How Do I Choose a Grand Canyon Helicopter Tour?

Grand Canyon helicopter tours are a thrilling way to see the National Park. But more importantly, they're simplest way to discover the park should you have just a day or two to do it.

Starting Points

The West Rim and the South Rim are the only locations in the canyon where choppers are permitted to fly.

If you are venturing out from Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon West is the destination for you. The rim is just 120 miles from Las Vegas. If your heart is set on seeing the South Rim from Vegas, you must take a 45-minute plane ride and then transfer to the helicopter segment of your package.

South Rim chopper rides depart daily from Grand Canyon Airport in Tusayan, which is just beyond the main gates of the National Park. In case you are driving up from such points in Arizona like Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Sedona, this is the Grand Canyon chopper ride for you.

Kinds of Helicopter Tours

Of the two rims, the West Rim has the most upgrades. Of course, there's the air-only tour, but a majority of travelers want more and Vegas tour providers deliver.

The most purchased is the landing tour. This tour takes you 4,000 feet to the bottom part of the Grand Canyon and lands. Most include a Champagne picnic. There's lots of time to explore, too. There is also an opportunity to add a canyon smooth-water rafting trip to this package.

The other favorite West Rim landing tour is the Skywalk. This package has full access to the fabulous glass bridge. It's a miracle of modern day engineering and enables you to go 70 feet past the edge of the rim. Some 4,000 feet below you roils the Colorado River.

The South Rim is defined by natural beauty. Nothing shows this off better than a heli tour. There aren't any landing rides at this rim. The most requested flight takes you over the Kaibab Plateau and inside the Dragoon Corridor, the widest, deepest part of the canyon, before turning back at the North Rim. Flight time is 30 minutes, nevertheless, you can lengthen it up to 50 minutes. You can also upgrade to the super-sleek EcoStar 130 chopper.

Getting a Great Deal

There are a couple of simple things you need to do to get a great deal on a canyon heli tour. First, buy beforehand. If you can a couple of weeks in front of this, you'll win the game. Next, shop the net. There are plenty of great bargains on the Web. I regularly find special packages in which you can save up to 35%. It takes a little effort but it's worth it.

Time to Fly!

Grand Canyon helicopter tours are my favorite way to discover the National Park. Flights go to the West Rim and the South Rim. The West Rim offers a range of great landing tours. The South Rim is air-only. If you have the budget for it, upgrade to the EcoStar 130. Or follow my two steps to savings and use the difference to bundle in side-trips. The canyon is an aerial delight. Fortunately, there are loads of helicopter flights available that let you experience it.

Mr. Kravitz is a travel writer specializing in reviewing tours to the Grand Canyon. Go here for his Top 3 Grand Canyon helicopter tour operators. Rankings are based on quality, safety and price. Scan these ratings and make sure you get the trip that meets your needs.