Overview
Experience a side of the desert you’ve never seen before!
Established in 1984 in Arizona, Desert Voyagers Guided Raft Tours has been offering quality river tours on the Lower Salt and Lower Verde Rivers for long over two decades. They were the first river tour company to utilize the beautiful Lower Salt and Verde Rivers for commercial tours and they have served close to 100,000 clients by taking them out on these beautiful rivers and teaching them about Arizona's unique Sonoran Desert ecology. Guides strive to inform guests about the local flora, fauna, geography, geology, and history of the area while providing an entertaining and challenging river float tour.
Many clients write back after their trip exclaiming what a great time they had with Desert Voyagers. Families enjoy the information their children receive about a new and fascinating ecosystem and are impressed by the lush, green, and vibrant riparian preserve that surrounds them on the water. A river trip on the Lower Salt and Lower Verde Rivers is an unforgettable event when they are guided by Desert Voyagers and the company continues to work towards not only meeting clients' expectations, but exceeding them.
Desert Voyagers has an ongoing priority permit with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Tonto National Forest and with the Fort McDowell Indian Community. They have a spotless safety record for over 23 years, the entirety of the existence of the tour company. They are also active members of the Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce, the Scottsdale Convention and Visitor's Bureau, the Mesa Convention and Visitor's Bureau, and America Outdoors, the nationwide association for outfitters and guides.
Professional Guides
The guides are trained, professional, experienced and friendly. Some of Desert Voyagers’ river guides have been with them since the late 1980s and all are like a big family. Every guide is certified in First Aid and CPR and may have higher wilderness medicine certifications. The guides come from many different backgrounds that give them a unique viewpoint when interacting with guests on and off the river. Some are ecologists, wildlife preservationists, emergency medical technicians, firemen, survival instructors, white water guides, teachers, fitness instructors, rock climbers, retired military personnel, and many are college graduates, some with master's degrees. This interesting and unique mix of people, headed by Marsha Blumm, owner and operator, adds enormously to the experiences clients have on the water.
Funyak Tours
Experience something new with a Funyak Tour. Funyaks are inflatable kayaks that seat two people. They are very stable and safe and they give the passengers a great adventure as they learn to paddle together and navigate down the river. From the seat of the funyak guests can listen to their guides discuss the native flora and fauna and also view the beautiful Goldfield Mountains and Red Mountain, two of the most sacred places in Arizona. This tour is a great opportunity for groups to learn to work together in small, two-person teams. They are much closer to the water and will learn to read the flow of the river to encourage independence, rather than having a guide do it for them. A funyak tour is as safe as a raft tour, just more independent and adventurous.
Every Trip
Desert Voyagers Guided Raft Tours takes personal pride in the service of providing people with a memorable natural experience. Every guided river trip hosts an opportunity to share the unique and vibrant Sonoran Desert with guests from other states and countries. No other desert is as lush and green and full of life as the Sonoran. With warm days and cool nights, this desert is the only place in the world with giant Saguaro Cactus, Gila Monsters, Big Horn Sheep or such a rich history. Desert Voyagers wants to share this desert and its ecosystems with as many people as possible with the knowledge that they’ll return home with wonderful memories and a newfound depth of understanding for the natural world. Guests of Desert Voyagers Guided Raft will always feel enriched by the abundant life and energy that these desert rivers offer to any willing person.
We had a great time with Desert Voyagers. I can't imagine a more professional staff or a more enjoyable way to see the desert. We will recommend Desert Voyagers to all of our friends and relatives. Thank you so much!
-Sarah and Carl Goldman
Affiliations
- America Outdoors
- Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce
- Scottsdale Convention and Visitors Bureau
- Mesa Convention and Visitors Bureau
- U.S. Forest Service
- Fort McDowell Adventures
Payments Accepted
- American Express
- Cash
- Certified Check
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- Discover
- MasterCard
- Personal Checks
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Reservation Policy
Reservations must be made at least 48 hours in advance. Late reservations may incur additional fees. All reservations require a credit card guarantee or immediate payment.
Cancellation Policy
Cancellations require 24 hours notice. There will be no refunds for late cancellations, no shows, or late arrivals.
Other Travel Offerings
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