10% off Epic 15 Day Rafting Grand Canyon Photo Expedition
10% off 15 Day Raft Trip Down the Colorado River!
The World Famous Epic Rafting Photo Expedition, with 2 expert photography instructors with decades of experience with National Geographic
Experience the full 226 miles, 5 Rafts, 1 Dorie, NO MOTORBOATS 🥳
At a Glance:
September 13-28, 2026
Tuition: $9,850 (includes food, guides, boats, tips, and pre-trip zoom sessions)
Exclusive & limited to 18 Guests, only a few spots left
Meet and return to Flagstaff, Arizona
Take the best photos of your life, experience the thrill of the river, and make some of your favorite memories on this incredible adventure!
Why This Trip Is Special &
a Once in a Lifetime Opportunity
NO MOTORBOATS! Do you really want to sit next to a gas motor for hours a day? Absolutely not! Plus, there’s a magic to going the speed of the river, moving as fast as the water can flow and the guides can row, meanwhile you relax and listen to the world’s most beautiful bird songs echoing off the canyon walls, surrounded by the sounds of water, and feeling a cool breeze of fresh air on your face.
2 Photo Instructors to help you have fun while taking some of your best photos ever!
Expert Guides Our river guides are fun, safe, experienced, well-trained, and they do all the rowing and cooking. That leaves you lots of time for photography, hiking, relaxation, and enjoying the river in your own style. Our guides make the river come alive with their vast knowledge of geology, ecology, early river running history, and many other facts and river lore.
Photo Hikes Every inch of the canyon is picturesque, yet there are some hidden gems we can’t wait to show you. Hikes are led by the guides and photo instructors giving you the chance to explore in step with us, or find your own magic spots. We allow for extra time, so you can enjoy the canyon at your own speed.
Exclusive Spacious Experience, we charter 6 boats, and fewer guests than other commercial trips, giving you more room— on the rafts, in camp, on the trails, and in conversation. We have a limit for a total of 18 guests, so reserve your spot asap!
Access to your photo gear on the boats With our unique design, you can have a waterproof case accessible to you anytime you’re on the rafts, so you never miss a shot.
Special Photo Opportunities & Advice We know where to go, when to be there, what gear to bring, and how to help you get the perfect shots. Preparation starts at home, so you’ll get photography and gear advice long before you enter the canyon.
1 Dory Boat Ours is the only photo expedition that brings a Dory, not only because it’s the most beautiful boat to photograph on the river, but also because it’s FUN!! It’s a Porsche! Everyone’s invited to try a day riding the Dory. You can’t get that anywhere else.
Night-time Photography & Light Painting: Bring your tripod and learn how to get incredible night-time photos. This is one of the darkest places in the US, so it is an astrophotographer’s dream!
Lowest Price We’ve kept our prices lower than other photo expeditions. Others cost over $1,500 per day in the canyon, while ours costs the least, at $660 per day in the canyon. And this includes tips!
Simply the Best, and Last of it’s Kind This is the only photo expedition offering 15 days of adventure. All the rest are cut short. With 2 expert photo instructors, a spacious trip, unique photo opportunities, and a dory, this really is the Epic Grand Canyon Rafting Photo Expedition, and probably the last time this will ever be offered again. Join us for this final celebration of photography and fun!
Every inch of the Grand Canyon is picturesque, but we’ll take you to the best spots with enough time to get great photos.
Landscape Photography
Night & Milky Way Photography
Nature Photography
Storytelling and travel photography
Portraiture using natural light
Long Exposure Photography
A World-Class Team: Ralph Lee Hopkins & Jeff Litton
This year, I’m especially delighted to share that National Geographic photographer Ralph Lee Hopkins—the man who pioneered these Epic Grand Canyon photo expeditions will also be joining me as co-host.
Ralph’s legacy runs deep: decades exploring the world for National Geographic, leading photography workshops from the Arctic to the Galápagos, and capturing stories that celebrate wild places. I began working alongside him more than 15 years ago, learning the craft of river photography under his mentorship. To now lead this journey together is both an honor and a full-circle moment.
