Grand Canyon Helicopters Are a Great Way to See the South Rim

If you would like see as much of Grand Canyon National Park as you possibly can in 1 day, go on a Grand Canyon helicopter trip of the South Rim. These flights are spectacular and take you inside the heart of the canyon, delivering unforgettable aerial sights that you'll cherish forever.

Heli rides depart every day from Grand Canyon Airport in Tusayan, a town that is a fast 10-minute drive from the National Park's main gate. These rides sell out so reserve in advance (FYI - Over 5 million people visit the canyon every year, and many do helicopter flights!). Morning trips provide the best visibility. Sunset trips can be found, too.

Grand Canyon South Rim airspace is strictly regulated. There are not any bottom-landing tours. Those are only available out of Las Vegas and are done at Grand Canyon West. Right now, there are no flights that connect Grand Canyon National Park with the West Rim.

South Rim helicopter tours begin with a low-altitude flight over the Kaibab Plateau, home to the largest stand of Ponderosa Pine in the world. I guesstimate that it takes about ten minutes to leave the South Rim and enter the Dragoon Corridor, the widest, deepest portion of the canyon.

Inside the corridor, you'll see the Plateau Point Mule Trail, the Tower of Ra, Phantom Ranch, Grand Canyon Village and the Colorado River before turning back at the majestic North Rim. Helping put what you will see into perspective, think about this:

A. People who enjoy the canyon from the ground see just 30 miles of the 277 that comprise the park. Airborne travelers see 140 miles!

B. You will need at the very least five hours to drive from the South Rim to the North Rim.

In case you have one or two days at the South Rim, it's obvious to me that a helicopter ride is the only way to go.

You will find three businesses that operate air tours: Maverick Helicopters, Grand Canyon Helicopters and Papillon Helicopters. Papillon has the greatest deals. Maverick is more geared toward luxury. Grand Canyon falls in the middle.

Grand Canyon National Park chopper flights last between 30 and 50 minutes. Most use A-Star helis. If you've got the budget, I suggest you step up to the EcoStar 130. This is an elite piece of machinery. It features a cabin that's 35 percent larger than its competitors and theater-style seating. It is also quieter and comes with 180-degree wraparound windows.

Each tour includes a set of personal headphones. Utilize these to hear the pre-recorded flight narration (10 languages!). Or chat with your pilot and fellow travelers. The whole flight is taped by video cameras connected to the front of the chopper and in the cabin. The video is burned to a DVD and can be bought.

Don't ever pay full retail price for helicopter tours. Shop online. Please. I have been locating offers that cut prices by 35 percent Caveat: To get these special prices, you must complete the transaction online. Realize that commissioned sales people man the "customer service" numbers and will upsell you to a higher priced package.

Grand Canyon helicopters to the South Rim are the most effective and exciting way to experience the National Park. The Rim is a large place. For those who explore it on foot, you will see just a fraction of it. Get airborne and you will see four-times as much. That's a big difference. It is also the reason that's making helicopter tours the runaway success they are today. See you up there!

Mr. Kravitz is a travel journalist who writes about Grand Canyon tours. Go here for his list of the best Grand Canyon helicopter tours. Flights that make this list ar handpicked by Kravitz based on quality, safety and price. Browse this list and see if there's a heli tour for you.