Seeing the Grand Canyon is on many people\’s bucket lists. So how do you go about getting there and making the most of it? Take a tour.

Well, it\’s not exactly that simple, but it\’s not hard either if you know how to go about it. And I\’m going to show you how.

The first thing you need to figure out is your starting point. For most people, it will be either Las Vegas or a destination in Arizona like Phoenix, Scottsdale and Sedona.

So, let\’s say you\’re in Vegas, which, by the way, is an awesome place to start because prices there are relatively cheap. You\’ll be able to pick from helicopter, airplane and bus tours.

Helicopter tours are by far the most popular and \”sexy\” but they are also the ones with limited seating. Flights leave daily and go to the West Rim. They either fly over the rim or they land.

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. There are numerous variations, ranging from sunset flights to ones that include passes to the Grand Canyon Skywalk.

Airplane tours function in the same way in terms of the route flown and the kinds of side trips you can add-on. The big difference between airplane and heli is cost and altitude (planes fly higher). Planes, too, seat more people, so if your heli option is sold out I urge you to consider a plane trip.

At the South Rim, you can choose between helicopter and plane rides. The former is available as a 30-minute or a 50-minute flight. The airplane tour is only available as a 50-minute flight. No matter which you pick, all are superb. Me, I\’m partial to the longer heli ride because you get to see so much the park, which makes it an ideal option if you are short on time.

Quick word about window seats. They are popular and to get them you\’ll have to pay extra. On helicopters, there\’s no guarantee you\’ll get one because seating is dictated by the cumulative weight of all passengers. However, I recommend still going for it. Planes are easier because there are more windows.

Air tours are at the top of the price range. If they are out of budget, most definitely consider a bus tour. These primarily depart from Las Vegas but there are ones out of Phoenix, too. Vegas buses go daily 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 closer. Despite that, both trips require a full day, getting you back to the Las Vegas Strip in the evening.

Quick bus facts: If you want the Skywalk, you go to the West Rim. If you want the \”official\” National Park, 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.

Conclusion

So that\’s Grand Canyon tours in a nutshell. The big three are helicopter, airplane and bus. It\’s best to book all in advance so you get a seat as they\’ve become quite popular. And that\’s all there really is to it. I hope to see you up here. Have a great trip!

Let\’s visit the Grand Canyon! Go here for a list of the best tours from Las Vegas. Then visit this page for a review of the best canyon tour operator: http://www.grandcanyon123.com/papillon-tours.html

Let\’s visit the Grand Canyon! Go here for a list of the best tours from Las Vegas http://www.grandcanyon123.com/las-vegas-tours.html Then visit this page for a review of the best canyon tour operator: http://www.grandcanyon123.com/papillon-tours.html

Author Bio: Let\’s visit the Grand Canyon! Go here for a list of the best tours from Las Vegas. Then visit this page for a review of the best canyon tour operator: http://www.grandcanyon123.com/papillon-tours.html

Category: Travel
Keywords: grand canyon, grand canyon tours, las vegas tours, things to do, reviews, tips, deals, travel