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Arizona Vacations & Adventure Tours

Arizona Vacations Adventure Tours

When you think of Arizona, it's impossible not to imagine the insanely deep valleys of the Grand Canyon. Tick off this bucket-list gem, and more, on our Arizona Vacations and Adventure Tours.

Imagine standing near the rim of the Grand Canyon, looking down as far as the eye can see, to the Colorado River raging a mile below. This natural wonder showcases the true strength of Mother Nature. The only way to truly grasp the mindblowing landscapes is to explore them yourself on our Arizona vacations and adventure tours. Yet, there's so much more to Arizona than its famous South Rim. Hop on a bike and ride through Prescott's Granite Dells, float down a salt river, keep your eye out for wild horses and the soaring California Condor, and cross the Colorado Plateau via train. Finding the hidden trails, well off the tourist track, takes years of local knowledge. So leave the planning to the professionals, strap on your hiking boots and embark on our Arizona vacations and adventure tours.

Arizona Trips

North America

Grand Canyon Adventure

4.93

  • Duration 6 days
  • Activity Level Level 3 
    • Activity Level 3

      Step It Up

      I love an active vacation. Engaging in a challenging activity with a difficult goal, such as reaching a summit, is exactly what I need to unwind in the evenings.

    Read more about the Active Range

 ADULT ONLY

Experience the Grand Canyon from all angles as you explore hidden gems and take in famous views of this beloved landmark. Each day brings new awe-inspiring moments as you hike and raft among the incredible natural wonders.

Trip Start: Phoenix, Arizona Trip End: Phoenix, Arizona

North America

Grand Canyon Family Vacation

4.76

  • Duration 6 days
  • Activity Level Level 3 
    • Activity Level 3

      Step It Up

      I love an active vacation. Engaging in a challenging activity with a difficult goal, such as reaching a summit, is exactly what I need to unwind in the evenings.

    Read more about the Active Range

 FAMILY VACATION

Introduce your family to the awe-inspiring vastness of the Grand Canyon. On this six-day trip, you’ll hike, kayak, and take a train ride through this incredible region to discover its dynamic history and geological wonders.

Trip Start: Phoenix, Arizona Trip End: Phoenix, Arizona

Hear from our Happy Guests
4.85/5 Rating | 6,500+ Reviews

Reviews from our Arizona Vacations

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Grand Canyon Family Vacation - July 2023

Hot Grand Canyon

"We knew it would be hot when we booked a year ago, but an unprecedented heat dome had settled over the southwest weeks prior to our arrival. Despite walking into the blast furnace (aka Phoenix), the remainder of the trip into northern Arizona was far more pleasant. And we were provided ample hydration drinks/water by our amazing guides (Megan and Joel)! It was truly an awesome trip and the best reward was witnessing my family's expressions as they viewed one of the worlds natural wonders for the first time. The accommodations, guides, and meals were all wonderful.

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"We knew it would be hot when we booked a year ago, but an unprecedented… read more

"We knew it would be hot when we booked a year ago, but an unprecedented heat dome had settled over the southwest weeks prior to our arrival. Despite walking into the blast furnace (aka Phoenix), the remainder of the trip into northern Arizona was far more pleasant. And we were provided ample hydration drinks/water by our amazing guides (Megan and Joel)! It was truly an awesome trip and the best reward was witnessing my family's expressions as they viewed one of the worlds natural wonders for the first time. The accommodations, guides, and meals were all wonderful. read less

5 Stars (45 reviews)

L Luke | July 2023

Grand Canyon Family Vacation - July 2023

Grand times in the Grand Canyon

"Honestly, we were not sure what to expect: as time drew closer, we were starting to get concerned about our plan of going to the desert in the middle of the summer. There were heat warnings and advisories and even news of a lady that died of heat in the Grand Canyon! We had never done a guided trip before with the kids and there was going to be plenty of hiking in 100+ heat.

Our trip started off with a long day in Scottsdale after our airline moved us to a very early morning. It was a scorching day in Scottsdale waiting for our tour to start. The next morning, our guides, Joel and Bob, showed up promptly and ready to go. They greeted us and the kids and we set out. We got used to seeing the Austin Adventures van and trailer for the next week!

On day 1, we headed down to the Salt River and got ready to kayak. Joel joined us on our adventure while Bob drove the van to the pick up spot. We had an REI guide with us who…

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"Honestly, we were not sure what to expect: as time drew closer, we were… read more

"Honestly, we were not sure what to expect: as time drew closer, we were starting to get concerned about our plan of going to the desert in the middle of the summer. There were heat warnings and advisories and even news of a lady that died of heat in the Grand Canyon! We had never done a guided trip before with the kids and there was going to be plenty of hiking in 100+ heat.

