Bus tours grand canyon south rim? (2023)

How much do you tip a Grand Canyon tour guide?

Full day/half day tour: Tip your guide 10-20% based on the cost of the tour. Independent guides: If you're hunting, fishing, or taking a guided tour of the Grand Canyon, 10-20% based on the cost of the tour.

We recommend spending at least one full day at the Grand Canyon South Rim and ideally two if time permits. One full day will allow time to explore some of the best viewpoints at the Grand Canyon, hike a portion of the Rim Trail, and maybe catch a sunrise and sunset.

The Bright Angel Trail is roughly 2 miles longer but has water, some shade, and half-way down is Havasupai Gardens, a wonderful place for a rest stop. There you will find water, toilet facilities, a ranger station, and a place to sit in the shade. The South Kaibab Trail has no water and very little shade.

About.com has a Tipping Guide for travelers that further suggests that the tour guide should receive a tip of 10% to 20% of the tour cost. As a last thought, the guide still needs to earn his or her tip. Just with any other profession, the tip should match the level of service.

How much should I tip my charter bus driver? Most bus companies suggest tipping your driver between 10% and 20% of your bus rental's total cost.

For trips during the day, you should wear your summer clothes: shorts, t-shirts, hats, and sunglasses. For trips at night or early morning, wear some long pants and a sweater, hoodie, or light jacket.

After making four stops in Tusayan, the bus travels 6.8 miles/11 km to the South Rim Visitor Center inside the park. The buses run every 20 minutes between 8 am and 9:30 pm.

Taking a guided tour may offer less flexibility than driving yourself, but many Grand Canyon visitors prefer the convenience and relaxation of simply sitting back and enjoying the ride to the Canyon.

Purple Route (Tusayan Route) shuttle bus is a great option, especially during the summer months! The lines at the entrance station to the Grand Canyon National Park could be more than a mile long during that time. In addition, parking inside the park is usually a challenge.

How long is the Grand Canyon bus tour?

Tour length is 1.5 hours. Stops may include Pima Point, Trail View #2, and Mohave Point.

Is the South Kaibab Trail dangerous? The trail isn't especially dangerous and is at least 4 feet wide for its entire length. If you are no prepared or don't plan your hike correctly it can be dangerous. Heat exhaustion is the most common danger on the trail, so make sure you prepare accordingly.

Is the North Kaibab Trail scary? The trail has some parts that may be difficult for hikers who are afraid of heights. While the trail is safe and there isn't any scrambling required, some parts have steep, unprotected drop offs.

Grand Canyon South Rim Trail

This aptly named hike is the easiest and most popular trail found at Grand Canyon South Rim. It stretches almost 13 miles from Hermit's Rest to South Kaibab trailhead. It is completely flat and you can hike as many small sections as you want, before jumping on a shuttle to do the rest.

The tours are 'free', because unlike regular tour providers' services, there is no set price for taking a tour, no prescribed fee to pay regardless of the tour experience itself. Instead, you are free to 'tip' your guide as you see fit after your tour.

In most countries, tipping your guide at the end of a tour is standard practice and will be rarely turned down. For a tour that only lasts a few hours, tip your guide 10 percent to 20 percent the cost of the tour.

Generally, it's appropriate to tip your private guide $10-$15 per day and another $5-$10 for drivers. For large group tours, you'd tip half of that.

There's no point in tipping the Bus Driver. If you find the right NPC then you can tip him in different amounts, 500 gold bars, and 4,000 gold bars respectively. What does this do? it doesn't do much, just gives you a shoutout during the game.

You have the option to give a small tip or a large tip. Tipping small does nothing, but if you tip 4,000 gold it will go towards the spending bars challenge. You'll get 12k xp for completing that secret mission/achievement.

Should I bring a backpack to Grand Canyon?

Backpacking trips in the Grand Canyon National Park are a must for any outdoor enthusiast who is fit and prepared enough for the challenge. The landscape is world class; incomparable and colossal.

Running shoes, sport sandals, or hiking boots are ideal. Flip flops, high heels, or new shoes that you're still breaking in are not. If you're planning on hiking into the Canyon, wear a mid-weight boot with lots of ankle support. For the Rim trail, a running shoe with good tread will do the job.

Ride Free Shuttle Buses

Grand Canyon National Park's free Shuttle buses operate in and around the South Rim. Shuttles can take you to out to exceptional scenic overlooks and they also provide transportation between the Visitor Center, lodges, campgrounds and other services and attractions.

