Help choosing tour to Grand Canyon...

I%26#39;m taking my husband on a surprise mini-vacation to Sedona in late March for his birthday. We arrive on a Saturday and must leave on Tuesday. He has never been to the Grand Canyon and I thought the experience would make for a very memorable 45th birthday.

I%26#39;d prefer to take a tour out of Sedona as opposed to driving ourselves and want to choose a great one. If there is a company that also has a helicopter ride option, that%26#39;d be wonderful. Any suggestions?

However, if you think that it%26#39;s best to drive there ourselves and find a tour and,or helicopter tour that is based out of the GC area, then that%26#39;s fine.

Thanks again for your help!

Help choosing tour to Grand Canyon...

I would post your message on the Grand Canyon Forum. We%26#39;d be happy to help you with the Sedona part of your vacation.

Help choosing tour to Grand Canyon...

There%26#39;s plenty of help over on the GC forum for info on things AT the canyon, but not as much familiarity with guided tours TO the GC from other locations such as Las Vegas (or Sedona!).

You will get info. there on tours that operate out of the GC Airport. Perhaps one of those companies has pickups in Sedona.

Other companies that are mentioned are Marvelous Marvs (out of Williams) and Angels Gate Tours (out of Flagstaff). There are many recs for Angels Gate but most of them are from the same person. Some recent posts agree that they do a nice job. You can also check the Grand Canyon Chamber of Commerce at www.grandcanyonchamber.com/memberlist.htm

Many of the members listed have clickable links to their own website where you may find more info. on their tour offerings.

Also I%26#39;m wondering if the Sedona Chamber of Commerce would be a source for info. on local tour operators that visit the South Rim of GC?

http://www.visitsedona.com/index.php

Enjoy your trip!

Thanks for your suggestions. I%26#39;ve searched TA and found the same info that you mention. I%26#39;ve also checked out pretty much all of the tour companies on the Sedona Chamber of Commerce site. There are a few that offer what I%26#39;m looking for, but would love to know which is the best.

Thanks again.

We don%26#39;t usually find out poster%26#39;s interests, and I%26#39;ve realized that no one ever mentions Canyon Dave. But if you%26#39;re a geology fan/rock hound, Canyon Dave%26#39;s trips are based on that topic. He used to also guide for the Grand Canyon Field Institute (I heard that his own tours keep him too busy now to do the FI tours too). http://www.canyondave.com/

That sounds like a neat alternative! I%26#39;ll have to check out his site.

Thanks!!!

Oh, yes I%26#39;ve seen Canyon Daves brochures. I believe he operates out of Williams. Even as a local I thought his tours were the best fit for me.

By the way Williams is an interesting town to hang out in. It is the real west past and present.

Thanks!

Redstone Tours offers trips to Grand Canyon right out of Sedona. My wife and I went with them while we were in Sedona last week and enjoyed the absolute best tour we%26#39;ve ever had. Redstone was recommended to us by the hotel Concierge. They took us straight to the views and were able to avoid the crowds.

Our guide had a degree in Anthropology and 25 yrs experience as a guide in Arizona. He was able to explain the geology, ecology, and pioneer history of the canyon in a way that was both interesting and easy to understand, plus he pointed out lots of things we would have missed had we just driven up on our own. But what REALLY made our day was his explanation of Hopi Indian culture.

It ended up being a tour that was scenic, educational, AND spiritual all rolled into one. We arrived back in Sedona just in time for sunset and rainbows!

That sounds perfect!

Can%26#39;t thank you enough for the info. You guys are the BEST!!!

An outfit called the ';Krazy Kyote'; is able to book most all tours in the Sedona area, including ones to the Grand Canyon. You can go online and check out their company--then request their 10% off any online (though they%26#39;ll honor the 10% off booked tours via phone calls, too). They recommended an outfitter to us called Ventures or something. Yep--they can line-up helicoptor or air balloon tours for you, first-class small van coaches for all-day trips to the Grand Canyon (it%26#39;s a 2-hour drive each way to the G/C from Sedona--so better to let someone else drive!)

Have a fun trip!

Ya%26#39; know, the KK charges huge commissions to the companies that they refer you to. I suggest booking your tour yourself. This is not the most ethical operation here in town. It%26#39;s a front front for Time Share sales. And yes, they are high pressure sales for selling you the tours and outfitterguides that pay the biggest commission and not what might be best for you!!!