Best Tours and Day Trips from Las Vegas
You come to Las Vegas to have fun, but you can always complete your trip with a guided tour or an excursion that shows you the lesser-known side of the city.
Las Vegas entrance sign | ©Sung Shin
Las Vegas is not just about casinos, neon lights and big shows. Because of its proximity to many natural landmarks, many travellers take advantage of their visit to Vegas to explore places like the Grand Canyon, the Valley of Fire, Lake Mead or Red Rock Canyon, among many others. Here are some of the best options:
1. Nighttime walking tour of Downtown Las Vegas
You've probably seen the streets of Las Vegas in a multitude of films but perhaps there are still many things you don't know about the largest city in the state of Nevada, such as its history and how it became the city of excess it is today despite being in the middle of nowhere.
The dizzying growth of this city brought with it numerous anecdotes that you would have no way of knowing if it weren't for this 2-hour night-time walking tour presented by a former history professor who knows all the secrets of Las Vegas.
Itinerary
- Fremont Street, the old part of town. This is where the first casinos and hotels were built when gambling and alcohol attracted many visitors in the 1930's and several gangsters invested money in Las Vegas to create hotels.
- Old Time Casino at the El Cortez Hotel, a place that still has several original rooms and old slot machines. With guide Richard Lloyd Evans, a former history professor, you can learn about the secrets of Sin City in this era and anecdotes about the gangsters.
- Fremont East District, a diverse street life area filled with charming local restaurants, cocktail lounges and entertainment that pays homage to Las Vegas history.
- Downtown Container Park, an open-air marketplace with art galleries and even live entertainment. You'll be greeted by a curious giant praying mantis that shoots fire from its antennae. Seeing it at night is even more amazing and makes for spectacular photography.
- Golden Nugget or Binion's Gambling Hall. The former displays the world's largest gold nugget and the latter is where you can have your picture taken with $1,000,000 in cash.
- Fremont Street Experience: A pedestrianised street with one of the most dazzling sound and light shows in Las Vegas. It was created to revive tourism in the old part of town. In addition, there are also street performers and live performances here, so you're sure to be entertained.
- Viva Vision, the world's largest video screen and visual shows with music by Imagine Dragons, Steve Aoki, Linkin Park and The Killers, among others.
Why do I like this tour?
Behind all the glitz, glitz, gambling and Las Vegas shows that showcase the typical routes through the city lie nooks and crannies that tourists would never see if it weren't for tours like Richard Lloyd Evans'. A guide with a great sense of humour who makes the tour very enjoyable and knows all the stories of Las Vegas, both the funny anecdotes and the more mysterious ones.
A highly recommended tour to learn about the origins of Las Vegas and its history. The small group of 8 people maximum means that the guide is able to answer everyone's questions and the experience was very personalised.
2. All-inclusive Las Vegas nightclub party route
Since its origins, Las Vegas has been a nightlife lover's paradise. As well as fun shows and casinos, there are hundreds of pubs and bars to party in, but the best way to party in Las Vegas is to take an all-inclusive nightclub bus tour.
Why? You'll avoid the high entry fees, the hassle of finding a taxi to get you around, VIP access to three of the city's most popular clubs and top brand drinks on the party bus to the clubs. Sounds good, doesn't it? All at a much more reasonable price compared to planning the night out yourself.
Plus, this tour includes a mini tour of the Las Vegas Strip and a stop at the Welcome to Las Vegas sign with a professional photographer.
What to expect?
The Las Vegas nightclub party tour starts at 9:00 PM at the House of Blues for check in. This place offers 15% discount on food. If you buy in you will receive a free drink. In case you are with a large group of 15 people or more and want to make a dinner reservation, you will have to inform in advance so that X can help you organise it.
Around 10:00 PM, the tour host will take the group to the Foundation Room, the first nightclub of the night. With your Party Tours wristband, Foundation Room offers special $5 Ketel One vodka drinks.
