Cornelius Amann
October 06, 2026
5/5
Arizona: Sedona's Red Rocks and the Grand Canyon
6 days from Phoenix: three nights in Sedona for red-rock walks, Oak Creek, Jerome and a stargazing night, then two nights on the Grand Canyon's South Rim.
6 days · Round trip from Phoenix · up to 12 guests
Red sandstone cliffs and pinnacles in Sedona Photo: Bernard Spragg. NZ from Christchurch, New Zealand, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sedona_landscape._Arizona._(51419313414).jpg)
The facts
At a glance
- Length
- 6 days, 5 nights
- Start and end
- Round trip from Phoenix
- Group size
- 7 to 12 guests
- Longest drive
- 4 h on day 6No drive day is longer than 4 hours.
- Activity level
Easy
Walks of 1 to 6 km on most days, on paved paths, dirt trail and slickrock, with two to three hours on your feet. Every walking day has an easy and an active choice. The hardest optional walk goes below the Grand Canyon rim on the Bright Angel Trail, about 4.8 km return with about 340 m to climb back up at about 2,100 m, where the thin air makes it feel harder. Jerome's streets are steep, and the West Fork Trail crosses the stream on stepping stones. You can sit any walk out.
- Meals included
- 5 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 1 dinner
- Room of your own
- + CAD 925 (estimated price)
- Season
- March to May and late September to early November
Highlights
Why this trip
- Cathedral Rock reflected in Oak Creek at sunset from Red Rock Crossing
- An early walk round Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte before the trailheads fill
- Jerome, the old copper town on Cleopatra Hill, and the Sinagua pueblo at Tuzigoot
- A night of stargazing with a local astronomy guide and telescopes in an International Dark Sky Community
- The West Fork of Oak Creek at opening time, then up the switchbacks to Flagstaff
- Two nights at the Grand Canyon: sunset at Hopi Point, sunrise on the rim and a walk below it on the Bright Angel Trail
- Desert View Drive to the Watchtower for the last light of the day
What makes this trip different
Short drives, all published
Every drive is listed day by day, and none is longer than 4 hours.
Free time is part of the plan
Free time and choices are marked on the days they fall.
Solo without the penalty
A room of your own is + CAD 925 (estimated price).
Day by day
Itinerary
The longest drive is 4 h, on day 6.
Tap any stop on the map to open that dayClick any stop on the map to open that day
Phoenix to Sedona by Montezuma Castle
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport north on Interstate 17 to Montezuma Castle, then Sedona
- Welcome dinner
- Stay in Sedona
- Drive about 2.5 h
Your guide meets you at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) at about 12:30 pm; plan to land by noon, or fly in the day before and we can book a Phoenix hotel for you. We drive north on Interstate 17 out of the Sonoran Desert, where saguaro cactus stand beside the road, and climb about 1,000 m onto higher ground. After about an hour and a half we turn off near Camp Verde for Montezuma Castle National Monument, a five-storey cliff dwelling of about 20 rooms set in a limestone alcove above Beaver Creek, built by the Sinagua people more than 600 years ago. A short paved loop under sycamores takes about 45 minutes. Then it is 40 minutes more to Sedona, where we stay three nights, so you unpack once for half the trip.
Evening
After check-in we drive up to the Airport Mesa viewpoint to watch the sun go down over the red rocks of west Sedona, then walk to a welcome dinner with the group.
Included
- Pick-up at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
- Montezuma Castle National Monument
- Sunset at the Airport Mesa viewpoint
- Welcome dinner in Sedona
Free time: Free time after check-in, before sunset
Activity: About 1 km of easy, paved walking.
Sedona's red rocks and Oak Creek
Sedona to Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte, the Chapel of the Holy Cross, then Red Rock Crossing on Oak Creek
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Sedona
- Drive about 1 h
Morning
Sedona's trails are busiest from mid-morning, so we start after an early breakfast at Bell Rock, the bell-shaped butte at the south end of town, while the light is low and the car park still has space. The easy group walks the Bell Rock Pathway, broad and nearly level, with Courthouse Butte beside it; the active group circles the whole Courthouse Butte loop. Your guide explains what you are looking at: layers of sandstone laid down as dunes, beaches and river mud, coloured red by iron oxide.
