ita

We would like to take a day trip to the canyon. Several are listed on www.vegas.com. The one that appeals to me is: plane, helicopter, pontoon and bus. Any recommendations or first hand experience? Are there specific tour companies that anyone can recommend?

PaulRabe

One thing to ask VERY firmly before you hand over money to a tour company: does the tour go into the National Park? There is a part of the Canyon outside the NP, called the "West Rim." While this part is quite scenic, it is nowhere near as good as that within the NP. Don't assume you get the best part just because a tour says it goes to the "Grand Canyon."

ita

Thank you for your reply. Does this description fit your advice?
Canyon Country 4-in-1


This tour lets you experience the Grand Canyon by airplane, bus, boat and helicopter in an all-inclusive trip.

Depart by airplane from Las Vegas on the first leg of this Grand Canyon adventure. As you head toward the canyon you will experience stunning vistas of desert beauty and then the grandeur of the canyon itself. Upon landing at the Grand Canyon West Airport, you will disembark to board a helicopter that will whisk you from the canyon rim to the banks of the Colorado River, a 4,000-foot descent.

At the Colorado River you will board a pontoon boat for a cruise through the canyon. Watch for native wildlife as you learn how the mighty Colorado River carved out the canyon. At the end of your boat ride, you will ascend by helicopter to the rim of the canyon to join the Hualapai Indians for a meal.

You will return by airplane and then be transferred from the airport to your hotel by motorcoach

CarlaM

Can a hitch onto your thread Ita as I am interested in knowing more about this too, thanks.

enzian

That must be the West Rim. They would not be allowed to land a helicopter inside the area within the national park. And if you look at the rafting photo, the canyon walls are not all that high, nowhere near as dramatic as the inner canyon of the stretch through the park.

If you want to visit the South Rim area (well worth it), there are probably better places to look for a tour than on the Vegas website. On the other hand, if you are looking for a day with lots of activities, convenient to Las Vegas, this might work for you.

ita

Carla, I am not sure what you mean but I found this info on www.vegas.com. I aslo searched this website for tours to Grand Canyon from Las Vegas.

PaulRabe

This tour very obviously does NOT go into the National Park. Note the following:
1) it says itself that it lands at "Grand Canyon West Airport"
2) it also tells you that you eat at the Hualapai Reservation -- exactly where the West Rim is located.
3) there are no boat tours through the NP section of the Canyon of less than three days. Period. This tour notes a boat tour of a few hours.
4) as noted above, the tour makes a helicopter landing inside the Canyon. Such landings by commerical helicopters are strictly prohibited within the NP.
5) note that the tour keeps advertising itself as going to the "Grand Canyon," but NEVER to "Grand Canyon National Park." Even if the tour wasn't clearly screaming, "We don't take you to the best part of the Canyon," then their silence speaks volumes.

I'll say again, this tour will take you to some very spectacular scenery, and may indeed be worth the money. It just won't take you to the BEST scenery.