|
The first thing you have to do when planning a Grand Canyon tour is decide which rim to visit, the South or the West. You can take a tour to either rim from Las Vegas, but we will focus on coach tours that go to the West Rim since that is where the Skywalk is located. Plus, the West Rim is closer to the city of Vegas at only 120 miles to the east. It takes around 2.5 hours to get there by bus. The West Rim offers lots of fun and beautiful scenery and of course, it is home to the famous Glass Bridge or Skywalk. Book Ahead Every year, millions of travelers flock to Las Vegas, and many of them head for the Canyon while they're there. Buses head for the West Rim every day, but even so, the seats fill up quickly and the tours sell out fast. For that reason, you want to book your bus tour ahead of time. It is a good idea to buy your tour at least one week ahead of the date you want to go. If you can even find an open tour 48 hours in advance, you will probably have to pay more for it and it might not even be a decent choice since the popular tours sell out first. Most of the Grand Canyon buses leave Vegas early in the morning, around 7 am, every day of the year. The tours are an affordable way to visit the Grand Canyon and the tours last around 12 hours. The tours come with all charges included such as shuttle service, lunch, taxes, and Park fees. Hoover Dam Photo Op After leaving Las Vegas, you'll drive past Lake Mead and then stop on the AZ side of Hoover Dam for a photo op. The bus only stops for a short while so you don't lose any valuable time at the canyon. You see, you just can't do the Canyon justice if you take a full tour of Hoover Dam on the same day. The solution is simple, just tour them on different days. The Glass Bridge When your bus makes it to the West Rim, you'll be close enough to walk to the Skywalk, and if you bought a tour that includes VIP passes, you can go straight to the front of the line. With an allotted time of 2.5 hours to explore the West Rim, you can enjoy the Skywalk to your heart's content. You'll want to save plenty of time to hop a free shuttle to go see Guano Point and shop for souvenirs in the gift shops. From there you'll be able to see the Colorado River as a silvery ribbon at the bottom of the Canyon. I'd also suggest going to Hualapai Ranch (a fictional Old West-style town) for the mock gunfight show (kids love it), the Hualapai Cultural Center and Eagle Point. Enjoy Your Tour The West Rim is jam-packed with things to see and do, and a bus trip is a great way to get there. I urge you to buy a tour package that includes Skywalk access because it's so expensive to add after you arrive there. Remember to book your tour seats one week ahead of time for the best selection and price. Tips from the Author This writer is an authority on Grand Canyon tours and suggests these bus excursions from Las Vegas: http://grandcanyoncheap.com/bus-deals.html
Related Articles -
grand canyon bus, grand canyon skywalk, las vegas tours, national parks, tips, reviews, deals,
| 
