VISAS

It is your responsibility to check and comply with the entry requirements for visitors from your country to the United States. Citizens from foreign countries traveling to the US generally must first obtain a US visa or an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA). More information about travelling to the US can be found at the following websites:

TRAVEL & MEDICAL INSURANCE

Due to the high cost of medical expenses in the US, we strongly recommend that you purchase adequate travel and medical insurance in case of unexpected illness or cancellation of all or part of your Festival. In particular if staying in Festival offsite hotels please note the refund and cancellation terms - these are in accordance with our contractual obligations with the accommodation providers.

AIRPORTS

The closest international airports to IKRC Grand Canyon are:

There are also two small regional airports:

  • Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (FLG) - This is a very small airport, about 30 minutes drive from the Festival site, with limited daily flights to/from Los Angeles (LAX), Dallas-Forth Worth (DFW) and Phoenix (PHX) airports.
  • Prescott Regional Airport (PRC) - This is a very small airport, about 1.5 hours drive from the Festival site, with limited daily flights to/from Los Angeles (LAX) and Denver (DEN).

FESTIVAL AIRPORT SHUTTLES

The Festival will organise transfers from Sky Harbor International Airport (Phoenix) and Harry Reid International Airport (Las Vegas) to IKRC Grand Canyon on Friday 3 October, and return shuttles on Thursday 9 October. These may be added to your Festival booking either when making the initial booking, or added later via your booking cart.

Shuttles on Friday 3 October:

  • 10am: depart Harry Reid International Airport (Las Vegas) to IKRC Grand Canyon
  • 10:30am: depart Sky Harbor International Airport (Phoenix) to IKRC Grand Canyon
  • 2pm: depart Sky Harbor International Airport (Phoenix) to IKRC Grand Canyon

Shuttles on Thursday 9 October:

  • 11am: depart IKRC Grand Canyon to Sky Harbor International Airport (Phoenix)
  • 2pm: depart IKRC Grand Canyon to Harry Reid International Airport (Las Vegas)
  • 2:30pm: depart IKRC Grand Canyon to Sky Harbor International Airport (Phoenix)

All airport shuttles are offered subject to demand. Please book early so we can reserve the necessary coaches. Should it be necessary to cancel a specific coach due to lack of demand, we will do so with enough notice for you to make alternative arrangements, and will refund any money paid for the cancelled shuttle in full.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT TO/FROM AIRPORTS

SKY HARBOR INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (PHOENIX)

Groome Transportation: Phoenix Airport to Flagstaff

  • Groome Transportation runs shuttle services between Phoenix Airport and Flagstaff Amtrak Station.
  • USD $61, approx 3.5 hours.
  • Reservations essential.
  • From Terminal 3: Proceed to baggage claim. Approximately 10 minutes prior to your scheduled departure, exit DOOR #9 and cross to the center island. Turn to the right and walk until you see the BLUE INTER-CITY SHUTTLE sign. Wait at this location. The shuttle departs Terminal 3 at scheduled departure time before picking up at Terminal 4. Your shuttle driver will pick you up at curbside.
  • From Terminal 4: Proceed to baggage claim. Approximately 10 minutes prior to your scheduled departure, exit DOOR #5 and cross to the center island. Wait at the BLUE INTER-CITY SHUTTLE sign. The shuttle departs Terminal 3 at scheduled departure time before picking up at Terminal 4. Your shuttle driver will pick you up at curbside.
  • There is no public transport from Flagstaff to the Festival site - see information below about local taxis.

Groome Transportation: Flagstaff to Williams

  • Groome Transportation  also runs a shuttle between Flagstaff Amtrak and Williams
  • USD $37, approx 40 mins.
  • Reservations essential.
  • Flagstaff Amtrak is located at Station1 E. Route 66, Flagstaff, AZ 86001
  • Wait at the Flagstaff Amtrak Station at 1 E. Route 66 at least 15 minutes before your scheduled departure time. Guests should meet our driver in the parking lot on the San Francisco Street side of the Amtrak Station.
  • There is no public transport from Williams to the Festival site - see information below about local taxis.

Greyhound*: Phoenix to Flagstaff

  • Greyhound* runs buses from Phoenix Bus Station to Flagstaff Amtrak Station
  • USD $30-$50, approx 2.5 hours.
  • Reservations essential.
  • The Greyhound Bus Station is located at 2115 E. Buckeye Road and is approximately one mile west of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. The bus station is located near the intersection of 24th Street and Buckeye Road.
  • Directions to the bus station from the airport are as follows: From Terminal 3 and Terminal 4 – Take the PHX Sky Train to the 24th Street Station. Take the escalator to the ground floor. Exit to the south (facing the parking lots) and turn right. Look for a sign that says, “Walkway to Greyhound.” Follow the walkway to 24th Street sidewalk to Buckeye Road. Cross to the left to Greyhound.
  • There is no public transport from Flagstaff to the Festival site - see information below about local taxis.

