Combine adventure and luxury with a Grand Canyon and Las Vegas holiday
The choice of USA destinations suitable for adventure tours is vast, but if you want to combine exploring the great outdoors with tasting a little luxury, you need to head west. Book a break that involves seeing the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas, and you will experience the best of both worlds.
As with many USA holidays, it is possible to tailor your getaway to suit your specific needs. So if you want to spend more time in the Arizona wilderness and less at the blackjack tables of Sin City, or vice versa, just choose the most appropriate itinerary.
The Grand Canyon is one of the world's must-see attractions for anyone who loves outdoor activities. Carved by the Colorado River over thousands of years, it is now 277 miles long and up to a mile deep and 18 miles wide in places. It also has all the features an adventurous holidaymaker would want, with its rapids, steep cliffs and rugged terrain ideal for all sorts of daredevil activities.
Perhaps the best way to experience the magnificent surroundings is by booking Grand Canyon rafting trips. Spend a week tackling the fast-flowing waters of the Colorado River and you are guaranteed exhilarating experiences every day. As golden eagles and falcons circle overhead, you will also be treated to some spectacular sights you couldn't possibly view from the rim, such as the vast Redwall Cavern, the stunning Shinumo wash and the Vasey's Paradise waterfalls.
If that sounds like your idea of the perfect holiday, you will need to book in advance. As part of efforts to conserve the area in its natural state, Grand Canyon National Park authorities have imposed a strict limit on the number of rafters allowed to take on the rapids and only parties organised by recognised tour operators are granted entry.
There are, of course, other ways to enjoy this unique natural attraction. Among them is to book a place in a lodge or at a campsite and go hiking on the South Rim Trail. The path offers some magnificent views over the canyon and you will be able to choose from gentle routes and some more challenging walks down the slopes. The best time to head out on this sort of expedition is sunset or sunrise, as there is something magical about the area at those times of day.
Another popular way to see the Grand Canyon is from the air. There are a number of operators offering light aircraft or helicopter flights over the park and swooping between the cliffs and around rocky outcrops is bound to be an experience you remember for the rest of your life. Many of the flights run from airfields in Nevada, so are the perfect way to spend an afternoon during the other half of Las Vegas to Grand Canyon tours.
Even if you don't want to get airborne, you will find plenty to do in the most extravagant city in the USA. Its lavish casino complexes have endless forms of entertainment on offer, so there is sure to be something you enjoy. A big win at the poker or roulette table, or a seven-figure jackpot from a slot machine is certain to mean you remember your holiday for the right reasons, but even if your luck isn't in, you will find it difficult not to have fun in Sin City.
The luxury casinos all have a selection of eateries that range from low-cost buffets to Michelin-starred restaurants, along with stylish nightclubs and a wide choice of bars. They also all have theatres and on an average night you will be able to select from magic shows, big-budget musicals, circuses, a performance by Elton John and a variety of comedians for your entertainment.
Simply going for a walk can be quite an experience in Vegas, as The Strip is lined by some of the most over-the-top manmade attractions you will ever encounter. Among the things built to promote the rival casinos are a replica volcano that erupts at regular intervals, a half-size Eiffel Tower, a giant model of the Great Sphinx of Giza and even a re-creation of Venice.
If you can drag yourself away from those sights, there is a host of visitor attractions to take in, including the Las Vegas Mob Experience, Shark Reef Aquarium and National Atomic Testing Museum, so there is no chance of you being bored during your time in the city.
