Grand Canyon - best approach/trip??
Discussion
Planning on doing a road trip next year which will have a couple of days in Vegas. I'd like to get opinions from those who have been about the various options.
Eg.
Helicopter tour
Jeep tour
Donkey ride down to the river
Own vehicle - drive to canyon, then get a tour
Tour all the way from Vegas hotel
Etc etc
We will have an SUV as our rental, so that's a factor in getting to the canyon.
Also - what else to do around Vegas. I've found a jeep rock crawling trip and a buggy through the desert. Suggestions welcome.
Eg.
Helicopter tour
Jeep tour
Donkey ride down to the river
Own vehicle - drive to canyon, then get a tour
Tour all the way from Vegas hotel
Etc etc
We will have an SUV as our rental, so that's a factor in getting to the canyon.
Also - what else to do around Vegas. I've found a jeep rock crawling trip and a buggy through the desert. Suggestions welcome.
Don't forget there a 2 different Grand Canyons. The West Rim is run by the local Indian tribe, has the glass walkway and is where the helicopter flights go to. The South Rim is the run by the National Park Service and is further away (c.6hrs drive from Vegas) and is more spectacular. Too far for helicopters but you can get flights to the local airport. There is a North Rim that you have to come in via Utah and is untouristy.
Remember most helicopter trips will only take you to the east canyon not the actual GC NP.
I have driven from Southern California straight through to Flagstaff (appx 1-1.5 hours away from GC) on one occasion then spent a day at the GC.
On another occasion I have driven there and back again from Vegas in a day, early start / late finish. It takes the whole day but this is the best option, except you will mist the sunrise ... Takes appx 5 hours if I remember, be wary of the time of year as some passes leading to the North Side GC can be closed.
Get there early as possible, the views are incredible and try to avoid the weekend. I have only been to the South Side not the North.
I have driven from Southern California straight through to Flagstaff (appx 1-1.5 hours away from GC) on one occasion then spent a day at the GC.
On another occasion I have driven there and back again from Vegas in a day, early start / late finish. It takes the whole day but this is the best option, except you will mist the sunrise ... Takes appx 5 hours if I remember, be wary of the time of year as some passes leading to the North Side GC can be closed.
Get there early as possible, the views are incredible and try to avoid the weekend. I have only been to the South Side not the North.
Trexthedinosaur said:
Remember most helicopter trips will only take you to the east canyon not the actual GC NP.
I have driven from Southern California straight through to Flagstaff (appx 1-1.5 hours away from GC) on one occasion then spent a day at the GC.
On another occasion I have driven there and back again from Vegas in a day, early start / late finish. It takes the whole day but this is the best option, except you will mist the sunrise ... Takes appx 5 hours if I remember, be wary of the time of year as some passes leading to the North Side GC can be closed.
Get there early as possible, the views are incredible and try to avoid the weekend. I have only been to the South Side not the North.
You can get helicopter tours from the airport in Grand Canyon Village that will take you over the National Park, or least you could three years ago when we did it on our honeymoon.I have driven from Southern California straight through to Flagstaff (appx 1-1.5 hours away from GC) on one occasion then spent a day at the GC.
On another occasion I have driven there and back again from Vegas in a day, early start / late finish. It takes the whole day but this is the best option, except you will mist the sunrise ... Takes appx 5 hours if I remember, be wary of the time of year as some passes leading to the North Side GC can be closed.
Get there early as possible, the views are incredible and try to avoid the weekend. I have only been to the South Side not the North.
Best advice I can give is to stay the night in one of the lodges - book early as they get full up. Yes the canyon is spectacular though for me the night sky, shooting stars, lack of street lights, absolute silence makes it the most wonderful place to be at night. I remember sitting on the balcony drinking tequila whilst elks roamed around the lodge grounds and the sky displayed more stars than I've ever seen including numerous shooting stars.
The Skywalk is a bit rubbish as they don't let you take cameras on the walk incase you drop them over the side. They do have photographers that take pictures for you and then charge you for the privilege. The rest of the site is amazing but the amount of helicopters flying around is a bit Apocolypse Now.
We did a similar thing 12 months ago and went with a Helicopter trip from Las Vegas airport, it was well worth the money and something id never forget.
The company we went with was sun dance from memory. cost about $700 for us both.
only downside was they seat 6 so we ended up with a mental Mexican family... only added to it really.
We did - LA - Huntingdon Beach - Pismo Beach - San Fran - Yosemite - Vegas in a Mustang convertible, Best holiday of my life.
Hollywood is definitely a "Bit Council" though!!!! like Blackpool on steroids.
The company we went with was sun dance from memory. cost about $700 for us both.
only downside was they seat 6 so we ended up with a mental Mexican family... only added to it really.
