Whenever you're considering Grand Canyon Helicopter Tours, you will be faced with options when it comes to the exact tours on offer. In addition to standard air tours, there are even landing tours. The best landing tours include a Champagne picnic at the bottom of the canyon.
Champagne Picnics Exclusive to Las Vegas
Landing flights are only available at the West Rim, so you will need to take your Champagne Picnic tour from Las Vegas in Nevada. These tours operate all throughout the day, for 364 days of the year. Christmas Day is the only day that tour operators take a break.
On the way to the canyon, you will be flown over the beautiful Lake Mead and the impressive Hoover Dam. Once reaching the canyon, the helicopter will make its descent in to the canyon. The flight down takes about 15 minutes, which gives you ample time to take in the splendor of the landscape, and then the canyon walls below the rim.
Tour Options
If you choose to enjoy a Champagne picnic at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, you will have plenty of options to customize your package.
There are basic and deluxe tours available. Basic tours depart from Boulder City, while deluxe tours leave from The Strip in Las Vegas. The difference between basic and deluxe is the helicopter that you will fly in. Deluxe tours use newer EC130 helicopters, which have been designed exclusively for sightseeing and observation. These choppers include a huge 180degree windscreen for unparalleled viewing. The seats are even designed to provide the best viewing angles, and it doesn't matter where you sit inside the chopper, because you'll always have a 'front row' viewing experience.
Another benefit of choosing a deluxe tour is that you will be shuttled to the helipad from your hotel in a limousine.
Even after choosing the kind of helicopter you will fly in, you can still customize the landing tour further. You could include a boat ride along the Colorado River, allowing you to see even more of the canyon and the landscape below the rim. Landing tours can also land at the top of the canyon, and it's possible to upgrade your ticket to include a Skywalk visit after you leave the bottom. The Skywalk is a world famous observation platform with a transparent bottom. You can step out above the Grand Canyon, and look below you to the river 2000ft below.
Book Early to Avoid Disappointment
Grand Canyon helicopter tours are incredibly popular, and they're in demand all year round. Because of this, it's necessary to book your flights as early as possible. Book as soon as you have confirmed your hotel, and try to book at least two weeks prior to the date you want to fly.
Booking online will allow you to take advantage of the best prices, because online bookings don't add additional fees or travel agent commissions. Remember, if you want to take advantage of online rates you will need to confirm your booking and complete the transaction from the air tour websites.
Conclusion
Don't miss out on the chance to see the Grand Canyon like few have seen it before. Grand Canyon helicopter tours are made even better with a landing champagne picnic. The option to add a riverboat ride or skywalk tour makes these tours even more versatile. Remember to book early, and compete your booking online. This will allow you to take advantage of the best rates, while ensuring that you can take your air tour only when it meets your schedule.
See you at the Grand Canyon!
Martin Wynn
