Because of the distances involved, you might not think Las Vegas would be a great starting place for a South Rim tour. The West Rim is a lot closer (120 miles) to Sin City and it’s only a 30-minute plane flight away. A chopper can make the trip in less than 60 minutes. That’s why a lot of people coming from Las Vegas visit the West Rim instead of the South.

But most travelers don’t realize that the West Rim is actually on the Hualapai Indian Reservation, adjacent to the National Park. Plus, a lot of people consider the South Rim the “official” Grand Canyon because of its magnificent natural beauty.

Fortunately for travelers who want to enjoy the South Rim’s picturesque landscapes, Las Vegas airplane tours and bus tours visit the South Rim on a daily basis. In addition to being fun, South Rim airplane flights are a better value and a lot more convenient than bus tours, in my opinion anyway. You’ll see a lot more of the National Park from the air than would be possible from the ground. To my mind, when you’re coming from Vegas, South Rim airplane tours are really the only way to go.

It’s because the South Rim is over 275 miles away. Helicopters flying out of Vegas can’t make it there and back – it’s outside their range. And South Rim bus tours are popular, but it’s a 5 1/2 hour drive from Vegas to the main gates at Tusayan, Arizona. From start to finish, a South Rim bus tour out of Vegas lasts 15 hours. If you decide to go in this direction, you’ll need to set aside an entire day and evening.

But Las Vegas airplane tours make the same trip in less than 60 minutes. That’s a huge difference. You’ll arrive rested, relaxed and eager to go instead of tired from a 5 1/2 hour bus ride. Flights are also scheduled throughout the day, while bus tours only leave once a day, at about 7 am.

South Rim airplane tours fly out of different Las Vegas-area airfields, but flights starting in Boulder City or Henderson will be a little cheaper. Once you’re in the air, you’ll fly over Hoover Dam (a remarkable achievement in engineering) and Lake Mead, the country’s largest manmade reservoir. Your plane will then follow the Colorado River ’til you get to Tusayan, elevation 6,000 feet. Tusayan’s a tiny place, but it’s just outside the Park’s main gates and it’s the location of Grand Canyon National Park Airport (GCA).

Along the way you’ll see some spectacular sights. In fact, you’ll see a large portion of the canyon before you even land at GCA. Once you arrive, you’ll hop on a 2 1/2-hour bus tour of the Park. Stops include highlights like Grand Canyon Village, Yavapai Point and Mather Point.

An upgraded version of this South Rim airplane tour adds an exciting, rim-to-rim chopper ride. I highly recommend taking this version if you’re able to swing it. In addition to the dramatic Dragoon Corridor (the widest, deepest section of the Canyon), you’ll see the North Rim and fly over the Kaibab National Forest. You’ll also have some terrific opportunities for aerial photos of Grand Canyon Village. Naturally, the bus tour is included too.

Returning to Vegas isn’t anything like the 5 1/2 hour ride you’d have on a bus tour. Instead, it’s a quick flight back. Overall, this particular Las Vegas airplane tour takes 9.5 hours. It includes free shuttle pickup and drop-off at the Strip hotels, lunch, and the services of a professional guide.

Las Vegas airplane tours are a terrific experience. And, they give you excellent value for your travel dollar.

Ready to fly from Las Vegas to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon? There are lots of flights out there, but, according to the author, this one in particular is a 5-star tour at a low price: http://www.grandcanyonairplanetours.net/grand-canyon-airlines/grand-canyon-deluxe.html

Ready to fly the South Rim? Before you hit the \”buy\” button, the author strongly recommends reading these Grand Canyon airplane tour reviews, which identify the best flights at the lowest prices: http://www.grandcanyonairplanetours.net

Author Bio: Ready to fly from Las Vegas to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon? There are lots of flights out there, but, according to the author, this one in particular is a 5-star tour at a low price: http://www.grandcanyonairplanetours.net/grand-canyon-airlines/grand-canyon-deluxe.html

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