What can you really say about the Grand Canyon that hasn’t been said before? As one of the Seven Wonders of the world superlatives – immense, awe inspiring, breathtaking etc etc – don’t really do it justice. So yes, it is immense, awe inspiring and, you guessed it, breathtaking. We stayed in the South Rim and it’s very organized how well access is offered to the Canyon – some might say it is too well organized. There is a paved road that stretches many miles alongside the Canyone from which you can get off the free buses and admire the many viewpoints and places of interest. It’s a bit like a Disneyland of nature – although that said, the canyon is 120 miles long so you can venture way off the beaten track and get remote if you have the time and inclination.

It is incredibly beautiful – unfortunately the three days we were there visibility (pollution, winds stirring up dust) was not so great and as it was cloudy we did not get to see a shimmering sunset when the light travels for miles and the rocks change colour. From various vantage points you can see the Colorado River as it meanders through the gorge. I would like to return and do a white water rafting expedition, some of which can take up to 18 days as you camp en route, so it gives you some idea of the scale of this place.

I hiked down to Cedar Crest which is quite a way down in the Canyon but not all the way to the bottom. It’s a great perspective to see it from within and I shall be back to complete the Rim to Rim. Most of these photos are of my descent into the Canyon. Hopefully they do it some justice.