With the weather absolutely perfect for a trip to the Grand Canyon from Las Vegas, many visitors are wondering which things to do in Las Vegas. The most common question has become "which rim to visit at the Grand Canyon?"

"It really comes down to a personal preference, I think," says James Hoke, president of TourGuy.com, Ltd. "The South Rim is how most people picture the Grand Canyon in their minds, the West Rim is more rugged and naturally preserved by Native Americans, and the North Rim is very remote."

Hoke added that as someone who has been to the South Rim more than a few dozen times, the West Rim adventures, especially those that include a helicopter, are among his favorites. However, for visitors hoping to see the expansive images shown in photographs and postcards, the South Rim deserves at least one visit in a lifetime.

Grand Canyon Bus Tours - Which Rim To Visit At The Grand Canyon.

• The South Rim Grand Canyon. The South Rim of the Grand Canyon is the most visited and developed area in the park, with 50 named points that allow for astounding views both up and down the gorge. Some of these points are inaccessible, but 19 of them are close enough (with five requiring long hikes) to get a sense of the grandeur and true scale of the Grand Canyon.

Grand Canyon Bus Tours - The South Rim is generally what people consider to be one of the world's Seven Wonders. And, believe it or not, fall and spring tend to be the best times to visit because the Grand Canyon is less crowded. Some of the best viewpoints to take in the huge canyon are Mather’s Point and Yavapai Point. They feature panoramic views closer to the Colorado River.

The Grand Canyon South Rim VIP ground tour includes stops at both of these points and another at Bright Angel Point. The canyon, which is 277 miles long, 18 miles wide, and one mile deep, took 17 million years to create.

• The West Rim Grand Canyon. The West Rim of the Grand Canyon is not part of Grand Canyon National Park. It is located on the Hualapai Indian Reservation. While visitation to this area has dramatically increased since the opening of the SkyWalk at Grand Canyon West, the Hualapai are very sensitive to overdevelopment, preferring to preserve the natural integrity of the land.

In terms of views, the West Rim does not provide as wide of a view as the South Rim. However, visitors will find that the cliff walls are much more colorful and rugged. The SkyWalk adds to this remarkable sight because the glass bottomed walk gives you the sensation that you are suspended 4,000 feet in the air with nothing underneath.

There are an abundance of West Rim tours, including ground tours by luxury motor coach, airplane, and helicopter transportation. Since our operators have the longest working arrangements with the Hualapai, our tours include more stops and variations than any other.

• The North Rim Grand Canyon. The North Rim is largely undeveloped, despite offering views that are 1,000 feet higher than the South Rim. The walls of the canyon are much more eroded, but the slopes still allow for a dramatic view of the Colorado River. The allure of the North Rim is that it is more remote and partly forested.

Unlike the South Rim, the North Rim is seasonal and only open from mid-May to mid-October. Sometimes the park will remain open during a mild winter but it is dependent upon weather conditions. Bright Angel Point is the most popular observation point because it overlooks Roaring Springs and the Bright Angel canyons.

As mentioned, the Grand Canyon Bus Tours include a stop at Bright Angel Point. This stop is conditional. TourGuy.com can also help plan custom Grand Canyon Bus tours for interested parties.