Afternoon
Then we visit the Chapel of the Holy Cross, built into the rock in 1956 with a view down the valley, and drive back into town for a sit-down lunch. The afternoon is free: rest, browse the galleries at Tlaquepaque, or book a 4x4 tour on the back roads.
Evening
In the early evening we drive to Crescent Moon Ranch at Red Rock Crossing, where Cathedral Rock rises above Oak Creek and its reflection lies in the water as the sun goes down. Dinner tonight is your choice.
Included
- Guided walk at Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte
- Chapel of the Holy Cross
- Sit-down lunch in Sedona
- Sunset at Crescent Moon Ranch and Red Rock Crossing on Oak Creek
Optional experiences
- A 4x4 tour on Sedona's back roads in the free afternoon, priced when you book
Easier option: The Bell Rock Pathway, about 3 km return on a wide, nearly level trail.
More active option: The full Courthouse Butte loop, about 6.5 km on dirt trail and slickrock with about 100 m of climbing.
Free time: Afternoon and evening free in Sedona
Activity: There is little shade at Bell Rock; bring a hat and water. The creekside path at Red Rock Crossing is flat but rocky.
Jerome, Tuzigoot and a night under the stars
Sedona across the Verde Valley to Jerome and Tuzigoot National Monument, then back to Sedona
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Sedona
- Drive about 2 h
Morning
After breakfast we drive about 50 minutes west across the Verde Valley and up the switchbacks of Highway 89A to Jerome, a copper-mining town built on the side of Cleopatra Hill. When the mines closed in the early 1950s most people left; artists and shopkeepers later moved into the brick buildings that had not slid down the slope. We visit Jerome State Historic Park in the Douglas Mansion, built in 1916 for a mine owner, with its mining exhibits and a view across the valley to the red rocks, then walk the steep streets with your guide.
Afternoon
Lunch is sit-down in Jerome. On the way back we stop at Tuzigoot National Monument, a Sinagua pueblo on a ridge above the Verde River, where a short climb takes you to the top of the old rooms. We are back in Sedona by mid-afternoon, with time to rest.
Evening
After dark we drive out of town with a local astronomy guide and telescopes: Sedona is an International Dark Sky Community, and on a clear, moonless night the Milky Way stands out over the rocks.
Included
- Jerome and Jerome State Historic Park in the Douglas Mansion
- Guided walk through Jerome
- Sit-down lunch in Jerome
- Tuzigoot National Monument
- Stargazing evening with a local astronomy guide and telescopes
Easier option: Stay on the level lower streets of Jerome and the mansion grounds, and view Tuzigoot from the visitor centre.
More active option: Walk up through Jerome's upper town with your guide, about 2 km of steep streets and stairs.
Free time: Mid-afternoon free in Sedona before the stargazing evening
Activity: Stargazing depends on the sky. If it is cloudy we move it to the next clear evening in Sedona or look up from the Grand Canyon rim instead. Desert nights are cold; bring a warm layer.
Oak Creek Canyon and Flagstaff to the Grand Canyon
Sedona up Oak Creek Canyon to Flagstaff, then north to the Grand Canyon South Rim
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Grand Canyon South Rim
- Drive about 2.5 h
We check out early and drive north up Oak Creek Canyon, the narrow, wooded gorge that Highway 89A follows out of Sedona. At the Call of the Canyon day-use area we walk the West Fork Trail into a side canyon with red and cream cliffs on both sides, crossing the stream on stepping stones. The car park fills early, which is why we are there when it opens. The road then climbs the switchbacks to Oak Creek Vista, on the edge of the Colorado Plateau where the pine forest begins, and on to Flagstaff, about 45 km from Sedona and 2,100 m up.
Afternoon
Lunch is sit-down in the old downtown by the railway and Route 66. After lunch it is about an hour and a half north-west past the San Francisco Peaks to the South Entrance of Grand Canyon National Park.
