The hardest part about taking a Grand Canyon tour is opting to visit the South Rim or the West Rim. They are both fantastic destinations. So, in an effort to break this tie, I'm going to do a short rim-by-rim evaluation that will ensure you're paired with the spot that's best for you.
Do you want things to do or scenery?
The West Rim excels in fun-filled activities. It's the only place where you can ride a chopper 4,000 feet to the bottom. Then, if you're so inclined, you can walk upstream and river raft the Colorado River.
The internationally famous Grand Canyon Skywalk is located here. This attraction is a superbly designed glass-bridge that allows you to walk 70 feet beyond the edge as it suspends you 4,000 feet above the river. Don't look down if you are susceptible to vertigo.
More exotic things to do here include a heli journey to a ranch, ATV trail rides, Hummer 4x4 adventures, and horseback riding. One of my favorite things to do at Grand Canyon West is the Hoover Dam smooth-water rafting trip to Willow Beach.
Grand Canyon National Park (a.k.a. South Rim) is more serene when compared to the West Rim. What it does not have in "thrills" it makes up in natural splendor. This is the part of the National Park that even the rangers allude to as the "real" canyon.
There are no heli flights to the bottom at the South Rim. If you want to get to the base, you have to walk. Having said that, the air tours here are very good. The chopper trip from Tusayan goes directly into the heart of the Dragoon Corridor, the broadest, deepest part of the Canyon, while airplane trips cover the South, East, and North rims.
There's also the fantastic one-day canyon-rafting journey that runs from April to November. Options include taking a bus or plane to Page, AZ, and then switching to a river raft. This is a smooth-water trip so there is no whitewater. Kids ages four years and older are welcome.
The hiking trails at South Rim are awesome. Bright Angel, South Kaibab, and the Rim Top trails are the most popular. For lookouts, go to Hopi Point, Mather Point and Yaki Point. Most excursions include guided tours to these points of interest.
Where are you coming from?
The West Rim is only 120 miles from Las Vegas. Helis, planes, and coaches can do the trip in 45 minutes, 25 minutes, and 2.5 hours, respectively. The South Rim is too far for Las Vegas choppers. Your best alternatives are the plane or the bus.
I highly advise taking the 45-minute plane ride from Sin City to the National Park. It's fast, comfortable, and one of the greatest deals on the market. The bus is astonishingly affordable, but one-way drive time is 5.5 hours and total tour time is a whopping 15 hours.
Phoenix and Sedona tourists can drive to the National Park in 4 hours and 2 hours, respectively. There are bus, airplane, and helicopter trips from those locations but it's a lot less money to drive yourself and do an air tour from Grand Canyon Airport in Tusayan.
How long do you plan to be at the canyon?
West Rim trips from Las Vegas are perfect day trips. The longest tour is 1 day. Air-only trips are around 4 hours, including hotel pick up and drop off. The Ground Canyon South Rim bus takes 15 hours minimum, which is why I advocate for the plane tour considering that it will have you back on the Vegas Strip in time for your evening reservations. Tours that start in Northern Arizona are full-day trips. I often tell folks to try to book a room inside the National Park and stay overnight. This is easier said than done because Park accommodations are generally booked a year in advance.
What's your budget?
Grand Canyon National Park and West Rim bus tours are the most affordable and include lots of add-ons like smooth-water rafting, glass bridge tickets and heli rides. Air tours are more costly, but you also see more canyon in less time. I calculate that what you see on a 30-minute chopper tour is equal to a few days on the ground. Plus the aerial views are outstanding.
Let's see the canyon!
Grand Canyon tours are filled with adventure and beauty. The two prime areas are the West Rim and the West Rim. The challenge is which rim to see. If you are beginning from Las Vegas, Grand Canyon West is your closest option. However, if your heart is set on the South Rim, take the 45-minute airplane flight. I recommend doing the South Rim for travelers starting out from Phoenix and Sedona. The key to making sure you get the holiday of your dreams is too book ahead of time over the Internet. Adhere to this system and you'll get your Grand Canyon trip at a decent price.
