Not only are Grand Canyon West Rim bus tours from Las Vegas inexpensive and fun but they come with a host of fantastic upgrades like river rafting and the Grand Canyon Skywalk!

Let\’s take a closer look at these West Rim bus tours:

West Rim

Basic bus tour to Grand Canyon West. Includes all park entrance fees. Explore the rim top via the free hop-on-hop-off shuttle bus. Must-see sights include Eagle Point, Guano Point, the Colorado River, and the fantastic Skywalk. Explore an authentic Hualapai Indian Village. Skywalk tickets are extra can be purchased on-site.

The Glass Bridge

This is the standard West Rim bus tour with Skywalk tickets. This is by far the best offer for those who want to walk the sky. The glass deck goes 70 feet beyond the lip of the rim and suspends you 4,000 feet above the Colorado River. The structure is an engineering marvel and can support up to 70 or more fully loaded jumbo jets. That said, maximum occupancy is 120 travelers.

Helicopter Ride to Bottom with Boat Tour

Transfer to an EcoStar 130 helicopter and descend 4,000 feet to the base. Deplane. Enjoy a Champagne toast under an authentic Indian Ramada. Ask your guide to show you the petroglyphs. Head upstream to pontoon boat for float ride down Colorado River.

These West Rim bus tours come with everything you need to enjoy the canyon including free pick up and drop off at your hotel, a lite breakfast, a delicious BBQ lunch, a Hoover Dam photo-stop, and a professional driver-guide. Be prepared to spend about a half day or more on most of these tours. From beginning to end, the helicopter-boat trip will take 12 hours. Prices start under $100 if purchased on the Web.

The West Rim is 120 miles east of Las Vegas. Tour buses can make the trip in under three hours. Only luxury motor coaches are used on these trips. They come with individualized A/C stations, ample legroom, immaculate bathrooms, large viewing windows, comfy seats, and a trip narration that\’s been translated into 10 languages!

These trips always leave in the morning and depart 365 days a year including all major holidays. The route cuts through several Vegas suburbs before skirting Lake Mead and crossing the Hoover Dam bypass bridge. There will be a Hoover Dam photo stop on the Arizona side of the Dam. The final stretch takes you through a 700-year-old Joshua Tree forest before turning on a dirt road to Grand Canyon West. I personally think these \”extra\” sights really add to the value of these bus rides.

I strongly suggest you book your bus trip in advance. Two weeks is good, but earlier the better. This ensures you get a great seat on the day you want to take the tour. If you book the day before you go or on the same day, expect to pay a hefty premium.

Shop the Internet for the best deals on bus tours. Try tour operator websites first. From my experience, these guys feature the best prices, including one who offers up to 35% off retail. Make sure you pack your trip confirmation with you – you\’ll need it to board the bus.

The Grand Canyon bus is one of the most affordable ways to see the West Rim. They\’re also a heck of a lot of fun. These are all-inclusive trips. You don\’t need to bring anything other than your sense of adventure. Loads of trip add-ons, too, like Skywalk tickets and river rafting. And, as always, book online. It\’s cheaper!

Author Bio: Travel journalist Keith Kravitz writes about tours to the Grand Canyon. His favorite Grand Canyon bus tours are here. These are his top picks. Give them a look if you want quality at an affordable price.

Category: Travel
Keywords: grand canyon tours, grand canyon bus tours, grand canyon bus, grand canyon south rim bus