There is so much to do and see when visiting Las Vegas, NV that most travelers never venture beyond the Strip. Don’t let that happen to you. Add the Grand Canyon to your list of things to do and find out why no trip to Sin City is complete without a visit to the National Park.

Types

There are many ways to get to the Grand Canyon, the best options are helicopter, plane and bus. In most cases, budget and time will determine which one is right for you. Simply put, the helicopter is the most expensive, the bus is the cheapest, and the plane is in the middle. If time is an issue, take an air tour or, if you have a day off, go by bus.

In my opinion, helicopters are the most exciting and rewarding. Flights leave Las Vegas every day of the year except Christmas Day and go directly to the West Rim, also known as Grand Canyon West. There are no direct trips to the South Rim. If you want to do this, you need to book a combined package that includes a plane flight or a bus trip. If you go this route, I recommend the plane because the transit time to the canyon is 45 minutes versus almost six hours if you go by bus.

There are two types of helicopter tours to choose from: airborne and landing. Aerial tours give you a bird’s-eye view of the canyon, while landing packages take you to the top or bottom of the gorge and let you attach a number of side trips, like a Colorado River boat ride or tickets to the Grand Canyon Skywalk. If you have the budget and the time, I always recommend going with a landing tour, as it is a much more complete and satisfying experience.

flights

Airplane tours are also available in the air or by landing, and are the fastest way to get to the West Rim. Many travelers are under the impression that these planes are small when in fact they can accommodate 19 adults. The planes are also customized specifically for touring and feature oversized windows and wings that are attached to the top of the cabin so views are unobstructed.

Before we move on to the bus tours, I want to point out that if you are booking a large group, it might be to your advantage to take a tour by plane. The key benefit is that you will all be flying on the same plane, unlike a helicopter that can only fit six people. Also, the cost will be considerably cheaper and if you book during peak season there are usually seats available.

Coach tours are ideal for travelers on a budget or for people who prefer not to fly. Destinations include the West Rim and the South Rim. Travel time to the West Rim is 2.5 hours and to the South Rim 5.5 hours. Please note that the bus tours take over 12 hours to complete and therefore I do not recommend making reservations for dinner or the show in the evening.

All inclusive

Tours from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon are all-inclusive and come with free hotel pickup and drop-off, a professional guide, lunch (except air-only flights), and all taxes and fees. I think this is extraordinary because all the planning is done for you. also does these canyon tours in particular, an incredible value.