How can you best see the Grand Canyon if you only have a few days free? Answer: See it by air. You will see much, much more of the park overall if you just take a helicopter, or even a plane.

The West Rim or the South Rim

Air tours are currently restricted to just the West and South Rims. If you are coming from Vegas, the West Rim is your most likely destination. If you are thinking of visiting the South Rim, ten you will need to take a 45-minute flight. Those traveling from Scottsdale, Sedona, or Phoenix are urged to visit the South Rim for their Grand Canyon experience.

Helicopters!

The West Rim is the only place where you can ride a helicopter to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. These tours depart from Vegas. A river-rafting trip can be added to your experience at the bottom of the canyon. You will also have an option to add tickets tot he Skywalk — a bridge that allows you to walk far pas the edge.

For South Rim tours, you would leave from Grand Canyon Airport in Tusayan. There\’s only one type of flight. Before turning back at the North Rim, the flight will pass over the Kaibab Plateau and into the Dragon Corridor. Overall the flight will last for half an hour. If you wish, you can increase the air time to fifty minutes.

Airplanes

West Rim tours originate from Las Vegas. The flight time to the rim is a full twenty minutes. These tour packages can involve air-only or even landing tours that have the upgrade potential for rafting, Skywalk tickets, and of course, helicopter rides.

These trips will depart from Tusyan, which is ten minutes from the National Park. Flights average an hour and go over the South Rim, East Rim, and North Rim. One of the most popular items is the 1 day Grand Canyon Rafting tour, starting at Glen Canyon Dam , and finishing at Lee\’s Ferry.

There\’s also a Las Vegas to South Rim airplane tour. This flight will take less than one hour. By the time you land you will have seen 50 percent of the canyon from air. It is also quite popular to upgrade to the helicopter tour.

Meet the Aircraft

Your helicopter tour could be carried out on either the AStars or Ecostar 130s. In most cases, the EcoStar is an upgrade. The addition of 25 percent more space is part of the upgrade. The plane is outfitted with theater-style seats and features lots of leg room. I also like the 180-degree wraparound windshield and the Fenestron tail rotor, which delivers one of the smoothest rides in the sky.

Many people are under the impression that seeing the Grand Canyon from the air by airplane is done aboard a small aircraft. This is not true. Tours are carried out on a Vistaliner. Holding 19 passengers and featuring some of the largest windows in the industry, you are sure to get the best possible view. Two FAA pilots control this plane with the best navigational equipment in the industry.

How About That Deal?

Don\’t pay full retail price. Shop Online. The best deals are consistently posted on the Web. It is not unusual to see air tours slashed by 35% in price. Booking in advance is also an option. Don\’t wait until the last minute or you will end up paying a premium.

Summary

A tour of the Grand Canyon can be a life changing experience. The aerial views are phenomenal. If you want to take it even further however, add one of the side trips we mentioned. This is a great place to explore. There\’s no better way to explore than with an air tour.

Grand Canyon National Park air tours call! Try a helicopter trip or an airplane excursion. You\’ll be spellbound.

Grand Canyon air tours beckon! Go here for helicopter rides: http://www.grandcanyonhelicopter.org/best-grand-canyon-helicopter-tours.html And go here for airplane tours: http://lasvegasgrandcanyonairplane.com/best-grand-canyon-airplane-tours.html

Author Bio: Grand Canyon National Park air tours call! Try a helicopter trip or an airplane excursion. You\’ll be spellbound.

Category: Travel
Keywords: grand canyon tours, grand canyon air tours, airplanes, helicopters, national park, travel, outdoors