Grand Canyon Tour

We are thinking of visiting the Grand Canyon on our next trip in April. Does anyone have any suggestions on tour companies? I see tours to the south rim, and west rim. Which is better and why? Should I just rent a car rather than go on a bus? Thanks for any help!

 

South Rim is the main tourist spot.

West Rim is on an Indian Reservation. It is closer to vegas (so maybe 2-3 hours less round trip travel time), and has the skywalk (glass floor observation platform).

Here is a review of the Grand Canyon Tour Company's South Rim tour, from my 2012 trip. Think Sonya has a link for them.

As for renting a car, its a long trip. If you are planning to get out of the city for a night or two, and maybe catch other sights it may be worth a drive, but if the main draw is just looking at the south rim, and coming right back to Vegas, the bus tour is well worth it.

 

Do the south or north rim if your going, north rim roads will however be closed in april. West rim is not nearly as impressive, if you choose to go you might as well go and see the real grand canyon.

 

I rented a car for the day at $9 a day.. Drove about 1.5hours to the West rim, paid $40 per person for the bus ride through 3 different stops, I opted out of the skywalk. Like others have mentioned, West is the closest and on an indian reservation. Next trip, I plan on visiting the South Rim. Here's a couple photos from this past winter visit of the west, to me, the short drive was well worth it.

 

We've done both. First we rode the Grand Canyon Railway which was really fun. We had seats in the Caboose where you can walk out onto a Platform.
We stayed overnight at the Grand Canyon Hotel then later drove to SkyWalk. Both have amazing views. The South Rim as others have said is more popular.
Do a search for The Grand Canyon Railway & Hotel. Also check to see if the roads going to The Skywalk are now paved. They were dirt when we went.

 

I think the Grand Canyon is important. Like Zion, the north side of Kauai, Mt. Rainier, the Boston heritage tour, Big Sur, etc.. So you can guess my thought on this matter: If one is in the southwest only once in life and must choose between one/some of the natural wonders or casino, casino doesn't win.

Probably 96 percent of Grand Canyon visitors nudge up to the rim, look down, snap a few photos and move on to the souvenir shop before leaving. A percentage or three will linger, maybe even overnight, and do one of the rim walks because given the aforementioned 96ers, it doesn't take much effort to leave Disney behind, and some will even walk part ways down. The seekers trek to the bottom. One need not be a seeker to "get" the canyon; the 96ers don't. But at least they've seen it.

The West Rim is more interesting than anything most states have to offer in such a regard. That it pales compared to the North and South rims is relevant to some degree, so I always say see the "real" thing. But given that the North Rim trumps the South in terms of hordes (none), footability and with that footability utilized, views, I pitch the North Rim each and every time. It's also admittedly less accessible so if it is West or South ... South all the way. If folks can't/won't, then West it is. But you've not really experienced the Grand Canyon (though please reference the opening sentence in this graf).

And make an overnighter of it. It's hard to book the rim w/o advance planning but Williams and even Flag aren't that far away. (I did the train as a shaver and can't comment on the current version but think it a cracker-jack idea.) If you can't/won't overnight, then make a long day of it and trek on over.

 

I did it one day RT in a car with 3 other guys... I was the driver everyone else loved it but for me it was fun (I had been there already they have not) but miserable!

 

My wife and I did the South rim via air plane. The plane ride was somewhat bumpy but very interesting both seeing sights from the air and the narration explaining interesting sights as we flew over them. It is more expensive than the bus trip but I'd guess it is more interesting. For us, the South rim views were AWE INSPIRING!!! We saw the west rim site as we flew over it....I wasn't impressed with what we saw of the west rim from the air.<--- My opinion. If it were me, I'd do the south rim either by air or bus.

 

Yes!

Agree with Ken2v

G.C. is an experience, It's a Geological Masterpiece!

My fav is Yavapai Point, South Rim.
Have been by Bus, a 14 Hr round trip-from the Strip
& Driven by Car in a comfortable Infinity.

I'm a Day tripper & always include trips to the beautiful sights that are doable from Las Vegas, like:
Grand Canyon
Valley of Fire
Mount Charleston (if u want snow this time of year) while in L.V.
Zion National Park
Death Valley, including Stovepipe Wells & Dante's View
Lake Mead- water
Hoover Dam & Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge
Red Rock Canyon national conservation area

So by all means, go, see & enjoy!

 

South Rim elevation is 5,000 ft ---
dress accordingly.
It is truly magnificent !

 

Closer to 7000!

 

How will the weather be at the end of April?

 

http://bfy.tw/3cL2

 

We used Grand-Adventures Tour company to do the West Rim and used the same company to send the MIL and her friend to the South Rim. They are not as cheap as the big bus tours but include Breakfast, lunch and keep it to 10 people. We loved the company....felt like we had a private tour. Just another company for you to look at if you decide not to drive yourself.

 

I think we are leaning toward the south rim bus tour. Seems like a good deal and much easier than driving. Thanks all for the info!

 

We were in Vegas for 2 weeks for this last Christmas and New Years.
We took the Maverick Helicopter Tour to the Grand Canyon - it was great and we would recommend it - if the cost is within you budget. We went in the afternoon and landed in the Canyon and watched Sun go down and then got back to the airport after dark - so got to see the Strip all lit up.
I think for my wife and our 2 kids, total 4 persons - it was about ~$700 each or so.
It was cold and you ought to take a coat.
it was worthwhile for us as a family.
It was my wifes 2nd time to take the tour. Not sure I would do it again, but glad that we did it once for sure !