Our trip started off with a long day in Scottsdale after our airline moved us to a very early morning. It was a scorching day in Scottsdale waiting for our tour to start. The next morning, our guides, Joel and Bob, showed up promptly and ready to go. They greeted us and the kids and we set out. We got used to seeing the Austin Adventures van and trailer for the next week!

On day 1, we headed down to the Salt River and got ready to kayak. Joel joined us on our adventure while Bob drove the van to the pick up spot. We had an REI guide with us who lead the group, but having our AA guide with us was great too. They were all very diligent in our need of water, sunblock, and snacks all week. The kayak trip was very nice. The weather was very hot, but the water was cold. We got to paddle and even take turns jumping off of a rock into the channel. It was a very fun way to get things rolling, esp. for the kids. Bob had lunch waitin for us and it was great. All of the guide lunches we had were very good and plentiful. After the kayaking, we headed to Prescott.

Day 2- we started off with a fantastic breakfast at the Hassayampa Inn. The pancakes were huge! My daughter loved her parfait and rest of the crew had tasty omelets. I loved getting Joel's advice on what was good on the menu at each place. After a big breakfast, we headed to Watson Lake outside Prescott. What a beautiful place! Yes, it was hot... But, Joel and Bob always had plenty of water and lots of info about local plants, wildlife, and geological formations. . After the hike, we headed to "Bear"-izona. That's the most bears I've ever seen. We got to feed the grizzlies which was cool. Then we headed to Williams. We would be on our own for the afternoon. Joel gave us several recommendations for what to try for supper.

Day 3-after breakfast the next morning in Williams, we watched a wild west show at the train depot. It was pretty "meh", but we didn't have anything else to do while waiting for the train. The train ride was fun. I enjoyed looking for wildlife as we rode along. After we got to the Grand Canyon, they picked us up and took us to another tasty lunch, except this time it was on the rim and our first glimpse of the GC. We hiked along the rim back to our hotel. What a magnificent sight! It's such a beautiful place. That rim hike was a good warm-up to our canyon hike the next day. We rested up, did a little souvenir shopping, then had a great supper at the El Tovar.

Day 4-This was the big day--into the Grand Canyon! We had a good breakfast at El Tovar. Joel had recommended the avocado toast. I'd never had it before and it was very good. After that we headed to the South Kaibab trail head. We were going to head some miles into the canyon and then back out. Like the guides said, "into the canyon, optional. Out of the canyon, mandatory!" We loaded up lunch and plenty of water. We went all the way down to Cedar Point. The trip out was tough, but not as bad as we thought. We rested a bit then headed to supper outside the park.

Day 5-We headed out of the park to the watch tower and lunch in Flagstaff. The pizza there was great! After that, a beautiful drive to Sedona. It was hot again, but another great place. We got to spend some time in the pool watching the bats fly around.

Day 6-The last day. The Pink Jeep tour was a fantastic way to see the Sedona area. We had a good time doing that. We saw Montezuma's Castle which was a very interesting look at some American history. Then back to the airport and home! It was a great trip! read less

5 Stars (45 reviews)

A Amy | July 2023

Grand Canyon Family Vacation - June 2023

Great Family Vacation

"We took our two grandchildren on the Grand Canyon family trip and it was a wonderful way for us to bond with the kids and enjoy the company of the other families. The guides were great with kids and very knowledgeable about the geology, plants, and animals in the desert areas that we visited.

read more

"We took our two grandchildren on the Grand Canyon family trip and it was a… read more

"We took our two grandchildren on the Grand Canyon family trip and it was a wonderful way for us to bond with the kids and enjoy the company of the other families. The guides were great with kids and very knowledgeable about the geology, plants, and animals in the desert areas that we visited. read less

4 Stars (45 reviews)

H Harriet | June 2023

Grand Canyon Family Vacation - June 2023

Great Family Trip

"The views were breathtaking, the variety of travel and experiences were interesting, and the guides friendly and knowledgeable.

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"The views were breathtaking, the variety of travel and experiences were interesting, and the guides… read more

"The views were breathtaking, the variety of travel and experiences were interesting, and the guides friendly and knowledgeable. read less

5 Stars (45 reviews)

L Lori | June 2023

Grand Canyon Family Vacation - June 2023

Grand Canyon

"This was our family's 3rd Austin Adventures National Park trip. I can't say enough good things about our amazing guides: Megan, Joel and Ryan. The other family's were great travel companions as well. This trip struck a great balance of activity, relaxation and incredible scenery. I knew the Jeep off roading excursion and Grand Canyon Railway would be highlights for my son, but there were also some nice surprises like Bearizona and visiting The Watchtower that will be great memories. Our hotel room in GC had beautiful canyon views out large window. The best nights sleep was in Sedona at The Best Western that included plush bed, private balcony with gorgeous views and a fun hotel pool/activity center.

