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

88 Reviews 4.08 out of 5 stars Based on 88 reviews collected by Cool Grand Canyon and TripAdvisor | Grand Canyon National Park, USA

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On average, this is booked 11 (1.73) days in advance.

3 to 4 hours (approx.)
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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.

After booking, you can check your email before downloading the Tour Guide App by Action, enter your unique password, and access your tour. The preceding steps require good internet/wifi access. Simply follow the audio instructions and the route from there.

What's Included

  • Easy-to-use app: download Action’s Tour Guide App onto your phone
  • Great value: purchase per car, not per person. More affordable than bus or guided tours!
  • Engaging storytelling: Uncover unique tales and thrilling history for a memorable journey!
  • Entry ticket to Grand Canyon.
  • Attraction passes, entry tickets, or reservations
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Meeting Location

Meeting point
End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Options & Pricing

Opening Hours • Daily 6:00 AM - 9:00 PM

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.Note: This 45-mile-long tour covers the essentials of Grand Canyon in 2-3 hours.Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.
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10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Grand Canyon Village

The tour begins near the South Entrance Station, where you'll be filled in on the different entrance fee options.
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10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

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.
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5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

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!
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5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

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.
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5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

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!
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5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

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!
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5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

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.
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5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

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.
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5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

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!
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5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

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!
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5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

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.
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5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

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.
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5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

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.
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5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

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.
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5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Monument Creek Vista

Monument Creek Vista, up next, offers a view of the most intense rapids in the park: Granite Rapids. You'll also hear about the first female river guide and how she got her start in the Grand Canyon!
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5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

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.
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5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

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.
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5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

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!
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5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Duck on a Rock Viewpoint

The next landmark is the appropriately-named Duck on a Rock Viewpoint, which offers a good look at an oddly-shaped rock formation many claim looks exactly like a duck.
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5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

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.
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5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

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.
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10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

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!
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5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

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.
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10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Yaki Point

A popular place for viewing sunrise & sunset, this remote lookout & shuttle stop offers restrooms.
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5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

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.
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5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

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.
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5 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Show 25 more stops

Additional Info

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Go to the starting point No one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided Enter the first story’s point and the audio will begin automatically Follow the audio cues to the next story, which will also play automatically. Enjoy hands-free exploring. If you face audio issues, contact support. Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
  • Travel worry-free: Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace. Skip anything you don’t care about or explore bonus content for everything that interests you
  • Savings tips: Driving tours: purchase just one tour for everyone in the car

Frequently Asked Questions

(6)

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Grand Canyon South & East Rim Self-Driving, Walking & Shuttling Tour?

A: You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (MST). Read more Apr 2025

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

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Activity code: C-267535P20

Traveler Photos

Reviews

4.08
88 reviews

Average 4.08 out of 5 stars based on 88 traveler reviews collected by Cool Grand Canyon and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor

5 stars
50
4 stars
16
3 stars
10
2 stars
3
1 star
9

Loading Options
Don't miss out!
On average, this is booked 11 (1.73) days in advance.

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What's Included

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

  • Easy-to-use app: download Action’s Tour Guide App onto your phone
  • Great value: purchase per car, not per person. More affordable than bus or guided tours!
  • Engaging storytelling: Uncover unique tales and thrilling history for a memorable journey!
  • Perfect narrator: nothing can beat listening to a great voice. Proven with tons of rave reviews!
  • Offline maps: no signal, no problem! Works perfectly without cellular or wifi.
  • Comprehensive route and stops: See it all, miss nothing, leave no stone unturned!
  • Go at your own pace: Start anytime, pause anywhere, enjoy breaks for snacks and photos freely!
  • Hands-free: audio stories play on their own based on your location. Easy to use!
  • Entry ticket to Grand Canyon.
  • Attraction passes, entry tickets, or reservations

Additional Info

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • How to access: Once you book a tour, you’ll get a confirmation email and text with instructions: • Download the separate tour app by Action • Enter the password • Download the tour MUST DO while in strong wifi/cellular Works offline after download
  • How to start touring: Open Action’s separate audio tour guide app once onsite. • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If multiple tour versions exist, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction.
  • Go to the starting point No one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided Enter the first story’s point and the audio will begin automatically Follow the audio cues to the next story, which will also play automatically. Enjoy hands-free exploring. If you face audio issues, contact support. Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
  • Travel worry-free: Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace. Skip anything you don’t care about or explore bonus content for everything that interests you
  • Savings tips: Driving tours: purchase just one tour for everyone in the car
  • Buy once, use for one year! Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months.

Report Product Issue

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

Cancellation Policy

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

Free cancellation
100% refund
No refund

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (MST).

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American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

American Museum of Natural History Admission Ticket

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