The Labor Day holiday will soon be upon us. So, if you are looking to take a 1-day Grand Canyon float tour, it\’s best that you book it as soon as you decide you want to do it.

Long Weekend

If it\’s not marked on your calendar yet, Labor Day is on Monday, Sept. 2, this year. This means that for most of us it\’s going to be a three-day holiday (yeah!). It\’s also one of the busiest times of the year at the National Park.

Considering this, I\’m recommending that travelers go out and purchase their rafting tours at least a week in advance. If you have to push it, try to book within 72 hours of departure.

Just because it\’s \”high season\” doesn\’t mean you can\’t find great deals on these rafting day trips. In fact, based on what I\’ve seen on the Internet lately, I\’m finding deals that knock the retail price down 20 percent.

Buy Direct

How so? First, I\’m staying away from the \”big box\” travel websites. Instead, I go direct to the actual suppliers of travel. These are the businesses that are in the best position to offer real promotions, specials and deals.

One-day float tours depart from Las Vegas, NV, and Tusayan, AZ, which is also referred to as the gateway to the National Park. Trips typically depart early in the morning around 7 a.m. and require a full day to complete.

The Las Vegas trip starts with a helicopter ride to the bottom of the West Rim. There you\’ll deplane and explore the base for up to half an hour. Then you\’ll connect with the bus that will take you to the base of Hoover Dam where the 11-mile float trip makes its way downstream to Willow Beach.

South Rim

There are two South Rim float tours. The first is bus/raft. By bus, you go to the base of Glen Canyon Dam, board a 19-seat river raft and cruise 15 miles to Lee\’s Ferry, a ghost town that used to be the only place to the Colorado for hundreds of miles.

The other tour kicks off with an airplane ride to Page, AZ, then a Jeep tour of Antelope Canyon, home to the famous Slot Canyons. From there you drive to the Dam and begin the rafting segment of your adventure.

Both the bus/raft and this trip conclude with a bus ride back to the South Rim.

These Labor Day rafting tours are all-inclusive and come with professional guide service, all taxes and fees, lunch and gear. I do recommend packing a hat, sunscreen, snacks, water, long-sleeved shirt and sunglasses. Wearing shorts that you don’t mind getting wet is a good idea, too, as well as a pair of river sandals or running shoes.

No White Water

Please note that there are no white water rapids on these float trips. The benefit of this is kids as young as 4 years of age can take these trips. These rafting adventures are also great for groups, families and active seniors. Frankly, I love how versatile these day trips are and I’m in now way surprised how popular they are with travelers.

Travel editor Keith Kravitz is an expert on Grand Canyon tours. He recommends going here for Las Vegas rafting trips and here for South Rim float tours: http://www.grandcanyon123.com/one-day-grand-canyon-rafting-tours.html

Travel editor Keith Kravitz is an expert on Grand Canyon rafting tours. When it comes to getting great deals on the best float trips, he starts here: http://www.grandcanyon123.com/one-day-grand-canyon-rafting-tours.html

Author Bio: Travel editor Keith Kravitz is an expert on Grand Canyon tours. He recommends going here for Las Vegas rafting trips and here for South Rim float tours: http://www.grandcanyon123.com/one-day-grand-canyon-rafting-tours.html

Category: Travel
Keywords: grand canyon rafting, grand canyon, grand canyon tours, float tours, day trips, south rim, las vegas