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"This was our family's 3rd Austin Adventures National Park trip. I can't say enough… read more

"This was our family's 3rd Austin Adventures National Park trip. I can't say enough good things about our amazing guides: Megan, Joel and Ryan. The other family's were great travel companions as well. This trip struck a great balance of activity, relaxation and incredible scenery. I knew the Jeep off roading excursion and Grand Canyon Railway would be highlights for my son, but there were also some nice surprises like Bearizona and visiting The Watchtower that will be great memories. Our hotel room in GC had beautiful canyon views out large window. The best nights sleep was in Sedona at The Best Western that included plush bed, private balcony with gorgeous views and a fun hotel pool/activity center. read less

5 Stars (45 reviews)

E Emily | June 2023

Grand Canyon Adventure - September 2022

Grand Canyon Adventure

"great adventure outstanding guides

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"great adventure outstanding guides read more

"great adventure outstanding guides read less

5 Stars (27 reviews)

K Kent | September 2022

Grand Canyon Adventure - September 2022

Grand Canyon Adventure

"EVERYTHING WAS FANTASTIC!!!! We had a great trip! All the activities were super and it was a great variety of things to do. We loved it. Austin Adventures goes above and beyond what we even could imagine!!

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"EVERYTHING WAS FANTASTIC!!!! We had a great trip! All the activities were super… read more

"EVERYTHING WAS FANTASTIC!!!! We had a great trip! All the activities were super and it was a great variety of things to do. We loved it. Austin Adventures goes above and beyond what we even could imagine!! read less

5 Stars (27 reviews)

L Lynn | September 2022

Grand Canyon Family Vacation - July 2022

Grand Canyon Family Vacation

"Great experience. Everything taken care of, wonderful.

read more

"Great experience. Everything taken care of, wonderful. read more

"Great experience. Everything taken care of, wonderful. read less

5 Stars (45 reviews)

M Michele | July 2022

Grand Canyon Family Vacation - July 2022

Grand Canyon Family Vacation

"For my first Austin Adventures trip, it was beyond my expectations. The guides were amazing and I genuinely already miss everyone. It was the little things the guides did for us that made it so special, like a cold glass of pickle pear juice after hiking in the Grand Canyon and setting up lunch to eat around the rim. I cannot wait to go on my next adventure!

read more

"For my first Austin Adventures trip, it was beyond my expectations. The guides were amazing… read more

"For my first Austin Adventures trip, it was beyond my expectations. The guides were amazing and I genuinely already miss everyone. It was the little things the guides did for us that made it so special, like a cold glass of pickle pear juice after hiking in the Grand Canyon and setting up lunch to eat around the rim. I cannot wait to go on my next adventure! read less

5 Stars (45 reviews)

M McKenna | July 2022

Grand Canyon Family Vacation - July 2022

Grand Canyon Family Vacation

"It was a fun trip. The grand canyon is beautiful, and we had wonderful guides

read more

"It was a fun trip. The grand canyon is beautiful, and we had wonderful… read more

"It was a fun trip. The grand canyon is beautiful, and we had wonderful guides read less

4 Stars (45 reviews)

E Emily | July 2022

Grand Canyon Family Vacation - July 2022

Grand Canyon Family Vacation

"Outstanding. Itinerary was great and the guides were even better.

read more

"Outstanding. Itinerary was great and the guides were even better. read more

"Outstanding. Itinerary was great and the guides were even better. read less

5 Stars (45 reviews)

T Tad | July 2022

Grand Canyon Family Vacation - June 2022

Grand Canyon Family Vacation

"Loved the guides and how they kept everything organized and made things easy for us.
I did not care for the Prescott hotel. It wasn

read more

"Loved the guides and how they kept everything organized and made things easy for us.
I… read more

"Loved the guides and how they kept everything organized and made things easy for us.
I did not care for the Prescott hotel. It wasn read less

5 Stars (45 reviews)

M Mary | June 2022

Grand Canyon Family Vacation - June 2022

Grand Canyon Family Vacation

"Great trip! Guides were amazing and knowledgeable. The family had an awesome time.

