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 Come experience the Grand Canyon and the Colorado River as only a Spirit Journey can offer. We travel the entire length of the Grand Canyon on a 14 man raft, some 277 miles. Along the way, we take time for side canyon hikes and playing in waterfalls. We also take time to connect with this majestic place in a very real and meaningful way. It is our intention to actively engage the Canyon and the River; to come to know them on a more intimate level so that we may reawaken to our true nature of laughter, playfulness and quest for adventure. Days filled with excitement, adventure and wonderment; nights of great meals and countless stars, will make this one of your best vacations ever and a wonderfully unique adventure.
Click here to see a short video from our Going Deep 2009 journey. "I can not describe the feeling of peace I have. My soul is filled with love and a yearning for more adventure. My emotions are raw, and I keep revisiting the experience in my mind. The grandeur of the Grand Canyon can't be fathomed by merely looking at it from the top. You need to go deep into the canyon, to experience what it has to offer." - Don, Palm Springs, CA  Your Guide
Howie Holben (pictured left) is owner and caretaker of Spirit Journeys. He was raised in the American Southwest and has made countless pilgrimages throughout this incredible land. His early childhood connected him to indigenous peoples and their spiritual teachings, traditions and practices. This connection has taken him on many adventures, exploring the countless ways of "being in the world". His personal journey through addiction and recovery has spawned in him a genuine interest in assisting others on their own spiritual path and he takes great pleasure in introducing people to practices, sacred ways and cultures to help them "step outside their box". A Reiki/Karuna Ki Master and Quantum Touch Practioner, his desire is to help others uncover their potential and set their hearts and minds free.   
Detailed Itinerary
 June 15 - LAS VEGAS, NV
Please schedule your flights to arrive in Las Vegas on June 15 by 4:00 PM. We are purposely not including a group flight. This gives each participant the opportunity to fly the most direct route from their home city to Las Vegas. Our hotel for our first and last nights in Las Vegas is the Residence Inn Las Vegas Hughes Center.
In the early evening, we meet as a group for the first time. Here we get to know our companions a little and share some of our intentions for our journey. After our group meeting, we go to an orientation by our rafting outfitter. Our outfitter will supply each of us a waterproof bag for clothing, etc. and a small waterproof box for things like cameras. Questions will be answered and we will find out what to bring on the river. From past experience we know that you need very little on the river. You will be able to check the remainder of your luggage at our hotel until we get back in eight days. The remainder of the night is free. We have a very early start tomorrow so plan your night accordingly. 
June 16 - LAS VEGAS, NV - LEE'S FERRY, AZ
It's an early bus ride to Lee's Ferry, where we put in at the river. Lees Ferry is just south of Lake Powell and the Glenn Canyon Dam. Before long, we're at the river and helping to load our gear onto the raft. And then....we get our first taste of rapids and our first night of sleeping under the stars.  June 16 to June 22 - THE GRAND CANYON AND THE COLORADO RIVER
A typical day on the river:
As our first full day on the River starts, we wake to the aroma of freshly brewed coffee. Before breakfast, we will welcome the day with a gentle movement ritual or maybe a short meditation. We will discover that starting our day this way helps to set our intention to be "present" for the adventures the day will offer. Afterwards, while eggs, sausage, and muffins cook, we pack our sleeping bags.
Soon after loading the raft, we enter a series of rapids. A thrilling way to start the day!  Our river guide decides to show us one of his special places and we stop to explore a beautiful side canyon. This one is very narrow, with beautifully sculpted rock walls, we walk in a stream up to a small waterfall. Here we play for a while, and then get back on our raft.
After about an hour, we pass an area where fountains of water gush from the Grand Canyon’s wall. Lush growths of moss and ferns seem strangely out of place in such a desert setting. We drift close to the gushing water, giving everyone aboard a welcome shower.
 At noon, our raft stops for lunch in the shade of Redwall Cavern. Inside this great cave, there is room enough for a game of softball!
Soon, we're stopping again for a "rest stop" and to explore another canyon. Here we may join in a circle, and as a group, bring ourselves "present" to the Earth around us. We make camp tonight near the site of ancient Indian ruins.  After a dinner of filet, Dutch-oven potatoes, green salad, and cherry cobbler, we hike to the ruins, and view the river below. Back in camp, we may have a Heart Circle to share our experiences of the day or sleep may call us. Our bed tonight is beneath the Milky Way, and a canopy of stars that dwarfs even the Grand Canyon.  June 23 - GRAND CANYON - LAKE MEAD - LAS VEGAS, NV
The last morning on the River can be bittersweet. As we pack our gear, we realize it is for the last time. We do not want to leave, but we know we must. Yet, our hearts are filled with gratitude for the things the Canyon and the River have taught us and for having given ourselves this journey.
The River slows to almost a crawl as it flows into Lake Mead. It is so quiet here, so peaceful; the perfect place for one last swim! How many people do you know that can say "I swam in the Colorado River at the bottom of the Grand Canyon"?  All too soon, we're boarding a speed boat to take us across Lake Mead to Pearce Ferry, where a bus returns us to Las Vegas.
Tonight we have our farewell dinner and closing circle. The remainder of the night is free to see a show or explore the casinos. Overnight Residence Inn Las Vegas Hughes Center. June 24 - LAS VEGAS, NV TO HOME (or not)
Today we head home or you can choose to stay on in Las Vegas for a different kind of adventure! "The majesty of this place called the Grand Canyon was an opportunity for me to go deep within as I journeyed along these sacred temples of life. The co journeyers were all perfect in their coming together to seek a spiritual experience that in turn reflected back to me an opportunity to move within experiencing my own personal dialog with life. I came home as a new person that views life clearer, cleaner, compassionate and grateful." - Lonnie, Huntsville, AL Have questions?
Contact us at 800-754-1875 or info@spiritjourneys.com 
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