Well worth the time and cost.
We were picked up at the appointed time by Mel (our driver) from Sweetours, and Joe (our tour guide) from Comedy on Deck at Bally’s. That is important. You do not want to be late as one couple found out. The bus does not wait for you. Upon having your named called, the tour guide, in our case Joe, hands out wrist bands depending on whether you signed up for the skywalk or not. Yellow for skywalk, Green for those who do not chose to walk out over the Canyon.
When boarding the bus, the driver, in our case Mel, handed out a breakfast menu selection card for you to choose one of five different selections for breakfast along with a large choice of drinks.
After departing Bally’s, we stopped briefly at the Welcome to Las Vegas sign and allowed those who have not done so yet to get the requisite photo at the sign.
It was then a short ride to the Omelet House for breakfast. There was also ala carte available if you desired something extra.
After our breakfast stop, which allowed sufficient time to eat without feeling rushed it was off towards the west rim of the Grand Canyon.
We arrived at the Main Terminal/Gift Shop to have our wrist bands scanned then it was a short ride to Eagle Point and the Sky walk. The Skywalk attraction is a horseshoe shaped glass floored walk over the Grand Canyon precipice.
For those who forgo the skywalk you may walk around and see the exhibits of Native American lodging (Teepees, Sweat Lodge, Hogan) and get your lunch before the crowds. If you skywalk, you enter the building get in line then place all personal items including phones and cameras in a locker then place booties over you shoes and emerge onto the skywalk.
This is a MUST DO experience.
The views are phenomenal especially downward. After the skywalk it is lunch time and time to browse the gift shop.
The Skywalk Café is a trailer that has a fixed selection of meals and sides that is included in the tour price. We both chose the BBQ Pork sandwich. It came with corn on the cob and mashed potatoes and gravy.
There is ample seating around the area in which to sit and enjoy the view and the food. Surprisingly, the food was particularly good.
After lunch it was back aboard the bus for the short ride to Guano Point. Here is the spot where you can get a 360-degree view of the canyon. Be award that the trail out to the point is rough and uneven. There are also native craftsman selling items. A few have electronic means of payment but to be safe bring cash for your purchases here.
After our stop here it was back on the bus and back towards Vegas, stopping at the O’Callaghan/Tillman bridge overlook to view the dam. After which it was back to Bally’s and the end of the tour.
Our guide Joe was fun, funny, entertaining and a fount of knowledge about the flora and fauna in the Grand Canyon area and was also able to talk about other sites to see along the way.
A TIP – SIT ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BUS FOR THE BEST VIEWS