Take a Grand Canyon tour in 2015. Pick from helicopter, airplane, bus and more. Up to 35% off. Advanced bookings recommended!

(TRAVPR.COM) USA - January 26th, 2015 - Grand Canyon National Park enjoying record visitation and travelers are being urged to book their tour soon in order to pick from the best ones at the lowest prices.

"Usually, winter is the time of the year when it's slow," said Keith Kravitz, owner of Grand Canyon Tours. "But January 2015 has been incredible in terms of the number of folks visiting the Canyon."

Most trips start from Las Vegas, NV, or South Rim, AZ, which is the standard place to start for travelers heading up from Phoenix/Scottsdale, Williams, Sedona and Flagstaff. "It's just a 3.5-hour drive to the Canyon from the Phoenix metroplex and much of it is done through some very beautiful Arizona scenery," said Kravitz.

Las Vegas

From Vegas, travelers can visit the West Rim, which is 125 miles east of town, and the South Rim, which requires a 5.5-hour drive but can also be done in 60 minutes by airplane. "Going to the South Rim is usually determined by the amount of time it takes to get there," said Kravitz. "Nowadays, most are choosing the 60-minute direct airplane tour."

The most popular Vegas tours are done by helicopter, which go to the top or bottom of the Canyon. "The runaway favorite is the trip that lands on the bottom for a Champagne picnic," noted Kravitz. "Then there's the one that extends that package to include a Colorado River boat ride plus a VIP ticket to the Grand Canyon Skywalk."

The Skywalk is Vegas' most famous outdoor attraction. Made of glass, the bridge lets visitors walk 70 feet over the edge until the bottom of the Canyon is 4,000 feet below the surface of the structure. "It's an incredible experience and the views are simply unmatchable," said Kravitz.  

Travelers need to be advised that Vegas helicopters only fly to the West Rim because the South is too far. Further, these particular flights are the only ones that land at the bottom; flying below the rim and landing is banned at that South Rim by the National Park Service (NPS).

Go here for Las Vegas helicopter tours:

http://www.grandcanyonhelicopters.org/las-vegas/

South Rim

At South Rim, there are 30-minute and 50-minute helicopter rides. The shorter one goes form the South Rim to the North and back. Before landing, it cruises through the Dragoon Corridor, the widest and deepest section of the Canyon. The 50-minute flight does the same plus it includes everything up to the Park's east border and extended time over the isolated North Rim.

Go here for South Rim helicopter tours:

http://www.grandcanyondaytrips.com/helicopters/

Airplanes

Plane tours are available from Vegas and the South Rim. For the most part, Vegas planes are similar to helicopters in that they offer opportunities for travelers to land at the top and bottom of the Canyon. "The trip that's getting a lot of attention is the one that lands at the top of the West Rim and comes with a helicopter ride to the bottom," said Kravitz. "For the super-adventurous, this package can be extended with a boat ride down the Colorado River."

Helicopter rides often sell out because they are limited to six or seven people per aircraft. Planes, by contrast, hold up to 19 people, which means more seats are available at a lower price. "It's always wise to consider an airplane tour if helicopter tours are booked solid, which is quite common," said Kravitz.

Go here for more about Canyon airplane tours:

http://www.grandcanyondaytrips.com/best-airplane-tours/

Buses

Vegas bus tours are very popular with budget travelers. Trips leave once daily in the morning and go to either the West Rim or the South Rim. Total tour time for these trips is 13 hours for the West and 15 hours for the South. "Be prepared to spend an entire day on these Vegas bus tours," said Kravitz. "Typical return time to The Strip is between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. so avoid making dinner or entertainment plans that night."

Tips

For more information on Grand Canyon tours, including how to get great deals, please visit:

http://www.grandcanyondaytrips.com/save-money/

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