Whatever impression you may have, the
Grand
Canyon is not close to Las Vegas.
The
South Rim , the most famous
tourist area, is 290 miles away by road,
and the quieter
North Rim only a
little less. A Colorado River viewpoint
on the Hualapai Indian Reservation, 130
miles from Las Vegas, calls itself the
West
Rim , but the views are not on the
same scale.
Trying to see the South Rim on a
day-trip by bus involves at least
a ten-hour round-trip ride, and is not
recommended. Competition on air tours
, however - including an overflight of
Hoover Dam - means that you may be able
to find prices as low as $100 per
person, which isn't bad for a
once-in-a-lifetime experience. Look for
advertisements in free local magazines
as they often feature two-for-one deals
and other enticing offers. Rates usually
include a shuttle service to and from
your hotel; on a flight that doesn't
land, the whole trip can take under
three hours.
Air Vegas Airlines tel
736-3599 or 1-800/255-7474, . Helicopter
tours of the West Rim ($250-359).
Gray Line tel 384-1234, .
South Rim by bus, a fourteen-hour round
trip ($159).
Maverick Helicopter Tours tel
261-0007 or 1-888/261-4414, . Helicopter
tours of the West Rim ($250-359).
The Missing Link Tours tel
1-800/209-8586, . Fixed-wing tours to
the South Rim for $209 with a bus tour
or $179 without, or with a steam-train
ride on the Grand Canyon Railway for
$329, or to the less dramatic West Rim
for $199.
Scenic Airlines tel 638-3200,
. Fixed-wing air tours throughout the
Southwest, including South Rim without a
landing for $109, or with a ground tour
by bus for $219, and also shorter tours
to the West Rim ($199, or $259 with a
helicopter flight down through the
canyon).
