Spring Break is coming up in April, so it's time to start thinking about vacation ideas. If you're going to be in Las Vegas, there are fantastic tours on offer, like helicopter and airplane tours to the Grand Canyon. But remember that you'll need to book soon, because advance tickets are selling out fast.
Helicopter Tours
You can take a helicopter tour of the South or West Rim. Vegas is fairly close to the West Rim, so tour helicopters can fly there directly. If you want to take a helicopter ride at the South Rim in Arizona, there's a connecting airplane flight from Las Vegas.
All of the tours that leave from Vegas fly over the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead. It takes about an hour to reach the South Rim by airplane from Vegas and about 45 minutes to reach the West Rim by helicopter.
When you go to the West Rim, you can choose a landing tour or an air-only tour. The air-only tour flies over the West Rim and lets you see all the amazing scenery there before circling back to Vegas. The landing tours are more comprehensive and give you the opportunity to see the Canyon up close.
There's a tour that lands at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, and allows you to experience a Champagne picnic, or even a boat ride on the River. There's also a top landing tour, where you can take one of the many walking tracks to reach scenic lookout points. At the top you can also purchase tickets for the Skywalk. This special glass platform is transparent, and will give you the ultimate thrill as you stand 4000ft above the bottom of the Grand Canyon.
South Rim Helicopter Tours
If you fly to the Grand Canyon South Rim, you will transfer to a helicopter for the sightseeing tour. There are two options available. One is a 30 minute trip, and the other is a 50 minute extended tour. The shorter tour goes to the North Rim, before heading back to the town of Tusayan. The longer tour, which I recommend, follows the same path but also goes all the way out to the eastern boundary. The extended tour is the best option because it will fly you over the top of 75% of the National Park. The small increase in ticket price is worth every penny.
The South Rim tours aren't permitted to land inside the Canyon like the West Rim tours can, but you can still take a ground tour by adding on a bus or Jeep tour of the South Rim.
Touring By Airplane
Tour airplanes fly to the West Rim or the South Rim. If you're looking for an affordable type of air tour, then touring by plane is your best bet. Even if you fly to the West Rim, you could still purchase a landing helicopter tour to the bottom of the Canyon. At the South Rim, the airplane tour covers the same route as the longer helicopter tour.
It's important to note that airplanes fly at higher altitudes, but they do have an advantage in that they can seat more people. If you're in a group, the 19 seats in an airplane may be more suited to your needs. However if it's pure sightseeing that you're aiming for, helicopters provide a lower flying route, as well as large front facing viewing windows. If you purchase deluxe helicopter tickets, you will fly in a newer EcoStar helicopter that features a huge 180 degree windshield, and 6 stadium style seats. Helicopters are also quieter and fly smoother.
Conclusion
Spring Break calls for a special adventure, and there's no place that offers more adventure than the Grand Canyon. Flying from Las Vegas, you will have a number of options, with something that will suit any budget.
Book soon to avoid disappointment. It's a good idea to book your tour when you book your Vegas hotel so you don't forget. Buy your tour online with your credit card and you'll get the best deal and avoid fees added by travel agencies.
An air tour of the Canyon is something you'll never forget. Whether you tour by airplane or helicopter, you'll see breathtaking sights as you soar over one of America's most loved treasures.
Helicopter Tours
You can take a helicopter tour of the South or West Rim. Vegas is fairly close to the West Rim, so tour helicopters can fly there directly. If you want to take a helicopter ride at the South Rim in Arizona, there's a connecting airplane flight from Las Vegas.
All of the tours that leave from Vegas fly over the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead. It takes about an hour to reach the South Rim by airplane from Vegas and about 45 minutes to reach the West Rim by helicopter.
When you go to the West Rim, you can choose a landing tour or an air-only tour. The air-only tour flies over the West Rim and lets you see all the amazing scenery there before circling back to Vegas. The landing tours are more comprehensive and give you the opportunity to see the Canyon up close.
There's a tour that lands at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, and allows you to experience a Champagne picnic, or even a boat ride on the River. There's also a top landing tour, where you can take one of the many walking tracks to reach scenic lookout points. At the top you can also purchase tickets for the Skywalk. This special glass platform is transparent, and will give you the ultimate thrill as you stand 4000ft above the bottom of the Grand Canyon.
South Rim Helicopter Tours
If you fly to the Grand Canyon South Rim, you will transfer to a helicopter for the sightseeing tour. There are two options available. One is a 30 minute trip, and the other is a 50 minute extended tour. The shorter tour goes to the North Rim, before heading back to the town of Tusayan. The longer tour, which I recommend, follows the same path but also goes all the way out to the eastern boundary. The extended tour is the best option because it will fly you over the top of 75% of the National Park. The small increase in ticket price is worth every penny.
The South Rim tours aren't permitted to land inside the Canyon like the West Rim tours can, but you can still take a ground tour by adding on a bus or Jeep tour of the South Rim.
Touring By Airplane
Tour airplanes fly to the West Rim or the South Rim. If you're looking for an affordable type of air tour, then touring by plane is your best bet. Even if you fly to the West Rim, you could still purchase a landing helicopter tour to the bottom of the Canyon. At the South Rim, the airplane tour covers the same route as the longer helicopter tour.
It's important to note that airplanes fly at higher altitudes, but they do have an advantage in that they can seat more people. If you're in a group, the 19 seats in an airplane may be more suited to your needs. However if it's pure sightseeing that you're aiming for, helicopters provide a lower flying route, as well as large front facing viewing windows. If you purchase deluxe helicopter tickets, you will fly in a newer EcoStar helicopter that features a huge 180 degree windshield, and 6 stadium style seats. Helicopters are also quieter and fly smoother.
Conclusion
Spring Break calls for a special adventure, and there's no place that offers more adventure than the Grand Canyon. Flying from Las Vegas, you will have a number of options, with something that will suit any budget.
Book soon to avoid disappointment. It's a good idea to book your tour when you book your Vegas hotel so you don't forget. Buy your tour online with your credit card and you'll get the best deal and avoid fees added by travel agencies.
An air tour of the Canyon is something you'll never forget. Whether you tour by airplane or helicopter, you'll see breathtaking sights as you soar over one of America's most loved treasures.
About the Author:
Expert journalist Erik Magnus is a big fan of these Grand Canyon National Park airplane tours as well as these heli trips that start off from Vegas and the South Rim: http://www.grandcanyondaytrips.com/helicopters/
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