Grand Canyon Discovery Private Tour
Flagstaff, AZ
5.0 (22 reviews)Trip Highlights
- Transportation From Flagstaff
- Quintessential Canyon Views
- Full Day Tour
- Tasty Trail Snacks & Picnic Lunch
- Top-shelf Backpack & Trekking Poles
- Mind-blowing Geologic History
Description
Our Grand Canyon Discovery Tour is an opportunity to experience a full day at the South Rim of the Canyon; enjoy a full-service tour with pick-up in Flagstaff (if you’re staying in Sedona, you can rendezvous with your guide in Flagstaff!); challenge yourself on a significant hike into the depths of the Canyon; stop at several amazing viewpoints; and do it all in comfort and in one full, amazing day.
We’ll pick you up at your Flagstaff hotel (or if you’re staying in Sedona, rendezvous in Flagstaff) at a designated time and make our way to the South Rim (1.5+ hours). We’ll head straight to our trailhead and begin our descent into the Canyon on the South Kaibab Trail. South Kaibab is an astonishing ribbon of a pathway that runs along an exposed ridge. The trail was originally blasted out of the canyon walls by the National Park Service in the mid 1920’s. It offers an array of stunning views and fascinating geology, which we’ll soak up as we trek deeper and deeper into the Canyon. This hike is the one must-do hike in the Canyon!
Our turnaround point is either 1.5 miles and 1160 feet down or 3 miles and 2040 feet down, or anywhere in between the two, depending on your group’s desires and abilities. We’ll enjoy a picnic lunch in the Canyon where we’ll relax in the sun or shade (depending on the weather) and soak up absolutely awe-inspiring views as we eat. If we make it all the way to Skeleton Point, we will eat with a phenomenal view down on the Colorado River. Eventually we’ll make our way up back to the trailhead and our vehicle.
After our hike we’ll continue along the South Rim and stop at several hand-picked viewpoints that will be even more impressive now that you’re able to better contextualize the size of the Canyon, having hiked partway into it.
If time allows, we can enjoy a cultural tour of Grand Canyon Village (ice cream is available for purchase!), stop in at one of our recommended museums, or exit through the East Entrance with a stop at the famous Desert View Watchtower.
(Important: We run hikes in almost all weather conditions and very rarely cancel. See our terms and conditions for information on cancellations and refunds.)
$250-$650 Per Person
Season: Year Round
DIFFICULTY LEVEL 2
Scale of 1-5. 1 is least difficult; 5 is most difficult
This hike is on a well maintained, well traveled trail. Logs across the trail make for high steps up and down, which adds to the difficulty. We are hiking near cliff edges, but are able to stay several feet away most of the time.
Hiking Distances:
Up to 6 mi
Backpack Weight:
10-15 pounds
Terrain:
Lightly Rugged
Max Daily Elev. ↑↓:
Up to 2000 ft
Heights Exposure:
Moderate
PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THIS TRIP
- Hiking uphill and downhill with a 10-15 pound backpack for 5-7 hours
- Maintaining balance and footing on variable, uneven terrain
- Hiking in 95+ degree fahrenheit temperatures (May-Sept)
- Hiking with moderate heights exposure
SOLITUDE LEVEL 1
1 least solitude, 5 most solitude
We rate this Grand Canyon hike a solitude 1 because it follows one of the more popular trails in the Canyon. You can expect to be around other hikers most of the time.
Learn About Our Private Trips
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Rates
- 1 person: $650
- 2 people: $340 per person
- 3 people: $325 per person
- 4-5 people: $290 per person
- 6-9 people: $250 per person
- 10 and younger: $175 per person
Private day hike tours are only open to your party.
*Prices do not include gratuity for your guide
TRIP DATES & BOOKING
This tour includes transportation from Flagstaff and is booked on a custom basis for private groups. This is why it does not have set dates. Requested dates are almost available. Give us a call at 800-715-HIKE (4453) to schedule your hike!
Don't see your dates? Call us! We may be able to add new trip dates.
800-715-HIKE (4453)Trip Details
What's Included
- Trained hiking guide(s) with years of personal wilderness and hiking experience, medical certifications, and a passion for leading people into breathtaking landscapes. See Guide Bios.