We did - LA - Huntingdon Beach - Pismo Beach - San Fran - Yosemite - Vegas in a Mustang convertible, Best holiday of my life.
Hollywood is definitely a "Bit Council" though!!!! like Blackpool on steroids.
Ive been twice now, first in 2004 when we stayed in the village. Were going to do a heli trip but there was an accident the week before and OH didnt fancy it. We were up for sunrise though, which was great but bloody freezing. This year we were with friends who hadnt been so we did a day trip in our hire car from Vegas. Set off early and spent a couple of hours there and whizzed back. Long day with a lot of travelling but our friends loved it. Not really heard any good reports about the skywalk so we avoided it and went for the 4hour extra drive lol.
If I went again id either stay in the village or Flagstaff (hour and bit away) to grab sunrise and to save on a mega drive.
I flew over the GC on way to San Diego and we were quite low, not as low as a heli trip but not sure id bother with a heli. The old days flying down in would have been great but to fly over a BIG hole in the ground, im not sure lol
If I went again id either stay in the village or Flagstaff (hour and bit away) to grab sunrise and to save on a mega drive.
I flew over the GC on way to San Diego and we were quite low, not as low as a heli trip but not sure id bother with a heli. The old days flying down in would have been great but to fly over a BIG hole in the ground, im not sure lol
Kenty said:
From Vegas with a car I would head for Williams via the Hoover dam and catch the train to the rim. It is a great trip and you get a couple of hours to walk the rim with great views. The skywalk is not worth it, the donkeys are booked for a long long time in advance.
Is it only me? Everytime someone mentions donkey I have an image of Richard Pryor riding a donkey down into a canyon lol (you do need to be a certain age to know why 
)
Im going next week for 10 days (first 4 days 'drinking' then following 6 for sightseeing and relaxing).
Im looking to do this;
http://www.vore.com/home, for a 15 mile drive + 10 laps its roughly £600 = track day in the UK. If your by yourself and its odd numbers, apparently you do 30 as its split 15 driving and 15 navigating
Decided not to do the Grand Canyon but heading to Death Valley and Zion, will probably just rent some cheap car to get around in though.
Probably doesnt help you but thought id share anyway
Im looking to do this;
http://www.vore.com/home, for a 15 mile drive + 10 laps its roughly £600 = track day in the UK. If your by yourself and its odd numbers, apparently you do 30 as its split 15 driving and 15 navigating
Decided not to do the Grand Canyon but heading to Death Valley and Zion, will probably just rent some cheap car to get around in though.
Probably doesnt help you but thought id share anyway
lemmingjames said:
Im looking to do this;
http://www.vore.com/home, for a 15 mile drive + 10 laps its roughly £600 = track day in the UK. If your by yourself and its odd numbers, apparently you do 30 as its split 15 driving and 15 navigating
I've been to the Pro gun club a couple of times which is beside the Vore place. I wondered how much it was, it does look fun. http://www.vore.com/home, for a 15 mile drive + 10 laps its roughly £600 = track day in the UK. If your by yourself and its odd numbers, apparently you do 30 as its split 15 driving and 15 navigating
For that money I hired a McLaren for six hours, they just said don't break it and if you get caught speeding that's down to you.
Yeah, im not that fussed about renting a 'super car' as i wouldnt be able to take it where i wanted to go i feel (Zion, DV etc) so would be pointless. Was tempted by the AC Cobra but not sure if its a real one or not, plus its $600 a day.
Been reading up about the VORE, sounds like they are sometimes unreliable but at the same time, its not something i can do in the UK
Been reading up about the VORE, sounds like they are sometimes unreliable but at the same time, its not something i can do in the UK
I've flown to and I've also driven to the Grand Canyon. I much preferred the drive but we made it part of a mini road trip for my surprise 30th trip: Vegas > Grand Canyon > Monument Valley > Zion Park > Vegas.
We stayed at the El Tovar lodge which overlooks the rim (made for a fantastic view whilst eating breakfast) but from what I gather, you need to book a long way in advance and the same applies for dinner reservations too.
Either is acceptable to be honest but flying in by helicopter means you don't really get to do things at your own pace or see as much of the canyon up close and personal. But what you do get is to see just how fast and beautiful the grand canyon is from a birds eye view.
We stayed at the El Tovar lodge which overlooks the rim (made for a fantastic view whilst eating breakfast) but from what I gather, you need to book a long way in advance and the same applies for dinner reservations too.
Either is acceptable to be honest but flying in by helicopter means you don't really get to do things at your own pace or see as much of the canyon up close and personal. But what you do get is to see just how fast and beautiful the grand canyon is from a birds eye view.
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