Grand Canyon West Rim
- Hours: Open daily 8am - 5pm (Oct - Mar), daily 7am - 7pm (Apr - Sept)
- Admission: Tour from $29.95 per person
ATTRACTION Keywords:
Good Views / Viewpoint,
Must-Do Experience
Grand Canyon West Rim Reviews
We've found 65 Grand Canyon West Rim reviews from Viator.com travelers and members: what they loved, what they liked and what they think could be improved. It's all here to help you make the most of your next trip.
Review by CARLY R, May 2011
Doing what: Grand Canyon West Rim Day Trip by Coach, Helicopter and Boat with Optional Skywalk
Overall, It was a wonderful one day trip. The helicopter and boat ride was the best part and is highly recommended to do and to do it first thing as soon as you get off the bus. We did not do the Skywalk and thank goodness because we would not have had any time. The bus driver was filled with history and loads of really cool facts about Las Vegas. Hoover Dam, and Grand Canyon. The only downfall was the shuttle service provided at the Grand Canyon. We went during the week of Thanksgiving so that could have been the problem, but we missed out on Guano Point (which is a must see) or else we would miss the bus ride home. We would of had time to hang out there if we did not have to wait 20 minutes to be transported from each place. The shuttle service aside, the trip was WELL WORTH the money and you get a lot for your money. I would highly recommend this trip to anyone who is considering a cost-efficient, memorable, exciting one day trip to the West Rim.
Review by NICOLA D, May 2011
Doing what: Grand Canyon West Rim Air and Ground Day Trip from Las Vegas with Optional Skywalk
This tour is awesome! I've also done the Helicopter tour but I really preferred this one. The views from the West Rim are spectacular and there is heaps of free time for photos and exploring. Excellent value for money. Highly recommended.
Review by Deborah R, United Kingdom, November 2010
Doing what: Grand Canyon West Rim Day Trip by Coach, Helicopter and Boat with Optional Skywalk
Our trip to the West Rim was a long, but great trip. Was worried about the check-in procedure after reading other reviews,but in my opinion this went smoothly for the amount of people that were processed. The coach was comfortable and out guide was very informative throughout the trip. The coach ride down the dusty and uneven road could have been better as the dust made it a little difficult to breath as the second coach had poor or no air conditioning. We did have problems when a helicopter developed mechanical problems and we had to wait for our turn, a little more communication at this point would have been better. The helicopter ride was great and the boat ride could have been a little longer and further. Due to the hold-up and limited time, we were unable to to have the cooked lunch and were only able to grab a sandwich, crisps and drink at the skywalk. My husband and two friends made the skywalk and said the views were awesome. Next visit we would like to go to the South Rim, but we would opt to fly as the coach trip was exhausting. Great trip, lovely views, - Thanks
Review by RICHARD L, October 2010
Doing what: Grand Canyon West Rim Day Trip by Coach, Helicopter and Boat with Optional Skywalk
The day started early ,we were told to meet at 6.15am .The coach arrived 45mins late and we were then taken to a transit area to register ,this was really a stop to try to sell more additions to tours .We were hearded with at least 200 others and were given coffee and a pastry and then put on another coach .This was all a bit of a shamles and wasted another 45 minutes. We eventualy caught a coach and set off , the driver raised our spirits with his humour and knowledge .We stopped at the Hoover Dam which was impressive and also at a small shop in the desert for refreshments . When we arrived at the Grand Canyon we were sent into a small room and this was also a shambles as there were several different tour agencies and the room was packed .We could not hear the helicopter saftey breifing for all the noise . Then things improved ,we boarded the helicopter and flew to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and then travelled on a boat on the Colorado river . The views were awe inspiring and photos can not do justice ,the helicopter ride was a must do once in your life and the view from the river gave an entirely different perspective to the canyon . We then boarded the helicopter to fly back up to the rim and after travelled around the West Rim on the shuttle and had an edible meal of chicken and rice. The actual helicopter ,boat and Hoover Dam were all spectacular but the organisation of the coaches and transit really need sorting out as it puts a dampener on the rest of a great tour and wastes over 90 minutes of time that could be spent at the Canyon.
Review by Raymond H, United Kingdom, May 2010
Doing what: Grand Canyon West Rim Day Trip by Coach, Helicopter and Boat with Optional Skywalk
This is a long day but don't let that put you off. We were picked up at 6:15am from the Luxor Hotel and taken to the bus depot where you were booked in and then given coffee and a danish pastry before getting onto the designated bus. You are taken to the Hoover Dam to take photos, there is no tour or information point, you are given 10 to 15 minutes to take photos and then its back onto the bus and you head for another depot 15 miles from the Grand Canyon and you are transferred to single decker bus. The company do not like taking the double deckers down the rough road which is presently in construction. When you get to the west rim information office you are split into groups according to where you are going i.e. the helicopter, boat or skywalk. Be careful, you are offered the skywalk as an optional extra, you could only fit this in if you take your lunch at the Skywalk restaurant. We chose the ranch for lunch on recommendation. A typical cowboy lunch of ribs, corn, beans, cornbread. The helicopter ride down to the river and back was great, the boat ride only lasts for 15 minutes but it is good to look up to the rim for photos. We eventually got back at 7.30pm, very tired but enjoyed the day. Another word of warning, DO NOT book anything else for the evening, some people had booked shows and evening helicopter rides and could not get back in time!!
Review by Sarah F, United Kingdom, April 2010
Doing what: Grand Canyon West Rim VIP Helicopter Tour from Las Vegas
Great experience, fantastic flight over Hoover Dam, into West Rim, and back over Vegas Strip. We all loved it. Just remember to take motion sickness pills no matter what, and try to go earlier in the day to avoid sweating in the blazing sunshine! Also, be aware that any heavy people may be asked to pay extra at last minute - always ask beforehand to check any individual weight limits so you don't get surprised.
