I love the Grand Canyon, but most of all, I love the helicopter tours that are available to take from Las Vegas. For first timers, it can be difficult to find the best tours for the right price, which is why I've put together this information covering the top three tours that meet my standards for safety, price/value, and sightseeing experience.
Flying from Las Vegas
Vegas is definitely the best place to take your tour from, with tours leaving daily to the West and South Rim areas of the Canyon. When you fly from Vegas you're going to have the option of both air-only and landing helicopter tours. In my experience, landing tours are your best choice, and my number one pick is the tour that goes to the bottom of the West Rim for a Champagne picnic, and there's even a boat ride if you're up for it.
Whichever tour you take from Vegas, you will fly over Lake Mead and the Hoover Dam. This is your first taste of sightseeing, and for fans of epic engineering, it will be a special part of the trip. Once you're out at the Canyon there will be a flyover tour, followed by the descent for the landing if you've gone for the top or bottom landing tour.
Although the Champagne picnic is my absolute highlight, landing at the top of the Canyon is also a great experience, and is my second tour recommendation. At the top you can head out onto the Skywalk, which is an impressive glass platform that will have you standing 4000ft above the bottom of the canyon. It extends approximately 70ft over the edge of the rim, and there is a professional photography service to capture the moment. At the top there are also various walking tracks and lookout points so even if you go with my second choice, there will still be plenty to see and do.
South Rim Tours from Vegas
My third option offers a slightly different experience in a more remote area of the Grand Canyon. South Rim tours operate from Tusayan in Arizona, but you can take a one hour plane flight out there if you are staying in Vegas. There are two tours – a shorter 30 minute tour, and an extended 50 minute one. My personal pick is the 50 minute tour, and I'll explain why…
On the 30 minute tour you will head from the South Rim, to the North Rim, and back again. While there's some fantastic sightseeing, you can actually get much better value from taking the longer tour. For a slight increase in ticket price, the longer tour includes the same route as the 30 minute tour, with the added bonus of going out to the eastern areas of the Canyon. This means you will get to see up to 75% of the entire National Park, which is only possible on the 50 minute tour.
More Extras with Deluxe Tours
When you fly from Vegas you will need to choose either basic or deluxe helicopter tickets. My bonus tip is to go for a deluxe tour. Not only will you get the added perk of a limousine pickup service and departure from a helipad on the Las Vegas Strip, but you will also fly in the best helicopter that operates at the Canyon.
That helicopter is the EcoStar 130. It is larger than the usual Bell Ranger helicopters used for touring, and it is quieter inside with a smoother flight. The cabin layout includes six seats in a stadium configuration, which means that everybody gets a 'front row' seat. However, the number one reason why I recommend deluxe, is because the EcoStar helicopters have a huge viewing window that wraps around the front of the cabin, providing 180 degrees of panoramic viewing!
Conclusion
The last piece of advice I have to give, and perhaps the most important, is to book early! My three options, including basic and deluxe, are the most popular tours at the Grand Canyon. I suggest booking two weeks in advance of your flight, or just as soon as you've confirmed your accommodation for Las Vegas. When you book, do it online with your credit card, and you will get the best rates and confirmation of your seats. Whichever of my three options you choose, you will have a tour experience like no other. Go for the best experience that you can afford on your budget, and you'll enjoy sightseeing that you won't find anywhere else in the world.
Martin Wynn
