Grand Canyon Bus Tours

Out There: Grand Canyon South Rim

There is something about paying $25 to see a giant hole in the ground that makes you think it’s fake. Add four different shuttle buses, hoards of international tourists and the occasional pack of donkeys, and you feel like you’re in a theme park, not a National Park. With all this activity, it’s easy to forget that even though there is no guard rail around all of the rim trail, if you step too close to the edge you could still fall into the largest canyon on earth.

When tube top and mini-skirt wearing site-seers flip flop their way down the Bright Angel Trail, a rigorous hike into the canyon where people die every year (including an under prepared marathon runner), it’s tempting to forget that the Grand Canyon is a place of extremes.

The desert air is dry, lip shatteringly dry. Add to that the temperature shifts between night and day (When I was there in early June it was in the 40s at night and the 80s by day) and between the rim and lower canyon (it is usually 20 degrees hotter inside the canyon) and you are left with sun-burnt-frozen-shattered-lips. Chap-stick can only comfort you temporarily in the Grand Canyon.

But these facts should not deter you from going. With the proper equipment and knowledge anyone can have a fun, safe time at the Big C. The National Park service offers oodles of free information online about how to prepare for your Grand Canyon adventure, but here are three different site-seeing options ranging from docile to extreme:

Docile: Day Hike: Hermit’s Rest Rim Trail Loop

This is a trail along the rim that you don’t actually have to hike, but can if you want to. Free shuttle services allow you to stop at each of the breathtaking viewpoints and walk along the rim to the next one, or just catch the bus. This tour takes about three hours to complete, but you can always catch a bus back halfway to the end and it is completely wheelchair accessible.

Intermediate: Day Hike: Hiking a few mile into the Canyon at Bright Angel Trail

The Park Service advises that hikers choosing to descend into the canyon during summer months to start early, around 6 a.m., and strongly advises hiking during the hottest hours of the day 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There are two common ways people die in the canyon: dehydration and hyponatremia. Basically, you can either drink too little or drink too much. Drink before your thirsty, eat a salty snack each time you take a sip of your water bottle and go at your own pace. For a day trip hike down to one of the upper rest houses and back up.

5 Reasons For Taking a Helicopter Tour to the Grand Canyon's West ...

5 Reasons For Taking a Helicopter Tour to the Grand Canyon’s West Rim By Keith Kravitz

Need a great day trip idea while in Las Vegas? Do the Grand Canyon. Most people start by considering a bus tour because it’s cheap. Tempting as that might be, give the bus a pass, unless you prefer spending a lot of your quality time driving. Rather, take a helicopter tour. Here are five excellent reasons why it’s the smart choice. It takes a helicopter 45 minutes to reach Grand Canyon West, otherwise known as the West Rim (it takes a bus 2.5 hours). The helicopter you’ll be flying is not your average aircraft. It’s been fully customized for sightseeing and sports 180-degree wraparound windows, climate-controlled cabins, and stadium-style seating. Papillon Helicopters, for example, offers a great tour called the Golden Eagle, which takes you over the West Rim and the famous Grand Canyon Skywalk. This trip also includes Lake Mead and Hoover Dam flyovers. Total tour time, including pick up and drop off from you Las Vegas hotel vibram five fingers kso trek , is 3.5 hours. The Grand Canyon is huge, but it’s only at the West Rim, located 120 miles east of Las Vegas, where you can land on the bottom. The 4,000-foot descent is nothing short of incredible as the Canyon’s steep walls, fantastical rock formations, and deep crevasses pass before your very eyes. The most popular trip is Papillon’s Grand Celebration, which lands on the Canyon floor and includes a Champagne toast and lots of time for exploration. The Grand Canyon Skywalk has been experienced by more than a million people since its opening in 2007. Known as the Glass Bridge, it’s become Las Vegas’ hottest outdoor attraction. The Bridge lets you walk 70 feet over the edge of the West Rim while suspending you 4,000 feet above the Colorado River. The two most popular helicopter tours are Papillon’s Golden Eagle Barefoot Running , which does a Skywalk flyover, and its Golden Eagle Skywalk Express, which lands at Grand Canyon West and includes VIP Skywalk access. Ready to explore the Canyon from top to bottom? Take Papillon’s Grand Celebration Skywalk and Boat tour. First, helicopter down to the bottom of the West Rim. Next, board a pontoon boat for a float ride down the Colorado River (suitable for all ages). From here, take the helicopter back to the top and get Vip access to the Grand Canyon Skywalk. There’s also time to hope aboard one of the free shuttle buses and further explore the Rim before flying back to Vegas. If there’s a tour out there where you can say you’ve done it all, it’s this one. Helicopter tours let you see more Canyon in less time. Moreover, you get to free aerial views of Lake Mead and Hoover Dam. Air-only trips start at $200 and go up as you upgrade them to include such things as raft rides and Skywalk tickets. By far, Papillon Helicopters is the cheapest without having to sacrifice quality and service. To get their best rates, buy direct online. Las Vegas helicopters can get you to Grand Canyon West in 45 minutes. Total air-only tour time is 3.5 hours and includes hotel pick up and drop off – perfect for visitors on a schedule. However, if you’ve come this far, why not go to the bottom? The descent is incredible and the trip includes a Champagne toast. For the most complete Canyon experience, add a smooth-water rafting trip. Papillon helicopters is the low-price leader, and, to get their absolute best deal, book on their website. Ready for some real adventure on your next trip to Las Vegas? Take a helicopter tour. There’s no reason not to.

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