You'll continue the night on the party bus stocked with top-shelf liquor as you go from club to club and the host will take photos of the party for you to download later.
Interesting facts
- In Las Vegas you must be 21 years old to drink or enter nightclubs so to participate in this party tour you will need to carry your passport or a valid government issued photo ID showing you are of the required age.
- There are often restrictions on what you can wear to the clubs, so it is important to respect the dress code of the nightclub. To avoid problems, it is best to choose smart attire.
- All venues are subject to change.
- Drinks at the meeting point and complimentary drinks on the party bus are included in the tour but not drinks in the clubs.
3. Grand Canyon Bus Tour
For many travellers, the South Rim is the most beautiful part of the Grand Canyon. It is located in the heart of the National Park and the views from any of its viewpoints are fascinating as you can see both its grandeur and its height in the best way.
The best way to get to the South Rim from Las Vegas is by road. With this day bus tour to the Grand Canyon National Park you'll have the opportunity to experience this natural wonder in person with a professional guide who will tell you all about its history and take you on a tour of its flora and fauna.
What will you see?
The tour starts with hotel pick-up in Las Vegas and departs at 6:00 AM for this rugged gorge carved by the Colorado River over thousands of years. Along the way, you'll listen to the guide's commentary on the history of this natural monument to get you started while you have lunch and the first stop of the tour will be at the Grand Canyon Caverns, which are located along Route 66 just outside of Peach Springs.
These are the largest dry caves in the United States and are 60.96 metres deep. On this tour you will have the opportunity to enter the caves to explore them on an optional 45 minute tour where you can take pictures for your social media.
You will then return to Grand Canyon National Park to enjoy the spectacular scenery of this beautiful landscape of reddish rock formations. This tour allows you to familiarise yourself with the South Rim, the most visited part of the Grand Canyon as it is considered the most beautiful of the three parts of the park and is open all year round.
It also includes two iconic sites such as Mather Point, the most popular viewpoint on the South Rim, and the Bright Angel Lodge, where you can marvel at the sunsets in the breathtaking surroundings of the Grand Canyon. On the way back, you can relax in the comfortable seats of the luxury coach as you watch the lights of Las Vegas in the distance, the city that never sleeps.
Why do I like this tour?
The best way to get to the South Rim from Las Vegas is by road. The trip is long but very well organised. To make it more enjoyable, the bus on this tour has all the amenities such as an in-vehicle bathroom, padded seats and panoramic windows to enjoy the scenery along the way, which is especially appreciated on the return trip to rest after a long day at the Grand Canyon.
The best attractions at the Grand Canyon are outdoors so to protect yourself from the sun I advise you to bring sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses.
4. Grand Canyon West Rim flightseeing tour
If you'd like to fulfil your dream of seeing the Grand Canyon from Las Vegas but want to avoid the long road trip to the Grand Canyon, you'll want to take a 70-minute light aircraft tour of the West Rim, the closest of the three areas of the natural monument to the city.
A 4-hour tour will give you a bird's eye view of the highlights of the West Rim route: Lake Mead, the Hoover Dam, the Colorado River and the Grand Canyon. Thanks to the large windows of the aircraft you will have amazing panoramic views and you can take all the pictures you want for your souvenir album inside the Grand Canyon itself as one of the eagles that live in the national park.
What to expect?
This thrilling adventure through the skies of Nevada begins with passengers being picked up from your hotel and taken to Boulder City Airport. Here you'll check in for your flight and after buckling up, the group will take off for Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the United States, and the Hoover Dam, a 20th century engineering masterpiece that sits on the course of the Colorado River and gave rise to the famous reservoir.
You will then fly over the Colorado River and the Grand Canyon, passing over some of the West Rim attractions such as Eagle Point, Guano Point and the Grand Canyon Skywalk, a glass-floored observation deck on a 1,300-metre-deep cliff. This air tour ends when you return to the airport and hotel in Las Vegas.