For most South Rim visitors, one day is enough to take pictures, walk around the rim and even take a Grand Canyon helicopter tour or vehicle tour. But if you're planning on exploring the Grand Canyon a little more in-depth, staying in or near the park is a great idea.

The whole North Rim is a hidden gem. Only 10% of Grand Canyon visitors make the long spectacular drive to reach this side of the Big Ditch.

By booking in advance, you're more likely to get a spot on the date of your choice and you will have a wider selection of available tour options to consider. For example, some tours focus on specialized topics such as the canyon's geology or the area's history and only have limited spaces in each group.

If you arrive between the hours of 10 am and 3 pm, be prepared for a wait between 45 minutes to 2 hours. Try to arrive before 9:30 am or after 3 pm.

1. The Quieter Side of the National Park. Offering fantastic views with less congestion, the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park offers those willing to drive five hours and 212 miles from the South Rim a chance to see the canyon without the crowds.

Every 15 minutes, 6:15 a.m. – 7 p.m. Every 30 minutes, 7 p.m. – 11 p.m. Last bus: 10:30 p.m. Visitors dining in Grand Canyon Village need to be at a bus stop no later than 10 p.m.

Can you get around Grand Canyon without a car?

Ride the Rails

Not only is it possible to experience the best of the canyon without driving your car within the park's boundaries, visitors can arrive at the South Rim's Historic Village in a fun, iconic manner by riding the Grand Canyon Railway.

You can visit the Grand Canyon without a tour, but it's not recommended. This park has a lot to offer, and even if you do your research in advance, you might end up missing out on a stunning view.

The South Rim is the choice for visitors looking for the classic Grand Canyon experience. It has the best views, the best transportation, the best tours, the best activities, and the best lodging and dining.

Is one day enough for Grand Canyon? Grand Canyon National Park is huge and it would take days to explore all four rims and do some hiking inside the canyon. That being said, one day is enough for the main highlights of the Grand Canyon.

You can walk along the rim from, say Mather or Yavapai point to the rim lodges or beyond along Hermit's Rest Road. You don't need to take a tour.

The two major cities closest to the Canyon are Phoenix and Las Vegas. Flagstaff, AZ is only 1.5 hours from the South Rim and although it is a smaller city, it does have an international airport. Tusayan is the closest town to Grand Canyon Village and also has a small public airport.

The South Kaibab Trail has little to no shade and zero water stations. There is, however, a restroom facility at Cedar Ridge, which is about 1.5 miles from the trailhead.

There are no climbs or hard parts. It's easy to follow and there are lots of signs, so it's a great beginner's hike. Even if you are an experienced hiker, the trail is spectacular as it follows the rim and offers lots of great viewpoints and South Rim attractions.

With 11 miles of waterless exposure and trails just inches from deadly drops, Nankoweap Trail requires skill and nerve to hike.

What is the difference between Bright Angel and South Kaibab Trail?

The Bright Angel Trail is roughly 2 miles longer but has water, some shade, and half-way down is Havasupai Gardens, a wonderful place for a rest stop. There you will find water, toilet facilities, a ranger station, and a place to sit in the shade. The South Kaibab Trail has no water and very little shade.

The answer is yes, you can hike down South Kaibab Trail to Phantom Ranch and back up Bright Angel Trail in one day. However, this bucket list hike should only be attempted by very strong hikers and ideally in safe weather conditions.

It's not long, but the hike down the South Kaibab Trail will really give your kids a taste of the awe-inspiring Grand Canyon without all the tourists. The hike feels more rugged and of course offers great views, but it's also safe and well-maintained.

Generally, it's appropriate to tip your private guide $10-$15 per day and another $5-$10 for drivers. For large group tours, you'd tip half of that. Tip at the lower end in countries like India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Thailand and at the higher end in Japan, Cambodia, and the Philippines.

Most etiquette experts suggest a tip of 10-20% of the cost of a tour for outdoor guides like ours. A typical gratuity on a full-day tour is $20-$40 per person, and on a half-day trip, $15-$20 per guest.

Typically, the gratuity rate for guides should be around 10 to 20 percent of the total trip cost. That means if you're paying $500 for a day or two of guided rock climbing, an appropriate tip for your guide would be between $50 and $100.

The standard tip for hotel housekeeping in the U.S. is $2 to $5 per day, says Cohorst. Now, with all the additional work housekeeping must accomplish, it's only fair to tip a consistent $5 per day—even more, if you're feeling exceptionally benevolent.

About 900 people have died in the Grand Canyon. The leading cause of death is airplane and helicopter crashes, followed by falling from cliffs, environmental deaths (such as overheating), and drowning. On average, about 11 people die per year in the Grand Canyon.