Grand Canyon South & East Rim Self-Driving, Walking & Shuttling Tour in Grand Canyon National Park booking from $14.99

Grand Canyon South & East Rim Self-Driving, Walking & Shuttling Tour

Overview

Witness one of the natural wonders of the world in all its glory. The Grand Canyon is so massive, so awe-inspiring, that you simply have to see it with your own two eyes to truly understand its scale. This self-guided tour takes you to all the best vistas and hiking trails on the canyon’s South Rim and fills you in on the fascinating history of the canyon and the Native people who once lived there. So get out there and see something incredible!

Hermit Road isn't accessible by private vehicle during the summer. The tour will instruct you to park at stop 15 and walk from stops 16-22, then take the shuttle for stops 23-31. The stops after 31, on the eastern side of the park, can once again be accessed via private vehicle.

Within 30 min, we'll send you two things: a unique password and an app. Download the app onto your phone, enter the password, and download the tour inside. When you arrive, head over to the first stop. Stick to our recommended route for the best experience.

City: Grand Canyon National Park

Sun 23 Feb

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Starting at $14.99

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Sun 23 Feb

Starting at $14.99

Make a reservation

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What's Included

Offline use: No cell signal or wifi required. Offline GPS Map & route. Stop-to-stop direction.

Private tour in your/rental car: No group. Take breaks for photos/ snacks/hikes. Go at your own pace

Don’t miss a thing: Full itinerary, travel tips, professionally narrated hidden stories, video, text

Flexible schedule: Use any day, any time. Travel over multiple days or on next trip. Never expires.

Good value: Buy just one per car. Don’t pay for each person. Save money compared to a bus tour.

App on your phone: A link to download the Action Guide app. Password for your tours. Preview at home

Easy to use: Stories play automatically by GPS. Hands-free. Get HELP all day: Call, Chat or Email.

Additional Info

Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
How it works: Once you book a tour, you’ll get a text/email with instructions. Download the app (while in good wifi/signal) and use your unique password to access your tours. To begin touring, go to the Starting Point and launch the app. The audio starts automatically. Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience. Please note that no one will meet you at the starting point.
Good value Purchase only one tour for the entire vehicle instead of taking the bus and paying for each person. You will see a significant saving. Connect your phone to car speakers by a wire or bluetooth. Enjoy the tour by listening together as you drive.
Flexible Schedule: Once the app/tour is on your phone, you can use it any day and at any time. You can use it over multiple days. And, also use it on your next trip here. This tour never expires.
Preview the tour: You can use it before the trip at home (highly recommended), use it during the trip, and use it after you come back.
Don't miss a thing: You will get everything with the app - a complete itinerary, travel tips, professionally narrated audio stories, story script, images, videos, deep dives, hidden gems, exciting locations, recommendations for hikes, adventure, activities, treks, and stop-by-stop direction.
Private tour: You can use it in your car or rental car. No worries about groups or crowds. Start the tour app on your phone. And it will direct you step by step. You can stop for as many breaks as you like. Take a break for Instagram photos, and take a break for lunch/snacks. Go on a hike. The tour will wait for you and start when you start again. You can even do the tour over multiple days. Go at your own pace.
Easy to use: The stories play themselves as soon as the GPS is activated. It requires no use of your hands at all. You can get HELP by calling, chatting, or emailing any time of the day.
Offline: There is no need for a cell signal or Wi-Fi while touring. App’s GPS map works offline.
Expiration/go again: The tour will last for the rest of your life on your phone. It is available for use on any day of your next trip.
Use pictures for a photo book: Create a photo book using clean (no crowd) app images of each spot to make a memorable trip. All the photos and the correct sequence is ready in the app for you to use.
Social media: Share clean (no crowd) images with friends/family.
Devices supported include iPhones with iOS 13 & above, Android phones with version 9 & above and all cellular-enabled tablets & iPads.
Face masks required for travellers in public areas

What To Expect

Grand Canyon National Park

Welcome to Grand Canyon National Park! This awe-inspiring natural wonder is unlike any other place on earth, and your narrated driving tour will make sure you get the most out of your visit. Full of astonishing vistas, unbeatable hikes, and some surprising history, this national park is an absolute must-see for anyone in the USA.

Grand Canyon Visitor Center South Rim

You'll arrive first at the Visitor Center, where you can find maps and other park info, as well as restrooms and snacks.

Mather Point

Your first overlook will be Mather Point, one of the park's most popular spots. The views here are simply incredible, offering clear line of sight up to 30 miles across the canyon!

Yavapai Point

The next viewpoint is Yavapai Point, where you'll get more great views from the canyon's south rim and learn about the tribe for whom the point is named.

Yavapai Geology Museum

Want to get hands on with the Grand Canyon's geological history? Just stop by the Yavapai Geology Museum for some educational exhibits!

