Transfer Option:

Orientation
We hold a pre-trip orientation the evening before the trip launches. Here you will meet one of your guides, sign your release forms, receive your dry bags (river luggage), learn what to expect and how to prepare, and ask questions. The orientation is held at our office in Moab

Labyrinth Canyon by touring kayaks
This 60-mile journey begins near the town of Green River, Utah, where the Green River flows gracefully into Labyrinth Canyon, the longest stretch of un-dammed flat water in the Southwest. The river progresses slowly through white, yellow, brown and red canyon walls, with hairpin switchbacks accented by towering buttes and mesas rising 1,500 feet above the river. Labyrinth Canyon’s walls are cut with long side canyons, where guests of all skill levels can explore and ponder ancient Indian writings and trappers’ inscriptions.
No experience is necessary, as tour kayaks are easy to paddle, comfortable to travel in and very stable. Your guides will be instructing and encouraging you from their own kayak and you’ll be maneuvering your sleek craft like a pro in no time.

Cataract Canyon
After the fifth day we switch into rowboats and enter Canyonlands National Park through Stillwater Canyon. On day 7 the Green River meets the Colorado River at the "Confluence." Here is where the world famous whitewater starts. On day 10 you meet Lake Powell and your unforgettable river journey transitions to a scenic plane flight over the canyon and river you just explored.
From the beginning of the trip, you will find yourself seduced by the pace of the river while absorbing beautiful scenery, and enjoying the camaraderie of interesting people. Shortly after the confluence of the Colorado and Green Rivers, a series of steep descents and powerful whitewater known as the Mile-Long Rapid begins. Then come the Big Drops: Little Niagara and Satan's Gut. In high water, the waves are gigantic.

Journey’s End
As we leave the whitewater, the Colorado River slides its way into Lake Powell and we start the outboard motor to scoot across the lake to our take-out. The guides escort guests up to the landing strip for the return flight to Moab. This is no ordinary flight back, this is a scenic flight over Canyonlands National Park and the river you just rafted ~ the perfect end to the perfect vacation.

Whitewater
When we reach the Confluence of the Green and Colorado rivers, you will sense the anticipation of the group rising as the rapids near. The guides take time to teach you how to enjoy the rapids safely. Then the fun begins. Everyone has their place, their instructions, and their camera as the guides focus. For the next day or more, you will experience the thrill of a lifetime!

Water Levels
The character of the Colorado River varies with changes in water flow. Depending on snow pack, the river fluctuates dramatically from year to year and month to month. Cataract Canyon presents some of the biggest and most challenging rapids in the United States from mid-May to mid-June. After June, the water flow decreases and the rapids become more moderate.

History
Trappers like Denis Julien roamed these canyon 150 years ago and left a record of their progress. You will see Julien’s 1836 inscription on the canyon walls. Thirty years later the Green River was the start of the John Wesley Powell river expedition. The expedition’s goal was to be the first to run the largest river system in the southwestern United States in wooden boats specially built for the adventure. Powell named many of the buttes and canyons as he passed through here in July of 1869.
Major John Wesley Powell named Cataract Canyon after his monumental 1869 expedition down the Green and Colorado Rivers. You will get a chance to see inscriptions that he and other early river runners left behind while navigating Cataract’s challenging rapids.
You can spend hours meditating on the geologic and human history written in the rock, and leisurely drift along in this captivating environment.
In the 1930’s, the Grand Canyon extended 550 miles from Moab to Lake Mead. In the 1960’s Glen Canyon Dam formed Lake Powell, and Cataract Canyon was separated from the Grand Canyon. This 100 mile stretch of the Colorado River, south of Moab, has some of the most colorful and interesting river history on the entire Colorado River.
Cataract Canyon became part of Canyonlands National Park in 1964. There are numerous secluded Ancient Pueblo sites along the river. You will get a chance to ponder the disappearance of these ancient peoples while exploring their 800 year old dwellings.
Canyonlands is also home of many legendary outlaw hideouts. One of the most famous is Robber’s Roost where Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch would lay low between robberies.

Group Size:
We believe in protecting the environment and enhancing your vacation. This is why we rarely do trips larger than 25 people. Most of our trips are 10-15 people in size. On our multi-day trips there will never be more than 5 guests on each oarboat. With small groups you will get the attention you deserve and the chance to know all the guides and other guests.

Our Guides
Our guides are professional, exceptional people with outstanding talents, who are eager to share their knowledge, experience, and enjoyment of life in the outdoors. They continually strive to perfect their understanding of our wilderness and its secrets. This is their way of life, and their passion is to share this adventurous way of life with you.
Our guides’ objective is to help you have fun. However, you can rest assured that your safety is their top priority and you will observe this in their behavior as well as their expectations of you. They are Red Cross First Aid and CPR certified, and have completed river rescue training. They are required to complete hours of training on each river stretch before they can “guide” our guests. If you are like most people, you will marvel at the quality of their work, while feeling as if you have just made a new friend.