Evening
We check in for two nights, then ride the Hermit Road shuttle to Hopi Point for sunset (in winter we drive the road ourselves). Dinner tonight is your choice.
Included
- Oak Creek Canyon on Highway 89A
- West Fork Trail walk from the Call of the Canyon
- Oak Creek Vista
- Sit-down lunch in Flagstaff
- Grand Canyon National Park entry
- Sunset at Hopi Point by the Hermit Road shuttle
Easier option: Walk the first part of the West Fork Trail, about 3 km return, past the ruins of an old lodge to the first stream crossings.
More active option: Carry on further up the West Fork with your guide, up to about 8 km return, with more stream crossings.
Free time: Evening free at the Grand Canyon
Activity: The West Fork Trail is nearly flat, but the stepping stones can be wet and slippery; wear shoes with grip. The South Rim is at about 2,100 m, so take it easy on the first evening.
A full day on the South Rim
Grand Canyon Village, the Bright Angel Trail and the Rim Trail, then Desert View Drive to the Watchtower
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Grand Canyon South Rim
- Drive about 1.5 h
Morning
The canyon is quietest early, so anyone who wants a sunrise drives the few minutes to Mather Point with the guide before breakfast. Then the group splits. The active group goes below the rim on the Bright Angel Trail, which follows a natural break in the cliffs along the Bright Angel Fault, through two short rock tunnels to the 1.5-Mile Resthouse: about 4.8 km return with about 340 m to climb back up. Going down is the easy part, so we turn round early and take the climb slowly. The easy group walks the level Rim Trail past Kolb Studio, El Tovar and Hopi House to the Trail of Time, where each metre of path stands for a million years and rock samples are laid out by age.
Afternoon
We meet for a sit-down lunch in Grand Canyon Village, and the early afternoon is free. Later we drive east on Desert View Drive to Grandview Point, the Tusayan Ruin, an Ancestral Puebloan village about 800 years old, and Lipan Point, then watch the sun set from Desert View and its Watchtower.
Evening
A farewell dinner follows back in the village.
Included
- Sunrise at Mather Point, for those who want it
- Guided walk on the Bright Angel Trail or the Rim Trail and Trail of Time
- Sit-down lunch in Grand Canyon Village
- Desert View Drive: Grandview Point, the Tusayan Ruin and Lipan Point
- Sunset at Desert View and the Watchtower
- Farewell dinner
Optional experiences
- A helicopter or small-plane flight over the canyon from Tusayan in the free early afternoon, priced when you book
Easier option: The Rim Trail and Trail of Time, about 4 km on a level, paved path, with shuttle stops along it to cut the walk short.
More active option: The Bright Angel Trail to the 1.5-Mile Resthouse, about 4.8 km return with about 340 m of climb back to the rim, two and a half to three hours.
Free time: Early afternoon free in Grand Canyon Village
Activity: Do not try to walk to the river and back in a day; the park warns against it. The Bright Angel Trail has little shade, and the resthouse only has water in season, so carry 2 litres.
Back to Phoenix
Grand Canyon South Rim to Flagstaff, then Interstate 17 to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
- Breakfast and lunch
- Drive about 4 h
Morning
There is one more chance for sunrise on the rim before breakfast. We leave the park at about 9 am and drive south through the ponderosa pine forest to Flagstaff for a coffee stop, then down Interstate 17 off the Mogollon Rim and into the Verde Valley.
Afternoon
Lunch is sit-down near Camp Verde, roughly halfway, so no stretch of driving is longer than about an hour and a half. From there the road drops back into the Sonoran Desert, and the saguaros return near Black Canyon City. It is about 360 km and three and three-quarter hours of driving in all, within our four-hour cap. We reach Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) at about 2:30 pm; book a flight leaving after about 5:30 pm. Your guide sees you to departures.
Evening
If you want to stay on, we can drop you in central Phoenix or Scottsdale instead and book an extra night for you.
Included
- Sunrise on the rim, for those who want it
- Coffee stop in Flagstaff
- Sit-down lunch near Camp Verde
- Drop-off at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
Optional experiences
- Extra nights in Phoenix or Scottsdale, booked on request
Activity: Book a flight leaving after about 5:30 pm.