Hopi House

The first stop within the village is the Hopi House, an incredibly accurate recreation of the ancient Hopi dwellings one might have found here while the tribe still occupied the area. This building is also the perfect place to pick up some handmade souvenirs from your visit!

Kolb Studio

As you continue on to Kolb Studio, the competitor to Lookouot Studio, you'll hear all about the bitter rivalry between the two which almost drove them both to ruin back in the 1900s.

Lookout Studio

Up ahead are two buildings perched on the canyon’s edge. The one you can see right now is Lookout Studio, and you’ll find one just a little beyond it called Kolb Studio.

Hermit Road

For the next part of the tour, you'll hop on board the park's free shuttle. Don't worry, your audio tour guide will instruct you on exactly how to do this!

Trailview Overlook

The first stop on Hermit Road is Trailview Overlook, which offers views of the famous Bright Angel Trail, the grueling path which leads all the way down to the bottom of the canyon. You'll probably even see some exhausted hikers climbing it!

Maricopa Point

Next up is Maricopa Point, which was once the site of a uranium mining operation. Get the unexpected history behind this while you appreciate the gorgeous views.

Powell Point

After that is Powell Point, which offers more canyon magic and honors the explorer who risked life and limb to chart the Colorado River.

Hopi Point

The shuttle route brings you next to Hopi Point, where you'll learn about bald eagles, their importance to the Hopi tribe, and how to spot them.

Mohave Point

If you've been hoping for a great view of the Colorado River, that's up next at Mohave Point. Here, you'll get a bird's eye view of this tremendously powerful river.

Pima Point

The next stop on your right is Pima Point, which sports one of the best views of Colorado. When you’re there, stop and listen. If the vista’s quiet, you can hear the rushing sound of water moving along the river.

Hermit's Rest

So where does all this stuff get its name? Well, back in the mining days, one particular miner had no interest in being around other people. He far preferred the rhythms of nature. He spent most of his life living near this spot, content to while away his days with only the rocks and birds and squirrels to keep him company.

Pipe Creek Vista

After the shuttle, the tour continues east along Desert View Drive. The first stop along this road is Pipe Creek Vista, a favorite for birders hoping to spot the canyon's rarer specimens, including even the ultra-rare California condor!

Grandview Point

After that is Grandview Point, and the view seriously is grand. This is also the trailhead for a hiking trail which leads below the canyon's rim and features some truly remarkable sights.

Moran Point

Continuing on your drive, you'll arrive at Moran Point, which boasts a great look at the Colorado River from an entirely new angle.

Lipan Point

After that you'll come to Lipan Point, offering another great river view along with some fascinating facts about the park's geology.

Navajo Point

The final viewpoint along this drive is Navajo Point, and last certainly isn't least in this case. Navajo Point is actually the highest viewpoint on the entire southern rim, standing at a staggering 7,500 feet above sea level!

Grand Canyon Desert View Watchtower

At last, you'll arrive at the iconic Desert View Watchtower, a truly impressive stone structure perched on the canyon's edge. Depending on the season, you can even climb to the top for a view unlike any other. The tour concludes here.

Yaki Point

A popular place for viewing sunrise & sunset, this remote lookout & shuttle stop offers restrooms.

South Kaibab Trail

The South Kaibab Trail is a hiking trail in Grand Canyon National Park, located in the U.S. state of Arizona. Unlike the Bright Angel Trail which also begins at the south rim of the Grand Canyon and leads to the Colorado River, the South Kaibab Trail follows a ridge out to Skeleton Point allowing for 360-degree views of the canyon.

Tusayan Ruins and Museum

Tusayan Ruins and Museum is a great stop for learning more about ancient cultures. We particularly enjoyed the walk through the ruins with the signage.

Show 22 more stops

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews (21)

Barbara_L

Jul 2022

We only were able to do about half the tour. The route the directions took us on are no longer accessible at one point and there were no alternative options to get to the second half of the tour. We even tried skipping ahead but it just took us in circles wanting us to take a road that was no longer open to unauthorized vehicles.

Response from Host

Jul 2022

Hi Barbara, as my tour description points out (as does the tour itself), part of the Grand Canyon experience involves riding the park shuttles. The tour gives instructions on when to park and switch to the shuttle. Please let me know if those instructions can be clearer!

Micheal_B

Jul 2022

We enjoyed most of the tour but sometimes it was hard to follow. More interactive app would be nice to have

Response from Host

Jul 2022

I’d love to know more about how to improve! A lot of the drive is a single road so I’m not sure what I can do to make it easier to follow. I’d really love to hear from you!

Sean_T

Jun 2022

We loved how easy was to navigate the self driving -walking tour. It would recommend it to friends and family. Definitely can save a lot of $$$ and time by using this app.

Response from Host

Jun 2022

Thank you so much for the great review, Sean! I’m so glad you loved the flexibility and convenience of my self-guided tour. I also have other tours all over the country — hope you get the chance to try them out!

Grand Canyon South & East Rim Self-Driving, Walking & Shuttling Tour

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