There are few destinations on the planet that are more famous, more spectacular, and more deserving of the title than Arizona’s iconic Grand Canyon. This gigantic geological feature stretches for more than 270 miles and plunges more than a mile downwards through the solid rock. As you stand on the rim of the vast canyon, carved by the Colorado River over millions of years, the sheer scale of the scene before you is humbling, reminding you of nature’s immeasurable power and patience.
Once inhabited by Native Americans, the Grand Canyon contains the remains of many settlements and caves. The area was also a significant sacred site for the Pueblo people, who for generations made pilgrimages to the Grand Canyon to venerate the immense forces of nature. The first European explorer to see the Grand Canyon was Garcia Lopez Cardenas, who arrived from Spain in the 1540s. And of course today, visitors travel from all over the world to experience this unique icon for themselves.
There are three main visitor areas in the Grand Canyon National Park – the North, South, and West Rims of the Grand Canyon. The South Rim, which is open year round, is the most popular area of the three, with a great variety of restaurants, shops, and an excellent selection of hotels and campsites for overnighting visitors.
The North Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park is less well developed and is only open from May through October. However, the North Rim offers visitors a less crowded way to explore the Grand Canyon and is also a good choice for those wanting to get off the beaten path and hike amongst the stunning geological features of the haunting desert landscape.
Meanwhile, the West Rim, which is managed by Hualapai Tribe and is part of a nationally recognized reservation. The West Rim is ideal for shorter visits and its headline attraction is the Skywalk – a glass bridge that takes you out over the canyon at an altitude of around 4000 feet!
Wherever you chose to visit in the Grand Canyon National Park, the area is perfect for families, couples, and solo travelers. With superb accommodations, great restaurants, and a whole range of fun and exciting activities to try, the Grand Canyon in Arizona should definitely be on every globe trotters bucket list!
How Do You Get To the Grand Canyon, USA?
The easiest way to reach the Grand Canyon is to fly into the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX). Once you land, it’s a 3.5 to 4 hour drive to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon – the most popular place to stay in the Grand Canyon National Park. A direct flight to Phoenix from London or Paris takes around 10 or 11 hours, while a flight from Tokyo takes around 15 to 16 hours, including connections. Alternatively, travelers can fly into Las Vegas after which there’s a 4.5 to 5 hour drive to the Grand Canyon.
For most visitors, renting a car makes getting around very easy but if you don’t want to rent a car you can rely on public transport and taxis – although public transport is fairly limited and the cost of taxis will soon add up! So, ideally, you’ll want to rent a car for your visit to the Grand Canyon.
What’s the Best Time to Visit the Grand Canyon, Arizona?
The best time to visit the Grand Canyon is in the Spring, between March and May, or the Fall, between September and November. At these times of year, daytime temperatures range up to around 27 to 30 Degrees Celsius and there are less crowds than during the high season in summer. Accommodations are also a little cheaper, and you might be able to grab some great deals on flights as well.
Even so, the most popular time of the year to visit is during the summer, between June and August. Daytime temperatures can get extremely hot, often reaching 38 Degrees Celsius, so it’s vital that you bring plenty of water and appropriate clothing and hats to protect you from the unforgiving desert sun.
Whenever you choose to visit the Grand Canyon, just remember to bring some warmer clothes with you for the evenings when the temperatures drop quite dramatically. You’ll definitely need a warm jumper or a jacket if you want to explore the area in the evening or join a night time desert tour.
What Is There To Do Near the Grand Canyon, USA?
Experience the Exhilarating Grand Canyon Skywalk
No trip to the Grand Canyon would be complete without experiencing the thrill of walking on the glass-bottom Grand Canyon Sky Walk! You’ll witness breathtaking sights like you’ve never seen as you literally walk among the clouds over the enormous abyss of the canyon below. The glass, semi-circle shaped bridge lets you walk out over the canyon, suspended thousands of feet in the air, to admire the view and take some real heart stopping selfies!
While at the Skywalk you can also buy a hot lunch, cold drinks, and snacks – in case you need to refuel during the visit. The Skywalk is located on the West Rim of the Grand Canyon at Eagle Point in the Hualapai Reservation, so you’ll need to book a ticket for your visit. When you’re visiting the Skywalk, you can also explore a traditional Native American Village and even watch Traditional Bird Dancers performing each day – just check in advance for times.
You can order your tickets for the Skywalk in advance from the official website, here.
Join a 3 Hour Off-Road Sunset Safari to the Grand Canyon
For a romantic evening experience, why not join this 3 hour off-road sunset safari? Departing from Tusayan, this delightful tour will take you into the national park and stop to admire the setting sun from some of the areas best-loved look out points, including Pipe Creek Canyon, Yavapai Point, and Duck on a Rock Overlook. Finally, your expert guide will time the tour perfectly so you arrive at the Grandview Point to see the finale of the sun setting over the canyon – a truly once in a lifetime moment you can share with your loved one.
The safari includes all admission fees, including admission into the park itself, and bottled water. You can find out more, or book your spot on this wonderful off-road sunset safari, here.
Travel through Time on this Full-Day Tour of the Grand Canyon and its Ancient Ruins
This full-day tour of the Grand Canyon explores the geological and ancient cultural history of the Canyon. Along the way you’ll see more than 1.5 Billion years of geology unfold before your eyes as your guide explains all the fascinating details of the topography. You’ll also stop off at the Sunset Crater National monument where the Apollo astronauts trained for their historical missions in space, as well as delve into the mysteries of the ancient Native American ruins at Wupatki National monument.
Finally, to round off a magnificent day, you’ll dine at the highly praised El Tovar restaurant – famous for its gourmet Filet Mignon and regional delicacies. The tour also includes free bottled water and snacks to keep you hydrated and fueled during your day of adventures.
Hotel pickup and drop off are included in the full-day tour package. You can find out more, or book your place on this one-of-a-kind historical tour of the Grand Canyon, here.
Stay at the Grand Hotel, Tusayan, Arizona
As the only AAA Three Diamond hotel in the vicinity of the Grand Canyon, the Grand Hotel is the perfect place to unwind during your time in the area. Situated just one mile from the South Rim entrance of the National Park, it’s ideally positioned for visitors, giving you easy access to all the top attractions as well as a whole range of activities.
With an elegant, yet rustic design, the Grand Hotel offers superb amenities, including recently renovated rooms, an indoor heated pool, spa and hot tub, and a hugely popular on-site Steakhouse and Saloon, a fitness centre, and shopping facilities.
All rooms have air conditioning, private marble-tiled ensuite bathrooms with a shower, tea and coffee making facilities, a fridge, microwave, flat screen TV and Wifi. Ideal for families and couples visiting the Grand Canyon, the Grand Hotel is just waiting to welcome you into their exclusive desert oasis.
You can book your accommodation, or find more about the hotel, at the official website, here.
