Many Grand Canyon bus tours begin in Las Vegas, and you might want to consider taking one of these fantastic bus excursions if you'll be vacationing in the city. It would be a shame to be so close to one of the world's most spectacular wonders, and not make an effort to experience it firsthand.

You can take a bus tour to the South Rim or the West Rim. You can't visit them both in one day, so if you want to experience both locations, you'll have to book separate tours. Both rims are great destinations, and your tour will include much more than just transporting you to your final destination.

For example, all these bus excursions drive past Lake Meade, the largest man-made reservoir in America. Some bus tours will take you right over the top of the Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge and then come back to the Arizona side of the dam where you can marvel at its immensity and take some amazing pictures. Be sure to check with your tour operator before you book your reservations to see if the Hoover Dan is included in your itinerary.

A bus tour through the National Park will give you an ?up close and personal? understanding of this scenic wonder. You will probably have about three hours to explore the canyon area, and that should be plenty of time to soak up the diverse sights. If you choose a West Rim tour, you will see landmarks such as Eagle Point, Hualapai Ranch, the Indian Cultural Center, and Guano Point. Mather Point, Yavapai Point and Grand Canyon Village are some of the South Rim's highlights.

There are other ways to visit the Grand Canyon, including airplane tours and helicopter rides, but bus excursions are much cheaper. The type of tour you end up booking will determine the price you have to pay. Basic tours are the most affordable. If you want to add on a boat ride, helicopter flight, or a ticket to the Grand Canyon Skywalk, you should expect to pay more. I recommend upgrading, because you'll see and experience parts of the canyon that would be impossible on a basic, bus-only tour.

The driver of your bus also acts as a guide to the area. Your driver/guide will make your tour even more special by telling you about the area's geology, wildlife and history.

The deluxe bus trip option will give you the most personalized experience. Seating is limited to about 12 passengers and you'll have unrestricted access to your tour guide. You'll also stop at more locations while you're on the way to and from the National Park. I suggest you look into this type of tour because it's a great experience.

Today's motor coaches are luxurious, with plush, comfortable seats, plenty of legroom, personal air conditioning units, plasma televisions, clean on-board restrooms and large viewing windows. A lot of tours use double-decker buses. All these niceties may not seem necessary now, but you will certainly appreciate them after you spend a day driving through the desert during the summer months.

I strongly suggest you book your Grand Canyon bus tour as soon as possible. These tours are extremely popular with Las Vegas visitors, and I'm seeing more and more dates being sold out. You can find out which Grand Canyon bus tours are available by checking tour operator websites. By looking online, you will also find the best deals so you get the most for your money.