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"Great trip! Guides were amazing and knowledgeable. The family had an awesome time. read more

"Great trip! Guides were amazing and knowledgeable. The family had an awesome time. read less

4 Stars (45 reviews)

J Jennifer | June 2022

Grand Canyon Family Vacation - June 2022

Grand Canyon Family Vacation

"overall a great trip! wonderful service, pretty good accomodations

read more

"overall a great trip! wonderful service, pretty good accomodations read more

"overall a great trip! wonderful service, pretty good accomodations read less

5 Stars (45 reviews)

J Jennifer | June 2022

Grand Canyon Family Vacation - June 2022

Grand Canyon Family Vacation

"This was a very well executed family oriented active vacation. While I chose not to participate in one of the biking and hiking events, other family members said they were fun and worth the time. I thought the food was excellent but felt there was way too much time spent at the dinners and the first breakfast. Buffet breakfast better. While the weather was bad and made watching the sunset at the Grand Canyon impossible, it was never contemplated in the schedule either evening. I

read more

"This was a very well executed family oriented active vacation. While I chose not… read more

"This was a very well executed family oriented active vacation. While I chose not to participate in one of the biking and hiking events, other family members said they were fun and worth the time. I thought the food was excellent but felt there was way too much time spent at the dinners and the first breakfast. Buffet breakfast better. While the weather was bad and made watching the sunset at the Grand Canyon impossible, it was never contemplated in the schedule either evening. I read less

4 Stars (45 reviews)

E Ellen | June 2022

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Take 10% off the trip price when you book a trip and pay in full

By paying in full we are able to pass on savings to our guests, but please note that by opting for this payment plan, your booking becomes non-refundable, non-cancellable, and non-changeable. This offer is only valid for reservations where the trip is no sooner than 180 days from the departure date at time of booking.

We highly recommend that you purchase Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) insurance. We recommend Redpoint Insurance – you can find details here.

T&Cs Apply. Read more here.

BOOKING CONDITIONS

Your Expert Local Guides

Arizona FAQs

Do you recommend buying travel insurance?

As an Austin Adventures traveler, it’s highly recommended you take out travel insurance to cover the likes of travel delays, missed connections, medical expenses or injury, or lost baggage for your travel with us. Please head to our Travel Protection page for more in-depth information and our recommended insurance provider.

What's included on your North America trips?

Accommodation

We've spent years finding places to stay that are quaint, perfectly-located, and comfortable when we take you to the most amazing parts of North America. We offer a wide variety of accommodations on our trips ranging from locally run inns and first-class hotels to resorts, dude ranches and historic national park cabins. Accommodations are selected for their location, unique charm and history, and offer a true feel for the region. We strongly believe in the value of a good night's sleep and our accommodation reflects this. We also like to have somewhere comfortable to relax after the day's activities.

Transport

We're really focused on ensuring that we spend as little time as possible sitting in vehicles, and that we optimise your vacation for adventuring in the great outdoors. Our average driving time is just over two hours a day, and we make plenty of stops for bathroom breaks and sightseeing along the way. We use modern, comfortable 15-passenger vans for all of our transfers and a second van is added to most departures to provide more flexibility and more room to spread out while seeing the sights! Make no mistake - our trips are not typical bus tour vacation packages! Picture more of a road trip with family complete with good music, tasty snacks, and plenty of guide-supplied fun facts along the way to keep you entertained!

Meals

Just about all your meals are included when you travel with Austin Adventures in North America. We provide a wide variety of cuisine - breakfasts are typically eaten at your hotel on your own time in the morning before meeting up with the group. Lunches feature everything from elaborate picnics to roadside cafes to sandwiches trailside. Dinners are usually eaten at our hotel's dining room or a local restaurant with plenty of options to choose from. We easily cater to vegetarians, picky kids, and people with particular dietary needs. All our guides have food safety certificates and are well-practiced in the art of food prep and serving while on-the-move. You'll find the meals are a real highlight of your trip!

All Guiding Services

Each trip features two or three incredible guides and our average guest to guide ratio is 6:1. Our guests are often drawn to North America by the beautiful scenic landscapes, promise of wilderness and clean air - and there's no doubt you'll find all that, though what you may not be expecting is to forge real, genuine friendships with your fellow tripmates, including our wonderful guides. They're hands-down the BEST guides you'll ever come across.

Activities

Any activity described in our itinerary, such as hiking, rafting, horseback riding, kayaking and biking, are included in your trip cost. Our itineraries are pretty jam-packed to maximize our time spent exploring in these amazing places, and your guides will make it clear if there are additional activities available (at your expense).

How many people are there on each of our North America trips?

We generally take up to 18 people per trip, although this can vary, and all our trips have at least two of our guides to look after you (apart from the occasions we have a small group). We have found that our trips tend to attract a particular kind of person and many people have commented that the social scene was one of the highlights of their trip!

