Labor day is less than a month away – have you made plans yet? It will be the last holiday of the summer, so you better make the most of it, and there's no better way to do that than with a trip to the Grand Canyon. Better yet, make that trip a helicopter tour and you'll be set for one of the best adventures ever. Just remember to book soon, because this is one of the busiest times of the year and tickets are selling out fast.
South Rim and West Rim
You can either start your journey from Las Vegas and fly to the West Rim, or you can start form Tusayan in Arizona and go to the South Rim. Vegas tours leave from The Strip, with some basic tours leaving from Boulder City.
Vegas is an easy choice if you're already going to be staying in the city, but that's not the only reason to take a Grand Canyon tour from the bright city in the desert. Only Vegas helicopters are able to land at the Grand Canyon, and there are tours that land inside the Canyon, and some that land at the top of the rim. If you don't have time to land or you're on a strict budget, then you can take an air-only tour. It will take a route over the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead, before making a scenic Passover of the West Rim and heading back to Vegas.
Another thing to note is that Vegas helicopters only fly directly to the West Rim. If you're in Las Vegas and you want to visit the South Rim, you will have to take an airplane flight to Tusayan first.
Landing Tours at the West Rim
If you choose the West Rim and you want a landing tour, you will need to choose between top landing, bottom landing, or a combination of both.
Landing at the bottom has plenty to offer. First of all, you should choose the Champagne Picnic package. This package will take you on a descent of 3500ft to the bottom of the Canyon. From there, you will enjoy a light picnic and a toast of Champagne, and you can even add a Colorado River boat ride onto your package.
At the top of the Canyon, there are plenty of walking tracks and lookout points, as well as the famous Grand Canyon Skywalk. The Skywalk is hugely impressive, being made of glass and steel and featuring a transparent floor. You will look down almost 4000ft to the Canyon below, and all the while you will be 70ft out from the edge of the rim. It is a thrilling experience and one that you shouldn't miss if you're landing at the top of the Canyon.
South Rim Tours
At the South Rim, there are two air tours to choose from. The first takes around 30 minutes and flies from the South Rim, up to the mysterious and remote North Rim, and then back again. However, the one that I recommend is the extended version of this tour. It covers the same flight path except that it diverts out to the eastern areas of the National Park. On this tour, you will be able to see 75% of the National Park from the air, and that's an experience that you won't soon forget. For the slight increase in ticket price, this longer tour is definitely worth it.
Conclusion and Tips
Remember that this is going to be one of the busiest holidays of the year, so you should start booking your tickets ASAP. Make sure that you book online, and that you book using your credit card. This will unlock the best prices and you will also be sure that your seats are locked in.
When you book your tour, you will need to choose either basic or deluxe. Basic tours are great for entry level prices, and you will thoroughly enjoy yourself if you choose this option. The difference with Deluxe is that you get some extras for your money, and if you don't mind the increase in ticket price, they're definitely worth it. Deluxe tours include a limousine shuttle service, and Las Vegas deluxe tours leave directly from The Strip. They also include a flyover of Vegas, which is awesome if you take the sunset tour. The best thing about deluxe tours is that you get to fly in a newer EcoStar helicopter that has larger seats, a huge 180 degree viewing windscreen, and the helicopter has a larger cabin and is quieter than the Bell helicopters used on the basic tours.
Whichever tour you choose, you'll have a fantastic time, just remember to book soon so that you won't be disappointed this Labor Day Holiday.
Martin Wynn
