Events / Welcome Travelers
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Hello Fellow Travelers,
The Starting Point Project is excited about our upcoming Grand Canyon Rim and Raft Tours for 2025. Below, you will find a lot of information useful for planning purposes including arrival and departure information so you can make travel plans. Thanks! The Starting Point Project |
Tour itineraries for 2025 tours will be updated as we get closer to the tour date.
Below is a sample tour itinerary |
Tour Summary
Day 1: Travel to Phoenix
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Day 2: South Rim of the Grand Canyon
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Day 3 (Raft)
Breakfast at hotel • float trip down the Colorado River (no white-water rapids!) • Lunch in historic Lee’s Ferry • Hiking tour of Antelope Canyon • Dinner • Watch the sunset from the top of Horseshoe Bend • pizza & salad supper • overnight at Country Inn & Suites, Page, AZ. Day 4 (Depart) Breakfast at hotel in Page, 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! The tour bus will drop all travelers off at the Phoenix airport (PHX) at approximately 2:15 PM. We recommend you plan your flights for 4:00 PM or later. Either way, return home with tons of eye-opening knowledge and great memories! Hotel - Days 2 & 3
Country Inn & Suites 880 Haul Rd. Page, AZ 86040 (928) 484-1117 |
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). If you will be flying to Phoenix, please schedule your flight into Phoenix Sky Harbor International airport (PHX). Airport transfers are provided at no cost from this 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. How do I request the airport transfer? After you have picked up your luggage, please call Drury Inn Phoenix Airport - P: 602-437-8400 (address below), 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. Where are we staying in Phoenix? 1-night Drury Inn & Suites Phoenix Airport 3333 East University Dr Phoenix, AZ 85034 Phone: 602-437-8400 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 $35.00. 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 (Jun 9, Aug 11, Sep 15, Sep 22, Sep 29 or Oct 13). The tour bus will drop everyone off at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) at approximately 2:15 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. We highly recommend bringing a simple, lightweight rain poncho or windbreaker for any unexpected rain showers and for the rafting tours. Even though it will be very warm for most of the rafting trip, it can actually be a bit too cool if you get wet. A long sleeve shirt can help and would also serve as additional sun protection for the entire time 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. The rafting company has recently made modifications to how they route their tours. As a result, there will be a time, mainly on the first portion of the river, where the raft will go a bit faster than normal. This causes more than normal mist or splash, mostly for those sitting towards the front. We highly recommend bringing a simple, lightweight rain poncho or windbreaker. Even though it will be very warm for most of the rafting trip, it can actually be a bit too cool if you get wet. A long sleeve shirt can help and would also serve as additional sun protection for the entire time on the river. 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, closed toe shoes for Antelope Canyon (the sand is HOT), 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 |
