The Holiday Way

“The Holiday Way” is more than a catchphrase—it’s a way of life. The Holiday Way is how we interact with the world, both as a business and as human beings. It began with our founders, Dee and Sue Holladay, and their passion for the world around them, and it’s still going strong, over 55 years later.

The Holiday Way is going with the flow, running river trips without motors. The rush of the wind, a chatty raven, or a churning rapid are the sounds that will define your trip. It’s award-winning environmental stewardship. It is a family-owned and operated company: big enough to have an impact, but small enough to provide personalized service. It’s well-trained guides who strive to do things the right way, every time. It’s comfortable gear and efficient operations. We’ve had more than 55 years to design systems and equipment that keep us working at the top of our game.

The Holiday Way is an open invitation to come float with us, to become literate in the landscapes that define us. We believe strongly that the best way to experience the world is by going out into it. “You have to go to know,” Dee always said. We’ll take you there.

The Guides

You’ll be well taken care of. Our guides are the best in the business, and are trained in river and backcountry safety as well as first aid. They’re all exciting individuals, experts in everything from rowing a rapid to sharing a good story. They take having fun seriously and will inform, entertain, and engage you in a variety of ways. They’ll also show you their favorite places: a short walk up a side canyon to a private waterfall, a view from a cliff overlooking what seems to be the entire world, or sleeping under the stars on a soft, sandy beach. Part of what sets our guides apart is our annual training – we cover everything from interp and Leave No Trace to inclusivity on and off the river. This shows up in all of our trips from classic trips to our specialty and affinity trips.

The Gear & Camping

Holiday River Expeditions provides worry-free access to spectacular wilderness areas—and we do it in style. Whether on a raft or a mountain bike, we offer the best gear in the industry. As you watch the other companies pass by, you’ll be pleased you picked an organized outfitter that keeps all equipment in tip-top shape. In camp the efficiency and organization continues. We cover all of the details: a streamlined kitchen with a well-thought-out trash system; a common area complete with a hand-picked library, chairs, and a table for drinks, water, and appetizers; portable toilets set up in a beautiful and private area; and hand washing stations to boot!

The Feast

Omelets made to order, crispy bacon, deli sandwiches, dutch-oven lasagna, French toast, fajitas, cowboy coffee, and homemade desserts: you’ve never eaten so well in the wilderness! Since 1966, Sue Holladay has used her river running and cooking experience to design menus that accommodate everyone’s tastes and dietary needs. It’s not just the abundance of fresh air and scenery that makes the food taste so good. We work hard to source ingredients and plan meals that are healthy, flavorful, and varied. You won’t eat the same meal twice. Our menus can also be adjusted to meet most dietary restrictions as long as we know about them ahead of time.

At Your Service

It may be old fashioned to receive personalized service, but that’s what you can expect when booking your Holiday River Expeditions trip. No automated phone menus here. Karen, Lauren, Natalie, and Jesse are real, live people in our office, ready to answer your call or respond to your email. With over 50 years of collective experience, they know what they’re talking about, and will take the time to share their knowledge with you. They get out of the office often to enjoy our trips or find new outdoor adventures. It’s this perspective that allows them to listen to you and help you find the best trip for you or your family or group. When it’s all said and done, their experience outside the office is most valuable when they share it with you!

Our History

It only took one river trip with a friend to convert Dee Holladay into a man who lived for running rivers. Luckily for him, his wife, Sue, was willing to be a part of the journey. For nearly 50 years, Dee and Sue worked as an inseparable team, building their family company into a business that continues to lead the industry in innovation and environmental stewardship. Dee passed away in 2015, but his legacy (and Sue!) continue to influence everything that Holiday does—and everything that we stand for.

The Environment

Holiday River Expeditions was founded on the hopes of a dreamer, Dee Holladay, who saw the rivers we run not simply as a resource around which to build a business, but as a gateway allowing us to tap into something bigger than ourselves. That solid grounding gave Holiday an active land ethic that has guided our mission, our policies, our advocacy, and our everyday practices ever since. We are lucky to navigate rivers that many consider not merely beautiful but sacred, and so we respect them as such. Like a river’s pulsing current, Holiday will persistently move forward, on the current’s leading edge, to ensure we have rapids to run for generations to come.

Awards

We’re proud of our accomplishments as a company and the individual accomplishments of our team members. National Geographic’s Ultimate Adventure Sourcebook independently ranked Holiday River Expeditions as a five-star outfitter—one of only two rafting companies in their international listings to achieve five-star status. Dee and Sue Holladay have also been recognized multiple times for their outstanding contributions to river conservation and to safe operations.