6.5-Hour Dam Tour, Short Float

Pink Jeep Tours runs this 6.5-hour Las Vegas outing: time at Hoover Dam, then a raft float through Black Canyon. Rated 4.9 across 7 reviews, from $284.28 per person.

Overview

This Pink Jeep Tours outing from Las Vegas pairs the classic Hoover Dam visit with a short float on the Colorado River, so you see the dam from the rim and from the water below it. The whole thing runs about 6.5 hours, door to door, with hotel pickup from Las Vegas included. Transport is a Tour Trekker vehicle with leather captain's chairs and oversized viewing windows, and a personal guide provides the history and information along the way.

The route starts on top of the dam and works its way down, covering construction history and how the place operates day to day. Then comes the water portion: a 20-minute float that gives a close look at the dam face and a view up at the bypass bridge, a span of nearly 2,000 feet sitting more than 900 feet above the river. Lunch is a boxed sandwich eaten at a viewpoint, with snacks and bottled water handed out along the way.

It suits travellers who want the dam story told properly but only have part of a day. One reviewer said it was worth the extra time and money compared with the shorter tour. Expect a fair amount of walking, so it is a poor fit for anyone with real mobility limits.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Hotel pickup, Las VegasRound trip transport from Las Vegas hotels is included, with pickup details set at booking.
2. Transfer to Boulder CityA 40-minute drive out of the city toward the dam.
3. Boulder City photo stopA scenic drive and photo stop lasting 55 minutes.
4. Colorado River raftingTwo hours at Lake Mead National Recreation Area, including the 20-minute float on the Colorado River for an up-close view of the dam.
5. Viewpoint lunchA 30-minute stop for the included boxed sandwich lunch.
6. Hoover Dam guided tourEighty minutes of photo stops, guiding, sightseeing and walking, starting at the top of the dam and working down.
7. Return to Las VegasA 30-minute transfer back to the city.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points worth knowing before booking this one.

• Pace and walking. The listing is blunt about this: there is a lot of walking, and it is not recommended for people with mobility issues. The dam portion alone runs 80 minutes of guiding and walking. Wear shoes that can handle it.
• What to wear. The operator says to dress appropriately for both summer and winter trips, since you are outside at the dam and on the river. Layers are the safe call in cooler months.
• Food and drink. A boxed sandwich lunch, a snack and bottled water are all included, plus the raft fees. One group loved the picnic in the park, so do not fill up beforehand. Gratuity for the driver is not included.
• Group feel. One group had the boat to themselves and said it felt like a private tour.
• Photos. One reviewer praised their guide for taking photos of guests at the best spots and getting them into line first for the dam tour. The float itself gives river-level views of the dam from below.
• Guides. Reviewers consistently describe guides who are knowledgeable, friendly, and generous with stories and answers. Do not count on a specific guide by name. One traveller was impressed enough to book another tour with the company afterward.

Common issues. Gratuity for the driver is recommended but not included, so budget for it separately. The listing warns of a lot of walking and advises against the tour for those with mobility problems, and there is no indication of wheelchair accommodation. One reviewer wished for more time on the river with the guide, since the float lasts 20 minutes. Weather is a factor too, since the trip runs in both summer and winter and you are outdoors for much of the day.

Before You Book A Raft