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.
Touring By Helicopter
Helicopters fly at the South Rim and the West Rim. The West Rim is closest to Las Vegas, and helicopters fly direct. 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
After you fly to the South Rim by plane, you'll transfer to your helicopter for the flyover tour. There are two helicopter tour options to choose from. One lasts 30 minutes, and the other one lasts 50. The shorter tour flies over to the North Rim and then circles back to the airport in Tusayan by the South Rim. The longer tour is even better because it covers the same ground as the shorter tour but also includes a jaunt over to the eastern edge of the park. The longer tour actually covers about 75 percent of the National Park. It is definitely worth it to pay a little more and take the longer tour.
South Rim helicopters don't land inside the Canyon itself, but there are ground tours available by Jeep or bus if you really want to experience everything that the Canyon has to offer.
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 is a time for fun and adventure and there is no better place to find that than on a tour of the Canyon. When you start in Vegas, you'll find plenty of tours with a wide variety of options that will fit your budget.
Book soon to avoid disappointment. I recommend booking once you've already confirmed your Vegas accommodation. When you book online and pay with your credit card, you will receive the best prices, as you avoid added travel agency fees.
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.
Touring By Helicopter
Helicopters fly at the South Rim and the West Rim. The West Rim is closest to Las Vegas, and helicopters fly direct. 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
After you fly to the South Rim by plane, you'll transfer to your helicopter for the flyover tour. There are two helicopter tour options to choose from. One lasts 30 minutes, and the other one lasts 50. The shorter tour flies over to the North Rim and then circles back to the airport in Tusayan by the South Rim. The longer tour is even better because it covers the same ground as the shorter tour but also includes a jaunt over to the eastern edge of the park. The longer tour actually covers about 75 percent of the National Park. It is definitely worth it to pay a little more and take the longer tour.
South Rim helicopters don't land inside the Canyon itself, but there are ground tours available by Jeep or bus if you really want to experience everything that the Canyon has to offer.
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 is a time for fun and adventure and there is no better place to find that than on a tour of the Canyon. When you start in Vegas, you'll find plenty of tours with a wide variety of options that will fit your budget.
Book soon to avoid disappointment. I recommend booking once you've already confirmed your Vegas accommodation. When you book online and pay with your credit card, you will receive the best prices, as you avoid added travel agency fees.
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 writer Erik Magnus is a big fan of these Grand Canyon National Park airplane tours as well as these chopper excursions that lift off from Vegas and the South Rim: http://www.grandcanyondaytrips.com/helicopters/
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