Due to a recent natural disaster in the Havasupai, this tour is subject to change. Before booking your tour, please check with events@eonetwork.org on the status of the tour.

• Heli-Hiking the Grand Canyon
• Havasupai-Waterfalls

The Grand Canyon

When the first European explorers came to the edge of the Grand Canyon during their search for El Dorado in 1540, they literally had no idea what they saw. The visual vocabulary for a gorge a mile deep, six miles wide and 287 miles long was simply not available; the distances were deceptive, the scale unimaginable. It took John Wesley Powell, a one-armed Civil War veteran, geology professor and amateur linguist with a gift for observation and a fondness for river travel, to illuminate this grandest of canyons, and to truly discover North America's greatest natural wonder.
 
On this adventure, you will descend into one of the most beautiful landscapes in the world- the heart of the Grand Canyon at Havasu Canyon. Here, we will hike and explore this incredible landscape, swimming in travertine pools of turquoise blue, enjoying the evenings at a luxury permanent camp (an exclusive arrangement with the Havasupai tribe) searching for stars, having great meals and conversation about the day's adventure.

Some say you haven't lived until you've taken a journey through Grand Canyon. This journey takes you through the heart of the canyon and will leave you with a sense of accomplishment, awe and a true appreciation and love of the grandest place on earth.

What is Havasupai?

Havasu Canyon is one of more than 600 side canyons forming the 280-mile long Grand Canyon.  While more than 5 million people per year visit Grand Canyon Village on the South Rim, far fewer venture to the remote Havasupai Indian Reservation deep in the heart of the Grand Canyon. Home to towering 200-foot waterfalls, beautiful cascades and tropical blue-green pools, this lush oasis is considered the “gem” of the Grand Canyon.
 
The Havasupai or Havasu Baaja currently has 650 tribal members, of which approximately 450 live in the village of Supai. All members speak their native language, a northeastern Yuman dialect that is a division of the Hokan linguistic family. It has been a written language for almost 25 years. “Pai” means people and “Havasupai” means “people of the blue-green water.” Supai is the most remote village in the US, located approximately 160 miles from the closest grocery store- all supplies, including mail, come to the village by packhorse.

Prior to the 1900s the Havasupai would spend the spring and summer months in the canyon planting and harvesting gardens of corn, squash and beans. During the fall and winter they would move to the high-elevation plateau lands around the canyon hunting game and gathering what the earth provided. The first white man to visit the Havasupai was the Spanish explorer Padre Garces in 1776. It was nearly 100 more years before they saw another white face.

In 1882, with the creation of the Grand Canyon Forest Reserve, the federal government confined the Havasupai to only 518 acres in the bottom of the canyon. With their way of life demolished, many tribal members were forced to seek wage labor outside the canyon. This imprisonment and resulting exodus had a profound effect on their culture and economic status.

It was not until 1975 that Congress reallocated 185,000 acres of their ancestral land. Today, with the advent of tourism, the Havasupai are prospering once again. By working closely with the Havasupai Tourist Enterprise, we strive to show you their majestic land in honor of these proud and resourceful people.

Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Day One - Descend into Paradise
After an early wake-up call and breakfast, you will be transferred to Deer Valley Airport and fly via plane to the Grand Canyon's rim. You will then take off for a beautiful helicopter flight into the Grand Canyon. We will swoop low across the Tonto Platform and along the rim of the canyon before making a dramatic descent into the red labyrinth of sedimentary rock, ultimately touching down softly in the remote Indian village of Supai.

Here, at 3,200 feet, the cottonwood-lined paths will lead us through the village and into the canyon's backcountry. An easy two-mile hike will take you past 80-foot Navajo Falls and 100-foot Havasu Falls. Sstopping to swim beneath each is a must! As you walk, your guides will discuss the cultural history, geology and unique biology of the canyon. Just down the canyon from Havasu Falls, you will find your base camp waiting for your arrival.

After lunch we will embark on one of the most exciting and beautiful adventures in North America, crossing tropical blue streams and wading through lush meadows of wild grapevines on our way to Beaver Falls, the last in the chain of major waterfalls in Havasu Canyon. We promise you will end this day in awe of your accomplishments! Our guides spend a large portion of their year in Havasupai, giving them the time to scout exciting off-the-beaten-track options that are daring and safe; traveling with their supervision, you will see and do things few have discovered.

Base camp-nestled along a stream, beneath towering cottonwood trees and red-rock walls-will be your home for the remainder of your stay in paradise. The late afternoon will be spent playing in the waterfalls and then relaxing while your backcountry chef prepares dinner. After dinner, recount the day's adventures with a drink in hand as you gaze at the star-lit sky framed by soaring inky black canyon walls. Afterward, you can sleep under the stars or retire to your spacious tent for a peaceful night of slumber. For optimal comfort, we provide amenities that typical backpacking does not.

