Spring Break will be here with the April warm weather, and that means it's time to start planning your vacation. If you're going to be in Las Vegas, there are fantastic tours on offer, like helicopter and airplane tours to the Grand Canyon. These tours are very popular and they sell out fast, so if you want to take one, you need to book early.
Helicopter Tours
There are helicopter tours available at both the West and South Rims. Vegas is fairly close to the West Rim, so tour helicopters can fly there directly. However, if you want to take a helicopter tour of the South Rim, and you're in Vegas, you'll have to fly there by airplane first.
You'll even get an aerial view of Lake Mead and the Hoover Dam when you fly out of Vegas since they are along the flight path to the Canyon. A helicopter can get to the West Rim from Vegas in under 45 minutes, and it takes an airplane about 60 minutes to fly to the South Rim so you can begin your tour there.
When you go to the West Rim, you can choose a landing tour or an air-only tour. The air-only tour shows you all the main highlights from the air only and then flies back to the city. The landing tours are even more fun because you get to add on ground adventures.
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.
Helicopter Tours Of The South Rim
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
Touring the Canyon is the ideal way to add some adventure to your exciting Spring Break vacation. When you start in Vegas, you'll find plenty of tours with a wide variety of options that will fit your budget.
Just be sure to buy your tour early, before they are sold out. 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.
A trip to the Grand Canyon remains memorable for a lifetime. Do it in style with an airplane or helicopter tour, and experience all that the National Park has to offer.
Helicopter Tours
There are helicopter tours available at both the West and South Rims. Vegas is fairly close to the West Rim, so tour helicopters can fly there directly. However, if you want to take a helicopter tour of the South Rim, and you're in Vegas, you'll have to fly there by airplane first.
You'll even get an aerial view of Lake Mead and the Hoover Dam when you fly out of Vegas since they are along the flight path to the Canyon. A helicopter can get to the West Rim from Vegas in under 45 minutes, and it takes an airplane about 60 minutes to fly to the South Rim so you can begin your tour there.
When you go to the West Rim, you can choose a landing tour or an air-only tour. The air-only tour shows you all the main highlights from the air only and then flies back to the city. The landing tours are even more fun because you get to add on ground adventures.
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.
Helicopter Tours Of The South Rim
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
Touring the Canyon is the ideal way to add some adventure to your exciting Spring Break vacation. When you start in Vegas, you'll find plenty of tours with a wide variety of options that will fit your budget.
Just be sure to buy your tour early, before they are sold out. 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.
A trip to the Grand Canyon remains memorable for a lifetime. Do it in style with an airplane or helicopter tour, and experience all that the National Park has to offer.
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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