Information about Visiting Grand Canyon National Park by Helicopter

Many people who visit the South Rim or Vegas enjoy the thrill of taking a Grand Canyon helicopter tour of the natural wonder. You can just view the immense canyon from above, or you can choose a tour that lands so you can see it up close. It is a good idea to research your tour options online. You can start by choosing a destination and seeing if the price fits your budget.

There are a few things you should know about Grand Canyon helicopter flights. For example, when you book a helicopter tour that takes off from Las Vegas, you can only go to the West Rim. That flight covers about 125 miles and takes 45 minutes or so. You can go from Vegas to the South Rim, but to do so, you have to choose a package that includes bus or air transportation. You can expect the bus ride to last as long as 5 hours, but the flight to the National Park is much quicker at just 45 minutes.

The West Rim is one edge of the 100 mile long canyon and it is located on the Hualapai Indian Reservation. This part of the park is where the Skywalk is found, and it is referred to as Grand Canyon West. This is the area where helicopters are allowed to drop below the rim to the canyon floor below.

There are three types of helicopter landing tours at the West Rim. The first package takes you on a 4,000-foot descent to the canyon floor, where you'll enjoy a champagne breakfast, lunch or dinner picnic, depending on the time of day. With this option you will also receive thirty minutes to explore the canyon and Colorado River. The river is only about 200 yards away from the helipad.

Another popular option extends the first package by adding a boat trip down the Colorado River and full access to the Grand Canyon Skywalk. This is the most comprehensive landing tour available, and it's a great experience for people who want to explore the park as fully as possible. The trip takes around six hours, so you have ample time to take in the sights.

A third very popular landing tour includes VIP passes to the Grand Canyon Skywalk. You not only get unrestricted and unlimited access to the glass Skywalk, you can also go straight to the head of the waiting line. Without a pass, you could wait in line up to 45 minutes. Although it would probably seem even longer than that because of the desert heat. Besides that, you will have another 2 hours to visit the Hualapai Ranch, the Indian Cultural Center, and the lookout areas at Guano Point and Eagle Point.

When it comes to Grand Canyon helicopter tours, getting there is half the fun. During your flight from Vegas to the canyon, you will fly over scenic landmarks such as the Grand Cliffs Wash, Lake Mead, the Hoover Dam, and Fortification Hill. If you're on an aerial tour, you'll also see the Colorado River and the Grand Canyon Skywalk at the West Rim. This aerial tour of the Grand Canyon lasts about two hours.

Grand Canyon helicopter excursions fill up quickly because seats are limited. I suggest you book a few days in advance so you don't miss out. Plus, you will need to be prepared in advance for your flight so it really isn't recommended to grab an open seat at the last minute or you might not have what you need to protect you from the hot desert sun.

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