You have many options and variables to think about when you plan a fun getaway. Grand Canyon bus tours are no exception to the rule. The best way to narrow your choices is to think about what you want to get out of the tour.

Popular With Tourists

The Grand Canyon is an extremely popular tourist destination with millions of people visiting there each year. There is plenty to see there too since it is so huge at 18 miles wide, 1 mile deep, and 277 miles long. Motor coach tours are the ideal way to get a close view of the amazing sites to be seen in the canyon.

There are a myriad of companies that offer canyon bus trips from Las Vegas, Nevada, and Phoenix, Arizona. Picking out the best tours may seem overwhelming. One thing you can do is read online reviews of the various tours. Reading about the experiences of others may help you filter out the tours you want to avoid.

First of all though, you need to decide on which of the rims you want to visit. You can go to the West Rim or the South Rim. If you plan to depart from Las Vegas in Nevada, you can choose either rim. If Phoenix is your departure city, you will go to the South Rim. Expect to spend an entire day on these tours. For instance, if you go to the South Rim from Las Vegas, your tour will last about 15 hours! While you can go to either rim, keep in mind there are no shuttle buses between the two rims.

Here are more specifics...

Tours From Vegas

It takes about 2 hours to get to the West Rim from Vegas on a tour bus. When you are at the West Rim, don't miss seeing the Grand Canyon Skywalk where you can walk 70 feet past the edge of the canyon and peer into the depths below. I think that's awesome, but even better is the helicopter tour to the bottom (you can even take a Colorado River boat ride while down there!).

The tour to the South Rim lasts much longer. The South Rim is farther away so the tour takes longer. For your convenience you can get free pick up and drop off service to your hotel, plus lunch is included too. At the South Rim you get a three hour scenic bus tour of the Park and see places such as Grand Canyon Village, Mather Point, and Yaki Point.

Phoenix

Folks staying in the Valley of the Sun get a day tour that includes a stop at Sedona, home of red rock buttes and hillsides. It's a really pretty area and worth the stop. You also pass through Flagstaff on your way to the South Rim, and once you get there you will enjoy a three-hour tour of the National Park. Lunch is included.

Be sure to dress so you will be comfortable on your tour. During summer, the West Rim is hotter than the South. No matter where you go, protect yourself from the sun by bringing water, a hat, and sunblock. Winter at the South Rim is more extreme than at the West. So dress to stay warm with a hat, long pants, jacket, and gloves.

To Conclude

If you are planning a family getaway, think about taking a bus tour of the Grand Canyon. You can depart from Vegas or Phoenix, and going by bus is one of the most economical options. If you are going to be in Las Vegas, you get to choose from the South Rim or the West Rim, if you go to the West Rim, you can add on a helicopter ride, raft trip, and Skywalk passes. If heading from Phoenix, it's the South Rim. Also, be sure to book your seats online as early as you can. If you complete your transaction online, you get to buy your tickets at the low Internet rate.

You are sure to have a fantastic time!