- A commitment to make the tour as exciting, challenging, informative, and full as you’d like, and as is possible in a day
- Round trip transportation from Flagstaff
- Trail snacks and a picnic lunch
- Use of a top of the line, technical day pack
- Use of trekking poles
- Use of crampons in the winter
- Mandatory 5% national park fee that passes through directly to Grand Canyon
What's Not Included
- Clothing and personal items
- Water (3 liters capacity)
- Guide gratuity (industry recommendation is 10-20% of trip cost)
Food: What To Expect
Day hike tours include energizing trail snacks and a delicious picnic lunch. Your guide will customize the food for your hike, but a typical lunch consists of gourmet sandwiches or wraps, fruit, veggies, chips, drinks and a dessert. On wintery or cold days you may be treated to soup or a hot, freshly cooked lunch (if you’d prefer a hot meal, please let us know!)
We regularly accommodate vegan, vegetarian, kosher and non-gluten diets and will make adjustments for food allergies. These and other special dietary requests may require an additional fee.
Trip Logistics
Where Do We Meet?
We’ll pick you up at your hotel in Flagstaff, or if you’re staying in Sedona your guide will rendezvous with you in Flagstaff. Your guide will contact you approximately 7 days before your hike to determine your hotel and coordinate the exact time of your pick-up or rendezvous.
Start Times
| Jan-Mar | 7:15-7:30 AM |
|---|---|
| April | 6:45-7:00 AM |
| May | 5:45-6:00 AM |
| June-Aug | 4:45-5:00 AM |
| September | 6:45-7:00 AM |
| Oct-Dec | 7:15-7:30 AM |
Safety Precautions
Your safety is our top priority. Our hiking tours are led by professional hiking guides, all of whom are wilderness-certified first responders or EMT’s, each with years of guiding and wilderness experience. Guides adhere to standardized risk management protocols in case of any potential or actual incident, and all tours carry an emergency communication device and comprehensive first-aid kit. Additionally we have a “24/7” system through which guides or guests can reach Wildland support personnel at any time.
If you have any further questions about safety, please contact us at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) for more information.
Group Size and Age Restrictions
Age restrictions on this trip are as follows:
- 5 and older to join private tours, with final approval on a case by case basis
Weather in the Grand Canyon
The weather in the Grand Canyon varies tremendously from the rim to the canyon floor, with as much as a 30 degree Fahrenheit difference. For this reason, the Canyon is truly a year-round hiking destination. To be fully prepared, please follow the recommended clothing list closely (this list comes as part of your trip packet when you register). Read below for average high and low temperatures at the South Rim and the Canyon bottom:
Average Temperatures (Fahrenheit)
| Month | South Rim | Canyon Bottom | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| hi | low | hi | low | |
| Dec-Feb | 41° | 18° | 60° | 38° |
| March | 51° | 25° | 71° | 48° |
| April | 60° | 32° | 82° | 56° |
| May | 70° | 39° | 92° | 63° |
| Jun-Aug | 82° | 53° | 108° | 75° |
| September | 76° | 47° | 97° | 69° |
| October | 65° | 36° | 84° | 58° |
| November | 52° | 27° | 68° | 46° |
Trip Reviews
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Drew Z
Great Tour
Wildland guided a great tour with amazing views, a lot of insight, and took into account what our group was looking for.
Davina T
We had a wonderful day!
Our guide, Catherine, made our first visit to the Grand Canyon truly memorable by pointing out plants, wildlife and fossils that we would not have noticed on our own. She checked in with us often on the trail, packing the day with activities that stretched but didn’t stress us, and carried along a scrumptious spread for lunch. We had a wonderful day!
Rene Z
I can’t wait to do another trip with Wildland Trekking.
Catherine was a fantastic guide from start to finish. We learned so much about the canyon and its history, the area, and the people. She selected a perfectly rugged and uncrowded trail for our hike, something we would never done without an excellent guide. She even kept my teenagers engaged and safe the entire day. Based on this experience, I can’t wait to do another trip with Wildland Trekking.
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