Understanding Pricing
River Trip Pricing
As might be expected, trip prices vary across the country, the region, and even on a specific river. Variables that typically determine the basic price of a trip are:
1) Length of trip
2) Equipment required
3) Staff and guide support required
4) Difficulty of the experience
5) Service level and experience of the company
6) Basic supply and demand
In order to assure a balanced and rewarding experience for you, your family, or your group, leading outfitters include all of these elements in their service. Although approximate in nature, the outline below gives you a sense of what to expect from a full service outfitter and where a lower priced outfitter might choose to cut costs. Wildwater is a leading full service outfitter and believes each of these elements is critical to our guests whitewater experience. Lots of outfitters offer some of these elements or a certain level of these services but only a very few offer a full commitment in every area.
1) Length of trip (approx 25%-30% of cost)
Trips that run for a few hours to a full day are typically described as half day and full day trips. Half day could mean 2 hours to 4 hours. Full day trips could be 5 hours to 8 hours. With no overnight equipment requirements, these trips are the least expensive trip options available. For every $50 spent on a rafting trip, about $15 of the cost typically relates to the length of time on the river.
2) Equipment required (approx 10%-15% of cost)
Each trip comes with its own set of gear needs. In addition to the rafts, paddles, PFD's & helmets available, each trip carries 1 or 2 extensive first aid kits and additional trip safety gear. Wildwater provides its guides with the latest and best personal gear options available so they can be prepared and properly equipped to support the trips needs. Top of the line equipment is maintained and issued to both guests and guides with consideration for comfort and function first and price second. Costs range even higher than 15% for overnight trips but for half day & full day trips $7-$8 for every $50 of a raft trip typically supports the quality of the equipment provided.
3) Staff and guide support required (approx. 20%-25% of cost)
Experience within the Wildwater team runs deep. Wildwater proudly has many of the most experienced managers and leaders in the industry. We have a strong foundation of guides and team members that have remained with us over the years in an industry that is almost defined by the wanderlust personalities of guides and adventurers.
Many "behind the scenes" efforts are included in your river experience including transportation services, reservations and coordination of group scheduling, maintaining facilities to provide a comfortable place to relax before and after your trip, and food services provided on many of our trips.
The roll of our guides is multi-faceted as well. In addition to experience & knowledge about the sport of rafting, they are knowledgeable about the area and enjoy sharing history and stories about the places they love. They work with thousands of youth, families, and adults throughout the season matching the experience with the expectations of each group or guest. For every $50 of a raft trip, about $13 helps cover the basic cost for professional assistance from the guides and other team members.
4) Difficulty of the experience (approx. 15%-20% of cost)
Wildwater recognizes our guides that continue to develop their skills and training and seek advanced levels of leadership on the river. Time and experience are required to lead some of our more challenging stretches and you will find those trips are led by our top team members with the experience and training to react quickly to the level of whitewater challenge that these more difficult rivers present. Higher ratios of guides to guests and additional support team members add additional cost to our more challenging trips. This amounts to about $10 for every $50 of a trip.
5) Service level and experience of the company (approx. 15% of cost)
A company that is committed to your comfort and well being on and off the river makes a tremendous difference in your overall experience. Many of our guests only raft 1 or 2 times a year. Your experience starts with a call or email to our office, continues throughout your river adventure, and finishes with a shower, photos, a smile and a fond farewell until next time. These are all a part of the memories you will take with you. Our Quality Service Commitment means a lot to us. We strive to exceed our guests expectations on and off the river with attention to details like complimentary beverages after trips and extra effort to provide everything you might possibly need for a successful trip. Having experience and providing quality service at a deli, hotel, or restaurant is different from experience and service on a river. Many factors influence the comfort and well being of our river guests. Experience allows us to evaluate constantly changing situations and determine the best course of action for the particular group at hand. Whitewater rafting is a sport of adventure and chance. Our training programs are tried and true and supported by leaders in the industry. Having the experience and knowledge to minimize chance is what makes this so critical to our services. On a $50 trip about $7-$8 relates to your piece of mind
6) Basic supply and demand
The final factor in pricing relates to protections that have been placed on numerous rivers to assure the experience remains a positive one when popular weekends or dates generate more interest than the river can reasonably sustain. These dates offer limited numbers of spaces and typically cost slightly more.
Often this simply means going on a peak Saturday in July or August will cost a few more dollars than going on Sunday. The trip is the same but more popular dates create more demand than supply and rates increase to cover those limitations and encourage visitors to move to other days.
