Grand Canyon Discovery Private Tour
1 Day
3-6MI / 5-10KM
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.)
Trip Details
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Trip Length
1 Day -
Daily Hiking Distance
Up to 6 mi -
Group Size
1-9 Guests
What's Included
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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. -
Round trip transportation from Flagstaff
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Trail snacks and a picnic lunch
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Use of a top of the line, technical day pack
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Use of trekking poles
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Use of crampons in the winter
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Mandatory 5% national park fee that passes through directly to Grand Canyon
What's Not Included
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Entrance Fee to Grand Canyon National Park - you can pay the day fee or purchase and annual pass -
Clothing and personal items
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Water (3 liters capacity)
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Guide gratuity
Packing List
Importance of Being Prepared
Your safety and enjoyment will depend on your level of preparedness. It is your responsibility to arrive with the items listed below. Our Gear Guide is a resource to find more information about these items and links to online options. If you have additional questions about what to pack, please ask your guide during the pre-trip contact (~7 days prior to the trip start date) or call our Adventure Consultants 7 days a week at 928-223-HIKE (4453).
WHAT YOU NEED TO BRING
The following items are required for your trip unless otherwise noted. When packing, think layered clothing systems that work together and can be easily added or removed.
WHAT YOU NEED TO BRING
(GG)= Gear Guide: see for more info and links to product options
waterproof jacket and pants, breathable fabric such as Gore-Tex® or coated nylon. For the pants look for side zippers that will allow you to pull them over your boots. (Rain Jackets GG – Rain Pants GG)
(Note: some trips might not require the need for rain pants in our desert locations, check with your guide for the appropriate choice for your trip)
3+ liters capacity, either water bottles or bladder/hose system and an additional water bottle (Hydration Bladders GG)
(Note: We recommend always having a bottle with 1 liter of capacity as a back-up in case of a hydration system failure)
wide brimmed hat or baseball cap/bandana combo (Sun Hats GG)
consider bringing any joint braces that may be currently needed or from past injuries (i.e. knee, ankle, elbow, etc…)
for consideration of tipping your guide
(Note: industry tipping recommendation is 10-20% of the trip cost based on your level of satisfaction)
Additional Clothing (October to April)
down-fill or synthetic-fill insulated “puffy” jacket or warm, heavy-weight fleece jacket (Mid Layers GG)
lightweight beanie and light-to-mid weight fleece or wool gloves (Hats/Gloves GG)
Do Not Bring
per our terms and conditions no firearms or other weapons are permitted, including knives with blades longer than 4 inches
including marijuana, which is illegal on federal lands and in national parks
TRAINING TIPS
The better shape you’re in the more fun you’ll have! We recommend very strongly that you train for your hike.
TRAINING BY HIKING
If you have access to hiking trails in hilly or mountainous terrain, this is the ideal way to train. If not, we recommend using the Stairmaster machine (with rotating stairs like an escalator) or actually training on stairs. Nothing prepares you for a trip better than the activity itself!
Train at least 3 days a week. Start with short hikes or workouts (1-hour in length) with a light daypack. From week to week build the length and intensity of your hikes/workouts and gradually increase your pack weight until you’re comfortably able to hike 6-8 hours a day carrying the weight you’ll have on your trip. Also be sure to use the boots you’ll have on your trip to break them in.
MEETING POINT
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.
Pack Weight & Contents
You will be hiking with a light day pack that we provide. You’re also welcome to bring your own. The contents will be what you need for the day – rain gear, an extra layer or two, snacks, water, sunscreen…etc.
ESTIMATED PACK WEIGHT: 10-15 POUNDS
Check The Weather Forecast For Your Trip
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° |
Grand Canyon Maps
Grand Canyon National Park requires guide companies to provide every guest access to a map of the area(s) we’ll be hiking. You’ll find the map link(s) below. If you’d like, you can download and print or download to your phone for access during the trip. Your guide will also have a high quality, detailed, waterproof topographical map that you can reference out on the trail.