If you have just 1 day to explore the National Park, do it by helicopter. In my opinion, air tours are the best deal out there. For this trip, I chose to fly Maverick Helicopters. Here\’s a review of my trip:

Maverick Helicopters is about quality. It starts at the minute you enter their new, Alpine-like terminal. The building is stunning. There\’s a fireplace in the lobby. The couches and chairs are overstuffed. I could have set up camp here.

Maverick\’s private heliport is located at the south end of Grand Canyon Airport in Tusayan, the town just outside the main gates of the South Rim. Check in is quick and efficient. The walk to the choppers is something like 25 feet!

The fleet consists of only EcoStar 130\’s. These are the absolute best sightseeing helicopters. The cabins are 25% larger than ordinary helicopters, and are equipped with theater-style seating, 180-degree wraparound windows, and Fenestron quiet-ride rotors.

Each passenger gets his or her own headset. Jack this in to the digital communications system and listen to a prerecorded trip narration that comes in 10 languages. The same headset also lets you chat with your pilot and fellow passengers.

The flight is spectacular. The chopper takes off over the Kaibab Plateau and the largest Ponderosa Pine forest in the world. The rim drops off and now you are in the Dragoon Corridor, the widest, deepest part of the canyon. It\’s a miraculous sight. I particularly liked the spires and buttes.

Turn back was at the North Rim. On the descent, I saw Grand Canyon Village, Hopi Point, and Mather Point. I eventually visited all on foot. By seeing them aerially, I felt my experience was significantly enhanced.

Flight duration is about 30 minutes. I took the extended tour and got 50 minutes of airtime (I never wanted to come down). I consider what I saw would from the helicopter would take at least two days on the ground. Just driving from the South Rim to the North Rim takes five hours!

Maverick is not a budget helicopter tour operator. They are about quality and luxury and using the finest choppers available. They also are experts at accommodating groups and running charter flights. Don\’t let this stop you from shopping the Internet for great deals. It\’s not uncommon to see online promotions that save up to 25 percent.

Book your helicopter tour in advance. More than 5 million people go to Grand Canyon National Park each year. Many book a helicopter tour. Try to book an early morning flight (best visibility) or a sunset trip. Double check your camera batteries are fully charged (I shot 20 pictures and my camera powered off!)

Maverick Helicopters tours to the South Rim get two thumbs up from me. The pilot -guide we had was fantastic and really added value to our flight. The EcoStar chopper is definitely the way to go. I\’m a big guy and the extra leg room was perfect. Take off was right on schedule. Overall, I really came to appreciate Maverick\’s attention to detail and recommend them without hesitation.

There are a lot of Grand Canyon air tours from which to choose. Go here and see how Maverick Helicopter tours compare with the competition.

There are a lot of Grand Canyon air tours from which to choose. Go here and see how Maverick Helicopter tours compares with its competition: http://www.grandcanyonhelicopter.org/papillon-helicopters-maverick-helicopters-compared.html

Author Bio: There are a lot of Grand Canyon air tours from which to choose. Go here and see how Maverick Helicopter tours compare with the competition.

Category: Travel
Keywords: grand canyon, helicopter, tours, maverick helicopters, flights, travel, vacations, holidays, trips