Will you be celebrating Memorial Day in Vegas? If you are, you should consider visiting the Grand Canyon too. It only takes around 2 1/2 hours to get to the Canyon by bus, and it is worth making the trip because you\’ll see many interesting sights. But keep in mind the tours are popular and fill up fast, so you want to book your tour as soon as you can.
Canyon Bus Tours Departing From Vegas
Bus tours operate every day, so you\’ll find tours available over the Memorial Day weekend, including Memorial Day itself. The bus departs early in the morning right from The Strip, which is very convenient to all the big hotels in Vegas, and the tours last a full day, bringing you back about 9:00 at night.
When you book your tour, you\’ll get to choose between going to the South Rim or the West Rim. If you want a short ride, go to the West Rim since you can get there in about 2 1/2 hours. The South Rim is a longer trip, and you can expect the bus ride from Vegas to Tusayan, Arizona at the South Rim to take about 5.5 hours. No matter which rim you choose, you can add on other adventures to your bus tour.
One that I really love, is the helicopter ride that is available at the West Rim. You could book helicopter tickets in advance so that once you\’re at the Canyon, you can climb on board a helicopter and descend to the bottom. Here, right next to the Colorado River, you can enjoy a Champagne toast and a light picnic. There is also a Colorado River tour that you can add to this package.
The West Rim is home to the Skywalk too. You don\’t want to miss the chance to see this amazing structure. The Skywalk is an engineering marvel made from steel and glass that lets you stand on a transparent floor 4000 feet above the bottom of the Canyon. The bridge juts out 70 feet from the edge of the rim, so it\’s like standing on air. There are even professional photographers on hand to capture the moment as you experience the Skywalk, so you\’ll have a memento of the occasion.
Touring The South Rim
If you go to the South Rim instead, you can also upgrade your tour to include a helicopter flight over the Canyon. There is a 30-minute flight that goes all the way to the North Rim and then circles back. This portion of the Canyon is still wilderness land, and it is definitely worth seeing from the air so you can experience it fully. One interesting landmark you\’ll see on your flight is the Dragoon Corridor, which is the deepest and widest section of the Canyon.
Get A Good Deal On Your Tour
Bus tours the least expensive tours of the Canyon, however, since you can upgrade them to include helicopter flights and other adventures, you can still create a fantastic day of touring. Go ahead and buy your tour now, because if you wait until it gets closer to Memorial Day, you\’ll probably have to pay more for your tour. Booking your tour about two weeks in advance is a good guideline to follow. The price you pay is all-inclusive and covers all costs including a tour guide and light meal. Still, you should pack extra water and some snacks so you don\’t get hungry on your tour.
When you\’re booking, make sure that you do it online. This will mean you get the best prices without having to go through any third parties. Use your credit card to lock in the prices, as well as confirm your seat. Internet discount rates are the lowest rates that you will find for these Grand Canyon tours.
To Conclude
Hopefully this information has you excited to tour the Canyon over Memorial Day. Whether you tour the West or South Rim, there will be plenty of opportunity for adventure and fantastic sightseeing. Keep in mind that it\’s hot in the Canyon during the summer, so dress for the weather, but take a sweater in case it is chilly on the air conditioned bus.
Just be sure to book your tour as soon as possible so your seats are locked in for an adventurous and scenic tour of one of American\’s most loved national parks.
Grand Canyon expert Belinda Shields is a HUGE fan of Las Vegas bus tours to the Grand Canyon and recommends visiting this page to buy them at low Internet discount prices: http://grandcanyondaytrips.com/bus/