Grand Canyon helicopter trips are a fantastic way to experience the National Park. However, not all tours are created equal, especially when it comes down to the time of day in which to fly. Here are a few tips for determining how to pick the best flight for you.

Canyon helicopter tours depart from Las Vegas, NV, and Grand Canyon Airport in Tusayan, AZ, the small town located 10 minutes from the gates of the South Rim. You won\’t find direct flights from Vegas to the South Rim. You\’ll need to take a bus ride, or plane to the helicopter departure point instead.

Which Rim is for you? If you are looking for adventure, go to the West Rim. Because there you will be able to land and enjoy a boat cruise or walk out over the canyon on the glass Grand Canyon Skywalk.

On the other hand, the South Rim has been dubbed the official Grand Canyon, and is worth seeing too. It is situated about 270 miles from Las Vegas and is a popular stop for vacationers to Central Arizona. On this Rim, helicopters aren\’t allowed to descend into the canyon and land on the bottom. However, that\’s easily rectified when you fly through the Dragoon Corridor, the deepest, widest section of the National Park.

Be prepared for hot weather during the summer months when it usually reaches around 100 degrees every day along the West Rim. I recommend you bring water, sun block, a hat and sunglasses. Sturdy shoes are a must so you can handle the rocky terrain, and long sleeved shirts are a good idea too. The winter months are much cooler. During this time, I suggest wearing a beanie, gloves and a medium-weight jacket.

South Rim summers are nice and temperate. This is because the elevation is 6,000-feet plus. I still recommend you have on your person plenty of water and sun block. Winters are more extreme than that at West Rim. The temperatures are colder and there is more snow. Having said that, winter is one of the best times of the year to visit South Rim because you\’ll pretty much have the park to yourself.

The Rim you choose, along with the season of the year and its weather, will affect the time of day you choose to fly. Early morning flights are popular in the summer. That would include any trips that depart before lunchtime. Particularly if you plan to take a landing tour along the West Rim, you want to get an early start so you can avoid the intense late afternoon heat. The same thinking applies to flying from July through September when the Monsoon sweeps into Arizona. That means lots of thunderstorms. They pop up almost every afternoon like clockwork. If you book your Grand Canyon helicopter tour during that time period, chances are good it will get delayed until the storm passes, or it could get cancelled altogether.

There are a couple of other things to know about morning air tours. First, the air is smoother, especially during summer when minor turbulence pick up in the afternoons. Secondly, visibility is better. Again, during summer, there\’s a haze in the air. It is caused by dust, pollution, and even forest fires. That said, the other great time to fly is around sunset, which is enhanced by this air \”debris.\”

Don\’t stress if you can\’t get a morning flight. Yes, it\’s better, but overall, helicopter tours are awesome in and of themselves. Just get in the air and go, because there is nothing quite so awe-inspiring as viewing the Grand Canyon from above.

The author is an expert in tours to the Grand Canyon and strongly recommends visiting this site if you are searching for affordable helicopter tours http://www.grandcanyonhelicopters.org/hot-deals

The author is an expert in tours to the Grand Canyon and strongly recommends visiting this site if you are searching for affordable helicopter tours http://www.grandcanyonhelicopters.org/hot-deals

Author Bio: The author is an expert in tours to the Grand Canyon and strongly recommends visiting this site if you are searching for affordable helicopter tours http://www.grandcanyonhelicopters.org/hot-deals

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