Upper Canyon trips range from five to seven days with the Phantom to Lake Mead section taking 8 to 10 days. All outfitters have their own systems of meeting passengers at pre-arranged sites and methods of getting them back after the trip. For example, many companies meet their passengers in Las Vegas at a designated hotel, bus or fly them to Lee's Ferry for the put-in, then, at the end of the trip, bus them back to the same hotel from which they started. Although, there are plenty of variations, any outfitter can work something out to meet you and get you where you want to go after a trip. Las Vegas is popular not only because of its location, but also because of the cheap airfares to that city.
Passengers sleep riverside on sandy beaches in sleeping bags.
Many like to use tents. As a rule, you can bring your own sleeping gear, or rent it from your outfitter. Outfitters will provide you with a suggested list of stuff to bring. They will loan you a waterproof bag for your clothes and, usually, a watertight can for your camera and daily use items, e.g., sunscreen. Guns, pets, small children, valuable jewelry.