As we all know, Labor Day weekend is coming up shortly. In the U.S., it signifies the last major summer vacation. Thus if you\’re planning to take a Grand Canyon tour during this time, book it now as trips regularly sell out during this time.

Starting Points

Most folks interested in such tours will start from Las Vegas, Nevada, or Tusayan, AZ, a small town that acts as the gateway to the South Rim. Further, if you are based in an Arizona city like Phoenix, Sedona, Williams and Flagstaff, you\’ll also start your canyon adventure in Tusayan.

There are a number of tours that travelers can enjoy. For this article, I\’m going to focus on helicopter tours, airplane flights, bus rides and float trips.

Las Vegas helicopters go to the West Rim of the canyon, which is a scant 120 miles to the east. They fly over it (as well as Lake Mead and Hoover Dam) before circling back. Those are called aerial tours. However, my preference is for landing tours, especially the one that goes to the bottom for a Champagne picnic. By contrast, South Rim helicopters are not permitted to fly below the rim and land. Instead, you get to choose from two incredible aerial tours: A 30-minute flight and a 50-minute flight. I prefer the latter because it lets you see up to 75 percent of the National Park.

Airplane Rides

Las Vegas airplane tours go to the West Rim and the South Rim. The flight to the West Rim is just 30 minutes, while the West Rim takes about 60 minutes. Aerial and landing tours are available. For the West Rim, I like the one that includes a helicopter to the bottom with a boat ride down the Colorado River. Regarding the South Rim, I prefer the one that includes an 2.5-hour in-park bus tour.

Bus trips are a traveler favorite, both in terms of fun and budget (they are the cheapest option). The most popular during Labor Day will be the one that goes to the South Rim. This is an all-day trip and comes with lunch, all park fees and professional guide service. The most popular West Rim coach tour includes the Grand Canyon Skywalk, the glass bridge that lets you walk 70 feet past the edge!

Float tours are a great way to beat the heat. These trips feature NO white water, which makes them ideal for families, groups and active seniors. Further, kids as young as 4 years of age can do them. The Las Vegas float includes a helicopter ride to the bottom before cruising the Colorado River for 11 miles to Willow Beach, AZ. South Rim float tours come in two options. The first starts with a bus to Glen Canyon Dam and then a 15-mile float. The second takes you to the Dam by airplane. Before you take the float tour, however, you transfer to a 4×4 jeep and explore the slot canyons at Antelope Canyon.

Conclusion

Like I said earlier, it’s best to book your Grand Canyon tour during Labor Day in advance. If what you want isn’t available, don’t give up. See if there’s another kind of tour you can purchase. I say this because helicopters, which only have six seats, often fill up during this time. As such, consider taking an airplane tour. Same for float tours – if the airplane/float is overbooked, try the bus/float. Otherwise, I hope you have a great vacation and a wonderful National Park experience.

Travel editor Keith Kravitz is an expert on Grand Canyon tours. Before booking your adventure, he recommends first reading these National Park tour reviews: http://www.grandcanyon123.com

Travel editor Keith Kravitz is an expert on Grand Canyon tours. Before booking your adventure, he recommends first reading these National Park tour reviews: http://www.grandcanyon123.com

Author Bio: Travel editor Keith Kravitz is an expert on Grand Canyon tours. Before booking your adventure, he recommends first reading these National Park tour reviews: http://www.grandcanyon123.com

Category: Travel
Keywords: grand canyon, grand canyon tours, helicopter rides, float tours, rafting tours, airplane flights