Do you want things to do or scenery?
The West Rim excels in fun-filled activities. It's the only place where you can ride a chopper 4,000 feet to the bottom. Then, if you're so inclined, you can walk upstream and river raft the Colorado River.
The internationally famous Grand Canyon Skywalk is located here. This attraction is a superbly designed glass-bridge that allows you to walk 70 feet beyond the edge as it suspends you 4,000 feet above the river. Don't look down if you are susceptible to vertigo.
More exotic things to do here include a heli journey to a ranch, ATV trail rides, Hummer 4x4 adventures, and horseback riding. One of my favorite things to do at Grand Canyon West is the Hoover Dam smooth-water rafting trip to Willow Beach.
Grand Canyon National Park (a.k.a. South Rim) is more serene when compared to the West Rim. What it does not have in "thrills" it makes up in natural splendor. This is the part of the National Park that even the rangers allude to as the "real" canyon.
There are no heli flights to the bottom at the South Rim. If you want to get to the base, you have to walk. Having said that, the air tours here are very good. The chopper trip from Tusayan goes directly into the heart of the Dragoon Corridor, the broadest, deepest part of the Canyon, while airplane trips cover the South, East, and North rims.
There's also the fantastic one-day canyon-rafting journey that runs from April to November. Options include taking a bus or plane to Page, AZ, and then switching to a river raft. This is a smooth-water trip so there is no whitewater. Kids ages four years and older are welcome.
The hiking trails at South Rim are awesome. Bright Angel, South Kaibab, and the Rim Top trails are the most popular. For lookouts, go to Hopi Point, Mather Point and Yaki Point. Most excursions include guided tours to these points of interest.
Where are you coming from?
The West Rim is only 120 miles from Las Vegas. Helis, planes, and coaches can do the trip in 45 minutes, 25 minutes, and 2.5 hours, respectively. The South Rim is too far for Las Vegas choppers. Your best alternatives are the plane or the bus.
I highly advise taking the 45-minute plane ride from Sin City to the National Park. It's fast, comfortable, and one of the greatest deals on the market. The bus is astonishingly affordable, but one-way drive time is 5.5 hours and total tour time is a whopping 15 hours.
Phoenix and Sedona tourists can drive to the National Park in 4 hours and 2 hours, respectively. There are bus, airplane, and helicopter trips from those locations but it's a lot less money to drive yourself and do an air tour from Grand Canyon Airport in Tusayan.
How long do you plan to be at the canyon?
West Rim trips from Las Vegas are perfect day trips. The longest tour is 1 day. Air-only trips are around 4 hours, including hotel pick up and drop off. The Ground Canyon South Rim bus takes 15 hours minimum, which is why I advocate for the plane tour considering that it will have you back on the Vegas Strip in time for your evening reservations. Tours that start in Northern Arizona are full-day trips. I often tell folks to try to book a room inside the National Park and stay overnight. This is easier said than done because Park accommodations are generally booked a year in advance.
What's your budget?
Grand Canyon National Park and West Rim bus tours are the most affordable and include lots of add-ons like smooth-water rafting, glass bridge tickets and heli rides. Air tours are more costly, but you also see more canyon in less time. I calculate that what you see on a 30-minute chopper tour is equal to a few days on the ground. Plus the aerial views are outstanding.
Let's see the canyon!
Grand Canyon tours are filled with adventure and beauty. The two prime areas are the West Rim and the West Rim. The challenge is which rim to see. If you are beginning from Las Vegas, Grand Canyon West is your closest option. However, if your heart is set on the South Rim, take the 45-minute airplane flight. I recommend doing the South Rim for travelers starting out from Phoenix and Sedona. The key to making sure you get the holiday of your dreams is too book ahead of time over the Internet. Adhere to this system and you'll get your Grand Canyon trip at a decent price.
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