Events / Welcome Travelers
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2023 Grand Canyon Rim & Raft Tour
Aug 10-13 | Sep 21-24 | Oct 2-5 Hello Fellow Travelers, The Starting Point Project is excited about our upcoming Grand Canyon Rim and Raft Tours. The tours are coming up really fast, and we've been working hard to make these trips fun and faith-building times for everyone. We thank you for your patience as we work out all the details and for making this investment in eternity for you and your family. Below, you will find a lot of information useful for planning purposes. Please take special note of the RSVP for lunch & dinner choices and respond as soon as possible. In addition, the itinerary for the Aug 2023, tour is available, and many frequently asked questions are answered below. Tour itineraries will be updated for the Sep & Oct dates as we get closer to those tours. The itinerary will only be altered as it relates to the sunset viewing at Horseshoe Bend. Arrival & Departure times will be unchanged. Thanks! The Starting Point Project |
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Tour Summary
A brief overview of the tour is below. A printable copy of the itinerary is available above under printable documents.
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Day 1: (travel to Phoenix)
Arrive Phoenix, Arizona. Overnight at Drury Inn & Suites Phoenix Airport. Check-in 3:00 PM or later. The tour price includes an optional evening meal - Drury's Kickback dinner starting at 5:30 PM. Introductory meeting at 7:00 PM • Meet your host Jay Seegert at the hotel. Hotel - Day 1
Drury Inn & Suites Phoenix Airport 3333 East University Dr Phoenix, AZ 85034 (602) 437-8400 Day 2 (South Rim)
Breakfast at hotel • Travel to and tour the Grand Canyon - South Rim • Tour Mather Point, Bright Angel & Desert Viewpoint • Dinner at historic Cameron Trading Post • Overnight - Country Inn & Suites, Page, AZ. |
Hotel - Days 2 & 3
Country Inn & Suites 880 Haul Rd. Page, AZ 86040 (928) 484-1117 Day 3 (Raft)
Breakfast at hotel • 17-mile raft trip down the Colorado River (no white-water rapids!) • Lunch in historic Lee’s Ferry • Hiking tour of Antelope Canyon • Dinner • Watch sunset from the top of Horseshoe Bend • overnight at Country Inn & Suites, Page, AZ. Day 4 (Depart) Breakfast at hotel, view real dinosaur tracks on an Indian reservation, have lunch in Flagstaff and travel back to the Phoenix airport to catch your flight home or extend your vacation however you wish! Either way, return home with tons of eye-opening knowledge and great memories! |
For a full itinerary, please see the link above.
The itinerary will be tweaked slightly to adjust for sunset times as the year progresses.
The itinerary will be tweaked slightly to adjust for sunset times as the year progresses.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Arrival & Departure
How do I get to Phoenix? You are responsible for your own transportation to and from Phoenix (the starting & ending point of the tour). Airport transfers are provided at no cost from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. If you choose to fly into Mesa/Gateway International Airport, there is NO shuttle available, and you will have to find your own transportation to the hotel. Where are we staying in Phoenix? Drury Inn & Suites Phoenix Airport 3333 East University Dr Phoenix, AZ 85034 How do I request the airport transfer? After you have picked up your luggage, please call Drury Inn Phoenix Airport - P: 602-437-8400 and request the airport transfer. Let them know you are with The Starting Point Project Grand Canyon Tour and which terminal you are located at. They will send the shuttle to pick you up and let you know where to meet it. What if I'm driving to Phoenix? If you're driving to Phoenix, we'll meet you at the Drury Inn & Suites Phoenix Airport (see address above) When can I check-in to the hotel? Please plan to arrive at the Drury Inn any time after 3:00 PM on the first day of your tour to check-in. You are registered at the hotel under your name(s), and you will be able to check-in at the front desk. An earlier check-in may be available at the hotel's discretion for an additional fee of $15.00. A laid back, casual dinner is available at the hotel from 5:30 - 7:00 PM. The tour officially begins at 7:00 PM with an orientation meeting. When should I depart? On the last day of your tour (Aug 13, Sep 24 or Oct 5). The tour bus will drop everyone off at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) at approximately 2:00 PM. To allow for airline check-in, etc. Please schedule your return flight for 4:00 PM or later. The shuttle will also be available to return to the Drury Inn to pick up your vehicle. |
Packing List
How should I pack? Please bring your regular overnight suitcase for the hotel and a separate daypack/backpack for daytime touring. Your larger luggage will be unavailable during the day as it will be stored in the bus's cargo bay. There is plenty of room on the bus for your daypack/backpack. What should I wear? Our tours are casual. The weather conditions can sometimes be iffy, so bring layers of clothing. You can check out the current Weather Conditions at this link. An overview of what you might expect during the time you are on the tour is available at this link. One interesting thing to note is that the temperatures on the rim are cooler than those on the river. What else do I need? Bring your personal toiletries. We also suggest sunscreen and lip balm. You may also want to bring sunglasses and/or a sun hat. Some folks even bring an umbrella to provide some shade. Because the weather is unpredictable, you may also want to bring a cheap poncho for any of those sudden rain showers. Comfortable walking shoes for touring and clothing/shoes for the raft portion of the tour. During the raft tour, your feet may get wet and sandy. You may also occasionally get sprayed with a light mist while motoring on the river. Both of the hotel locations have pools. If you would like to take advantage of this amenity, you may want to bring a swimsuit. A water bottle or Camelback you can fill up at the hotel before you board the bus is a nice thing to have. Usually, there are water bottle filling stations at designated points where you can refill the bottle as we are on the rim, and the water is very good. Snacks and beverages will also be available for purchase at our various stops. The ice cream at Bright Angel Lodge is yummy! A camera to take lots of pictures. If you want to take your camera on the raft portion of the tour, we recommend a waterproof container or bag. |
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More Questions???
Call: 1st Contact: Carol Westendorf (262) 422-1918 2nd Contact: Victoria Miller (262) 888-0351 |