Greyhound*: Phoenix to Williams

  • Greyhound* also runs one daily morning bus to Love’s Travel Stop in Williams.
  • USD $30-$40, approx 5 hours.
  • Reservations essential.
  • Follow the instructions above for details on how to get to the Greyhound bus station from the airport.
  • There is no public transport from Williams to the Festival site - see information below about local taxis.

Flixbus*: Phoenix to Flagstaff

  • Flixbus* runs buses from Phoenix Airport/44th Street Station to Flagstaff
  • USD $40-$60, approx 2.5 hours.
  • Reservations essential.
  • From Terminal 3 and Terminal 4, take the PHX Sky Train to the 44th Street Station. The bus will board on the north side of the 44th St PHX Sky Train Station bus loading zone (look for "Charter" sign).
  • There is no public transport from Flagstaff to the Festival site - see information below about local taxis.

* IMPORTANT - Greyhound and Flixbus websites sell tickets for both services. Please note which service you have booked as they leave from different stations.

HARRY REID INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (LAS VEGAS)

Greyhound: Las Vegas to Flagstaff via Williams

  • Greyhound runs buses from Las Vegas South Strip Transit Terminal to Flagstaff Bus Station (880 E Butler Ave, 86001 Flagstaff, AZ) via Williams (Love’s). There is usually one bus a day which usually leaves early morning.
  • USD $30-$50, approx 4-5 hours.
  • Reservations essential.
  • From the airport, you can take a taxi, rideshare or RTC public bus to the S Strip Transit Terminal. It’s about a 10–15 min ride.
  • Information about taxis from the airport is available here.
  • Information about rideshare from the airport is available here.
  • RTC public bus Route 109 goes from Terminal 1 at the airport to the Greyhound bus stop at S Strip Transit Terminal. The bus stop at Terminal 1 is located on Level Zero. From baggage claim, take the elevator or escalator down. Exit the building and proceed across the pedestrian crosswalk. Veer right to the covered RTC bus stop. Take Route 109 to S Strip Transit Terminal. USD $4.
  • Las Vegas S Strip Transit Terminal is located at 6675 Gilespie St, Las Vegas, NV 89119.
  • There is no public transport from Williams or Flagstaff to the Festival site - see information below about local taxis.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT FROM OTHER US CITIES

Check here for bus and train routes to Flagstaff from other US cities. There is no public transport from Flagstaff to the Festival site - see information below about local taxis. When booking a train to Williams please note that the 3:45am train is to an unmanned station several miles from the town of Williams; and, they will not stop there unless there is a pre-arranged pickup, so this route should be avoided.

LOCAL TAXIS

Uber (~USD $55-$72) and Lyft (~USD $60-$95) are available in both Flagstaff and Williams but service is limited.

Flagstaff Taxis:

  • Turquoise Taxis: ‭+1 (928) 600-2112‬. Reservations required. ~USD $65-$75 from Flagstaff to Festival site, also has 6-7 passenger vehicles for ~USD $80.
  • Apex Taxi: ‭+1 (928) 779-0000‬. Reservations required. ~USD $70 from Flagstaff to Festival site.
  • Sun Taxi: ‭+1 (928) 779-1111‬. Reservations required.

DRIVING

The Festival will be held at IKRC Grand Canyon which is adjacent to Old Route 66 between the towns of Williams (10 miles west) and Flagstaff (30 miles to the east). Take Exit 171 on I-40.

International Kadampa Retreat Center Grand Canyon

6701 E. Mountain Ranch Road
Williams, AZ 86046

Parking is very limited. See the Parking page for more information.

FESTIVAL DAILY SHUTTLES

Daily shuttles will run from Festival hotels in Williams. Anyone can book these - they are not limited to those booking Festival accommodation. The shuttle fee is $12 per day for a return trip.
Daily shuttle pick-up/drop-off points:

  • Trailborn Hotel: 642 East Route 66, Williams
  • The Ellsworth Hotel: 710 West Route 66, Williams
  • Circle Pines KOA Holiday Campground: 1000 Circle Pines Road, Williams

More information on the Festival daily shuttle service is coming soon.