I had an incredible travel experience with DETOURS West, and Aldo as our tour guide! First, the reservation and the booking process is super easy through the Viator site. DETOURS West confirmed my reservation almost immediately and communicated with me a few days before the tour was scheduled and the afternoon before the tour to provide detailed information on the meetup location and time. The tour started off great from the moment we took off. Aldo introduced himself and then let us have a moment to introduce ourselves, which I thought was a nice icebreaker bonus. On our way up to Sedona, we enjoyed beautiful views of the sunrise in Arizona, saw some hot air ballons, discussed some travel points and attractions along the way to Sedona, and lots of history about the plant and animal life in Arizona. Once we arrived in Sedona, Aldo took us to one of the big red mountains and let us out to take pictures. We picked up lunch in Sedona and discussed more history.
Heading to the Grand Canyon, Aldo took us first to the east rim of the Grand Canyon, which was absolutely beautiful and breathtaking. It wasn't crowded like the south rim, so we got to take in all the sights. The direction to the east rim (versus the south rim where all the traffic started) added extra miles to our journey, but Aldo made it happen. We were very grateful! We learned a ton about the history surrounding the Grand Canyon and the communities living inside the GC park. Amazing. Also took us to the south rim of the park where we enjoyed small hiking tours and breathtaking views. As we exited the park, we learned more about the way things work for those living inside the Grand Canyon.
On our way back to Phoenix, Aldo took us through small towns and back roads where we learned more about Arizona. And one last surprise stop - the pie shop! We all enjoyed delicious pies on our way back to Phoenix! Hands down, this is absolutely the best tour I have ever taken. We couldn't have asked for a better guide and tour. The weather was beautiful. It was truly a memorable experience that I will never forget.
I am still rolling through pictures and recalling all the beautiful views... I shared this travel experience with family and friends and they were so excited. I am planning to book another tour!
Thank you DETOURS West and Aldo for an incredible trip!