Why do I have to give my weight information?
This is so that they can calculate the weight distribution on the aircraft to balance the flight.
Do I have to show any documentation?
Yes, to participate in the activity you must bring a photo ID or passport.
5. Long helicopter tour of the west side of the Grand Canyon
If you're on a tight schedule during your trip to Las Vegas but don't want to miss the chance to see a unique natural monument like the Grand Canyon, this 4-hour tour of the West Rim is what you're looking for.
Unlike other Grand Canyon tours, on this one you will be able to see from above this grandiose gorge carved out of the rock by the Colorado River at a depth of more than 1,600 metres in a flight lasting around 70 minutes.
What will you see?
Lake Mead, the Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon West including the Colorado River.
What to expect?
While other Grand Canyon helicopter tours only spend a few minutes flying over the Grand Canyon, this is an extended tour with more flight time over Lake Mead, Hoover Dam and the west side of the Grand Canyon. Approximately 70 minutes of flight time.
After selecting your departure time at the time of booking, the Grand Canyon helicopter tour begins when you are picked up from your Las Vegas hotel and taken to the helipad where you will board the aircraft to fly over the West Rim.
This area of the Grand Canyon is the most visited by tourists travelling to Las Vegas, as it is the closest to the city. It is popular because of its deep, narrow cliffs and because it is home to a horseshoe-shaped observation deck known as the Skywalk, which has a glass floor over a cliff thousands of feet deep. The sensation of being suspended in the air is exhilarating and gives you a different perspective of the Grand Canyon than what you see from the sky.
During the flight, you will listen to the pilot explain the origin of the Grand Canyon as you take in the amazing views along the way. At the end of the helicopter tour, you will return to the helipad and then back to your hotel. Refreshments are included to keep your energy level high during the activity.
Check availability
This Grand Canyon tour is open to a maximum of 30 people, so it is advisable to contact the tour operator to check availability on your chosen date, as there may be pre-bookings.
Why should I report my weight?
To calculate the weight distribution in the helicopter and thus balance the flight.
Do I have to carry any kind of documentation?
Yes, travellers are required to carry a photo ID, ID card or passport to participate in the activity.
6. 3-day tour to Las Vegas National Parks - Grand Canyon, Zion and Bryce Canyon
Las Vegas is not only about entertainment, casinos and neon lights. It's also the starting point for many excursions into the desert and several national parks. If during your stay in the city you want to get some fresh air and experience the unique wilderness of states like Arizona and Utah, this 3-day tour to Zion, Bryce Canyon and Grand Canyon National Parks with a professional guide is the one for you.
All ground transportation, two nights' accommodation with breakfast and entrance fees to the Grand Canyon, Lake Powell, Bryce Canyon and Zion Park are included.
What to expect?
The adventure begins at 7:00 AM when you board the bus or minivan on Las Vegas Boulevard to explore the desert landscapes of the western part of the country.
- The first stop on the tour will be the Grand Canyon, where you'll visit the South Rim, considered the most beautiful of the three areas into which the national park is divided.
- Afterwards, you will head to Lake Powell for a cruise on one of the most beautiful lakes in America. You will have the impression of having found an oasis of crystalline waters in the middle of an arid area.
- At the end of the cruise it's time to head west to Bryce Canyon, home to the most amazing natural rock and sand sculptures on the planet. A landscape that might as well look like Mars and was formed by the erosion of rain, wind and sun over thousands of years.
- Finally, you'll visit Zion National Park, the oldest of Utah's five national parks. The Mormon community that settled in the area in the 19th century named it after an ancient Hebrew word meaning 'sanctuary'. And the truth is that when you set foot in this place you understand why: impressive cliffs and mountains, viewpoints with spectacular views and emerald-coloured natural pools. A mystical landscape that is a photographer's or traveller's dream.
- You will have the opportunity to hike along the Virgin River and breathe in the tranquility of Zion National Park, so different from the hustle and bustle of Las Vegas. In the evening you will return to this town to end the tour.
