Tahoe Whitewater Tours — Attraction in Truckee

Yes we got hurt. But that’s not why I’m giving it 3 stars. The good stuff: Our guide was informative and helpful. Everything was well organized. The first 3/4 of the experience was incredible. Absolutely beautiful. Super fun! An adrenaline rush! The story: the raft of another company got stuck in front of us and we crashed into it, our raft flipped, and all of us “swam” the last (and worst) section of the river. I dislocated my thumb, another woman had a pretty serious injury and hematoma on her hand, and we all have cuts and bruises everywhere. It’s in the waiver. I’m not mad about that. Accidents happen. A 5 star review should go to the British woman who box breathed with me after I was rescued. I’m confident I was going into shock and she prevented that. What I was surprised about was the lack of first aid supplies and the lack of empathy from the staff - with the exception of the female employee who tried her hardest to find me proper supplies. Our guide didn’t check back in with us until we were leaving the parking lot and he happened to be walking by. Immediately after the incident I had no idea if the other people in my raft were okay. Maybe they don’t have that many accidents of this nature, but I would recommend having a better plan/training for when this does happen. Aside from that part of the experience, let’s talk about the photographer. He starts the trip off with his sales pitch, hypes up the adventure, and acts like the nice guy… good tactic. After we all returned to the office I was alone with him and the raft staff and his true colors came out. He switched his nice guy voice on and off when rafters came in to pay him, but when they weren’t around he was a total jerk. I walked into the office and asked generally to the room if there was an ice pack for my thumb - he was the person standing behind the counter - and he replied with “does it look like there’s a fridge or freezer here?” I responded asking for an instant one that would be in a first aid kit and he retorted with “I’m a separate company, I just do the photography.” Thankfully behind him some of the rafting staff were digging around and found one. What I was amazed at was that after photography customers would pay him and walk out he would make comments behind their back. In summary, I know it was a series of unfortunate events that I wish hadn’t have happened, but I hope that through the experience written here they can find a way to be 1% better...

Five stars for the professionalism, quality, friendliness, equipment, experience, everything pretty much.

ZERO starts for the overpriced, aggressive-sale-tactics, fraudulently-charged photos! Explanation below. You cannot bring your phone or camera onto the boat, they could drop into the water or at least get very wet. So, they're nice enough to have a "photographer" follow the tour along the river and take your photos. Nice piece of service offering, right? Problem is, the price and the sales tactics around that service are both outrageous, and even worse, that whole charge is a fraud. Would you pay $75 extra on top of the $400 tour cost (for a family of four), or 19% extra, for photos of your experience? If you think this is a fair price, great. Maybe I would, too. But it just would have been nice if they had mentioned that on their website next to the text "Action Photography in the biggest rapids." Yes, you're looking at a clearly fraudulent hidden cost. Of course, you don't HAVE to pay that photos fee of you don't want your photos, even though you were promised those photos on the company's website. Still, it appears that most people do pay. The reason? Aggressive sales tactics. Here's how it works: They load you onto the bus with a bunch of strangers, riding towards the river. With everyone crowded on the bus, the "photographer" gets up and tells you about the "special deal": Commit to buying the photos now (sight unseen) and you'll get a significant discount! Fifty something dollars instead of $75. Wow, what an amazing deal! Then, he immediately starts passing around this piece of paper for you to sign... Well, everyone else is signing. Peer pressure, anyone? Well, I have to sign too, no? It must be worth it! Here are a few alternatives for how that would be done without the aggressive sales tactics, just to make the point clear: Charge the photos fee at registration Charge the photos fee at check-in Charge the photos fee at checkout Charge the photos fee at checkout, after customer gets to see if the photos are worth anything. And, once again, the fee should be ZERO given the misleading statement on the website "Action Photography in the biggest rapids.".

To the Tahoe Whitewater folks: you guys are really nice and professional, and the experience was great. You seem to run a tight ship. I hope the business is going well. You should reconsider this terrible policy....

I recently had the pleasure of embarking on a river rafting adventure with Tahoe Whitewater Tours, and it was an unforgettable experience! From start to finish, the trip was perfectly organized, thrilling, and enjoyable, thanks in large part to our incredible guide, Madison.

We were a diverse group of adventurers, most of whom spoke Spanish instead of English. Madison impressed us with her ability to communicate seamlessly in Spanish, ensuring everyone felt included and understood. Her linguistic skills were only the beginning of what made her such a standout guide.

Madison’s expertise on the river was evident as she navigated us through the rapids with ease and confidence. She provided clear instructions and ensured everyone’s safety while making the experience exciting and fun. Her enthusiasm was infectious, and she went above and beyond to create an environment that was muy divertido!

The scenery along the river was breathtaking, and Madison knew all the best spots to pause and take it all in, giving us plenty of opportunities for photos and moments of reflection. Her passion for the outdoors and commitment to providing a memorable experience was palpable.

I highly recommend Tahoe Whitewater Tours to anyone looking for a thrilling adventure on the water. Whether you’re a seasoned rafter or a first-timer, Madison and the rest of the team will make sure you have a fantastic time. Thank you, Madison, for making this trip an unforgettable experience! We can’t wait to return for another ride...