Europe has its castles. Asia has its temples. Australia has its critters and Ayer's Rock. North America is no slouch, though, especially in the Arizona desert. The Grand Canyon is one of the United States' greatest treasures, and perhaps its most magnificent geographic feature. This hugely popular national park attracts some 5 million visitors each year; if you're looking for even just a quick visit to the Grand Canyon, you'll need to plan ahead.

Choose Your Transport

Planning ahead is not as hard as it sounds, though, especially if you go through a tour operator. You can get a backcountry camping permit in order to stay overnight below the canyon's rim, but the park gets more than 30,000 applications a year, awarding only 13,000. Should you be unable to get a permit, you can still camp with a guide. Submit your application at the first of the month, four months prior to the desired month for the best chances.

Another option is a tour, and you can book a self-driven overnight tour through Viator. You'll rent a luxury 4x4 SUV preprogrammed with driving directions and hints for nearby points of interest. Your drive takes you to the West Rim, past Hoover Dam and into the Mojave Desert - be prepared to stop for pictures.

On arrival, you'll have free time to wander around the Hualapai Ranch. Activities here include cowboy demonstrations and a petting zoo,  nd you also have access to stunning views of the Canyon and the Colorado River at Guano Point and Eagle Point. At Eagle Point, you can go out on the Skywalk, a glass-bottomed ledge that juts out over the canyon, giving you a breathtaking perspective of the dizzying drop. The Skywalk is extra, but you can include this in your tour package. From there you’ll head to the town of Peach Tree, Arizona and overnight in the Hulapai Lodge.

Grand Canyon Tours

In the morning of your second day, you'll be taken to Diamond Creek for river rafting. Your Hulapai guide will put you to work navigating your raft over the rivers bends and rapids - they range from class 3s to 4s, so be sure you're up for a little adventure. The river run is almost six hours long and at the end of it, you'll have a moderate hike to Travertine Falls. From there, you'll have a helicopter ride back to the West Rim and your rental. Overall, it's a very full day, and the helicopter ride back makes for an awesome finish to an exciting trip.