The Grand Canyon is a world heritage site and one of the top five places you must visit. There are many ways to tour the Grand Canyon, so it is important to decide what you want to see beforehand.
Many travelers decide to view the Grand Canyon North Rim and South Rim before hiking down to the Inner Canyon. The popular boat rides along the Colorado River and aerial tours where you can see the magnificent landscape are also among the top choices. The choice mostly relates to the length of your stay. If you are visiting the Grand Canyon National Park for a few days, you can camp in the Inner Canyon or visit the Grand Canyon South Rim and North Rim playgrounds. Adventure seekers can also consider booking some of the best one day and multi day rafting trips.
Today, we are listing some of the best Grand Canyon tours and showing you all the beauties of the major attraction that is located at about 4 hours from Las Vegas. Ready to take the famous Route 66 and explore these?
The South Rim of the Grand Canyon is often the best starting point for visitors. You can enter into along US 180 if you come from Flagstaff or AZ 64 if you approach it from the south and west. The South Rim has plenty of accommodation options, grand viewpoints (Mather Point, Yavapai Point) as well as entertainment spots including an IMAX theatre.
When it comes to the best Grand Canyon tours, you can either go for a smooth water rafting trip, an airline tour of the Canyon, a Grand Canyon helicopter tour, or a sunset photo session at some of the best viewpoints such as the Skywalk.
While the South Rim is more inviting for campers, the Grand Canyon North Rim is the more rugged one, offering pristine views of the wilderness around. Located at about 5 hours from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, the North Rim is higher in elevation and therefore much cooler. Travellers should know that is closed in winter.
In summer, you can visit the North Rim and tour Grand Canyon through some of the popular trailheads. There are some lodging and camping options in the warmer months, too.
If you search for a trail adventure, you explore the Inner Canyon and hike and alongside the massive walls set at 4,700 feet below the South Rim and 5,700 feet below the North Rim. There are no permits required for day hiking, but if you want to stay overnight at the Phantom Ranch, you can obtain a permit from the Backcountry office located in the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. There are plenty of solid lodging facilities in the popular oasis called Phantom Ranch.
The Colorado River is known as another major attraction due to its emerald green waters. This river flows directly in the middle of the canyon and back on, and you can choose from calm placid waters to raging white water rafting trips. Most visitors prefer to run the river using commercial outfitters.
There are plenty of multi-day rafting options, and only a few single day rafting tours which are operated by the Hualapai River Runners at Grand Canyon West. This tour includes a shuttle ride to the Canyon from Peach Springs, a helicopter ride, and rafting on the river, after which you return to the starting point (Peach Springs, located at 2.5 hours west of Flagstaff and 2 hours east of Las Vegas).
A visit to the Grand Canyon village will let you browse all the helicopter tours available in the area. This is undoubtedly one of the best way to admire the beauties of nature and soar above the walls. A Grand Canyon helicopter tour can be either booked from Las Vegas, or the South Rim of the Canyon, ranging from 30 minutes up to 4-5 hours. A 30 minute helicopter ride to the viewpoints above the Canyon are among the most popular options.
The Eco-Star helicopter tour is among the most popular Grand Canyon tours with dramatic views on the Little Colorado River, the monolithic Point Imperial, North Rim, etc. You can fly comfortably and quietly in one of the best helicopters in the area.
There are some companies that offer road-based group tours of the South Rim in vehicles such as Jeeps, buses, vans, etc. A Jeep tour covers some of the most popular viewpoints along trails including Bright Angel, Ooh Aah Point, and often include lunch. You can learn more about the canyon's history and experience the rugged roads around the Canyon with licensed Jeep tour guides.
There is a motor coach (bus) based Family Tour that takes you along the South Rim, stopping at the Desert View Watchtower, and then heading to Marble Canyon and Lee's Ferry, Arizona. From here, you can board a raft and be transferred upstream on Colorado River, at a location that is very close to Glen Canyon Dam. The tour lasts for 12 hours and is popular in the area.
The Grand Canyon Railway is a fascinating train ride that goes from Williams, Arizona to the Grand Canyon South Rim. The tour length is 3 hours, including lunch and drinks available along with knowledgeable guides. You can even admire the Canyon's beauty for 3 hours at the South Rim Village, which is the tour's main stop. While there are plenty of ways to tour Grand Canyon from Las Vegas, this is one of the best ways to explore it from Arizona.
Hikers know that Grand Canyon is among the best hiking spots in the United States. You can explore the geology, witness incredible hike tours and backpack, enjoying the fascinating views of the Canyon in an adventure of a lifetime. The tour operators are responsible for obtaining local permits, transportation, guides, hike itineraries, lunch, gear, etc.
The Grand Canyon West Rim has plenty of awesome spots, too. You can enjoy the scenic views from Eagle and Guano Point as one of the main points, but also get a chance to meet the Hualapi Indian tribe and learn more about their cultural heritage and all of their activities they in the canyon area. You can also select a helicopter ride over the canyon, get the best selfies from the Canyon's Skywalk, or choose to float upon the Colorado River.
There are plenty of helicopter tours – besides the main ones, travellers particularly enjoy the ones that start from the South Rim and go over the Kaibab National Forest, the Painted Desert and the Marble Canyon amongst others. Flying through the Dragon Corridor while looking at the canyon walls on either side is one of the most jaw-dropping experience and a tour that comes highly recommended from many travellers.
Visiting the Antelope Canyon is one of the many attractions in the area. There is also the amazing Monument Valley and the nature in the Bryce National Park which is also included in this 3 day tour. There are plenty of attractions and jaw-dropping sights in the American West that you just have to witness. This tour can also take you on a cruise on the wonderful Lake Powell, depending on the specific itinerary.
"Grand Canyon – The Hidden Secrets" is the name of the presentation shown at the Grand Canyon IMAX® theater which is a must-see stop that is located one mile south of the South Rim Entrance to the Grand Canyon National Park. The 7-story giant screen gives you a full overview of all the spectacular visits in the area, as well as the hidden canyon gems, and a bit of history on the Canyon.
The day airplane tour from Las Vegas is a luxury tour and a popular trip that takes you through some of the most incredible scenery and locations such as the Hoover Dam. You will literally see the Grand Canyon below you, and explore the entire area, passing above the famous South and North Rim, as well as spots like the Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, etc. There is a guided narration which will help you understand more about each part of the Grand Canyon National Park.
Similar to the West Rim but located at the South Rim, this 45 minute airplane tour is another way to spice up your Grand Canyon trip and see something now. You will be delighted knowing to see all of the rock formations for 45 minutes and explore the area from up in the air. This scenic tour is ideal for a small group interested in a flight, or the luxury to see everything from up above.
The Grand Canyon is one of the most incredible natural wonders of the earth and a sight that needs to be seen to be believed. The massive rock walls and formations carved out over millions of years by the Colorado River create a stunning landscape which is protected and is part of the Grand Canyon National Park.
Located in Arizona, this canyon is one of the natural wonders. Its panoramas and landscapes, along with historic sites, white water rafting trips and hiking activities, make the canyon one of the most popular touristic destinations in the country. Whether you are visiting from Las Vegas or Phoenix, it goes without saying that you should see as many of these tours as possible.
If you are ready to ride along Route 66 and book a full day or multi day trip at the Grand Canyon with a bus or car, prepare to immerse in the adventure and learn more about the history of this amazing place.