Our adult-only departures require a minimum age of 16 years and our family departures require a minimum age of 6 years to join (7 years on our Alaska Family Adventure) and are a great way to meet other like-minded families who like to get outside.
Please note child rates apply to children 12 years and under.

Do you charge a forced single supplement if I'm a solo traveller?

We welcome many solo travelers on our trips – in fact, we get so many solo travelers and they always say it’s a great way to travel alone, but not actually by themselves. You’ll have an incredible adventure sharing your experiences with other like-minded travelers, and the best part is we don't charge extra for solo travelers, providing you don’t mind sharing a room. However, for bookings within 90 days of your chosen departure, a forced single supplement will apply if there is no other guest of the same gender already booked to share with.

If you prefer not to share a room at all, you can upgrade to a single room, if one is available. 

If I book a trip with my children, will I be sharing a room with them?

Active Adventures & Austin Adventures family vacations are naturally about spending time with family and as such, most families opt to share rooms on our trips. At time of booking, families consisting of four guests with children aged 17 and under will be automatically assigned one shared room. However, the following alternative rooming allocations are available:

  • Families consisting of four guests with all children aged 13 and above are welcome to opt for additional rooms as per advertised double occupancy adult rates.
  • Families consisting of four guests with at least one child aged 12 and under are automatically assigned a shared room. However, families can opt to pay the adult rates for all guests in their family to have an additional room.
  • The same principles apply for families consisting of more than four guests.

Rooming preferences are subject to availability and must be communicated in writing at time of booking. Automatic assignments as per this policy will be applied in the absence of any specification provided by guests. Any request for additional rooms during trips will be at the guests’ own expense and subject to rates made available by the accommodation provider at the time. All minors (guests aged 17 and under) must be accompanied by at least one adult.

What if I need a special diet?

We’re accustomed to catering to the following special diets:

  • vegan (no meat or animal products)
  • vegetarian (no meat products)
  • pescatarian (vegetarian, and eat fish)
  • no red meat (eat chicken & fish)
  • no pork (eat chicken & fish)
  • gluten intolerant (no wheat, rye, barley or oats)
  • lactose intolerant (no dairy products)
  • picky kids (send us a list of what your child will eat and we'll make sure to have it!)
You will get the opportunity to specify your particular requirements when you fill in your travel wallet. If you have any other dietary requirements please let us know well in advance, via email or the online travel wallet.

 

How much luggage can I bring on the North America trips?

You are allowed one piece of luggage on your trip, plus a daypack. Your main piece of luggage should not exceed 50 pounds (23 kilograms) and can be anything from a duffle bag to a sports bag with wheels or a suitcase. You’ll also want a good quality backpack sized 25-30 liters (2000 cubic inches) to use throughout the days.

How much spending money should I bring and where do I get cash?

You'll be able to find a reliable ATM once you arrive to start your trip, within the township or at the airport you land in, as national park ATM locations are sparse at best. Aside from tips for your guides, you could bring $200 and go home with change though some people like to bring some cash to cover a round of drinks, a few souvenirs, and dinner on "night on your own", although you could just as easily use a credit card for these purchases too.

What are your recommended guide gratuity guidelines?

You will have 2-3 guides on your Austin Adventure (depending on group size) and we recommend $15-25 per day, per guest, per guide. Typically, gratuities are offered by check or cash in local currency on the final morning of the trip and can either be given to each guide individually or to one guide to be equally distributed. Most of our guides these days also accept gratuities via Venmo (please note this app does not work in Canada). All dining, housekeeping and activity tips are included in your trip price.

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Why Travel With US

11

Experience adventure the way you want

You’ll be inspired and exhilarated, enjoying mind-blowing scenery on foot, in a sea kayak, or by bike - all at your own pace.

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Crafting award-winning trips for decades - the New Zealand way

We're proud of our New Zealand roots and you’ll love our professional and warm style of hosting. We’re always here to help with planning... even hiking boot recommendations!

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Every detail covered, to maximise your time

We've got everything covered – top-notch meals, comfortable transport, superb accommodation, amazing guides and INCREDIBLE service.

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Group travel for those who aren’t ‘group travelers’

With an average of 12 guests per departure and an industry-leading average 6:1 guest-to-guide ratio, you'll get to know your fellow travelers and have the flexibility to go at your own pace.

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Explore hidden gems through our expert local guides

All our carefully selected guides are highly experienced and have deep personal connections to nature and culture. You’ll enjoy an authentic local experience.

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Over 10,000 5-star reviews - that’s pretty solid

We could hang around all day telling you how wonderful our trips are... but the best people to hear it from are our guests themselves.