Maverick Helicopters is a Las Vegas-based air tour company that runs trips to the West Rim and the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. I recently had the pleasure of flying them to Grand Canyon West from Vegas. Here\’s a review of my trip:

Maverick is a premium provider of helicopter tours. They pride themselves on quality and customer service. I researched them on several reputable travel forums. Customers unanimously praised their experience. Definitely a good sign.

Maverick has a lot of great trips from which to choose, ranging from canyon sunset flights and river-rafting adventures to Skywalk tickets and Valley of Fire flyovers. I reserved an all-inclusive tour called the Wind Dancer. It flies to the bottom of the Grand Canyon.

One thing that separates Maverick from the pack is the location of its terminal. It\’s conveniently located on the south end of the Las Vegas strip. Transfer from hotel to the heliport takes minutes. Plus, by virtue of its location, all Maverick flights include flying over the Las Vegas Strip.

The company\’s fleet of choppers is comprised entirely of EcoStar 130 aircraft. The EcoStar\’s cabin is 25 percent larger than the average chopper\’s. The extra space translates into theater-style seating and lots of leg-and-elbow room. It also sports a 180-degree wraparound windshield and a Fenestron tail rotor that reduces noise. Passengers get their own headsets. This allows you to plug in to the digital communication system and listen to a trip narration or chat with the pilot and the other passengers.

The flight over was brilliant. The West Rim is a 45-minute flight from Maverick Helicopter\’s terminal. The flight plan takes you directly over Lake Mead, Hoover Dam, and the new Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge. Helicopters fly at a lower altitude than airplanes so the bird\’s eye view you get of the Dam is incredible.

Our West Rim approach was spectacular. I could see the Grand Canyon glass walkway sparkling under the desert sun. The 4,000-foot descent takes you through three periods of geological time before landing. Maverick\’s dirt helipad was near the legendary Colorado River. It\’s humbling to think that this river single-handedly made the Grand Canyon. I pulled out of my reverie and joined the rest of the group for a Champagne picnic.

Our pilot offered to guide us about the base (we were also free to explore on our own). I chose to head out with him. I\’m glad I did. Otherwise I would have had my head stuck in my guidebook. Maverick also offers a helicopter tour that lets you extend a bottom landing with a smooth-water rafting trip down the Colorado.

The return flight is terrific. We re-visited Lake Mead and Hoover Dam and then deviated northward and strafed the Valley of Fire. This area is comprised of bright orange sandstone. It\’s a surreal place and I\’ve never quite seen anything like it. One passenger said it reminded him of Moab, Utah.

Our return took us over the Las Vegas Strip. This is another one of those Maverick perks. We hovered above the skyline. To my left, I saw the Wynn, Planet Hollywood, Paris, the MGM Grand, and more. On the ground, I opted to purchase my tour on DVD. The quality is excellent and makes the perfect memento.

Choose Maverick Helicopters if you are looking for a premium Grand Canyon helicopter tour from Las Vegas. The customer service is five-star. The aircraft are state-of-the-art. And the quality of the tour is peerless. Save money by booking their tours online. I did and I know for a fact that I nipped off 20%. A trip to Las Vegas is not complete without a West Rim helicopter tour. So do it in style. Do it with Maverick.

Author Bio: Mr. Plunket is a travel journalist who writes about all things Grand Canyon. He recommends readers check out this site for specials on Maverick helicopter tours to the canyon.

Category: Travel
Keywords: maverick helicopters, grand canyon, las vegas, vegas, flights, tours, trips, vacation, west rim, nat