Hiking with Pack Horses the
Western Grand Canyon's Havasu Canyon

Hosts: Rich Holtzin When: Anytime except winter Length: 5 or 6 days Number of guests: 4 or more Fee: This will be discussed. We usually run this hike with groups of 7 to 12 and our standard fee for those is US$725.00 per person, which includes the tax (single or double occupancy). There are also optional add-ons to this tour, such as gear rental and rafting. Naturally if there is only four in your group the fee will need to be increased. We accept all major credit cards (and prefer Mastercard or Visa, by the way); personal and cashier's checks, and money orders. We do not barter with Beanie Babies and the like, however. Thanks. A 20% deposit per guest is necessary when booking any tour with us. The balance we'll deal with later. A full refund (or credit toward another tour) is given with a 30-day advanced notice; otherwise, all but 20% will be refunded if within this period (unless the tour is booked on sooner notice, in which case special considerations will be granted); and a 70% refund will be given if within a 72-hour period. If you're paying by credit card, however, and are canceling a tour, a 5% assessment fee of the amount charged will be withheld. We therefore encourage checks or money orders for tour deposits, especially. WHAT TO BRING AND WEAR: The Southwest is a land of beautiful topographical contrasts, where weather and temperature extremes can sometimes vary. Many places that we visit are also high in elevation above sea level. We therefore suggest that you bring appropriate clothing to suit your comfort, including a decent pair of walking or hiking shoes, RAIN GEAR, and a waterproof windbreaker, just in case. If you're doing whitewater rafting, we suggest Tevas (or similar) or appropriate footwear that won't get damaged. Plus a poncho (or similar) to keep you warm and dry - the water's sometimes cold. The same applies for riding horses and bikes: wear the appropriate shoes and pants. Camera, film, and spare batteries should also be considered as standard items to bring with you. And when you book your tour we will gladly supply you with a recommended list of what to bring along with you as well as directions on where to meet us. SPECIAL STIPULATIONS: Although our tours do not pose any serious stress or demands on our guest's physical abilities, we are not yet geared for the seriously impaired or physically handicapped. Please let us know if you have any physical limitations, health disabilities or special dietary needs. Gusts may choose not to go on the some of the walks or hikes that are sometimes available on our MD, SD and SA tours. FOR THE LEGAL END OF THINGS ... We are fully insured by a major commercial insurance carrier (i.e., a one million dollar per person policy that covers the kind of things we avoid like the plague - accidents and such). This kind of legal information, as well as recommendations from former guests and further credentials will gladly be supplied upon request. ITINERARY DAY 01: We'll meet you around 5:00 at the Hualapai (pronounced "wall-la-pie") Lodge in Peach Springs (Az.), which is approximately a 3 hour drive from Las Vegas or a 4 to 4.5 hour drive from Phoenix. Your guide and host for the tour will meet and greet you as well as go over the details of the tour, including making sure you brought all the right gear with you for the upcoming trek. You'll be eating dinner at the lodge, which is arguably the best hotel and restaurant of its kind anywhere around. After dinner we will most likely meet one (or more) of the Hualapai Indians, who will share some of the Hualapai Indian culture with you. There will also be time for a group discussion and lots of questions and answers will no doubt follow suit. Before retiring to your rooms we will make sure all of your gear is packed in duffel bags which will be provided for us and transported, by horse, to Havasu Canyon (on Monday). You will only need to bring along a decent daypack for the long day's hike into the canyon. Otherwise, each guest is allotted 30 lbs. for all their personal and camping gear while in Havasu. (We will include free of charge all stoves and fuel for cooking our meals; you will need to supply your own tent, sleeping bag, and sleeping pad along with your own water bottles, flashlight, and preferred snacks and beverages. Just remember to bring your cameras, film, water shoes, and swimming suits!) DAY 02: It's about a 70 minute drive to the trailhead and we're going to have to leave early so that we can beat the canyon heat. We'll pick up some coffee, tea, or hot chocolate to go and supply the breakfast bars and/or Danish rolls so that we get an early start. In this part of the country we have a saying: "Lose sleep; beat the heat." We'll car pool to the trailhead in as few vehicles as possible. Once at the trailhead we'll drop off our duffel bags which will be picked up by our own wrangler, who will take the gear to and from the campground. It's about a four or so hour hike to the campground, but we'll be stopping off at the Supai Indian Village for lunch. All lunches will be on us and served at the village cafe. Breakfast and the evening meals will also be on us, including the entry fees into Havasu and camp ground fees. Utensils are also on us. Once you're at the campground you will have plenty of time to laze about and enjoy the wondrous blue-green water, and of course, those idyllic waterfalls that Havasu is known for. One of them is some 40 feet higher than Niagara Falls and another is nearly as tall. Simply breathtaking. There's lots to do while in Havasu and we'll provide our standard educational and informational format so that you will learn the geology, natural and people history, and all other facts and facets of this peerless part of the Grand Canyon. We'll even provide Havasupai Indians, as hosts, who will share with you the rich history of their culture. DAY 03: After breakfast, we'll explore some of the area, and we do know places to get away from the other campers and hikers. Of course, if you would rather play in the water, instead, that's okay with us, too. We'll hike back to the village, which is about a 40 minute trek, for lunch, which, for some, can be utilized as the main meal of the tour. In the evening we prefer the highest quality freeze dried meal packets, which means just adding water and supplementing with delectable side dishes and/or treats. The afternoon and the rest of the evening will be spent either with other side treks or sharing stories with one of the Havasupai (pronounced, "hav-a-soo-pie") Indian hosts, or doing something aquatic or sunbathing. DAY 04: While breakfast, lunch, and dinner is on us for the duration of the tour, we have found through experience that our guests prefer this day as their own personal day, which means you have an option of joining the guide on other Havasu adventures, or else hanging out by yourself and doing what you feel you want to do. For this reason we suggest you might want to take along some of your favorite reading material or a notebook to compose your thoughts. Anyway you look at it, and whether you're doing something with us or something by yourself, there's always something special to do while in Havasu. Even to sit and meditate with the beauty of the surroundings is profound! DAY 05: We have an early start this morning, because, once again, there is a need to hike in the cooler part of the day. We'll be on the trail no later than 7 a.m. and most likely out by around 11 or noon. Havasu Canyon is one of the easiest trails in the Grand Canyon, but it's still a "grunt" and you'll have to be fit enough to hike the 10 miles each way. This tour is therefore only recommended for more physically fit hikers. But there is an option of riding a horse into and out of the canyon, if our guests prefer, which is an additional charge (see below for details and the cost). A weight limit of 200 lb. limit per person is necessary, however. Once at the top we'll all drive back to the Hualapai Lodge where your rooms (and a hot shower) await you (followed by lunch). Dinner is once again on us, and this time we hope to introduce you to some very special friends of ours, so that your experience in this region is truly well rounded. In the morning you are free to leave whenever you desire, with breakfast on your own. But if you're staying for the all day rafting tour option (see below for details and the cost), you'll be up and at 'em early for this approximate 12 hour day, which includes transportation to and from the river, and lunch. Your dinner will be on your own, but we will be happy to book an extra night's stay for you (which we recommend you stay the night since the river tours get back to Peach Springs somewhere between 6 and 8 p.m.). We also offer regular packaged tours where you join others in a group. These are described at our web site.