Beyond the tour book

Following your own schedule is great, but sometimes joining a tour will take you to restricted places, provide valuable information that enriches your experience, and maximizes the use of your time.

With nearly 5 million visitors a year at the Grand Canyon, tours and accommodations fill quickly. Motels on the South Rim motels, the famous mule rides into the canyon, and the canyon-bottom oasis Phantom Ranch usually require reservations a year in advance.

Vendors outside the park offer exceptional packages, also. Flightseeing by helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft give bird's-eye views, while the Grand Canyon Railway offers a glimpse into the past with its railroad and period actors, as well as bus tours of the viewpoints while you wait or the return train to Williams.

Don't overlook the free ranger programs daily at the visitor's centers and along the rim. You can even download a cell phone tour to enhance your hike.

At-a-glance Tour Prices

• $ => Tickets less than $50 per person
• $$ => Tickets $50-$100 per person
• $$ => Tickets more than $100 per person