The vast canyon in the United States attracts more than five million visitors each year to gaze into the deep fissure, hike its trails and soar over it by plane or helicopter.

Almost 6,000ft at its deepest point and with a huge gap between its North and South Rims, the Grand Canyon is an unforgettable experience.

The canyon is home to two billion years of geologic history, the vast Colorado River and ruins believed to be from between eight and ten thousand years ago.

Nearly 280 miles from end to end, the chasm is an average of ten miles wide and it is impossible to imagine its sheer size until one is standing on the edge.

The Grand Canyon National Park covers more than 1,900 square miles and it is impossible in a short visit to experience even a small amount of the activities and sights the area has to offer.

For those visiting for a short break, there are numerous guided tours of the canyon available and some of the best views include Mather Point, Navajo Point and Grandview Point on the South Rim, Bright Angel Trail and Cliff Springs Trail, and Port Imperial on the quieter North Rim for the highest vista.

Travellers with high fitness levels can complete a lengthy hike from one side of the canyon to the other, providing stunning views of the canyon walls, take an exhilarating rafting trip on the Colorado rapids or travel down the canyon sides by mule.

For tourists with a generous budget, a flight over the chasm is breathtaking, particularly at sunset or sunrise when the canyon lights up as though it is on fire.

Around the Grand Canyon, the Tusayan Ruin and Museum charts the history of the Ancestral Puebloans, who lived in Arizona more than 800 years ago, the Grand Canyon Deer Farm is popular with families and the Havasupai Reservation has its own idyllic ambience, with trickling waterfalls, delicate flowers and the small Havasu Canyon, an offshoot of the Grand Canyon.

Mesmerising Monument Valley, with its towering landscape of sandstone pillars is a drive away, as is the gaudy gambling mecca Las Vegas.

The canyon is a delight all year round, though it is perhaps at its most dramatic in spring, when it is covered in wild flowers, or winter, when it is at its starkest, stormiest and often snowiest. Summer is the busiest time and the area can be packed with tourists.

The sheer number of visitors passing through the area means that there are numerous restaurants and hotels available. Food tends to be hearty and American, with generous portions and fresh ingredients, though it can also be expensive.

There are a number of charming hotels and rustic lodges perched on both rims of the canyon, offering staggering views and good, but pricey accommodation, as well as several towns nearby, with charming shops and old-fashioned buildings.