Grand Canyon tours

See the Grand Canyon from the comfort of a bus, with the driver doubling up as an informative tour guide who will narrate the area’s history and geology along the way. Don’t worry, there are plenty of stop-offs for you to step out onto the site and make the most of photo ops. Bus tours cover a range of areas but the eastern section (or ‘East Rim’) is one of the best, covering the likes of the mesmerizing Antelope Canyon, awesome Navajo Bridge and parts of the winding Colorado River. If you really want to crank it up a notch, test your nerves by stepping out onto the Skywalk, a horseshoe-shaped bridge almost a mile above the canyon floor. Look down through the glass floor and see the depths and wonder of the Canyon beneath your feet; all 4,000 feet of it

Is this the most glamorous way to see the Grand Canyon? We like to think so. Soaring over the Grand Canyon, you’ll enjoy panoramic views of the likes of Guano River, the bright blue Lake Mead and more. It’s a great way to cover a large amount of the area in a short amount of time, and gaze down at it all with a birds-eye view. Some helicopter tours allow you to actually land on the canyon, so you can get your bearings before you take flight again.

Take to the water by cutesy steam-pedal boat, or go on a rafting tour. Boats take in Lake Mead and impressive Hoover Dam, including some views that you just won’t see on land. You can take a laidback cruise down the Colorado River, opt for on-board lunch and/or dinner and enjoy various stop-offs. As for the rafting tours, you’ll be given waterproof gear to wear (this is vital!) as an expert guide rafts through 40 miles of various rapids, taking in the likes of the Dragon Tooth and Travertine Waterfalls.

This is a classic way to see the Grand Canyon, and has been a popular way of transporting visitors around the site since the late 19th century. You’ll set off in small groups and there’s even the chance to stay overnight at a ranch. The mules are larger and sturdier than average horses and are well trained for the terrain. If you don’t want to venture into the depths of the canyon itself, you can simply trail around the rim, instead. There’s a range of Grand Canyon holidays to choose from; however you want to take in the canyon.

Take a hike into the Grand Canyon and you’ll be rewarded with no two views the same. Landscapes have their own climate, wildlife and topography, all of which make it prime hiking territory; but it can be an unforgiving environment that can be gruelling for even the most adventurous hikers. All hikes start with the long, steep descent, and of course what goes down must come up: it’s highly recommended to camp overnight to give yourself a break before trailing back up again. The Bright Angel Trail covers 9.6 miles from Grand Canyon Village to the Phantom Ranch, which is also a popular spot with overnight mule-riders (see above). This is very much an overnight hike, but it’s more of an experience to extend your stay and watch the sunset or sunrise – this is a ranch like no other. If you’re after day hikes, then start off from the village to Plateau Point, an overlook above the Inner Gorge. It’s a 12-mile round trip that takes a good eight hours; make sure you pack plenty of water