- Phoenixstart
- Sedona3 nights
- Grand Canyon South Rim2 nights
- Phoenixend
- Overnight stop
- Day trip
- By boat or train
Wildlife and weather: Spring and autumn are mild in Sedona, about 18 to 28°C by day, and cool on the South Rim, where nights drop below freezing and snow is possible into April and again from late October. Phoenix passes 40°C in summer, and July to September brings afternoon storms, which is why the trip runs in spring and autumn. Look for elk around Grand Canyon Village, ravens and sometimes California condors along the rim, and javelina in Sedona at dusk.
Want this plan in your inbox?
Get the day-by-day itinerary by email, or ask us anything about this trip. A trip planner replies the same or next business day.
Before you book
Right for you?
Good for you if you want
- Travellers who want Sedona and the Grand Canyon without long drive days
- Easy walks every day, with a harder choice for those who want it
- Sunsets and sunrises at the right viewpoints, and a night of stargazing
- First-time visitors to Arizona flying into Phoenix
- Anyone who would rather not book park entries, forest passes and the trailhead timing themselves
Not for you if you want
- Serious hikers after full days below the rim: the longest walk is about 4.8 km return
- The North Rim, Antelope Canyon or Monument Valley, which are not on this route
- Travellers flying into Las Vegas: see our Zion and Grand Canyon trip or our Zion, Bryce, Monument Valley and Grand Canyon trip
- Travellers who need step-free access on every walk
- Summer travel: the trip does not run in the Phoenix heat
Book flights after we confirm your seat.
5 nights
Where you'll stay
Your hotels are named in your trip confirmation.
- Sedona3 nights
- Grand Canyon South Rim2 nights
One price
What's in the price
Included
Accommodation
- 5 nights: 3 in Sedona, 2 at the Grand Canyon South Rim, inside the park or in Tusayan by the South Entrance
- Central hotels of at least a 3-star-plus standard, named when we confirm your dates
- Rooms shared, or your own for a supplement
Transport
- Pick-up and drop-off at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)
- Our own air-conditioned vehicle and driver for the group, with a seat for every guest and room for luggage
- Grand Canyon park shuttle on Hermit Road in season
Your guide
- A See Sight Tours guide with the group for the whole trip, who leads the walks and handles entries and timings
- A local astronomy guide with telescopes for the stargazing evening
Activities
- Phoenix to Sedona: Montezuma Castle National Monument and sunset at the Airport Mesa viewpoint
- Sedona: guided walk at Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte, the Chapel of the Holy Cross, sunset at Crescent Moon Ranch and Red Rock Crossing
- Verde Valley: Jerome State Historic Park, a guided walk through Jerome, Tuzigoot National Monument
- Sedona: stargazing evening
- Oak Creek Canyon: the West Fork Trail and Oak Creek Vista
- Grand Canyon National Park entry, including the 2026 fee for visitors who are not US residents
- Grand Canyon: sunset at Hopi Point, sunrise walks, the Bright Angel Trail or the Rim Trail and Trail of Time
- Desert View Drive: Grandview Point, the Tusayan Ruin, Lipan Point and sunset at Desert View
- Coconino National Forest day-use and Red Rock Pass fees
Meals
- Breakfast daily (5)
- Sit-down lunch on days 2 to 6 (5)
- Welcome dinner in Sedona and farewell dinner at the Grand Canyon (2)
Not included
- International flights to and from Phoenix
- US visa or ESTA
- Travel insurance
- Dinners on days 2 to 4
- Lunch on day 1
- Drinks, other than water, coffee and tea with included meals
- Tips for your guide and driver
- Optional activities: a 4x4 tour in Sedona, a helicopter or small-plane flight over the Grand Canyon
- Extra nights in Phoenix before or after the trip
- Personal expenses
Extras
- Room of your own
- CAD 925 (estimated price)
When you can go
Dates and prices
Pick your start date when you request to book. We check that date and confirm it in your quote.
Prefer to travel without a group or guide? Ask us about arranging hotels, transport and city tours for you to travel independently.
