Grand Canyon – Tips on How to Shop for Great Tours

Many people list the Grand Canyon as one of the places they want to visit. So what is the best way to go about it? By taking a tour. Finding a great tour of the Grand Canyon is easy if you go about it right. Here’s how. It all depends on your departure point. Chances are it will be Vegas or an Arizona city like Sedona, Scottsdale, or Phoenix. From Vegas So, let’s say you’re in Vegas, which, by the way, is an awesome place to start because prices there are relatively cheap. The options include tours by motor coach, plane, and helicopter. As you can imagine, helicopter tours are quite popular and exciting, but seats on them are limited. Flights leave daily and go to the West Rim. You can opt for a landing tour or one that circles the rim and flies back without stopping. Air tours are cheapest and the fastest. I, on the other hand, prefer to take my time when it comes to the canyon so I’m usually going for a landing trip. Taking a sunset flight is a nice option that offers a breathtaking view, and adding passes to the Skywalk is a sure way to get your blood pumping as you walk out on the glass bridge. Airplane Tours Of The Grand Canyon Airplane tours are similar to the chopper version when it comes to the flight path and add-ons. The main difference is the planes fly at a higher altitude than the choppers. Planes, too, seat more people, so if your heli option is sold out I urge you to consider a plane trip. The South Rim also offers helicopter and airplane tours. The helicopter tours last 30 or 50 minutes. The plane tour is a 50-minute ride. No matter which you pick, all are superb. The long helicopter tour is highly recommended though because it covers a great deal of the park. A note about window seats. Everyone loves window seats so you have to pay more to get one. Just keep in mind, when you take a helicopter tour, the seating arrangement is decided by the weight of the passengers. However, I recommend still going for it. It is much easier to get one on an airplane tour since there are more windows available. Bus Trips As you can imagine, air tours of the canyon are the most expensive type of tour. If you don’t have the budget for those, you can go on a bus tour instead. You can choose a bus tour if you depart from Vegas or Phoenix. The depart from Las Vegas at 7 a.m. Miss it and you’ll have to wait until the next day. Vegas buses go to the West Rim and the South Rim. The West Rim is closest so it is a shorter ride. However, all bus tours last all day so don’t plan on returning to your hotel until the evening. Quick bus facts: If you want the Skywalk, you go to the West Rim. If you want a tour just to soak up the scenery, you should go to the South Rim. Lastly, bus tours are all-inclusive, which means they come with lunch, hotel pick up/drop off and all taxes and fees. Wrapping Up Tours of the Grand Canyon offer plenty of scenic views and fun things to do. Go by bus, chopper, or plane. These tours are very popular so book your seats early to avoid disappointment. Plus, it is easy to do when you book online. You can make your dream to visit the Grand Canyon a reality. Have fun and enjoy the view!