If you don't want to see the Grand Canyon from the air, consider a 1-day Grand Canyon rafting adventure. Several tour companies offer this experience. Rafting is a wonderful way to see the Colorado River and the awe-inspiring canyon it created over the millennia.

Some tourists make time for a multi-day tour on the Colorado River, but most settle for the single day adventure so they have time to do other things while on vacation. So, unless you're coming to the area specifically for river rafting, you'll probably want to choose the one-day excursion. It will give you an amazing experience but still leave plenty of time for you to explore the rest of the area. If you want a longer rafting trip, it's easy to look online for outfitters that offer multi-day rafting tours.

Once you compare their cost to the price of Grand Canyon helicopter or airplane tours, you'll realize that rafting tours are quite reasonable. When you book your tour through a Las Vegas operator, all details will be arranged for you starting with transportation to the launching point. Before agreeing to the terms of a tour and paying up, make sure you read the fine print to understand exactly what you are getting for your money.

Tours of the Colorado River will either depart from the West or the South Rim of the Canyon. If you depart from the West Rim, you will first enjoy a ride down to the floor of the Canyon. Your raft will be ready to board once you travel down to the base of the Hoover Dam. After floating through Black Canyon, your river tour will end at Willow Beach, Arizona. All in all, you'll be on the water for about 11 miles.

The South Rim offers two different tours. You will depart for either of these tours through the Grand Canyon National Park Airport. The most affordable (and popular) of these smooth-water float tours takes you by motor coach to Page, Arizona. From there you'll make your way to the base of Glen Canyon Dam. That's where you'll board your raft and begin your 15-mile float down the calm waters of the river. Lee's Ferry is the ending point for this tour. The other South Rim package flies you to Page by airplane and includes a 4x4 ride to Antelope Canyon, but the river portion is the same. Your boat will be an adventure-grade pontoon raft that can seat as many as 19 people.

You'll float down the river on calm water on all of these trips as there aren't any white-water rapids along your route. That's why they're so perfect for any age group. The minimum age limit for children is four-years-old.

Peak season for all of these tours is the summer. To avoid getting locked out of a sold out tour, don't wait too long to book. You must book ahead of time if you want to secure your tickets. You can go online to explore all tour options in depth and get the best pries. You would be amazed at the great deals I have found online!

Shop around between the various tour companies and you will always find a great deal. A 1-day Grand Canyon rafting adventure is a great way to explore the river without dedicating your entire vacation to the journey.