Grand Canyon Coaches will launch its brand-new fleet of premium mini-coaches this August. Consisting of nearly 30 new vehicles, each seating up to 13 passengers, the new vehicles will provide an exclusive ground tour experience for the discerning traveler who wants to take in the grandeur of the Southwest in a private setting. New tours will depart from both Boulder City, Nev., and Phoenix.
Coaches will feature captain’s chair seating, ample room to stretch and large windows offering expansive vistas. By this fall, eight brand-new coaches will be stationed in Boulder City, while the Phoenix/Scottsdale area will have nearly 20.
For Southern Nevada travelers, all tours will originate from Papillon Aerocenter in Boulder City. All tours include complimentary round-trip shuttle transportation from most Las Vegas hotels and casinos. The following tours will be available:
West Rim Eldorado Canyon: Home of the Techatticup Gold Mine, once the largest producing gold mines in Nevada with more than $1 million of gold still left in its walls, this tour brings visitors to the canyon via the new Grand Canyon mini-coaches. Once there, they will ATV to see mountain ranges and the Colorado River. Those preferring a horseback riding excursion can saddle up and explore mountainous terrain while riding along paths originally meant for mule driven carts that pass by abandoned gold and silver mines. The final option: kayaking along the Colorado River where bighorn sheep, fox and other desert animals frolic. The total time for the tour: approximately six hours. Per-person prices begin at $149 for kayaking, $159 for horseback riding or $189 for ATV.
Hoover Dam: Visitors will see Hoover Dam from both sides of the Colorado River, as well as the brand-new bypass bridge—the largest single-arch concrete bridge in the Western Hemisphere. The guided tour includes live presentations and a film regarding the dam’s history and construction. Tour duration is approximately four to five hours and includes bottled water throughout the tour, entry fees to Hoover Dam and a guided and narrated tour with a professional guide. The price begins at $79 per person.
Grand Canyon: Travel to Grand Canyon National Park located on the South rim or Grand Canyon West, home of the world-famous Skywalk. At the South rim, guests will travel along the historic Route 66 and spend time at Grand Canyon’s best vantage points including Mather Point, Yavapai Point and Grand Canyon Village. The South rim tour is approximately 13 hours.
For West rim, experience the Grand Canyon of the Hualapai Indian Nation. The journey winds its way through the Mojave Desert and over the rugged canyons of the Black Mountains, past Joshua Tree forests and the Grand Wash Cliffs. Tour duration is approximately four to five hours.
Both tours include a morning snack, bottled water throughout the tour, all entry fees, guided and narrated tour with professional driver. For South rim, price begins at $219 per person, while the West rim begins at $229.
For travelers originating out of the Phoenix/Scottsdale area, they can be picked up from most Phoenix/Scottsdale/Tempe resorts and hotels. The new tour includes:
Grand Canyon and Sedona: After departing the Phoenix metro area, Sedona is the first stop. The tour journeys through the entire Sedona area, including uptown Sedona and the full length of Oak Creek Canyon. Guests can photograph the famous Red Rocks, stretch their legs and pick up lunch from a Sedona restaurant to take as a picnic to Grand Canyon.
The tour then passes through Oak Creek Canyon, a scenic byway that winds through 2000 vertical feet of red walled canyon to emerge in a ponderosa forest. While at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park, guests will have at least three hours in the park and an opportunity to walk the rim, shop, have lunch, or just relax with a view.
While in the Grand Canyon, they will explore a 30-mile section of road that winds along the rim of the canyon, showcasing the best rim views and history along the way. Returning to Phoenix from the canyon, they will enjoy views of the Navajo Nation and Painted Desert, with a stop at a Navajo trading post. Tour includes lunch, entry fees and bottled water. This is an all day tour with guest pickups completed by 7 a.m. Price begins at $169 per person.