You can expect warm, sunny, delightful days in Southeastern Utah. In April through June, high temperatures range between 70 and 90. July and August high temperatures typically range between 90 and 100, with September and October temperatures ranging between 70 and 80. The climate here is very dry with little humidity and not oppressively sweltering. Summer evenings are quite comfortable though cool in spring and fall. Other than an occasional rain cloud, there are few overcast days.

Each evening we establish camp on the riverbank. While you explore and relax, the guides set up chairs, and the kitchen, where they prepare fresh, delicious abundant meals. The clean air amplifies a vibrant blue sky, creating a perfect environment for hiking and unparalleled photographic opportunities. Depending on the length of your trip, time is set aside for hiking to geological and historical sites including Ancient Pueblo ruins and petroglyphs. Each day, as evening yields to night and the sun melts from the sky, it is replaced by a vivid star show that enhances the evolving conversations you will share with the other guests and the guides.
RELAX: In the Comfort of our cozy chairs, sit-down dining and fabulous meals. Your Vacation is our priority: whether you are a novice camper or a great outdoorsman, our goal is to help each guest enjoy their river vacation.
We provide enough civilization for anyone to be comfortable on our river rafting trips. Great meals, cozy sleeping bags, comfortable chairs and professional service-oriented guides create a relaxing and comfortable camp setting, complimenting the relaxed pace of the day's river rafting activities.
From the first call to last meal the SGE team is the friendliest, most competent and fun group of professional travel associates in the business.

Passports
Valid passport required by all nationals referred to in the chart ; validity varies - for most countries the passport must be valid for at least six months from the date on which the holder enters the USA. If not, the holder will be admitted until the expiration date on the passport; check with the embassy (see Contact Addresses).
Passport Note
(a) For nationals included in the Visa Waiver Program (see below), passports must be valid for at least 90 days from date of entry.
(b) All travellers entering the USA under the Visa Waiver Program require individual machine-readable passports. Children included on a parent's passport also now require their own machine-readable passport. Travellers not in possession of machine-readable passports will require a valid USA entry visa.
(c) Passports issued on or after 26 October 2005 will need to have a biometric identifier in order for the holder to travel visa free under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Machine-readable passports issued between 26 October 2005 and 25 October 2006 require a digital photograph printed on the data page or an integrated chip with information from the data page. Machine-readable passports issued on or after 26 October 2006 will require an integrated chip with information from the data page (e-passport).

The US has announced new measures that require all travellers to provide details online 72 hours prior to travel.
ESTA: The Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) came into force on 12 January 2009. It is a fully automated, electronic system for screening passengers before they begin travel to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program. ESTA applications must be submitted at least 72 hours before travel to the USA. Some websites may charge you for the service but you can apply online for free at www.dhs.gov. The granting of an ESTA does not guarantee entry to the USA.

New Requirements for Travellers: As of 23 January 2007 all persons, including US citizens, travelling by air between the USA and Canada, Central and South America, the Caribbean and Bermuda are required to present a valid passport, or other approved document, when entering or re-entering the USA. Similar requirements for those travelling by land or sea will be introduced on 1 June 2009.

For further details about the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, visit the website of the US Department of State: (website: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html).

Visas
Not required by nationals referred to in the chart above for stays of up to 90 days except:
1. nationals of Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania and Slovak Republic, who do require a visa.
Visa Note
(a) Landed Immigrants of Canada and British residents of Bermuda who are citizens of, and have valid passports from, Commonwealth countries or Ireland are not eligible to enter the USA without a visa. (b) All passengers using US airports for transit purposes are required to obtain a transit visa. This does not affect qualified travellers travelling visa free under the Visa Waiver Program. (d) To qualify for visa-free travel under the Visa Waiver Program, nationals must travel on a valid passport, for holiday, transit or business purposes only and for a stay not exceeding 90 days. (e) Passengers must have the full address and ZIP code of where they are staying in the USA to be able to fully complete the I-94W form. Note: Airlines are also required to collect passenger details, including the address of their first night's accommodation in the USA, before they board the aircraft. (f) 2. Holders of UK passports with the endorsement British Subject, British Dependent Territories Citizen, British Protected Person, British Overseas Citizen or British National (Overseas) Citizen do not qualify for the Visa Waiver Program. A passport which states holder has right of abode or indefinite leave to remain in the UK does not qualify for visa free travel. (g) A visa does not expire with the expiry of the holder’s passport. An unexpired, endorsed visa in an expired passport may be presented for entry into the USA, as long as the visa itself has not been cancelled, is undamaged, is less than 10 years old and is presented with a valid non-expired passport, provided that both passports are for the same nationality. (h) Nationals of countries not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements (see Contact Addresses).
Types of Visa and Cost
Tourist, Business, Transit and Student: US$131.
Validity
Visas may be used for travel to the USA until the date it expires. Some visas are valid for multiple entries. The length of stay in the USA is determined by US immigration officials at the time of entry but is generally six months; there is, however, no set time.
Applications to:
Embassy or consulate (see Contact Addresses).
Working Days Required
Usually five after interview. Some cases may take up to 12 weeks – check with embassy/consulate.