The Grand Canyon and Navajo Nation

The Navajo are one of the awe-inspiring attractions on a Grand Canyon Day Tour. The Navajo Nation is an ancient American area enveloping just over 70,000 square kilometers. It inhabits some parts of Northeastern Arizona, Southeastern Utah and Northwestern New Mexico in the United States of America. It is one of the most remarkable regions retained by a native American people with a population of close to 350,000 people.

The Navajo nation has an extensive history since its establishment in 1868. The Navajo people are thought to be closely related to the Apaches, and both these tribes moved from North of Canada where many of the Athabaskan speakers live. In fact, Athabaskan speakers living in Canada can comprehend the Navajo language despite the geographical division.

The movement of the Navajo people began in 1400 CE, and the people were believed to be hunters and gatherers before coming into contact with the Spanish and Pueblos. Their relationship with these people introduced them to new crop farming techniques that consisted of growing beans, corn and squash. In addition, they learned about livestock farming from the Spanish. Within no time; meat was an essential part of the Navajo diet. The trade relations between the Navajos and the Spanish continued and resulted in the formation of a loose alliance that was intended to fight off the Apache and Comanche bands.

In the year 1800, Governor Chacon led an expedition against the Navajos and moved the Navajo chiefs to call for peace. Several expeditions between the Spanish and Navajos occurred in the coming years and in 1805, the request for peace was reinforced. Peace talks between the Navajos, Spanish, Apaches, and Hopis continued until the arrival of the Americans in 1846.

The first contact among the Navajos and the Americans came in 1846 when an American general occupied the Navajo territory during the American-Mexican War. Because of the intrusion, the Navajo chiefs authorized several treaties with the American generals that acknowledged the transfer of jurisdiction of the territory from the United Mexican States to the United States. This arrangement allowed for the building of trading forts and other facilities in the Navajo territory. The treaty did not go well with all the groups involved, particularly the Mexicans and several raids resulted but after several years, the Americans managed to restore peace in the Navajo area.

The Navajo culture is rich in art and crafts. These people are excellent silversmiths, and this trade was introduced to them by the Mexicans and Spaniards at the time of the 19th century. The major source of silver was from molten American silver dollars. Their art skills were not limited to silver works as their pottery skills were amazing as well. The earliest pieces of pottery have been recorded back to the early 1500's. After The Long Walk in 1860, the trading posts built allowed Navajo artisans to sell their pottery. Ancient Navajo pottery pieces have hardly any decorations and what makes them special is their melted pinon pitch which makes the pieces glossy and waterproof. It is common to find random grey and black markings on the items. These markings are described as fire clouds which are caused by the direct burning of fuel during firing.

The other exceptional crafts created by the Navajo people are wedding baskets. These baskets are a significant part of their ceremonies. Today, people from all over the world seek them for their beautiful style and qualities.

Navajo rug weaving skills are strongly recognized around the world, and this is due to their unique designs. The rugs are a beauty to the eye, and this skill is believed to have originated from a woman called "The Spiderwoman", who made a loom according to the instructions given to her by the Holy Ones. Today, the Navajo art of making rugs has been diversified and the pieces available are genuinely breathtaking.

The last element of Navajo art that was used for ceremonial purposes is the method of sand painting. The paintings represent a wide range of ceremonies and holy songs. This skill has also been adopted by modern artists today.

A Grand Canyon Day Tour is the perfect way to experience the region and The Navajo Nation. Enjoy a tour from Tourplicity and visit a Navajo trading post where you can buy arts and crafts from these incredible people. Give us a call today to make your tour reservation!

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Planning To Visit The Grand Canyon?

Maximizing a Grand Canyon Day Tour or reserving 2 to 3 days at the canyon are the ideal ways to experience it. The canyon is one of the most impressive natural wonders on the planet. It attracts more than 4 million annual visitors and encompasses 1,904 square miles. Therefore, it is no surprise why it is one of the country's most treasured natural wonders! This spectacular landmark is a place that every person should make a point to experience. It would be virtually impossible to see all that it offers nonetheless; we can make some helpful recommendations so that your future trip will be an awesome experience!

