Every year, millions of travelers come to the Grand Canyon. People have flocked to the area ever since it was made into a National Park around 100 years ago. The gorge itself is massive at 277 miles long, a mile deep, and 18 miles wide. Naturally, the sights are incredible. But there also are plenty of things to experience at the Grand Canyon.

Guided Grand Canyon tours are very popular. Your tour will ensure that you'll see all the highlights and get as much excitement as you want!

You'll have your choice of bus, helicopter or plane tours if you're starting out from a Central AZ city such as Scottsdale, Sedona, Flagstaff or Phoenix. You will have the same choices if you depart from Vegas. Taking a guided tour of the Grand Canyon is ideal when you are in Arizona or Vegas, but you should know all the options before you book your trip.

You can take a guided tour to the South Rim or West Rim of the canyon whether you go by bus or air. If you plan on seeing both rims, you must book two different tours because there is no tour that goes to both rims on the same trip. Each rim is fantastic to visit, with lots of activities and beautiful sights to see.

Your departure city will probably determine which rim you will visit. The tours that leave from Central Arizona typically go to the South Rim and the ones that depart from Vegas visit both rims. The West Rim tours are most popular with Vegas travelers because it is the closest to the city and quickest to get to.

Primarily known for breathtaking vistas and scenic beauty, the South Rim also features Grand Canyon Village and all the things to see that are located there. You will also get to see the old station for the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad along with the Yavapai Museum of Geology, and the Visitor Center.

The West Rim is known for exhilaration and excitement. There you can walk out past the edge of the canyon on the glass Grand Canyon Skywalk. Other points of interest include Hualapai Ranch and the interesting Indian Cultural Center. But at the West Rim, you can also take a copter ride and land on the bottom of the canyon which is something that's not permitted at the South Rim. You can even get on board a pontoon boat and float down the Colorado River.

There are several types of guided tours if you're looking for Grand Canyon activities. Helicopter rides, airplane flights and motor coach tours are all extremely popular.

The tours to the South Rim by chopper are usually air-only trips, but if you are leaving from Vegas and going to the West Rim you can choose between an air-only and a landing tour.

If you want to take in as much of the Grand Canyon as you can, it is probably best to take an air tour of the South Rim because you will cover about seventy-five percent of the canyon and it is much quicker than taking a bus to the South Rim. However, you can take an airplane tour to the West Rim from Vegas if you prefer. Some of the West Rim flights are air-only trips, but others land and let you take part in other activities while there.

Some South Rim motor coach tour packages include an add-on rim-to-rim helicopter flight (highly recommended!), but West Rim bus tours also let you add extra Grand Canyon activities like exciting adventures like the chopper flight to the bottom, the Skywalk and/or the Colorado River float tour.

As you can see, it's not just the sights - there are plenty of activities at the Grand Canyon too!