Ready for some canyon-style fun and adventure? Book yourself a seat on a West Rim bus tour. These all-inclusive trips come with everything, and, considering their ridiculously affordable price, have now become the new “must-do” for all Las Vegas visitors. To get the bus tour that’s right for you, use this list, which puts the best coach trips side-by-side for your traveling convenience:

	West Rim Bus Tour Includes Hoover Dam photo stop, BBQ lunch & 2.5 hours at the canyon. Price: $167 $99
	West Rim Bus w/ Skywalk Comes with all-access Skywalk passes plus lunch & free shuttle service Price: $207 $134
	West Rim Bus, Helicopter & Boat Helicopter to bottom for Colorado River boat ride. Includes BBQ lunch & guide. Price: $317 $234

There’s something for everyone among those coach tours. I want to point out that you can add a Skywalk pass to the basic bus trip inside the Park. Lots of people think they want to give the glass bridge a miss but that changes once they see it up close.

The Route

The drive from Vegas to the West Rim is 120 miles. It takes a deluxe coach about 2.5 hours to get there. En route, you’ll see Lake Mead and the Hoover Dam. Trips listed here all include a photo stop of the dam on the Arizona side. Onward, you’ll cut through Black Canyon and head through a Joshua Tree forest.

Self Drive: A Warning

Lots of folks want to rent a car and drive to Grand Canyon West. Think twice. First, the last 10 miles or so of road to the Park is pure, un-maintained dirt. Tire blowouts are not uncommon on this stretch. Traversing this requires an SUV, which is a premium rental vehicle. Next, there’s the fees, which include parking and park entrance. End of the day, you’ll wish you’d taken a bus tour.

Helicopters, Boats & the Skywalk

The West Rim is the only place in the canyon where you can ride a helicopter to the bottom. The only thing that can top that is to transfer to a steel pontoon boat and do a Colorado River float. Then there’s the Skywalk, a glass walkway that lets you walk 70 feet past the edge while being suspended 4,000 feet above the bottom! If you have the budget, definitely consider upgrading to these packages.

There’s the West Rim and then there’s the South Rim, which is most famous for its scenic natural beauty. Coach tours leave daily at 7 a.m. and cover all the major points of interest, before returning to Las Vegas in the evening. Click South Rim bus tour for more info.

Deal Time

Not comfortable shopping online? Get used to it. Especially if you want to save money. The canyon bus tours listed here are all online specials only. That means they must be reserved and paid for on the Internet. I’ve tested each offer and have not suffered any issues. The sites are 100% safe and ready for action. However, if you are still uncomfortable, call me direct at 702-530-TOUR and I’ll do it for you at NO additional cost as I appreciate you taking the time to read my blog.

Click for All Grand Canyon Bus Tours

Have a Grand day,

K. Kravitz, Travel Reviewer