If you're planning to visit the Grand Canyon from Vegas, almost certainly you'll be seeing the West Rim. The least expensive way to get there? By tour bus, obviously. Not only are coach trips cheap, but there are a selection of tours that will satisfy every one's desire for sightseeing as well as adventure.
Everything in Vegas features a twist, right? So why not bus tours! To save you time, here is a list of the all-time favorites:
- West Rim Coach. Consists of Hoover Dam photo stop on AZ side of the bridge. Two-plus hours at the rim. Free Park shuttle.
- West Rim Coach with Skywalk. Comes with passes to the matchless Grand Canyon Glass Bridge, the construction that permits you to walk 70 feet beyond the edge.
- West Rim Coach, Chopper and Boat. Take a 4,000-foot helicopter ride to bottom of canyon. Boat ride down the legendary Colorado River. Includes time at the top for sightseeing.
All bus trips are all-inclusive. That means they come with complimentary hotel pick up and drop off, a grab-and-go breakfast, box lunch, all park fees and specialist driver/guide.
Some courageous travelers choose to drive themselves to the West Rim. I advise against it. First, it's kind of dangerous. The last 10 miles of road is rough dirt. Blowouts happen daily. If you go for it, please rent an SUV with high ground clearance and carry water. Secondly, you'll find yourself paying nearly 75 percent more once you add up all the Park fees.
Today's buses aren't the coaches of yore. These are double-deckers and they come with quiet-ride suspensions, extra-large viewing windows, recliner-style seats, DVD players, A/C and spotless bathrooms. Trust me, you'll truly take pleasure in these rigs after you comfortably knock back the 2.5 hours it takes to get to the rim.
The rim of choice for most Las Vegas tourists is the West Rim. This is actually the only place in the National Park where you can take a helicopter to the base. It's also possible to broaden this trip by including a Colorado River boat ride. To sum it up, the West Rim is good for visitors looking for excitement and adventure.
There's also bus tours to the South Rim. This destination is situated 5.5 hours from Vegas. Overall, the trip usually lasts 15 hours. Without a doubt, there's lots of travel time involved, but when you are interested in unequalled scenic beauty, the South Rim is for you, especially if you experience it from along the rim-top trail, Yavapai Point and Mather Point.
Vacationers bust their humps searching for the best deal. It's tiring just learning about it. If you want to save time and cut costs, follow these three basic steps:
- Book at least 1 week ahead of time
- Purchase your tour bus tour on the Internet
- Complete the entire transaction on the internet
I'm insistent about number three. Good people get to a site after which hit the customer service number. Resist. These are sale agents and they'll bill you more. Today's travel sites are safe, secure and user friendly. They even crank out a confirmation-receipt to your inbox that details everything you purchased. If there's an error, now's the time to call the tour company.
Las Vegas is a great place to stage a Grand Canyon West Rim tour bus tour. The distance from Sin City to the rim is just 125 miles, and, when done by coach, goes by like nothing. Plus, if you would like more "umph" on your tour, think about adding the Skywalk or a helicopter-boat trip! The West Rim of the Grand Canyon is a fantastic place. Make sure you and your group make it a part of your Sin City vacation.
Kinds of Grand Canyon West Rim Bus Excursions From Sin City