The Grand Canyon looks its best when you view it from a helicopter, and from Las Vegas there are plenty of choices when it comes to tour packages. Deluxe options offer a premium experience, so if you want the best, you'll need to book one of these tours.
Flying from the City of Las Vegas
All of my personal favorites depart from Las Vegas, and the tours from here are unique in that they offer landing options at the West Rim. This is a clear advantage over South Rim tours, which are forbidden from landing in the National Park.
There's one landing tour that stands out from the rest, and it is the Champagne Picnic. This tour goes from Las Vegas, over the Hoover Dam, and then makes a 2500-foot descent once it reaches the West Rim. At the bottom, you will land and disembark for a Champagne Picnic, right next to the picturesque Colorado River.
You will have around 30 minutes to explore the surroundings, and you can even take a Colorado River boat ride while you're there. If you want something extra romantic, then go for the sunset tour.
All in One Landing Tour
One of my other favorites is the 4-in-1 tour. Just like the Champagne Picnic, it lands at the bottom of the Canyon, and it includes the boat ride in the ticket price. In addition to landing at the bottom, you'll also get to land at the top of the Canyon, and here you will have VIP tickets for the famous viewing platform known as the Skywalk. The Skywalk is an impressive glass and steel platform that literally allows you to walk out over the rim, and it's an experience that you will never forget.
South Rim Tours
Even though you can't land at the South Rim, there is one tour that falls into my top three list. This is the 50-minute flight, which takes you from the South Rim, up to the North Rim, and out to the eastern boundary of the National Park. This tour takes you through the widest and deepest part of the Grand Canyon, but most importantly, it allows you to see over 75% of the National Park from the air. If the South Rim is more convenient for you than Las Vegas, then I definitely recommend this option.
Deluxe Perks
The West Rim deluxe tours all depart from the Las Vegas Strip, which means that you get a flyover of the city as part of your package. Another benefit is that they include a limousine shuttle service to the helipad, so you'll enjoy the complete VIP experience.
Another advantage of the Deluxe tours is the helicopter that you will be flying in. All of the premium tours use EcoStar 130 helicopters. These are modern machines designed for the absolute best in sightseeing. They have large cabins, a stadium seating layout, and a huge viewing window that wraps around 180 degrees of the front of the cabin. They're also quieter inside than other touring helicopters, so you'll be comfortable throughout your journey.
Conclusion
The deluxe tours are hugely popular, which means that they can sell out fast, no matter what time of year it is. I recommend booking in advance to avoid disappointment. One week in advance is the target I recommend that you aim for, and you should absolutely avoid making last-minute bookings. The closer you get to the flight date, the higher the ticket prices will be, and in the worst case scenario there may be no seats available. Make sure that you book online, and use your credit card to lock in the best prices and ensure that your seats are secure.
I hope this guide has given you a good idea of the adventures that can be had at the South and North Rims of the Grand Canyon. Remember that landing tours are the way to go when you are flying from Vegas, or take the extended 50-minute tour if you will be visiting the South Rim. Most importantly, prepare to have fun and enjoy the most impressive canyon formation that can be found on earth.
Martin Wynn
