Spring Break is not far away, so it's a good time to start thinking about how you're going to celebrate. If you plan on being in Vegas anyway, then you should consider taking an airplane or helicopter tour of 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.
All tours take you over Lake Mead and the monumental Hoover Dam. Airplanes take an hour to reach the South Rim, while helicopters make it to the north rim in under 45 minutes.
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.
One of the more popular tours lands on the Canyon floor after a thrilling descent inside the Canyon, and once it lands, you can enjoy a champagne picnic or a boat tour along the Colorado River. There's also a top landing tour, where you can take one of the many walking tracks to reach scenic lookout points. The Skywalk is also located on top of the West Rim. This special glass platform is transparent, and will give you the ultimate thrill as you stand 4000ft above the bottom of the 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.
Airplane Tours
Airplane tours go directly to both the South and West Rim. If you're looking for an affordable type of air tour, then touring by plane is your best bet. Plus, you can add other adventures to your tour such as a helicopter flight to the bottom of the West Rim. If you take an airplane tour of the South Rim, your plane will follow the same flight path as the 50-minute helicopter tour.
One difference between the two types of air tours is that airplanes need to fly at a higher altitude than helicopters, and anther important difference is that the airplanes can carry more people on each tour. The airplanes carry 19 at a time, so if you're flying with several people, an airplane tour is probably the best choice. However, if excellent viewing is the most important thing to you, then you'll want to book a helicopter tour since the choppers fly lower than planes and they have bigger viewing windows. When you book a deluxe helicopter tour, you will fly on an EcoStar chopper that has a panoramic wraparound windshield and six seats arranged stadium style for unobstructed views. These helicopters also provide a quieter and smoother flight experience.
To Conclude
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.
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.
All tours take you over Lake Mead and the monumental Hoover Dam. Airplanes take an hour to reach the South Rim, while helicopters make it to the north rim in under 45 minutes.
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.
One of the more popular tours lands on the Canyon floor after a thrilling descent inside the Canyon, and once it lands, you can enjoy a champagne picnic or a boat tour along the Colorado River. There's also a top landing tour, where you can take one of the many walking tracks to reach scenic lookout points. The Skywalk is also located on top of the West Rim. This special glass platform is transparent, and will give you the ultimate thrill as you stand 4000ft above the bottom of the 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.
Airplane Tours
Airplane tours go directly to both the South and West Rim. If you're looking for an affordable type of air tour, then touring by plane is your best bet. Plus, you can add other adventures to your tour such as a helicopter flight to the bottom of the West Rim. If you take an airplane tour of the South Rim, your plane will follow the same flight path as the 50-minute helicopter tour.
One difference between the two types of air tours is that airplanes need to fly at a higher altitude than helicopters, and anther important difference is that the airplanes can carry more people on each tour. The airplanes carry 19 at a time, so if you're flying with several people, an airplane tour is probably the best choice. However, if excellent viewing is the most important thing to you, then you'll want to book a helicopter tour since the choppers fly lower than planes and they have bigger viewing windows. When you book a deluxe helicopter tour, you will fly on an EcoStar chopper that has a panoramic wraparound windshield and six seats arranged stadium style for unobstructed views. These helicopters also provide a quieter and smoother flight experience.
To Conclude
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.
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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