As I'm sure you all know, Memorial Day will soon be here (Monday, May 27). It's the holiday that kicks off the summer travel season, which means if you want a Grand Canyon airplane tour, you'd best book it now.
Airplane tours are available from Las Vegas, Nevada, and Tusayan, Arizona, which is also referred to as the South Rim. Flights will be departing on a regular schedule and on the hour. Even so, don't procrastinate – book your air tour at least a week in advance.
Las Vegas
If you are in Las Vegas, you'll have your pick between the West Rim and the South Rim. The former, which is just a 30-minute flight from town, offers you a world of exciting options. The most popular is one that includes a helicopter ride to the bottom. You can further extend it to include a Colorado River boat ride.
There's another trip that includes un-restricted access to the Grand Canyon Skywalk. If you haven't heard about the glass bridge, it's quite fantastic. First, it lets you walk 70 feet past the edge on a deck of glass. Once you reach the end, you'll be standing nearly 4,000 feet over the bottom!
The Vegas direct flight to the South Rim is one-of-a-kind. The biggest benefit is that it's only a 60-minute flight (compared to a 5.5-hour bus ride!). The basic version of this trip comes with a 2.5-hour bus tour inside the National park, while the deluxe one includes a fabulous helicopter flight across the gorge and through the Dragoon Corridor.
South Rim
The ride that everyone raves about is the 50-minute flight that covers the South, East and North Rims. In fact, once you have done this trip, you'll have seen upward of 75 percent of the National Park. That's a big deal, especially for travelers who will be spending just a day or two at the canyon.
I also want to bring to your attention a newly released airplane and raft tour. This trip kicks off with a 50-minute flight to Glen Canyon Dam, whereupon you'll deplane, take a 4×4 Jeep ride to Antelope Canyon (e.g. the slot canyons) then hop a pontoon raft and take a 15-mile float tour down the Colorado River. This trip is ideal for families and is open to kids as young as four years of age.
Conclusion
This Memorial Day falls on Monday, May 27, so you know that it's going to be a great three-day weekend for exploring the Grand Canyon before it gets too hot. To see the most in as little time as possible, I'm recommending airplane tours. They are fun, inexpensive and can accommodate up to 19 people at a time (this is a major benefit if you're in charge of a group of people). Make sure to book your flight a week in advance. As for the best deals, my advice here is to buy your tickets online. Don't purchase them from a brand-name travel site. Go direct to the tour supplier. Finally, make sure you complete the transaction online. It's the only way to qualify yourself for the Internet discount that you justly deserve.
Martin Wynn