Before you book
Booking terms
Nothing is charged now. Full terms and the cancellation schedule come with your quote, before you accept.
Business addresses
See Sight Tours Trips (USA): 3172 N Rainbow Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89108, United StatesSee Sight Tours Trips (Canada): 5305 50 Avenue, #1091, Red Deer, AB T4N 4B6, Canada+1-888-961-6584Guest reviews
What guests say
Reviews from guests on our day tours.
Jane
October 06, 2026
5/5
Susan
October 06, 2026
5/5
Tom L
October 05, 2026
5/5
MandL83
October 05, 2026
5/5
Darren O
October 05, 2026
5/5
Good to know
Questions
What does the Sedona and Grand Canyon tour price include?
Five nights in hotels, breakfast daily, sit-down lunches on days 2 to 6, a welcome and a farewell dinner, airport transfers in Phoenix, our own vehicle and driver, your guide throughout, Grand Canyon entry including the 2026 non-resident fee, Montezuma Castle, Tuzigoot, Jerome State Historic Park, forest day-use fees, the stargazing evening and every walk.
How big is the group?
The small-group trip runs with 7 to 12 guests in one vehicle with a seat for everyone, so the group stays together on the trails, fits around one table at lunch and can use small trailheads that coaches cannot.
Who leads the trip?
A See Sight Tours guide travels with the group for all six days, leads the walks, chooses the easy or active route with you each morning and handles entries, passes and timings. A professional driver does the driving, and a local astronomy guide runs the stargazing evening.
How fit do I need to be?
Not very. Most walks are 1 to 6 km on paths and dirt trail. The hardest choice, the Bright Angel Trail below the Grand Canyon rim, is about 4.8 km return with about 340 m to climb back at 2,100 m altitude. Every walking day has an easier option, and you can sit any walk out.
I'm travelling solo. Do I have to pay a single supplement?
Only if you want a room of your own, which is from CAD 925 more. If you would rather share, tell us when you request to book and we will try to pair you with another solo traveller; we confirm your room and price before anything is charged.
When is the best time to visit Sedona and the Grand Canyon?
March to May and late September to early November. Sedona is mild, about 18 to 28°C by day, and the South Rim is cool, with freezing nights and snow possible into April and from late October. Phoenix passes 40°C in summer and July to September brings storms, so we do not run then.
Can I hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon on this trip?
No. The river is about 1,400 m below the South Rim and the park warns against going down and back in a day. On the active choice we walk the Bright Angel Trail to the 1.5-Mile Resthouse, which gives a real sense of the canyon from inside, then climb back slowly.
Is the stargazing guaranteed?
It depends on the sky. Sedona is an International Dark Sky Community and the air is usually clear in spring and autumn. If day 3 is cloudy we move the session to the next clear evening in Sedona, or your guide takes you out on the Grand Canyon rim, which is a dark-sky park too.
Where does the trip start and end, and when should I fly?
It starts and ends at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX). Plan to land by noon on day 1, as we leave at about 12:30 pm, or arrive the day before and we can book a hotel. We are back at about 2:30 pm on day 6; book a flight after about 5:30 pm.
Do I need a visa to visit the US?
Canadian citizens normally do not need a visa for a tourist visit. Travellers from Visa Waiver Program countries need an approved ESTA before flying, and others need a visitor visa. Requirements change, so check your own before you book flights.
How does booking work?
Choose your start date and request to book. We confirm your place within 24 hours, and no payment is taken when you send the request. The small group starts from CAD 5,440 per person sharing, taxes included.
Can we travel privately or on our own dates?
Yes. The trip also runs as a private trip for your party only, with your own guide and vehicle, on a date you choose, from CAD 9,790 per person. If you would rather travel independently on your own dates, ask us from the dates section and we will quote the hotels and entries for you.
See Sight Tours has been providing travel services across North America since 2006. Operating in 20 cities across Canada and the USA, the company specializes in small group tours that offer personalized, high-quality experiences for travelers.
Book your Tour
Get in Touch
- Toll Free1-888-961-6584
- Local1-289-271-9767
© 2026 See Sight Tours. All rights reserved.