Las Vegas Tours to the Grand Canyon

There are four ways you can see and experience the beautiful Grand Canyon on a guided tour that leaves from Las Vegas. In my opinion, each way is terrific. I have my personal favorites, but more on that later...

Below you'll find some basics about each of these types of Las Vegas tours, but first here are some quick facts about the Grand Canyon itself:

The Grand Canyon is huge - 277 miles long, up to 18 miles wide and as much as a mile deep.

The Colorado River carved the canyon out of the rock of the Kaibab Plateau. It took countless millions of years to reach its present size.

The West Rim, known primarily for adventure and excitement, is only 120 miles from Vegas. This rim is where you'll find the fabulous Grand Canyon Skywalk and be able to fly down to the canyon floor in a chopper. The West Rim is generally warmer (summer and winter) than the South Rim because it's at a lower elevation.

The South Rim, which many call the "real" Grand Canyon, is famous for its spectacular landscapes. It's farther from Vegas and outside the range of Las Vegas helicopters. Popular South Rim sights include Grand Canyon Village and scenic lookouts like Yavapai Point, Mather Point and Yaki Point.

Native Americans have lived in the area since prehistoric times. In fact, if you take a West Rim helicopter tour that lands on the bottom, you can see ancient Native American petroglyphs carved into the canyon's walls not far from the landing site.

Now, without further ado, let's talk about the four types of Grand Canyon tours leaving from Vegas.

Helicopter Tours

As I mentioned above, Las Vegas helicopter tours only fly to the West Rim - the South Rim is too far away for 'copters to get there and back. With that being said, there isn't any lack of excitement when it comes to Las Vegas tours by helicopter, especially because the West Rim is the only place in the whole National Park where helicopters are allowed to fly to the bottom.

(If you are set on visiting the South Rim, I strongly recommend you consider this airplane tour. It comes with a 30-minute rim-to-rim helicopter tour that includes the famed Dragoon Corridor, the widest and deepest part of the National Park!. This flight flies daily and sells out regularly so book it ahead of time to ensure you get seats).

Air-only and landing tours are available. The air-only type is great for folks with time constraints or a limited budget. These canyon "samplers" cover everything from Vegas to Grand Canyon West as well as:

Landing tours, however, are my personal favorites. One popular option lands at the top of the rim and includes VIP access to the Grand Canyon Skywalk. Another is called the Grand Celebration, which goes to the bottom for a Champagne picnic. Lastly, there's one that lands at the bottom and the top and includes a boat ride down the Colorado as well as an all-access pass to the Skywalk. I call it the "King of All Helicopter Tours."

Bus Tours

Las Vegas tours by bus visit either the West Rim or the South Rim. These Grand Canyon road trips take longer to arrive than tours by plane or 'copter, but they give you an "up close and personal" view of the sights from the ground. Along the way to either rim you'll see Lake Mead and Hoover Dam.

There's quite a variety of West Rim bus trips. Of course, you have the basic road trip, but you can really kick it up a notch by adding additional activities like:

Going to the South Rim takes about 5.5 hours (one way). Indeed, the drive is long but worth it. This rim is the more scenic of the two and travelers refer to it as the "official Grand Canyon. These tours typically give you up to three hours to explore the park, which from experience is plenty of time. If you have the budget, consider adding on a helicopter ride.

Prepare to dedicate an entire day for a bus tour regardless of the rim you visit. Trips to the West take up to 12 hours and tours to the South clocking in at 15 hours. I don't recommend making evening plans afterward (it's tempting!) because your arrival time back in Vegas can't be predicted down to the minute. Besides, that hot tub will be looking pretty good to you once you get back to your hotel room.

Airplane Tours

Plane tours are an exciting way to see the canyon. Just like helicopter tours, landing and air-only versions are available for both rims. But there are three big differences:

The aircraft used on these flights are customized DeHavilland Twin Otters that have been customized for sightseeing. Oversized windows, reclining seats, powerful climate control and spacious cabins that can comfortably accommodate up to 19 adults are a big plus when it comes to air travel.

Like helicopters, airplanes fly a similar flight pattern and go over Lake Mead and Hoover Dam en route to the canyon. Further, the same side trips (e.g. boat, Skywalk, etc.) that are available for helicopters are also applicable to airplanes. Final note: If you can't get the helicopter tour you want, definitely consider taking a plane. This is due to the fact that helicopters only seat up to 6 people while airplanes have three times that capacity.

Rafting Tours

Can you imagine anything more awe-inspiring than floating down the Colorado River on a pontoon raft? I can't - the sight of the canyon walls towering above you and the area's quiet beauty are something you'll never forget. Of the few rafting tours available out of Las Vegas, I recommend these:

These companies offer the same trip in that each starts with helicopter ride to the bottom of the West Rim. Then it's a bus to the base of Hoover Dam and an 11-mile float to Willow Beach in Arizona. The unique aspect of this trip is that it's conducted over smooth-water, and, because there are no rapids, kids as young as four years of age can do it (plenty of swimming as well!). Goes without saying that this is one of the hottest selling tours during summer. If you've got an inkling that this trip's for you, book it immediately so you get the day and time you want. Relatedly, there are South Rim float tours, too, but you'll have to drive there, spend the night and get up and be at Grand Canyon National Park Airport (Tusayan, AZ) by 6 a.m.

RSVP

I've made a lot of noise about booking your Grand Canyon tour in advance. I hope you've taken this to heart. These trips are very popular with Vegas visitors and during high season it's common for them to sell out. Thus, don't wait until you arrive in Las Vegas to purchase your trip. Further, don't wait until the last minute. Rule of thumb in this instance is to RSVP your tour at least a week or two in advance. Do that and you'll:

Deals

The first step to getting a great price is to book ahead of time. Next, make sure you order your trip online. I'm sure it's obvious to everyone now that the top offers are on the Web. However, the issue I'm coming across these days is that good people are looking for deals in the wrong places. Don't waste your time shopping "big box" travel sites like Travelocity, Priceline, Expedia and the like. Go direct to the tour supplier. These are the companies that own and operate the tours and they have the power to offer the best prices and the top promotions. Go that route and you will save money (lots, in fact), but only if...

Conclusion

I hope this article about Las Vegas tours to the Grand Canyon inspired you to add a trip to the National Park on your list of things to do and see while on vacation. Vegas is unique in that there are a lot of canyon-oriented trips that go to the West Rim and the South Rim. No other destination gives you the number of options (e.g. helicopter, airplane, bus and raft) like Vegas does. Capitalize on that. Moreover, make sure you book your tour at least 7 days in advance and that you do so online from a Las Vegas-based tour supplier. Follow these tips and you'll walk away with a trip of a lifetime that's easy on the wallet.

An Overview of Las Vegas Tours of the Grand Canyon