The Grand Canyon is both
majestic and magical. One of nature’s most
enduring and unique gems, it attracts millions of yearly
visitors to Arizona. While you can attempt to tackle
the Grand Canyon on your own, many tourists choose to
book Grand Canyon tours during their visit. These
various tours offer an ideal means by which to approach
the giant gorge and can be the best way to maximize your
time spent there. Grand Canyon tours exist to fit
practically every need or desire, and whether your budget
is limited or unlimited, you can find Grand Canyon tours
that will add that extra flavor to your Grand Canyon vacation.
Grand Canyon tours can last half a day on up to weeks,
depending on which one you select, and views of the canyon’s
stunning scenery can be enjoyed from the air, on a Grand
Canyon river rafting trip, and by way of the Grand
Canyon railway, to name a few of the options. Grand
Canyon tours can be arranged from locations in Arizona,
as well as from New
Mexico, Utah,
California
and Nevada, meaning
that you can likely compliment your vacation in these
states with a Grand
Canyon vacation experience.
Finding the right Grand Canyon tours for your group
will depend on a few factors, at least, such as your group
size, the length of your Grand Canyon vacation, and the
preferences of those involved. If you are planning
a Las Vegas vacation, you will be happy to know that you
can supplement it with various Grand Canyon tours that
can include a mix of motorcoach, airplane or Grand Canyon
helicopter tours. When booking your hotel
accommodations in Las Vegas, or in the greater Grand
Canyon area, you may wish to arrange a package deal that
includes Grand Canyon tours in the overall price.
Searching online will reveal the sheer amount of Grand
Canyon tours offered, and often you will come across special
internet rates to help you save money. Prices for
the various Grand Canyon tours can be quite affordable,
with rates for some excursions starting at under $100.
Many day tours feature a lunch break that is included
in the price, which takes the stress out of having to
figure out where to eat. While tours initiated outside
of Arizona can be one-day in and out affairs, you can
also opt for an overnight tour, which includes accommodations
either at one of the Grand Canyon National Park’s
6 lodges, or at the various area Grand
Canyon hotels.
The South Rim of the Grand Canyon is where most people choose to begin their Grand Canyon vacation, and while the spring, summer and fall bring the most visitors to the area, the South Rim’s visitor services are open year round. If you are planning any Grand Canyon tours for the busy summer season, you will want to book as far ahead as possible, as they can fill up at a moment’s notice, as can accommodations. Within the South Rim, you will find Grand Canyon Village, which is a National Historic Landmark District which features many structures that date back to the early 1900's, when the Santa Fe railroad was built. There are a variety of accommodation options found at Grand Canyon Village, from quaint cabins to more modern facilities. Grand Canyon camping can be enjoyed at the South Rim’s designated campgrounds as well. Grand Canyon mule rides and train trips are among the Grand Canyon tours you can arrange from the South Rim, as well as Grand Canyon hiking tours and other options. Visitors to the South Rim can use the free shuttle buses for transportation to various points of interest. The Grand Canyon Railway, which is a concessioner of the National Park Service, offers train trips to the Grand Canyon South Rim from the town of Williams, which lies some 65 miles away to the south. These train tours can be complimented with a Grand Canyon bus tour upon arrival to Grand Canyon Village.
Grand Canyon helicopter tours are among the more popular
Grand Canyon tours, and together with airplane tours they
allow visitors to get a bird’s eye view of the Grand
Canyon’s natural splendor. There are a bevy
of Grand Canyon helicopter tours that originate in Nevada,
from either Las Vegas or Boulder City. Other Grand
Canyon helicopter tours generally originate out of Phoenix
or from the Grand Canyon National Park Airport, which
is found at the South Rim. While helicopters and
planes are no longer allowed within 1,500 feet of the
canyon rim in Grand Canyon National Park, inner-canyon
flying is possible at Grand Canyon West, which is a Native
American Park that is controlled by the Havasupai and
Hualapai Indians. At Grand Canyon West, helicopters
often descend 4,000 feet into the depths of the canyon
and passengers can de-board the craft for a taste of the
local Native American culture. It is at Grand Canyon
West that you will find the new Grand
Canyon Skywalk, which is a glass-bottom walkway that
extends out over a part of the western canyon. It
is operated by the Hualapai Indian tribe, and some tours
include a walk on the skyway in their overall package
deals. For a touch of luxury, you can choose from
various deluxe Grand
Canyon helicopter tours, which can include such extras
as limousine transfers and gourmet refreshments during
the trip. Simply put, the sky is the limit when
it comes to Grand Canyon tours, and you will find that
adding one or more of them to your Grand Canyon vacation
will help to make it all the more memorable.
