Thanksgiving is the biggest fall holiday of the year and one of the best times to visit Grand Canyon National Park by airplane from Vegas. But don\’t wait until the last minute to book flights as seats are expected to sell out quickly.

One of the reasons that Las Vegas is so popular for Canyon flights is because it\’s only 125 miles from the West Rim, which takes only 30 minutes to reach. For travelers who want to see the South Rim, there\’s a direct flight that takes 60 minutes.

Las Vegas airplane tours are available as all-air excursions or as landing tours. Both flights follow the same flight plan, going over Lake Mead, Hoover Dam, the Colorado River and the Canyon. All-air tours head back to Vegas while landing tours go to the top.

Landing Tours

All-air flights are perfect for travelers who have limited time to sightsee or who are on a strict budget. However, if you can afford to spend the extra money, I strongly recommend booking a landing tour, especially the one that lands on top and comes with 2.5 hours of exploration time.

West Rim airplane tours are loaded with side trips. The most popular one features the Grand Canyon Skywalk, the all-glass bridge that lets intrepid guests walk some 70 feet over the edge. There\’s another that comes with a helicopter ride to the bottom (if you feel really adventurous, add on a boat ride!).

The direct flight to the South Rim is extremely popular, mostly because it condenses 5.5 hours of drive time down to 60 minutes of flight time. The version of this tour that I like comes with a 30-minute helicopter ride that goes from the South Rim to the North Rim and back. Then you hop on a bus and do a 2.5-hour ground tour inside the National Park.

Affordability

Vegas airplane tours are cheaper than helicopter tours and usually have more availability. This is because they can hold up to 19 passengers (helicopters can only hold 6). Another key difference is that airplanes fly faster and at a higher altitude than helicopters.

The aircraft used on these tours are not standard. In fact, they are customized from the nose to tail for sightseeing. For example, the wings are attached to the top of the body so travelers can look at the Canyon below. Cabins are extra-wide so everyone has a lot of personal space and legroom and windows, too, are oversized.

Earlier I mentioned how airplane tours are very popular during the Thanksgiving holiday. Keep this in mind and please try to book your tour as far in advance as you can. I usually recommend a week ahead of time. Try to avoid same-day bookings as the price will usually be much higher and there\’s a good chance that the flight you want is sold out.

Conclusion

I hope this article about Grand Canyon airplane tours from Las Vegas proved helpful as you plan your Thanksgiving holiday. I personally prefer the West Rim landing tour that comes with a helicopter ride to the bottom. As for the South Rim, go with the direct flight that comes with a helicopter ride and a bus tour. And make sure to book your tour online. That will ensure you get the best price.

The author is an expert on Grand Canyon sightseeing tours and strongly recommends that readers go here for the best flights on Canyon airplane tours form Las Vegas and the South Rim: http://www.grandcanyondaytrips.com/best-airplane-tours/

The author is an expert on Grand Canyon sightseeing tours and strongly recommends that readers go here for the best flights on Canyon airplane tours form Las Vegas and the South Rim: http://www.grandcanyondaytrips.com/best-airplane-tours/

Author Bio: The author is an expert on Grand Canyon sightseeing tours and strongly recommends that readers go here for the best flights on Canyon airplane tours form Las Vegas and the South Rim: http://www.grandcanyondaytrips.com/best-airplane-tours/

Category: Travel
Keywords: grand canyon, grand canyon airplane, grand canyon flights, las vegas tours