Did you know that Las Vegas is just 120 miles from the Grand Canyon? That\’s right and if you\’re there over the Christmas holidays, now\’s the time to book that bus tour to the West Rim or the South Rim before seats fill up.

Bus tours will be leaving as regularly scheduled, including Christmas Day. Please note that they depart only once in the morning and require a full day to complete.

West Rim

The West Rim is closest to Vegas, requiring just a 2.5-hour bus ride. You\’ll first go past Lake Mead and Hoover Dam before crossing into the Hualapai Indian Reservation where the Rim is located.

There are basic and deluxe tours from which to choose, and all of them include a lite breakfast, lunch and all taxes and fees. Thus what you pay during online check out is fixed and all-inclusive.

The basic comes with about three hours exploration time, which is plenty if you are planning to visit Eagle Point and Guano Point. You can also purchase tickets to the Grand Canyon Skywalk upon arrival, but I recommend you buy a package that includes them because it\’s cheaper.

Regarding the Skywalk, it\’s an all-glass platform bridge that lets you walk some 70-feet over the edge until you are standing some 4,000 feet over the bottom. It\’s an amazing experience and one I encourage you to do if you\’re going to this particular destination.

You can also add a number of really great side trips to your West Rim package. For instance, you can upgrade to include a helicopter ride to the bottom or a boat ride down the Colorado River. There\’s even a package that does all that plus the Skywalk!

South Rim

The South Rim is 270 miles from Las Vegas and thus requires up to 5.5-hours of drive time. Regardless, it\’s a must-do trip and one of the most popular Vegas bus tours ever offered. Like the West Rim tours, it\’s all-inclusive and includes all taxes, fees and lunch.

The tour follows the same route as the West Rim trip but continues further east into northern Arizona to Tusayan, the small town just outside the front gates of the National Park. Inside, you\’ll get up to 3 hours to explore such landmarks like Yaki Point, Mather Point and Grand Canyon Village.

RSVP

Bus tours are super popular with Vegas travelers, especially the one to the South Rim. As such, I highly recommend you book them at least a week in advance and over the Internet. By doing this, you guarantee yourself a seat at the lowest possible price.

I also recommend dressing for winter weather. The West Rim\’s temperatures are similar to those of Las Vegas, except you might get a bit more wind so it\’s a good idea to have a windbreaker handy. The South Rim rests at an elevation of 7,000 feet, so it gets cold and there\’s even a chance of snow. Bottom line: dress in layers and wear a medium-weight jacket.

Conclusion

Vegas bus tours to the Canyon are a real treat during the Christmas holidays. You have two destinations from which to choose: the West Rim and the South Rim. Both are incredible and both require a full day. Finally, I suggest you do the West Rim if you are looking for thrills and adventure and the South Rim if you want awesome scenic beauty. So happy holidays, everyone, and I hope to see you up here at the Canyon!

The author is an expert on Grand Canyon bus tours and recommends these tours to the West Rim Skywalk and these tours to the South Rim: http://www.grandcanyondaytrips.com/bus/south-rim/

The author is an expert on Grand Canyon bus tours and recommends these tours to the West Rim Skywalk and these tours to the South Rim: http://www.grandcanyondaytrips.com/bus/south-rim/

Author Bio: The author is an expert on Grand Canyon bus tours and recommends these tours to the West Rim Skywalk and these tours to the South Rim: http://www.grandcanyondaytrips.com/bus/south-rim/

Category: Travel
Keywords: West Rim Skywalk