Frequently Asked Questions

Guides are up around 6 a.m. making coffee and breakfast, and we aim to push off the beach around 9 a.m., river time permitting. Days mix floating and whitewater with side hikes and a riverside lunch, and we make camp around 4–5 p.m.

Five guests to one guide is our standard ratio, and it is frequently closer to four to one.

Our guides are happy to give guests a chance to row. Most trips run guide-powered oar rafts; paddle boats are available on request when six to eight motivated paddlers want one.

You only need to set up your tent and pick your campsite. The guides handle everything else, including all food preparation and cleanup.

Utah and Colorado river and bike trips require a $400 per-person deposit to reserve your seat. Final payment is due 90 days before your trip.

Six full-paying guests guarantee a departure. Call us to confirm availability on the date you have in mind.

The industry standard averages 10–15% of the trip cost, or roughly $30–$35 per guest per day. Hand your gratuity to the trip leader, who splits it evenly among the crew.

We provide a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket (PFD), waterproof bags, kitchen and dining gear, and a camp chair for each guest. Early-season trips that warrant them include Farmer John wetsuits.

You get two: a large bag for camp-only items and a small day bag for things you want on the water: sunscreen, camera, rain gear.

Meals, ice water, lemonade or sports drink, and a daily soda are included, plus coffee, tea, and cocoa each morning. Return your guest data sheet at least 30 days before your trip so we can plan for dietary needs.

Arrive the day before your trip. Most trips hold a 7 p.m. pre-trip meeting the night before. Salt Lake City International is the most practical airport, about a three-hour drive from both Green River and Vernal.

Many of our trips are appropriate for people who cannot swim, but every guest must be able to perform basic self-rescue: kicking to a boat and reaching for rescue ropes.

Guests must fit a Coast Guard-approved PFD (52-inch maximum chest, 50-pound minimum weight), board and exit boats safely, grip a rope, follow instructions, and manage their own hydration and nutrition.

Holiday guides are trained in wilderness first aid and CPR, and every trip carries first aid kits and emergency communication devices.

Cancellations 90 or more days out are refundable less a per-person service charge. Cancellations within 90 days are non-refundable, so we strongly recommend trip insurance. If Holiday cancels a trip, you receive a full refund.

We do not sell insurance directly, but strongly recommend purchasing coverage through a provider such as Travel Guard. See our Trip Insurance page for details.