Grand Canyon Airplane Tours Are Exciting And Affordable

Are you wondering which Grand Canyon tours are the most affordable while still being a lot of fun? My answer always involves the air-only versions, but there's a little more to it than just that.

Plane tours are on offer every day of the year and depart from Vegas or Tusayan, which is near the South Rim. If you happen to be in or near Phoenix, you can catch an aerial tour that combines a landing tour, but it is pretty expensive.

South Rim Plane Tours Are Air-Only

The airplanes that leave from the airport in Tusayan follow a flight path that takes you north and east so you fly over the South Rim and along the eastern border of the National Park. The planes then fly you over the North Rim and head back, passing through the deepest and widest part of the canyon called Dragoon Corridor.

You might be wondering if you can catch a flight from the South Rim to the West Rim. That isn't possible for now. However, if you depart from Vegas, you can opt to fly directly to the South Rim if you want. A plane can get you from Vegas to the South Rim in an hour or so and once you get there, you can tour the Park by ground. If you're looking for some excitement, consider adding on a helicopter tour of the rim once you are there.

Another question I often hear relates to whether Grand Canyon airplane tours of the South Rim are allowed to fly below the level of the rim. Currently, that answer is also no ? the National Park Service and the FAA prohibit low-level South Rim flights to reduce the noise pollution in the area.

West Rim Flights

You can catch an air tour that is convenient to your hotel since they depart from several metro airports like Boulder City and Henderson. All West Rim Vegas flights head for Grand Canyon West by way of majestic Hoover Dam and scenic Lake Mead.

Unlike the South Rim, the West Rim is open for landing tours. These exciting tours depart on a daily basis from Las Vegas and land at the airfield on top of the West Rim. The standard version lets you explore sights like the fabulous Grand Canyon Skywalk, Guano Point, Eagle Point and the Indian Cultural Center while you're on the ground.

Personally, though, I prefer the upgraded landing tour package that adds an exhilarating chopper flight to the canyon floor and a smooth-water float trip down the Colorado. Grand Canyon West is the only part of the canyon where you can take a chopper ride to the canyon floor, so you don't want to miss the opportunity to do it.

Get Your Seats Early

Air tours to the Grand Canyon are popular and fill up quickly. Try to book your seats a week or two in advance whether you want an air-only or landing tour. Booking ahead like this will almost guarantee you'll get a seat, but you'll also have more tour and flight time options from which to choose. Plus, you'll get the best rates by booking ahead.

Get Your Seats Online

Speaking of booking and best rates, I highly recommend buying your tour ticket(s) online. Buying your tickets online is convenient, easy, and safe, and it also allows you to get the lower Internet rate. When you get your tickets online, you can save up to 30 percent. If you are traveling with your family or a group, the savings really add up.

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