Duration
The duration of the tour to Las Vegas National Parks: Grand Canyon, Zion and Bryce Canyon is 3 days. It is available in English, French, Spanish, Chinese (traditional and simplified), Italian, Japanese, Portuguese and German.
Day 1: Las Vegas - Grand Canyon - Lake Powell
Accommodation: Clarion Inn PageMeals: Not included
Day 2 - Lake Powell - Bryce Canyon
Accommodation: La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Kanab or on certain departures overnight at the Comfort Inn Hotel, Cedar CityMeals: Breakfast
Day 3 - Zion National Park - Las Vegas
Accommodation: Not includedMeals: Breakfast
Facts and Figures
- This tour allows a maximum of three people per room. If you are travelling with a group of 4 or more people or wish to have separate rooms, we recommend that you book separately.
- Children under 2 years old are free of charge. At the time of booking, please advise if an infant is travelling with you. Child seats are available and are pram accessible.
- Luggage is limited to one suitcase and one small handbag per person.
- Participants in the activity must be in average physical condition.
7. 3 Day Tour: Sedona, Monument Valley & Antelope Canyon from Las Vegas
If you are a photography enthusiast and want to experience the natural environment of the western United States, this 3-day tour to Sedona, Monument Valley and Antelope Canyon with a professional guide will take you to some of the most photogenic landscapes in the Arizona desert. I'll tell you a little about the itinerary:
Day 1 Vegas - Sedona
To visit Arizona by car you will travel along the Mojave Desert, whose unique appearance has attracted travellers and artists from all over the world in search of a different experience as they pass through the West Coast of the United States. The first stop on the tour will be Oak Creek Canyon, a beautiful narrow canyon surrounded by lush pine forests and reddish rocky mountains somewhat reminiscent of the Grand Canyon.
On this tour you will also visit Slide Rock State Park located in Oak Creek Canyon, 7 km north of Sedona.
Afterwards there will be a lunch break in Sedona, a town of natural beauty where thick vegetation mixes with reddish rocky mountains and a landscape reminiscent of the Far West movies. Perhaps because it was the setting for so many westerns. In Sedona you will see galleries, shops and Native American crafts.
From Sedona the group will take an eastward route called the Red Rock Scenic Byway to see Bell Rock and Cathedral Rock, the two most famous rocky mountains in the region. Also Courthouse Butte and the Chapel of the Holy Cross, a Catholic church dating back to 1956, which is at its most magnificent at sunset.
Accommodation: Country Inn & Suites FlagstaffMeals: Not included
Day 2 Sedona- Monument Valley - Horseshoe Bend
The next stop on this tour is Monument Valley, a valley located within the Navajo Indian Reservation that because of its sheer beauty is one of the most photographed places in America. Accompanied by Native American guides, the group will take a jeep tour through the valley to enjoy the amazing views.
During the tour we will pause for an outdoor barbecue and return to the Colorado River for an afternoon visit to the famous Horseshoe Bend, the horseshoe-shaped meander that we have seen in so many postcards.
Accommodation: Clarion Inn PageMeals: Breakfast Lunch
Day 3 Antelope Canyon - Valley of Fire - Las Vegas
Finally, the group will head to Antelope Canyon, a sacred site for the Navajo tribe, to admire the dunes and the canyon created by the action of the water. Finally on the way back to Las Vegas, you will stop for lunch and a visit to the Valley of Fire, Nevada's oldest state park whose rock formations date back to the time of the dinosaurs.
Accommodation: Not includedMeals: Breakfast
Highlights
- This tour allows a maximum of three people per room. If you are travelling with a group of 4 people or more or wish to have separate rooms, we recommend that you book separately.
- Children under 2 years old are free of charge. At the time of booking, please advise if an infant is travelling with you. Child seats are available and are pram accessible.
- Luggage is limited to one suitcase and one small handbag per person.
