Grand Canyon tours

My wife and I are going to be in Vegas in 2 weeks and were thinking about taking a canyon tour. Could anyone give advice on the best tours and is it better to take a bus or a by air tour? Is it better to get coupons there for the tours or try to book ahead?

Air tours tend to be expensive, and I think it would be a shame if you took a low priced air tour.

It's a shame that there is not a better organized tourism facility, with jurisdiction in both AZ and Utah. In my opinion, any geography oriented tour should include Monument Valley, although the Grand Canyon is also very nice.

Here's a link to a site for a tour leaving from Phoenix. I would call them, and ask if there is something similar from Las Vegas.

Truly a lot easier to rent a car for 24 hours and just drive over. the valet at your hotel can give you a map with directions, and it's a good ride, lots of americana to view along the way. We have taken the bus tour (never again) which is about 8 hours in a bus. Quicker by car as you don't have the hotel stops along the way.

We head back to Vegas in April. No plans to visit the grand canyon this time, though. We usually save that jaunt for when newbies come with us.

I took my family to Las Vegas a few years ago and was forced to drive to the grand Canyon.
#1 it is a 5 hour drive from Vegas to the south rim of the grand Canyon doing 80/85 miles an hour (speed limit was 75), the view on the way there was a cactus every 25 miles, broken up by an occasional tumble weed crossing the road.(I kid you not!)
#2 You have ONE shot per hour at finding a restroom...don't miss it
#3 I went in May. It was 80 in Las Vegas and snowing out at the south rim of the canyon. The T-shirt and cargo shorts I wore came up slightly short of being effective. luckily I am a hearty New Englander and sucked it up!
#4 I though a canyon was a hole in the ground....Nope, as it turns out you go 8000 feet "up" to see a hole in the ground! Now I live about 20 miles from the ocean and I don't believe I live more than 10 feet above sea level, if you are not acclimated to being at high altitudes you are in for a treat! I houghed and puffed from the parking lot to the rim and eventually was dizzy and thought I was having my 1st heart attack due to the thin air! the damned place has like NO oxygen!
#5 When you go into the park they recommend you parking and riding a bus in. Take my word for it---DO IT! I opted to try to find a spot and park close to the rim. I found one after 45 minutes of looking and was no where near the rim!
#6 ah yes......and then there was the 5 hour drive back!

Personally, I think the best way to see the Grand Canyon is to sit on the right hand side of the southwest airlines airplane (window seat) when your flying into McCarron airport and looking down. Sorry for being suck a Donnie downer, but it just was NOT a good experience for me.

weggie

The bus tour we took had 2 tire blowouts going full speed on the highway. Two different blowouts two hours apart. Thank goodness the driver knew how to handle the bus to get us safely off the highway. This made the 12 hour tour a lot longer. The movie on bus did not work. Score another low blow. Also no refund or discount on the tickets from the tire blowouts. Yes next time will probably rent a car with working air, radio and more control of my time.

I agree with the idea of renting a car, driving and staying overnight. We much prefer the north rim to the south and it's a little closer. Nicer scenery along the way and, if you can make it a couple days trip, you can also see Zion and Bryce Canyon.

We used Look Tours for 2 air tours to the Grand Canyon. We flew in on a small plane to a working ranch and then rode ATVs to the west rim of the canyon and the other a small plane flew into the Grand Canyon Airport and then took a bus tour of the canyon. We've also used Look Tours for several night tours of the Las Vegas Strip in a Helicopter. We used them total of 8 times and never had any issues.

We also did this tour and it was a fantastic day! Well worth the money. The only thing that was a drawback was that a huge rainstorm had just recently come through and the road/trail that we rode on made for one helluva bumpy ride. For those that didn't feel like they couldn't handle a four wheeler, there was a van that followed the the pack of ATV's. The BBQ lunch they served at the ranch when we got back was pretty good as well. I'd highly recommend this tour, we had a greatm time.

Last year I splurged on a helicopter tour througn Papillon (sp?) from LV to the Grand Canyon. We flew about 30 minutes over Lake Mead, the desert, Area 51, across the Canyon, and then landed at the bottom of the canyon by the Colorado River where we stayed another 30 minutes or so, and enjoyed a champagne lunch. It was an amazing experience. Somewhere we had a coupon for $100 off, but it was still pricy.

We have also taken a helicopter down the Strip at dusk when all of the lights were starting to come on. We flew straight down the Strip, over the Fountain show at the Bellagio, Downtown and circled back to the airport. The ride was over very quickly. We were herded on and off the copter within minutes to make room for the next riders.

If you are ever at the Rio's outdoor Voodoo Lounge at sunset, you can see the helicopters flying by - almost at eye level - one right after the other lined up in the sky. They have to get as many rides in within a short time, I guess.

Hope you have fun!

My Advice, .... ~~~ DO NOT TAKE A BUS.

It's an ALL DAY and into the night tour, with not that much time at the canyon.

The bus tour also included a lunch buffet just outside the canyon at some motel that was the worst,
cheapest, most God-awful buffet that I've Eh-Vah seen.

Oh, and the bus stops at each and every hotel that has guests who have signed up for the tour.
Then you hope that your hotel is one of the first stops dropping off people when you get back to Vegas.

Rick