Grand Canyon Helicopter Air Tours Are Great Side Trips From Vegas

Air-only helicopter tours of the Grand Canyon are ideal because they let you see the magnificent Grand Canyon when you don't have much time or when you have a limited budget. Of course, if you have the extra time and money to spend, you may want to consider a landing tour since they are great fun too. That being said, you'll get a great taste of this magnificent place if you take an aerial helicopter tour.

Air only Grand Canyon helicopters go to the West Rim and The South Rim, but if you want to go to the West Rim, you depart from Las Vegas and if you want to go to the South Rim, you depart from Phoenix or a nearby city in Arizona. Although you could also choose a landing tour at the West Rim, you don't have that option at the South Rim because of strict FAA regulations.

There are two types of South Rim helicopter tours: the shorter version lasts 30 minutes and flies from the South to the North Rim and back. The other choice is a 50 minute flight that covers the same sights as the shorter flight but also includes views of the deepest and widest part of the canyon called Dragoon corridor, the Painted Desert, Zuni Corridor, the Colorado River confluence, and Imperial Point. I recommend the longer flight if you can swing it because it's a much more comprehensive canyon experience.

You can catch a helicopter tour to the West Rim every single day at several different airfields scattered around the city of Vegas. Expect the experience to last around 3.5 hours. In addition to the canyon, you get to fly over Lake Mead and the Hoover Dam. At the canyon, you will pass over the famous glass Grand Canyon Skywalk, Eagle Point, Guano Point, as well as view the might Colorado River snaking along the canyon floor.

This particular tour is an ideal match for a Vegas getaway because it lets you experience the Grand Canyon but doesn't pull you away from the excitement of the city for too long. If you have plenty of time and want a more thorough canyon experience, I think you might prefer a landing tour. One these tours you descend to the canyon floor in a chopper and enjoy a picnic by the river or float down the Colorado on a raft. You can also buy passes and walk out on the Skywalk if you are brave enough.

No matter which rim you choose and which type of tour you take, I urge you to pick one of the air tours that use EcoStar 130 helicopters. These offer a more enjoyable experience than the AStar helicopters many of the tour operators offer. The EcoStar 130 is stable and quiet, plus it is designed for sightseeing with theater style seating, large cabin, and huge window for viewing panoramic vistas.

Just about every Grand Canyon helicopter tour is incredibly popular, and most sell out very quickly. Whenever someone asks, I urge them to book well in advance -- at least three days (but seven is even better) before the flight date you want.

If you want the lowest price, then book your seats online because you will find great discounts there. Get them directly from the tour operator's site since prices are lower there than you will find at big sites like Expedia, Viator, or Orbitz. Cut out the middleman and save a bundle. Just make sure you complete the entire transaction on the company's site so you'll qualify for the Internet discount. You have to pay more if you get your seats by mail or phone.

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