- Participants in the activity must be in average physical condition.
8. Grand Canyon south rim small group tour
Of the three areas into which the Grand Canyon is divided, the South Rim is considered the most beautiful. The views from any of its viewpoints are captivating, as you can admire the sheer magnitude of the place in all its splendour. However, anything I can tell you about its charms doesn't compare to the feeling of seeing with your own eyes this Unesco World Heritage Site.
The best way to get to the South Rim from Las Vegas is by road, as you can travel along historic Route 66 while taking in the desert landscape of reddish rock formations that look like they're from another planet. Plus, with this Grand Canyon South Rim tour you can visit the Grand Canyon South Rim on a private tour with just your own group and a guide. You'll have a totally personalised experience.
What to expect?
The tour begins at 6:00 AM and departs for the Grand Canyon Caverns via the famous Route 66, the first highway connecting the east and west coasts of the United States. Much of the success of these caves is due to the fact that they are located along this highway.
They are the largest dry caves in the United States and are 60.96 metres deep. On this tour there is a stop to explore the interior of the caves on an optional 45 minute tour to complete the visit to the Grand Canyon.
The group will then arrive at the South Rim in the Grand Canyon National Park, where you will be accompanied by a guide to walk between Mather's Point and Bright Angel Lodge and enjoy the breathtaking views, with the best photo angles. On the return journey, through the van windows you can take in the night views of the Las Vegas skyline with its twinkling lights before returning to the hotel.
Highlights
This small group Grand Canyon South Rim tour lasts 15 hours (approx.) and is available in English and Spanish.
9. Grand Canyon helicopter tour from Las Vegas with skip-the-line entry to the Skywalk
Although it is the South Rim that is considered the most beautiful part of the Grand Canyon, the west side also has a lot to offer. Combine that with a helicopter tour and VIP access to the Skywalk, a glass-floored observation deck over a deep cliff, and the experience here is absolutely breathtaking.
What to expect?
The tour begins with a limousine pick-up from your hotel and transfer to the heliport where you'll board the helicopter to fly over the Grand Wash Cliffs desert, Lake Mead and Hoover Dam as you admire the scenery from the aircraft's wrap-around windows.
The next attraction on the tour is Grand Canyon West and upon landing you'll experience the thrill of queue-free access to the Skywalk observation deck, one of the West Rim's most popular attractions. The sensation of walking on this glass-floored structure perched on the edge of a cliff is absolutely breathtaking.
Why should I report my weight?
Most tour operators ask for your weight in order to calculate the weight distribution in the helicopter to balance the flight.
Do I have to carry any kind of documentation?
Yes, all passengers over the age of 18 must carry a photo ID or passport to participate in the activity.
Infants must be seated on an adult's lap. Babies are considered infants if they are under two years old and proof of age such as a passport or a copy of their birth certificate is provided.
Useful information
- Backpacks, bags and cameras are not allowed on the Skywalk. Complimentary lockers are available to store personal belongings.
- For the comfort and balance of the helicopter, passengers weighing 300 pounds or more will be required to purchase an additional seat. This is payable directly to the tour operator on the day of the tour.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best way to get around Las Vegas?
The most efficient way to travel across the Strip is to ride the monorail, which runs from 7:00 to 2:00 during the week and from 7:00 to 3:00 on weekends. Alternatively, you can take the Deuce, a double-decker bus that allows you to sightsee and get around at the same time. In addition, Uber and Lyft operate quite well in Las Vegas and are a popular choice among commuters and locals alike.
What can you do off the Vegas Strip?
In addition to the many day trips to Grand Canyon, Red Rock Canyon, Death Valley and Hoover Dam, you can take a stroll down Fremont Street, visit the Mob Museum to go back in time to Las Vegas' past, discover the Neon Cemetery or participate in First Friday for an art experience.
How long does a tour of Las Vegas last?
Although it depends on the experience you choose, most tours of the city last between 2 and 3 hours.