On the basis you want to walk, you will need accommodation of which there isn't a lot so I suggest you book well in advance. I suggest you try for no later than the end of May but not much later as the temperatures can be excessive any later in the summer. Certainly consider a trip to Vegas, you are probably going to have to fly there or Phoenix to get to the GC anyway but don't spend more than three nights there, the hotels were not built by the casinos handing out winnings but by customers losing by the million an hour! Its great fun, the shows are good but it is exhausting, so I suggest you do it after your walk and not before!

Thanks for your reply Alan - we're looking at tsome of the walking trips into the canyon as well as boat rides and helicopter packages, just flying over it isn't what we're after! I imagine heat would be a factor, so we're looking at spring/v. early summer as you suggest - but at the moment I'd take anything over the temperatures we have in the UK now!

You've given me an excuse to argue for a trip to vegas - maybe I can win our first class upgrade at one of the tables (or end up strapped to the wing of the plane on the way back) is it much of an issue getting to the GC from there or should we arraneg as much as we can from here?

It depends what you want to do there, the South Rim is open year round and accessible via Vegas or Flagstaff and if all you want to do is say you've seen it then any time is fine, it can be very hot in summer however and the wind rises as the day progresses so if you are in a small plane from Vegas, take the trip as early in the day as possible to avoid using the sick bags! If you want to hike down the Canyon then you have to avoid Winter, Spring or Autumn are best with reasonable temperatures and the quieter North Rim opens from mid May to mid October. If all you want is to see it from the air, many flights to Los Angeles and San Diego from the UK fly directly over it at 35000 and the view can be spectacular if the sky is clear

My girfriend and I are planning on heading to the States and are really keen on heading to see the Grand Canyon but finding it difficult to decide when is best to go! Is there anyone who can give me their opinion for what dates?thanks