As for me, Jeff Litton, I’ve been working on the National Geographic ships with Lindblad Expeditions for 17 years, working as a Photography Instructor, naturalist, hiking guide, and undersea specialist. My degree from Brooks Institute of Photography gave me a well-rounded background in photography & film, and I built on that with 17 years of traveling the World for the sake of teaching photography and teaching travelers about the incredible flora and fauna of our wild world. I also work as a filmmaker, and you may have seen my work on The National Geographic Channel, in National Geographic magazine, or many other places.
With Ralph and me guiding, you’ll gain insight from two photographers who have spent their lives chasing light—from canyon sunsets to polar ice. Whether you’re shooting with a phone, a pro camera, or simply filling your eyes and heart, you’ll return home with new ways of seeing the world.
About the Expedition
There’s a rhythm to river life—waking with the sun, hiking through narrow side canyons, sharing laughter and meals, and letting go of the noise of the world above. Disconnecting from that world allows us to reconnect—with nature, with each other, and with ourselves.
The Grand Canyon holds a kind of magic that words rarely capture. We can’t wait to share that with you.
Join this once-in-a-lifetime 15 day Grand Canyon Rafting Photo Expedition—a voyage through one of the most breathtaking landscapes on Earth. Rafting the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon is more than a journey—it’s a renewal of spirit. For fifteen days, we’ll leave behind the world of headlines, tweets, screens, and bad news, trading it for canyon light, star-filled nights, fine company, and the timeless rhythm of the river.
While photography is a focal point, this expedition is open to all who appreciate nature, beauty, and adventure. We’ll explore photography at every level—capturing sunrises, glowing canyon walls, the swirl of stars, fascinating geology, and the stories we write along the way. Our partners at Arizona Raft Adventures (AZRA) are the finest in the business. Their expert river guides handle the rowing, the cooking (unless you’d like to join in), and the camaraderie that defines each evening on the riverbank. Their care and humor are a big part of what makes this trip unforgettable.
A gratuity for our river guides is already included in the trip cost, ensuring they know how much they’re valued. We count on them to get us safely down the river, and they know they can count on us for a tip at the end, so it’s really a win-win to have this covered in the trip cost.
What to Expect
Hiking:
We’ll explore side canyons and hidden oases most days. Some hikes are gentle; others are more adventurous—but all reveal the magic of the Canyon. And most importantly, with this many guides, we can always cater the hikes to suit the hikers, so shorter hikes are always a great option. Let me say it this way, you can always hike as far as you want. No hikes are mandatory, shorter versions of hikes are always great too, so this should not be of concern. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me and I’ll call or email you asap.
Camping:
Each afternoon we’ll pull into camp along the river’s edge. While our guides prepare dinner, you can set up your tent—or sleep under the stars. There’s time to swim, wander, relax, or share stories as twilight fades to starlight.
Comfort:
AZRA provides comfortable sleeping gear, including a 2” foam pad (you’re welcome to bring an inflatable pad for extra plushness). Dietary preferences are easily accommodated, and we’ll hold a detailed Zoom prep call to ensure everyone’s ready.
Photography & Power:
Small solar panels keep camera batteries topped off throughout the journey. Compact tripods are encouraged. Large electronics—laptops or other plug-in devices—are best left behind. This is your rare chance to unplug and reconnect.
Expedition Details:
This trip will run, you can count on that.
Sunday, Sept 13, 2026: Orientation, 7 p.m., Flagstaff, AZ
Monday, Sept 14, 2026: Launch on the Colorado River at Lee’s Ferry
Monday, Sept 28, 2026: Final day on the river, take out at mile 226, Diamond Creek, and a bus ride back to Flagstaff for a farewell party
Tuition: $9,850 per person
Includes all meals, park fees, 15 days on the river, guides, and tips. Due to the significant financial risk involved in chartering this expedition, all payments are non-refundable.
Payment Schedule:
Dec 2025: $3,241.4 paid to Jeff Litton (Venmo, Zelle, or check)
By Mar 18, 2026: $5,623.60 due directly to AZRA
Travel insurance is strongly recommended.
If it speaks to you, please reach out soon to reserve your place, we only have a few open spaces left.
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