Overview of Grand Canyon Tours

A wide variety of tours are offered throughout the Grand Canyon, and in an effort to prevent confusion, we have made quick guide to the best of land, sea, air, and more throughout the national park.

Take your pick and experience all of what nature has to offer!

Air
The Imperial Helicopter Tour is one of the most breathtaking tours available in the world, due in large part to the certain scenic vistas the Grand Canyon offers that can only be seen from a bird's eye view. The tour lasts an incredible 50 minutes, which travelers from the Eastern Gorge all the way to the awe-inspiring Imperial Point.

Be sure to bring your camera though, as snaking through the canyon and dipping down to the Colorado River at 4,000 feet below is an spectacular experience. You might not believe it happened until the film is developed.

Land
Take the Havasupai Heli-Hiking Day and let the helicopter land at the base of the canyon, 4,000 feet below. From there, travelers will take a journey to the secluded Havasupai village. Breathtaking waterfalls offer views that can be seen nowhere else in the world.

One of the most unique aspects of this trip is that travelers will get to experience the heritage and culture of the native people. About 450 of the 650 tribal members live in Supai, and travelers are welcome to take advantage of all the services the tribe offers.

Train
The Grand Canyon Railway Budd Coach is one of our top tours for the Grand Canyon, and there isn't any surprise about it. This tour is part show, as it begins with a Wild West shootout that really puts a traveler in the Old West mood of Grand Canyon. Travelers begin in Williams, where they will take the train 65 miles north to the South Rim for one of the most scenic rail trips in the world.

This is a great way for traveler's to view the Canyon as well, as once the train stops they are given 3 hours and 45 minutes to take in the breathtaking landscape before heading back. That's plenty of time to check out favorites like the Desert View Watchtower and Grand Canyon Village.

Off-Road
The Indian Painting Safari Jeep Tour is another favorite of travelers to the Grand Canyon, for it's incredible off-road experience as well as the educational experience. Guides will drive through Kaibab National Forest while illustrating the finer points of the environment around them as well as introducing travelers to the Native American people who inhabited the area.

The destination of the journey is the caves within Kaibab National Forest, which are filled with a variety of ancient petroglyphs. The art on the walls tells the tales of everything from hunting to history, with a knowledable narration from the guide.

Walking
Without a doubt, the Grand Canyon Explorer Hike is one of the best tours offered for hiking enthusiasts. This tour has a difficulty rating associated with it, from mild hikes that are appropriate for everyone to a more extreme hike that travelers might want to check their physician for.

Expert guides lead small groups through their 7 hour tour, a full day experience which even includes lunch and beverages. Native wildlife, fossils, and unique geological features will all have accompanying narration by the guides, who seem to know just about everything related to the Grand Canyon.

Water
The Colorado River Adventure provides the most stunning way to experience the waters of the Colorado River. The tour begins with an airplane flight to Grand Canyon West, and is narrated for information about the canyon and the national park history. Once there, travelers will board a helicopter, which wild descend 4,000 feet into the bottom of the canyon where the real river journey begins.

Waiting is a 30 minute pontoon ride, where travelers will be able to drift along with the immensity of the Grand Canyon surrounding them. Children love this tour due in part to its coverage of transportation methods, making every minute of the tour as exciting as the first. The tour is also available in 16 languages.