Review by Tracy L, USA, June 2009
Doing what: Grand Canyon West Rim Day Trip by Coach, Helicopter and Boat with Optional Skywalk
Quite a stimulating day for a first time Grand Canyon visitor. Next time I will keep the helicopter tour separate from the ground tour, really needed more time to see the whole West Rim on the ground.
Review by Chor Cher S, November 2012
Doing what: Grand Canyon West Rim Day Trip by Coach, Helicopter and Boat with Optional Skywalk
I joined the Grand Canyon West Rim Day trip by Coach, Helicopter and Boat with Skywalk tour. The Tour was fantistic and the Scenary was great! The only discomfort of the trip is the group is too big about 80pax and the bus is a little too cramp.
Review by Raymond B, July 2012
Doing what: Deluxe Grand Canyon West Rim Airplane Tour with Optional Helicopter Tour
An experience with many positives. One disappointing aspect was taht the "Airplan etour of the west rim really did not amterailise. We flew into the Grand Canyon aurstrip and flew out later in the day. We tought that we might have had a flight plan that included a traverse of the canyon but this may not have been possible due to air safety consideration. All in all, the plane got us there and back quicker than land transport and that wa sbaout it. Also, any commenatry from the pilotwas indistainct and alrgely not easily understood.
Review by Deborah K, May 2012
Doing what: Grand Canyon West Rim Deluxe Sunset Helicopter Tour
The trip was very well organised and the ride was great. I was however a little disappointed by the view from the West rim and in particular where we stopped. Other menbers of my family drove out to a different location and said it was spectacular - I could not say the same thing. I also thought we would be at Grand Canyon at Sunset, but not true. The deal included a DVD for me to take home. Unfortunately I live in Australia and the coding of the DVD is not compatible with our DVD players
Review by Partha N, January 2013
Doing what: Grand Canyon West Rim Day Trip by Coach, Helicopter and Boat with Optional Skywalk
The trip was super expensive compared to renting a car, very poorly organized. There were literal chaos at the Grand Canyon West Rim Village (Walapai Nation). We had to wait more than 20 minutes for the boat ride and more than 20 minutes for the copter to get back. When we went for lunch there was barely any food left. Finally, when we got back, we almost missed our bus. I would strongly discourage myy friends to book this tour.
Review by L A W, United Kingdom, July 2012
Doing what: Grand Canyon West Rim Air and Ground Day Trip from Las Vegas with Optional Skywalk
Early pick up from hotel and then kept waiting for over an hour at small airstrip with no explanation. Longer wait than expected for return flight too. Found west rim less spectacular and more crowded and 'tacky' than trip to south rim a couple of years ago..did not see Hoover Dam from my seat although pilot said we would all see it.
Review by exit5a, December 2011
Doing what: Grand Canyon West Rim Day Trip by Coach, Helicopter and Boat with Optional Skywalk
I will start off by saying the Grand Canyon was spectacular. The trip as a whole not so much.
The morning pick up went smoothly at the hotel. Our bus picked up people from only three hotels it took less than half an hour. We got to the bus terminal where we checked in and were loaded on to the buses that would be taking us to the West Rim. This process took an hour. I have to say this was not a luxury coach. It was a double Decker with only one TV that my partner could not see. The chairs did recline. We arrived about 40 mins from our destination where we were put on another bus to travel down the dirt road that remained. We waited again for the other buses to arrive before leaving. When we arrived at the west rim we were dropped off at the helicopter terminal which was very busy where we waited more than half an hour for our helicopter tour. The helicopter and boat part of the tour were amazing! Once back at the terminal we had less than two hours to see the two remaining view points and eat lunch before getting back to board our bus and go back to Las Vegas. The Trip home was fine except that my partner could not see the movie. The worst part of the trip was the hotel drop off once back in Vegas. It was a night mare. We dropped people off at three hotels and then more than half of us were loaded onto another bus where there were not enough seats for everyone and it took almost two hours from the time we entered the city till the time we were dropped off at our hotel.
Next time I will just rent a car and buy the tour package I want from the West Rim. Instead of spending more than half the day waiting in line and for buses etc.
Review by Jane W, July 2011
Doing what: Grand Canyon West Rim Day Trip by Coach, Helicopter and Boat with Optional Skywalk
The tour was planned out enough but most of the spots aren't really worth seeing. Guano point was pretty and cool, the helicopter tour was fun but very short. West rim is mostly designed to take your tourist money and time. Plus our local tour operator ended up adding one reservation for the heli ride late even though I'd paid for it all at the same time which caused a delay and confusion on our tour.
Review by Jamie C, United Kingdom, September 2007
Doing what: Grand Canyon West Rim Day Trip by Coach, Helicopter and Boat with Optional Skywalk
Although when you arrive at the West Rim the instructions given are pretty vague, the trip to the bottom of the canyon was amazing! The bus driver told us to be back by 2:30, but the helicopter ride got us back at 3:30, something that was out of our control. Our driver was very rude to us and the others on our return, even after we explained that it was not our fault. This kind of spoiled it for us. That being said, the view from the helicopter was spectacular and the young male guide on the raft below was very nice and full of great information. We floated down the river in silence, which was the highlight, as it has to be seen to be believed. If there was better communication between the helicopter company and the bus company, this day would have been perfect. The fact that the bus driver was so rude to us put a dark cloud over the whole thing. Go for the view, and I hope your driver is nicer!!
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