First, we need to make a brief introduction: as you will know about Grand Canyon there are at least 3: the South Rim, the most popular, the North Rim, quieter and less hit by mass tourism, and the West Rim, run by the Navajo Indians and known worldwide for the Skywalk. Which of these areas are actually served by organized bus tours? Only 2, the South Rim and West Rim. A visit to www.grandcanyondestinations.com makes things perfect now.
Among these 2 areas then there are substantial differences, let's see also detailing the tourist offer:
The South Rim (or southern edge) is at least 4 and a half hours from Las Vegas. This means that, on a day trip there and back, you will have to spend most of the time on the bus, which will only be partially mitigated by the pleasantness of some panoramic views, some stops along the route (for example the Hoover Dam) and the entertainment provided by the operator (e.g. TV and WiFi). Usually, this type of tour has duration of around 14/15 hours, although it can count on the convenience of transfer to and from the hotel in Las Vegas.
The South Rim area has its pros and cons: you can admire the impressive glimpses of this immense chasm, which is probably the most popular attraction in all of Arizona, and, for this reason, you can hardly enjoy it in solitude, here tourists will not fail to keep you company.
Pros and cons at a glance:
- The view that will appear before your eyes will allow you to admire the Grand Canyon in all its vastness.
- When generally speaking of the Grand Canyon it refers to the South Rim.
- In general, tours at the southern edge cost less than those at the western edge.
- The long-distance from Las Vegas will force you to spend most of the tour on the bus.
- The presence of many tourists can annoy those who like to contemplate natural beauty in silence.
Here are all the bus tours available from Las Vegas to the South Rim:
Tour of the south shore with snacks and lunch (the same tour is available with a guide to this page), organized by Grand Canyon Destinations, a family business that operates tours from Las Vegas to the South Rim, the West Rim, the Hoover Dam, the Lake Mead, Zion Park and Bryce Canyon.
Guided tour of the southern slope, managed by SW Excursion & Educational Tours, a company founded in 2000 that operates on the same destinations as Grand Canyon Destinations.
Bus tour of the southern margin, operated by Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters, a leading helicopter tour company founded in 1965. In addition to in-flight tours (helicopter and airplane), it also operates land-based tours such as buses, hummers and jeeps.
- Bus tour to the South Rim, operated by Gray Line of Las Vegas, a company famous throughout the United States for its panoramic bus tours in the great American cities.
West Rim bus tour
Less known than the South Rim, the Grand Canyon West may not have the same variety and vastness of points of view as the South Rim, but it can boast the Skywalk, the viewing platform suspended over the canyon, the main reason to go to West Rim.