This includes hammocks, spacious tents, sleeping bags, a warm shower, bathrooms and thick sleeping pads. We strive to offer as many amenities as possible to create a comfortable and relaxing experience. Also, during each meal, you will dine on healthy, hearty food prepared by your guides and served in a dining tent on picnic tables with tablecloths.

Total Hiking distance: 2 minimum - 8 maximum miles

Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Day Two:  Adventure in the “Gem of the Grand Canyon” - Return
After breakfast, coffee and some time to soak in your surroundings, we will walk up canyon Navajo Falls. Although Navajo is not as large as the other falls, it is arguably the most beautiful. It is also very likely the best swimming hole in the world. After relaxing at Navajo, we will hike two miles back to the village of Supai. After some time to explore the village, we will board our return helicopter flight to the canyon rim for another awe-inspiring flight back, and then we fly back to Phoenix.
Hiking distance:  2 to 5 miles

Itinerary:

Day One
7 a.m.     Depart Hotel in van or mini coach
8 a.m.     Fly in small airplane to the Grand Canyon Airport
9:10 a.m.  Arrive Grand Canyon Airport and shuttle to the heliport
9:20 a.m.   Helicopter check in process
9:40 a.m.  Helicopter lift-off
10:10 a.m.   Arrive in the village of Supai on the canyon floor
10:20 a.m.  Begin Hike - two miles to base camp
 (Option to ride a saddle horse for an additional US$100 per person)
11:50 a.m.  Arrive in camp, settle into private tents
12:30 p.m.  Lunch
1:45 p.m.  Depart for Mooney Falls and Ash Springs Canyon Hike
5 p.m.    Return to Camp to relax
6 p.m.    Dinner

Day Two
6:30 -7:30 a.m.  Coffee, tea and fresh fruit available
7:30 - 8:30 a.m.  Breakfast is served
8:30 - 9:30 a.m.  Relax in camp
9:30 a.m.  Hike to Navajo Falls and the Enchanted Forest, then return to village
11:30 a.m.  Arrive in Village - sack lunch provided
12:30 p.m.  Helicopter back to the rim
1:10 p.m.  Transfer from heliport to airport
1:30 p.m.  Fly back to Phoenix
2:45 p.m.  Transfer back to hotel
3:30 p.m.  Arrive at hotel

** Please note that due to the nature of this type of adventure, travel times may vary.

Trip Details:
Accommodations: One night of comfort camping

Cost: US$3,180 per-person. There must be a minimum of 12 people to register for this tour, and space allows for a maximum of 45 people.

Included in the Cost:
Transportation:

• Round-trip Phoenix transportation to/from Deer Valley Airport
• Round-trip Chartered Private Planes to/from Grand Canyon
• Helicopter private charter Canyon Rim to Supai
• Helicopter private charter Supai to Canyon Rim
• Packhorses to transport gear in and out of canyon

Permits, lodging, amenities and activities:

• Reservation entry and overnight permits
• Private base camp fees
• All camping equipment and base-camp amenities
• Double occupancy tents (single occupancy available for an additional US$115) - Tents are six-person size tents with ample room for personal gear and a stand-up height of more than six feet
• Luxury 4.5-inch thick camp mattresses- sheets, pillows, sleeping bags
• Fully equipped back-country kitchen ideal for our guides to prepare excellent back-country cuisine
• Meals:
• All meals and snacks- menu customization available
• Bottled water

Optional Enhancements (Items in BOLD are strongly recommended):

• Horseback ride with Native tribal guide: Village to camp or camp to village: US$100 each way
• Personal Canyon Library - “I Am Grand Canyon,” the story of the Havasupai people and “Grand Canyon Natural History” - US$26 delivered to tent
• Camelback Personal Hydration Pack: Women's Camelback Trinity and Men's Camelback Alpine Explorer: US$115 each. Perfect size for camera, clothes and gear, plus features an ergonomic sex-specific design and internal hydration bladder. Provided the night before departure.
• Headlamp - Petzl Tikka Plus LED: US$40 - perfect for around camp and reading in bed - delivered to tent

Payment and Cancellation Policy:

• A US$250 per-person deposit is due 90 days prior to trip departure date. Cancellations made between 90-60 days prior will receive full refund of deposit.
• Balance is due (full payment) 60 days prior to trip departure date. There will be no refunds for cancellations after this date.

Itinerary Changes:
Every attempt will be made to adhere to our scheduled itinerary. However, participants need to acknowledge, and willingly accept, the possibility of unexpected changes to our route and itinerary. Safety issues, weather or any extenuating circumstances beyond our control may contribute to this possibility. Should these changes affect your post-trip travel plans, Show Me Arizona will not be responsible for additional expenses incurred by trip members (non-refundable airline tickets, rental cars, hotel reservations, etc).