Separated by a 2.5-hour road trip, the Arizona desert town of Sedona is a great base from which to explore the awe-inspiring beauty of the Grand Canyon.
(Photo: Arizona Tour & Travel / Courtesy GetYourGuide)
While the journey between the two covers just over 100 miles, those who embark on the trip should prepare for a leisurely drive due to the incredible scenery along the way. Beautiful vistas will have you turning off the highway and grabbing your camera with great frequency – and that’s before you reach the iconic landmark of the Grand Canyon itself. Here are 5 of the best Grand Canyon tours that start in Sedona.
The Grand Canyon Classic Tour
Starting with a hotel pick up, you’ll drive through the scenic red rocks of Sedona, through Oak Creek Canyon and continuing to the Ponderosa Pines of Flagstaff, past the volcanoes of the San Francisco Peaks, and on to the Navajo Reservation with a stop at the Historic Cameron Trading Post. On arrival at the magnificent Grand Canyon National Park, you’ll take in the beautiful views before climbing to the top of the Watchtower Observatory for more essential photo opportunities. You’ll visit the East and South Rims, embarking on a mile-long nature walk along the South Rim. After, there’s optional time to explore historic Grand Canyon Village before your return journey. From $180 per person.
Sedona to Grand Canyon Private Adventure
(Photo: Dynamic Journey Tours / Courtesy GetYourGuide)
For a more intimate experience, this private all-day tour invites you to visit the Grand Canyon in the company of a small group of family or friends. Departing at 9am, you and your group will be driven by an expert local guide from Dynamic Journey Tours, past the glorious Oak Creek Canyon, then through Flagstaff, before stopping for lunch at Cameron Trading post. After lunch, you’ll enter into the East Gate, visiting four points of interests along the canyon and learning the geology, geography, and history/mystery of the natives and settlers, before finally exiting the park at the South Gate. You’ll return to Sedona for early evening. The tour price includes your park entrance fee and lunch. From $125 per person (max 10 people).
Grand Canyon Explorer: Day Trip with Ruins
Discover the Grand Canyon – a s well as extinct volcanoes, Native American ruins, and ancient lava flows – on this full-day, small-group tour. Following morning pickup at your Sedona hotel, you and your group of up to 14 guests will get to enjoy one of America’s most scenic drives as you make your way to Wupatki and Sunset Crater Volcano National Monuments where you’ll get to disembark and soak up your surroundings. After lunch in the Navajo Nation at the historic Cameron Trading Post, you’ll continue on to the Grand Canyon, where you’ll take in views from the Desert Watchtower, visit the East and South Rims, the Oak Creek Canyon, and more, before returning to Sedona. From $211 per person.
Grand Canyon Guided Tour and Historic Railway
(Photo: Arizona Tour & Travel / Courtesy GetYourGuide)
This tour combines a trip to the Grand Canyon with a ride on the historic Grand Canyon Railway. You’ll be asked to make your own way to the train depot in Williams to board the famous railway (first and second class available) which will transport you to the edge of the canyon’s South Rim. As the train rolls through valleys filled with wildflowers, dense pine forests, high desert plains, and small canyons, you’ll enjoy wonderful views as costumed cowboys and musicians provide on-board entertainment. On arrival at the canyon, you’ll meet your guide to explore all that the legendary landmark and it’s surrounding have to offer, including the Historic Cameron Trading Post and other attractions, as your guide regales you with fascinating tales and facts before your return. From $273 per person.
Grand Canyon Sunset Tour with Dinner
(Photo: Arizona Tour & Travel / Courtesy GetYourGuide)
There can be few better settings for a sunset dinner than the Grand Canyon and its ever-changing colours, light, and shadows. Riding in comfort, you and your small-group will ascend the Colorado Plateau through the lush Oak Creek Canyon to the tall Ponderosa Pines, before travelling past the dormant volcanoes of the San Francisco Peaks on your way to Grand Canyon National Park. After exploring the area’s myriad of attractions, your adventure culminates as your guide takes you to the ideal spot for an amazing feast for the senses – a delicious dinner against a backdrop of a Grand Canyon sunset. Relax and enjoy the ride back to your hotel as you reflect on your experience. From $229 per person.