If there\’s one thing to be said for Grand Canyon National Park, it\’s big. The destination\’s boundaries encompass more than a million acres. For the average traveler, much of that wilderness is unreachable unless they take a helicopter tour.

Once the decision is made to take an air tour, you\’ve got to determine which part of the canyon you want to see. There are two main areas: The West Rim and the South Rim. As of this writing, there are no tours that do both, so you\’ve got to pick one that best suits your needs and interests.

The West Rim is usually accessed from Las Vegas, NV. By helicopter, it\’s a 45-minute flight. The route over is very scenic and includes flying over Lake Mead, the largest man-made reservoir in the U.S., and Hoover Dam, one of the West\’s most impressive engineering achievements.

The South Rim is typically visited by travelers starting out from points within Arizona including Phoenix, Scottsdale, Sedona and Flagstaff. Most self-drive to the National Park, which is advised as the road is in excellent condition and well marked.

Relatedly, anyone based in Las Vegas has a number of options that will get them to the South Rim. My recommendation is to go by airplane and include a helicopter flight once you arrive. This trip is very popular for folks looking to combine natural scenic beauty with the thrill of a helicopter ride.

A major difference between the rims is that helicopters are only allowed to fly below the edge and land at the bottom at the West Rim. Unfortunately, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) bans helicopters from doing the same at the South Rim due to strict policies against noise and environmental pollution.

West Rim landing options run the gamut. There\’s a tour that lets you land at the bottom and the top of the canyon. Another lets you land at the bottom for a Champagne picnic. One that\’s popular with families lands at Grand Canyon West airport and comes with up to 2.5 hours time to explore the rim top.

South Rim air tours come in two flavors: Thirty-minutes and 50-minutes. The shorter flight goes from the South Rim to the North Rim and back and includes the fabulous Dragoon Corridor. The longer flight includes the South Rim, East Rim and the North Rim and, in my opinion, is the way to go if you have the budget.

Since we are on the topic of budget, I\’d like to point out that the more deluxe air tours utilize the EcoStar 130 helicopter. This aircraft is superior to the AStar, which is used on the cheaper trips. How so? Well, for starters, it features 25 percent more cabin space and is equipped with stadium-style seats. Further, it comes with a 180-degree wrap-around window that ensures max periphery as you soar above this incredible landscape.

I want to wrap up this article with some final thoughts about how to purchase a helicopter tour online. First, its incredibly important to book these trips in advance. I always recommend to friends and family that they need to lockdown their seats at least a week before their desired departure date. If you find yourself purchasing a trip within 36 hours of take off, be prepared to pay more.

Everyone knows the Internet is the best place for deals. But the true values are to be had on tour operator websites. I know it sounds contradictory, but in reality it’s simply known as \”buying direct\” and it works. The only additional thing you need to understand is that you must complete your transaction online in order to qualify for the Internet discount. Do that and you\’ll be in for some big savings.

Travel writer Keith Kravitz is an expert on Grand Canyon tours. Prior to booking a helicopter flight, he recommends reading these helicopter tour reviews first and then going here for the lowest rates on the best flights: http://www.grandcanyonhelicopters.org/hot-deals

Travel writer Keith Kravitz is an expert on Grand Canyon tours. Now that you know which part of the National Park you want to visit, he recommends next going to this page for the lowest prices on the best flights: http://www.grandcanyonhelicopters.org/hot-deals

Author Bio: Travel writer Keith Kravitz is an expert on Grand Canyon tours. Prior to booking a helicopter flight, he recommends reading these helicopter tour reviews first and then going here for the lowest rates on the best flights: http://www.grandcanyonhelicopters.org/hot-deals

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