LOCATION

Decide on which side of The Grand Canyon you want to see. The South Rim will access the most park services available but remember that this section will have a large amount of vacationers. Alternatively, the North Rim offers a secluded environment at higher elevations. If you are interested in the North Rim, plan your trip between the middle of May to mid October. It will only be accessible at those times since snowfall starts earlier in the season compared to the South Rim.

PREPARING AHEAD

Figure out when and the length of time you will be visiting the Grand Canyon so that you can take advantage of its incredible sights. Generally, people devote a day to three days touring. The most popular times to visit the Grand Canyon are spring, summer, and fall. The South Rim is open year round and is generally busiest in the summer. If you are interested in embarking on an activity such as a Grand Canyon Day Tour, hiking trips, helicopter tours, or white water rafting. These tourist attractions are very popular and you will need to make reservations several months ahead of time. Between scheduled tours don't forget to visit of the local museums and picturesque roads and trails. Many visitors enjoy visiting The Grand CanyonVillage. This village offers great lodging and gives you access to Yavapai Point.

TRANSPORTATION

The Grand Canyon is accessible by driving or flying and there are many day tours offered leaving from neighboring areas. Most vacationers depart from Phoenix, AZ, Flagstaff, AZ, or Las Vegas, NV. Riding on a bus or driving yourself to South Rim will allow you to experience the terrain however, flying will offer a breathtaking view. It will take approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes to reach the canyon if you plan on driving from Phoenix and 4 hours and 9 minutes from Las Vegas. The North Rim is typically accessed from the South Rim by car, bus, or flight.

ACCOMMODATIONS

The canyon has several lodging possibilities for its travelers. Everything from outdoor camping, lodges, RV parks, to hotels are available. If you plan on lodging at a campsite there is an average fee of $40 a night. Rooms at a local hotel or The El Tovar Hotel can range between $100 to $400 a night. In either case there are pros and cons to each option. Either way you can't go wrong!

The Grand Canyon should most certainly be on everyone's to do list. Properly planning your Grand Canyon Day Tour or multi-day visit is important if you would like to experience everything it offers. Tourplicity provides visitors with a terrific catalog of tours to enjoy. Have a look at our Phoenix, Flagstaff, and Las Vegas options if you are interested in visiting. Contact us today to set up your Grand Canyon experience!

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Outstanding Grand Canyon Tours From Sedona

Among the very best aspects about picking this northern Arizona community as your starting point is that you get to select from numerous Grand Canyon tours from Sedona. Targeted as one of the seven natural wonders of the world, this astounding formation lays open over two billion years of the earth's geological history from its 6,000-foot depth. The Grand Canyon is certainly huge, measuring up to 18 miles wide and 277 miles long.

In the Airplane, Helicopter, Boat-- The Grand Canyon Extreme Tour!, you take in an air and water experience while sightseeing this astonishing chasm. You fly a short hop of 108 miles from Sedona to Grand Canyon West on a comfy aircraft. After a quick visit, a quick helicopter hop drops you into the floor of the Grand Canyon to the Colorado River. Then, you enjoy a pontoon boat float while looking up canyon walls that extend over a mile above your head.

You get another transfer up those same walls for lunch, presented by the Hualapai (pronounced wal-lah-pie), a recognized Native American tribe whose name means "people of the tall pines" in their language. An option concerning this tour is a stroll on a cantilever, U-shaped bridge that features a glass floor suspending you 4,000 feet above the floor of the canyon. The roundtrip airplane travel, chopper ride, pontoon boat trip and lunch are all included within this variety of the Grand Canyon tours from Sedona. A hotel pickup and Skywalk entry fees are not included.

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