riverside meal will be ready for your dining pleasure!
As the day winds down, sit and watch a beautiful sunset, reflect on the day, or join in a conversation with other guests. At the end of the evening, head to your camp spot for a restful sleep under a canopy of brilliant stars.
Note: Keep in mind, there is no exact itinerary. Many factors go into the decisions about activities and where to stop for side hikes and camp. Other groups, guest abilities, extreme conditions, and inclement weather can greatly impact what this trip looks like.
The Final Day: As the sun peeks over the canyon walls, you’ll hear a guide call “Coffee!” That’s your cue to head to the kitchen and grab a cup of joe and get ready for the day. A short while later, guides will call you to breakfast. After breakfast, quickly finish packing up your campsite and personal gear and bring your bags to the rafts. Once the guides have packed up the kitchen, everyone helps reload all the gear. Then you are off for another day of adventure on the mighty Colorado River!
Your morning will be filled with rapids in the Lower Granite Gorge. Rain gear is a good idea while the river is still in the shade. By midday, you’ll finish running the last rapids of the Grand Canyon.
You’ll unpack out of the dry bags and transfer to a jet boat to cruise across the remaining flat-water portion of the river. This scenic jet boat ride out of the canyon to the upper region of Lake Mead takes about one hour. A shuttle bus will be waiting to transport you up a short unpaved road to an air-conditioned charter bus. The bus ride is about 4 hours and will return to the Grand Canyon Airport between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m.
This timing typically works well, but due to the remote nature of this trip and multiple forms of transportation, we cannot guarantee our exact return times.
Closed-toed shoes are not required for any activity at Bar 10 Ranch. However, some guests prefer to bring athletic/tennis shoes for walking on uneven terrain, horseback riding, and the optional ATV tour. If you prefer to pack light, 1 pair of river shoes/sandals and 1 pair of flip-flops would be sufficient as most people do ranch activities in their river shoes. Many surfaces encountered on and off the rafts are extremely slippery. To help maneuver on these surfaces your river shoes should have grippy tread and attach securely to your foot with laces/straps. For optimal comfort make sure your shoes are broken in before the trip. River sandals tend to be the most popular choice as they have all of these features and are great for the short side hikes in or around water. We recommend Chaco, Keen, Bedrock, or Merrell for 
It is important to have a quality 
You will pack your duffel bag in our waterproof bags when you get to the river. Quick-drying clothing is highly recommended. Many of our guides wear long-sleeved shirts every day for sun protection.
To help you plan all the details of your trip, we want to let you know that it is customary, upon receiving a satisfactory experience, to tip the Bar 10 Ranch staff and the Arizona River Runners crew. It is an acknowledgment of a job well done, and anything you give is greatly appreciated.
You’ll likely want to shower after a day of ranch activities. Thankfully, Bar 10 Ranch has plenty of warm showers available. There are towels available to rent for a small fee, or you can bring a small towel from home. A 
Most personal homeowners’ insurance policies will not cover lost or damaged cameras on your river trip. If you bring items of value, it is your responsibility to provide your own insurance coverage. Arizona River Runners is not responsible for damage to or loss of personal items during river trips.
There are no liquid restrictions on the charter flight, but an excess baggage fee may be assessed for bags over the 25-lb weight limit.
