Memorial Day weekend is the first big U. S. Summer holiday and a perfect time to try a Grand Canyon helicopter or airplane tour. Trips will be departing on a regular schedule and, because it\’s expected to be super busy, it\’s wise to get your tour booked in advance.

Sightseeing flights depart from Las Vegas and the South Rim, which is located near Tusayan, AZ. From Vegas, helicopters go to the West Rim; airplanes go there, too, as well as the South Rim. All South Rim flights cover that part of the Park. There are no flights between the rims.

Helicopters

Vegas helicopters either fly over the Canyon or land at the bottom or the top. They all follow a similar flight path in that they go over Lake Mead, Hoover Dam and the Colorado River before entering Canyon airspace.

Air-only flights will turn back after the Canyon while landing tours continue on. The #1 trip that lands is the one that goes to the bottom for a Champagne picnic. This particular trip can also be extended with a boat ride down the Colorado River.

There\’s also a great package that comes with Grand Canyon Skywalk VIP tickets. Also known as the Glass Bridge, the Skywalk is a horseshoe-shaped bridge that lets travelers walk 70 feet over the rim until they are suspended a whopping 4,000 feet over the Canyon floor.

South Rim helicopters are air-only and are not permitted to fly below the rim and land at the bottom near the River. Instead, you get to choose from two exciting air-only flights. I prefer the 50-minute tour, which, once you\’ve done it, you\’ll have seen up to 75 percent of the National Park.

Airplanes

Vegas airplane tours basically do the same things helicopter tours do except they fly at a higher altitude and don\’t fly below the rim and land. Further, it\’s only by airplane wherein you can depart Vegas and fly direct to the South Rim (flight time is 60 minutes).

The most popular airplane tours start with the one that includes a VIP ticket to the Skywalk. Then there\’s the South Rim express, which is the one I recommend you take because it\’s quick and much better than driving 5.5 hours to the Park by car or bus. This particular tour can also be extended with a helicopter tour upon arrival.

There\’s also an airplane tour that departs from Grand Canyon National Park Airport in Tusayan, which is the small town just outside the entrance to the South Rim. This particular excursion follows the same route as the 50-minute helicopter tour except at a much higher altitude.

Types of Aircraft

Two kinds of helicopters are used during Grand Canyon tours. They are the Bell Ranger and the EcoStar 130. The former is a very basic chopper but very efficient and gets the job done. The later, however, is superior in every way as it comes with a 180-degree wraparound windshield and stadium-style seats.

The EcoStar is only available on deluxe flights. Yes, these flight cost more, but the sightseeing experience you\’ll enjoy is so much better. Part of that is due to the fact that the EcoStar\’s cabin is 25 percent bigger than the Bell\’s. Further, the EcoStar has excellent climate control, which is super important during the summer months when temperatures break 100 degrees.

Go by helicopter or airplane. You can\’t go wrong with either. Just be prepared for an experience that will last a lifetime.

The author is a Grand Canyon expert and recommends going here for the best airplane rides and here for the #1 helicopter tours: http://www.grandcanyondaytrips.com/helicopters/

The author is a Grand Canyon expert and recommends going here for the best airplane rides and here for the #1 helicopter tours: http://www.grandcanyondaytrips.com/helicopters/

Author Bio: The author is a Grand Canyon expert and recommends going here for the best airplane rides and here for the #1 helicopter tours: http://www.grandcanyondaytrips.com/helicopters/

Category: Travel
Keywords: grand canyon helicopters, grand canyon airplanes, grand canyon flights, las vegas helicopters,