Canyon Tours

What Canyon Tours is and where it operates

Canyon Tours is a Las Vegas tour agency that sells Grand Canyon and Southwest day tours from Las Vegas, including helicopter and airplane flights. Its About page describes it as "Las Vegas Grand Canyon Tours", "a Grand Canyon tour company based in Las Vegas, Nevada, operating online as CanyonTours.com", and the homepage footer calls it "a Las Vegas-owned and operated tour agency that specializes in discounted Grand Canyon tours from Las Vegas". It is a seller rather than the airline: the About page says "We feature the same tours the Las Vegas hotels and others offer at great internet rates", and the site does not name the helicopter or airplane companies that fly its air tours.

The About page lists the destinations as "the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, Death Valley, Valley of Fire, Red Rock and Eldorado Canyon". The destinations menu splits the Grand Canyon into the West Rim ("close to Vegas"), the South Rim ("iconic views"), the North Rim ("hidden gems") and an East area around Horseshoe Bend, and adds Las Vegas tours, Red Rock Canyon, Valley of Fire, Hoover Dam, Antelope Canyon, and Bryce Canyon with Zion. The homepage places the West Rim "just two hours from the Strip", tags the North Rim as "Seasonal Gems" and the Vegas area as "Lights & Deserts", and the About page pitches the whole service as a way to "let someone else take care of all the details".

On its history, the footer says "We have been in the travel industry since 2001", the About page says "over 25 years of experience in the touring and travel industry", and the homepage headline reads "Celebrating 25 years of adventure with Canyon Tours!" It describes guests traveling "by plane, helicopter, luxury coach, and thrilling whitewater rafting on the Colorado River".

The tours it sells

The Tour Types menu groups products by how guests travel. By land: bus tours, ATV/UTV tours, SUV tours and Hummer tours. By air: helicopter tours and airplane tours. By water: boat tours and rafting tours. The homepage pitches the range as running "From bus tours that traverse the Mojave desert and helicopter or airplane tours that fly high above the Southwest to relaxing boat cruises and adrenaline-pumping rafting tours deep inside the Grand Canyon". A second menu sorts tours by style, from "Family-Friendly" and "Luxury Tours" to "Photo Buff", "Tours for Couples" and "History and Education".

The helicopter tours shown with prices are the Grand Canyon Helicopter Tour, from $409.00 through $464.00 depending on the option chosen, and the Grand Canyon Exclusive Floor Landing Helicopter Tour, from $469.00 through $539.00. The Grand Canyon Exclusive Floor Landing Helicopter Sunset Tour is on sale, marked down from $669.00 to $639.00. The popular tours list also names a Las Vegas Helicopter Tour and a South Rim Bus & Helicopter Tour, without prices. For fixed-wing flying, the Grand Canyon West Rim Airplane Tour is listed at $249.00.

Ground tours are priced lower. The Grand Canyon South Rim Bus Tour with Lunch & Free Wi-Fi runs from $100.00 through $108.00, and the Grand Canyon West Rim Bus Tour with Skywalk Options & Free Wi-Fi from $100.00 through $156.00, with the Skywalk as an option. Each of these product cards notes that it "has multiple variants", chosen on the product page. The sale menu also lists a South Rim Deluxe tour with IMAX.

The vacation packages combine several parts into one booking: Grand Canyon South Rim Tour Packages, a South Rim Deluxe package with an airplane and a helicopter, a West Rim package with a helicopter, a boat and the Skywalk, a Whitewater Adventure, and a West Rim 4 in 1 Tour. The Sales menu sums up the idea: "combine a flight, boat cruise, and the Skywalk into one unforgettable package deal".

How a tour day works

The homepage gives its reasons to book as "Free hotel pickup for your convenience", "Tours run every day, year-round", and "Locally owned & operated since 2001". The footer links to a page on the tour pickup process and another on Grand Canyon entrance fees, and the site does not say whether park entrance fees are included in each tour price.

The reviews quoted on the homepage are the company's selection. One guest praises "highly experienced pilots" on a flight over the Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon. Another, on a floor landing tour, mentions "a great pilot, fun picnic in the canyon". A third, on the sunset helicopter tour, calls it "Brilliantly organized". A guest on the early morning flight says they "had the landing spot all to ourselves". Bus tour reviewers mention food and snacks and an informative driver and guide.

Booking and support

Tours are booked through an online cart or by phone "with one of our knowledgeable agents". The About page says the office is "open 7 days a week from 6:00 am -9:00 pm Pacific Standard Time", and lists the email tours@canyontours.com, the toll-free number 866-21-VEGAS (1.866.218.3427) and the local number 702-260-0796. It offers "special group/corporate rates and custom tours", and a Group Tours page sits in the menu.

What the site leaves open, and who it suits

The site does not name the helicopter company behind each flight, and does not give flight times, aircraft types, weight limits or minimum ages on its homepage or About page. A Tour Policies page is linked in the footer, but the site does not set out a cancellation window or refund rule on its homepage or About page, so both should be checked before paying. The price ranges depend on options that are only visible on each product page.

Canyon Tours suits Las Vegas visitors who want to compare helicopter, airplane, bus and rafting trips to the Grand Canyon in one place, pay a discounted online rate, and be picked up at their hotel. It is useful for mixing a flight with the Skywalk or a boat ride in one package. Travelers who want to know exactly which helicopter operator they will fly with should ask when booking.